Earth and Life: Natural Hazards

Study Notes

Earth and Life Overview

Archeologists conduct excavations, which involve digging into the land to uncover historical artifacts.
Mining involves extracting valuable minerals and resources from the earth.

Natural Hazards in the Philippines

Northern Luzon and Visayas are frequently impacted by typhoons, which are powerful storms characterized as hydro meteorological hazards.
Typhoons can evolve into super typhoons with extremely high wind speeds.
Tropical storms fall under the category of hydro meteorological hazards.

Coastal Erosion and Tsunamis

Waves break at the shore and carry sand, which leads to beach abrasion.
Tsunamis may occur as a result of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions on the seafloor.

Environmental Changes

Extreme global temperatures can cause land submersion.
To mitigate saltwater intrusion, it is recommended to cease using well water for freshwater supply.
Coastal erosion results in the loss of materials from the shoreline.

Earth's Unique Characteristics

Earth stands out for its abundant liquid water.
The atmosphere comprises essential elements such as oxygen, vital for life.

Geological Components

Mica is a common rock-forming mineral found in various types of rocks.
Ozone absorbs high-energy radiation in the atmosphere, protecting life on Earth.
The biosphere encompasses all living organisms on the planet.

Atmospheric Layers

The atmosphere is structured in layers: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.

Rock Formation and Types

Diamonds are classified as minerals with the capability to scratch other minerals.
Igneous rocks form through cooling and solidification, while metamorphic rocks undergo transformation.
Extrusive igneous rocks cool quickly on the Earth’s surface, whereas granite is an example of intrusive igneous rock, formed beneath the surface.
Phaneritic rocks are characterized by large crystal sizes, indicating slow cooling processes.

Geological Processes

Plate tectonics refer to the movement of Earth's crust, contributing to geological activity.
Discordant plate boundaries result in a transform fault where rocks slide past one another.
Divergent boundaries between two continental plates create rift valleys.

Fossil Dating and Geological Time

Superposition principle holds that older rock layers are located beneath younger layers.
Fossils can be dated using isotopes, such as carbon-14 for absolute dating, a method also known as radiometric dating.
The law of original horizontality states that sedimentary rock layers are originally deposited in flat, horizontal layers.

Risks from Natural Disasters

Surigao del Sur is identified as a high-risk area for earthquakes.
Albay is noted for an increased risk of volcanic eruptions.
Liquefaction can occur during severe earthquakes, leading to soil instability.

Landslide Dynamics

Excavation refers to the process of digging into the ground for construction or archaeological purposes.
Landslides can be mitigated through hard stabilization methods, which may not always occur rapidly.

Description

Test your knowledge on various natural hazards, including typhoons and tsunamis, as well as geological processes like abrasion and submersion. This quiz explores the impact of earth and life dynamics, especially in the context of the Philippines. Challenge yourself to understand the interactions between human activities and natural events.