Hazardous Vocab : Geography IGCSE Pearson Edexcel

Hot Spots

Strong and rising magma plumes, which melt weak areas of oceanic crust as the crust moves over it.

Wind Shear

Change in wind speed and direction over a short distance, particularly with increasing altitude

Epicenter

Point on the Earth’s surface directly above where the Earthquake starts.

Hazard

A hazard is an event that threatens, or actually causes damage and destruction to people, their property, and settlements.

Storm surges

Sudden rises in sea level associated with the very low atmospheric pressure which allows the sea to ‘expand’ and the level of the sea to rise.

Tectonic plates

Rigid blocks that make up the Earth's surface. These plates more over the surface of the globe.

Volcano

An opening, fissure, or vent in the Earth's crust through which molten rock (magma), volcanic gases, ash, and rock fragments erupt onto the surface.

Pyroclastic flows.

Dense, lethal Gases that are emitted during a volcanic eruption. They keep close to the ground and include harmful gases such as sulphur, carbon dioxide, and cyanide.

Earthquake

A sadden and brief period of intense shaking of the ground.

Tropical cyclone

An area of low pressure with winds moving in a spiralaround the calm central point called the eye of the storm. Winds are powerful and rain heavy.

Volcano

An opening in the Earth's crust out of which lava, ash, and gases erupt.

Coriolis force

Force created by the rotation of the Earth. The deflection of moving air and water.

Richter Scale

Measures the intensity of earthquakes