Studied by 5 people
natural hazard
is a naturally occurring event that is a threat to a population.
Geological hazards
hazards caused by the process on the land.
Hydrological hazards
hazards caused by the movement of water on the land.
Atmospheric hazards
hazards caused by the water.
Hazard risk
is the probability (i.e. the likelihood or the chance) that a natural hazard will actually affect a population.
risk
a hazard poses is dependent on a population's exposure to the hazard as well as the population's vulnerability to the hazard.
tectonic
refers to the structure of the Earth's crust, the outside layer of the Earth.
tectonic plates
The crust is broken up into huge slabs of rock called
Earthquakes
occur along plate margins due to plate movements causing vibrations.
Volcanoes
occur along certain plate margins as magma (molten rock found underground) feeds volcanoes, and this magma can get to the surface at certain plate margins.
Plate margins
interact in different ways depending on the direction they are moving in relation to each other.
Constructive
Plates move away from each other.
Destructive
Plates move towards each other.
Conservative
Plates move alongside each other.
sea floor spreading
When new land is formed on the ocean floor
oceanic crust
is moving towards continental crust.
Primary effects
The effects that are directly caused by the natural hazard itself.
Secondary effects
The effects that are a result of the primary effects.
responses
refers to how the local community, the government, and international organizations/governments react to a hazard so that the effects can be reduced as much as possible. Responses are either classed as immediate or long-term.
Immediate responses
Actions taken as soon as the hazard happens and in its immediate aftermath (hours, days, and potentially a week or so after the event).
Long-term responses
Actions taken after the immediate responses when the effects of the hazard have been minimized (weeks, months, and years after the event).
Global Atmospheric Circulation
The way our atmosphere circulates around the Earth impacts global weather and climate patterns, as the movement of air around the globe influences the temperature and humidity.
Atmospheric Circulation
The atmosphere is the layer of air surrounding the Earth's surface which extends hundreds of kilometers high.
Hadley Cell
At the equator, hot, moist air rises, moves to higher latitudes (30") and sinks.
Ferrel Cell
At around 60° either side of the equator, moist air rises, any travels to lower latitudes at around 30° where it sinks, along with air traveling from the equator.
Polar Cell
At 60° north or south of the equator, moist air rises, and travels to the poles (90°), where it sinks.’
Pressure Belts
These air circulations create different areas of pressure.
tropical storm
is a very large, spinning storm that forms in the tropics.
Distribution
refers to where the tropical storms are formed, and where they move to.
Frequency
refers to the number of tropical storms.
Sea level rise
is one of the most visible and measurable impacts of climate change.
Glaciers
are large masses of ice that move slowly over land surfaces, sculpting landscapes and feeding freshwater systems.
Eccentricity refers to the shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun.
Desertification
is caused by both natural factors and human activities
Cold environments
are regions that experience sustained below freezing (0°C) temperatures, resulting in a short growing season and highly adapted wildlife.
Polar
areas surrounding the poles (90°N and 90°S), such as Antarctica or Greenland.
Tundra
Areas at high latitudes with low temperatures and short growing seasons.
Alpine
Cold, mountainous regions with snowy conditions and warmer summers, such as the Himalayas and the Alps.
Wilderness areas
are wild, natural environments that are mostly unchanged by people
landscape
The character of an area, resulting from the action and interaction of natural and human elements
Igneous rock
Form when magma from the mantle cools down and hardens
Sedimentary rock
Layers of sediment is compacted together until they become solid rock
Metamorphic rock
When rock (igneous, sedimentary or older metamorphic rock) is put under pressure and heat (but not melted), the original rock becomes a new type of rock
coast
is the boundary area where land and sea meet.
Constructive waves
are typically low-energy waves with long wavelengths and low height-to-length ratios.
Destructive waves
are high-energy waves with short wavelengths and high height-to-length ratios.
Erosion
this is the process by which waves and currents remove sediment from the shore, cliffs, or dunes.
Deposition
is where sediment is deposited along the coast.
Weathering
is the process by which rocks and other materials are broken down by physical and chemical processes.
Hydraulic action
This is the process by which waves exert pressure on rocks and cliffs, leading to erosion.
Abrasion
the process by which sediment is removed from the coast by the action of waves carrying sediment and other debris, which can cause erosion of the shoreline or cliffs.
Corrosion
is also known as solution, is the process by which waves and currents dissolve soluble rocks, such as limestone or chalk, and carry the dissolved material away, leading to erosion.
Attrition
This is the process by which sediment on the coast is worn down and broken up into smaller pieces by the action of waves and currents, leading to erosion and loss of sediment.
Headlands and bays
are formed along discordant coastlines where alternating bands of hard and soft rocks run perpendicular to oncoming waves.
Cliffs
are steep rock faces formed by the erosion of coastal rock by waves and other processes.
Caves, arches, and stacks
are formed through the erosion of coastal cliffs by waves.
Longshore drift
is a coastal process whereby waves and currents move sediment along the shore in a zigzag pattern parallel to the coastline.
Spits
are long, narrow stretches of sand or sediment that extend from the mainland out into the sea.
tombolo
is a sandbar or spit that connects an island to the mainland.
Bars
are submerged or partially submerged sandbars that form offshore, parallel to the shoreline.
Marine processes
Offshore (water-based)
Terrestrial processes
Onshore (land-based)
Waves
are formed as winds blow over the surface of the sea
Weathering
does not involve the movement of the material; this is what makes it different from erosion
Sub-aerial weathering
describes coastal processes that are not linked to the action of the sea
Mechanical weathering
physically breaks up rock
Chemical weathering
occurs when rocks are broken down by a chemical process
Biological weathering
takes place when rocks are worn away by living organisms:
Mass movement
The downhill movement of material under the influence of gravity
Soil Creep
Common in humid climes with the movement of less than 1cm per year
Flow
Occurs on slopes between 5° and 15° with speeds between 1 to 15km per year
Slide
A movement of material 'en masse' which remains together until hitting the bottom of a slope
Fall
Slopes are steep and movement is rapid
Note 
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