physical geography november

storm surge

abnormal rise in sea level accompanying intense storms. Estimated by subtracting normal high tide from observed storm tide

vulnerability science

circumstances that put people/places at risk, what enhances or reduces ability of populations to bounce back

physical

potential for physical impact on built environment

economic

potential impacts of hazards on economic assets/processes

social

impact on minority groups (characteristics within social systems that create potential for loss)

environmental

potential impacts of events on the environment

climate

weather over time

weather

place’s state of atmosphere during a particular time

greenhouse forcing

measure of how much Earths energy balance is disrupted by factors such as greenhouse gases

positive forcing

warming caused by net increase in incoming energy compared to outgoing

negative forcing

cooling effect where more energy is reflected than absorbed

geomorphology

study of physical features on earth's surface

lithosphere

cool, rigid outer portion of earth

mineral

inorganic natural compound with crystalline structure

rock

minerals bound together

igneous

created when lava solidifies

sedimentary

from layered sediments

metamorphic

chemical structure changed by extreme heat/pressure

intrusive igneous

cools and solidifies below earths surface

extrusive igneous

cools on surface (associated with volcanic activity)

plate tectonics

large slabs of lithosphere

seafloor spreading

plates drift from each other and move causing upwelling of magma

subduction

oceanic crust diverges from earths mantle.

normal fault

fracture between two blocks of rock