Natural Hazards: Volcanic Risks and Mitigation

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary effect of a natural hazard?

The secondary effects that occur later

The immediate damage caused to property

The loss of life caused immediately (correct)

The long-term disruption to human activities

What is the main factor that contributes to the movement of tectonic plates?

The rotation of the Earth

The weight of the oceanic plates

The pressure from the Earth's crust

Convection currents from the heat in the core (correct)

What is the purpose of long-term responses to tectonic hazards?

To reduce the likelihood of the hazard occurring in the future (correct)

To measure the effects of the hazard

To provide immediate relief to affected areas

To predict the exact location of the hazard

What is the term for the process of older plates sinking into the mantle?

Slab Pull Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between oceanic and continental plates?

Oceanic plates are thinner and denser, while continental plates are thicker and lighter Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of seismometers?

To monitor earth movement Signup and view all the answers

What is a method of protecting buildings from earthquakes?

Using base isolators Signup and view all the answers

Why do people often live in areas of natural hazard risk?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What type of plate movement causes fold mountains and earthquakes?

Collision plate movement Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a volcano that occurs away from a plate boundary?

Hotspot Signup and view all the answers

What is a method of predicting earthquakes?

Observing monitoring data Signup and view all the answers

What is a method of preparing for earthquakes?

Training for emergency services Signup and view all the answers

What was the magnitude of the earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015?

7.8 Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary effect of the earthquake in Nepal?

Death and destruction Signup and view all the answers

What was the estimated total cost of the earthquake in Nepal?

$5 billion Signup and view all the answers

What type of plate boundary is responsible for the earthquake in Nepal?

Destructive plate boundary Signup and view all the answers

What was the immediate response of the UK to the earthquake in Nepal?

Sending 100 search and rescue responders and providing medical supplies and tents Signup and view all the answers

What was the long-term response of the Asian Development Bank to the earthquake in Nepal?

Providing $3 million in aid Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of cold air from Russia over the UK in 2018?

A long period of heavy snow and cold weather Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence of the severe weather conditions during the Beast from the East?

Thousand of schools closed and hospital operations were cancelled Signup and view all the answers

What was the lowest temperature recorded in rural areas during the Beast from the East?

-12C Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the Royal Air Force during the Beast from the East?

To transport doctors and stranded patients Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the natural causes of climate change?

Orbital changes – Milankovitch cycles Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for reducing or preventing the effects of climate change?

Mitigation Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of volcanic aerosols on global temperatures?

They reflect sunlight away and reduce global temperatures temporarily Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of deforestation on atmospheric CO2 levels?

When cut down, trees absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

What is the potency of nitrogen oxides compared to CO2?

265x as potent as CO2 Signup and view all the answers

How do ice cores provide evidence for climate change?

They show changes in atmospheric CO2 levels over the last 400,000 years Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of tree rings in climate change research?

They provide reliable evidence for the last 10,000 years Signup and view all the answers

How far back do historical temperature records date?

185 years Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Natural Hazards

Volcanoes give off gases, and protection measures include reinforced buildings, base isolators, and automatic shut-offs for gas and electricity
Prediction and monitoring data can allow for evacuation before an event
Avoid building in at-risk areas, and training for emergency services, planned evacuation routes, and drills are essential

Why People Live in Areas of Hazard Risk

Fertile soils from volcanoes make excellent areas for growing crops
Lack of education leads to unawareness of risks in such areas
Poverty makes it difficult for people to afford to move away from hazardous areas
Tourism provides jobs in these areas, and some areas are well-prepared, making people feel safe

Tectonic Plate Movement

Conservative plates slide past each other, forming earthquakes
Collision of two continental plates creates fold mountains and earthquakes
Some volcanoes (hotspots) occur away from plate boundaries where the crust is thinner

Case Study: Beast from the East (2018)

A long period of heavy snow and cold weather
10 people died, thousands of schools closed, and hospital operations were cancelled
National grid issued a gas deficit warning, and some supermarkets faced food shortages
Rail and air services were cancelled, and roads were blocked

Managing Climate Change

Climate change is both natural and human-induced
Evidence for climate change shows changes before humans existed, but the rate of change since the 1970s is unprecedented
Mitigation strategies aim to reduce or prevent effects

Causes of Climate Change

Natural orbital changes (Milankovitch cycles) cause temperature fluctuations
Solar output (sunspots) fluctuates, and volcanic activity releases CO2
Human activities: fossil fuel burning, agricultural practices, deforestation, and dumping waste contribute to climate change

Evidence for Climate Change

Ice cores from Antarctica show changes over the last 400,000 years
Tree rings provide reliable evidence for the last 10,000 years
Photographic evidence shows glaciers retreating over the past 50-100 years

What are Natural Hazards?

Extreme natural events that can cause loss of life, property damage, and disrupt human activities
Types of hazards include tectonic, climate, and other natural phenomena

Theories of Plate Movement

Convection currents: movement within the mantle from the heat from the core
Slab pull and ridge push: older plates sink into the mantle, pulling newer plates along

Plate Boundaries

Constructive: plates move away from each other, creating new land and volcanoes
Destructive: plates move towards each other, forming volcanoes and earthquakes

Responses to Tectonic Hazards

Immediate responses: rescue efforts, provision of aid, and temporary shelters
Long-term responses: reducing the likelihood of future events, rebuilding, and introducing new safety measures

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Description

This quiz covers the challenges of natural hazards, particularly volcanic risks, and measures to mitigate them, such as protection, prediction, and preparedness.