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Questions and Answers
What technique did Yacouba Sawadogo develop to combat desertification?
Which organization funded the Africa's Green Wall initiative?
By 2050, what is the projected population of Africa?
What is a challenge posed by high population density in Africa?
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What is the average number of children per woman in Africa?
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What impact does urbanization have on Africa?
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Which country has the highest birth rate in Africa?
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What was the financial cost of the Africa's Green Wall project?
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What does HDI measure in a country?
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Which is a negative impact of the colonial period on Africa's economy?
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What characterizes a savanna biome in Africa?
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What is a significant cause of desertification in the Sahel region?
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Which biomes are present in Africa?
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What role do trade winds play in Africa's climate?
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What is a primary reason for Africa's underdevelopment despite its natural resources?
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The Kalahari Desert is located in which part of Africa?
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What phenomenon occurs when friction is overcome between tectonic plates?
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What is the primary cause of tectonic plate movement according to the convection current theory?
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What term is used to describe the area directly above the earthquake's focus?
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Which of the following characteristics is associated with the Nepal earthquake of 2015?
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What allows for lower fatalities in high-income countries during earthquakes?
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What are pyroclastic flows primarily composed of?
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What is a common method to manage risks for people living in earthquake zones?
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What is a volcanic bomb?
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Where are glaciers predominantly located on Earth?
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What is a key characteristic of regions where glaciers form?
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What type of glacier is characterized by moving down slopes through valleys?
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During an Ice Age, what percentage of the Earth's land surface was covered by ice?
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What process leads to the formation of glacial ice?
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What happens when ablation exceeds accumulation in a glacier?
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What is the term for the end part of a glacier where water is released?
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Which process is NOT a function of glacial movement?
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Which of the following statements accurately describes Ethiopia's geographical challenges?
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What is one key reason for the prevalence of slums in Ethiopia?
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How has the railway project funded by Chinese banks benefited Ethiopia?
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What percentage of Africa's imports does China provide?
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Which of the following highlights a potential risk associated with Chinese investment in Africa?
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What large-scale initiative is China undertaking worldwide that includes investments in Africa?
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What is one major characteristic of life in slums, particularly in Ethiopia?
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Who primarily benefits from Africa's trading relationship with China?
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Study Notes
Plate Tectonics
- Severe earthquakes occur when friction between tectonic plates is overcome.
- The San Andreas Fault in California is an example of a plate boundary where earthquakes occur.
- Two theories explain plate movement:
- Convection currents in the Earth's mantle, driven by internal heat, cause plates to move.
- Gravity pulls heavier, older parts of plates downward, causing them to move (Slab Pull/Ridge Push).
Earthquakes
- Earthquakes are sudden and violent movements of the Earth's surface.
- They occur when tectonic plates slip past each other at fault lines.
- The focus is the point where seismic waves originate, while the epicenter is directly above the focus on the surface.
- Seismic waves are measured by a seismograph, with magnitudes ranging from 0 to 10.
- The 2015 Nepal earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8, causing chaos in the region.
Earthquake Risk Management
- High-income countries have lower earthquake-related death tolls due to:
- Strict building codes and safer construction materials.
- Earthquake-resistant buildings.
- Controlled urbanization.
- Better preparedness and education among citizens.
Volcanoes
- Volcanoes are openings in the Earth's lithosphere where magma rises to the surface.
- Volcanic eruptions release:
- Liquid lava flows.
- Volcanic bombs (solidified molten rock).
- Hot ash and dust.
- Steam and gas.
- Fast-moving, dangerous pyroclastic flows.
Human Development
- The Human Development Index (HDI) measures a country's development levels using income, education, and health indicators.
Africa
- Africa faces challenges like:
- Tribal conflicts, resulting in violence and displacement.
- Poverty, despite abundant natural resources.
- A widening gap between the rich and the poor.
- Slow economic development, attributed to colonialism.
- Africa also offers:
- Vast deserts, rainforests, and savannas.
- Abundant natural resources, exported as raw materials.
African Climate Biomes
- Africa has diverse climate biomes with different vegetation, soil, and wildlife:
- Very desert/semi-desert areas with little rain.
- Savannas with wet and dry seasons.
- Rainforests with year-round rainfall.
- Trade winds influence climate patterns:
- Warm air rises near the equator, resulting in low pressure and rainfall.
- As air moves northward, it cools, decreases in pressure, and results in less rainfall.
The Sahel
- The Sahel is a region in North Africa vulnerable to drought, leading to:
- Crop failure.
- Water scarcity.
- Frequent famines.
- Overgrazing, which depletes vegetation and exacerbates desertification.
- Yacouba Sawadogo, a peasant farmer, developed a technique called Zai to combat desertification.
- Africa's Green Wall is a large-scale reforestation project aiming to restore degraded land in the Sahel.
Population Change in Africa
- Africa's population is estimated to be 1.5 billion, with a high density and a young population.
- The high birth rate is a contributing factor to economic challenges, including:
- Poverty.
- Hunger.
- Limited job opportunities.
- Fewer adult voices.
- However, the young population also presents opportunities:
- Potential for innovation and economic growth.
- A large, cheap labor force.
Urbanization in Africa
- Africa experiences the fastest urbanization rate, leading to:
- Poverty and slums.
- Challenges in providing services like hygiene and water.
- Solutions include:
- Low-cost housing initiatives.
- Infrastructure development, such as railways.
- Attracting multinational companies to create jobs.
China and Africa
- China has invested heavily in infrastructure development in Africa, aiming to:
- Improve access to ports and trade routes.
- Increase trade between China and Africa.
- Extract natural resources from Africa.
- While China's investment brings potential benefits, concerns include:
- Debt traps for African countries.
- Exploitation of African labor.
- China's dominance in trade with Africa.
Glaciers
- Glaciers are large masses of ice formed over centuries by compressed snowfall.
- They are found mostly in Antarctica and Greenland.
- Glaciers contain 75% of the world's freshwater and cover 10% of the Earth's land area.
- Glaciologists study glacier changes and their impact on landscapes.
- Two main types of glaciers exist:
- Alpine glaciers, found on mountain slopes.
- Continental ice sheets, covering larger areas.
Ice Ages
- Ice ages occur when global temperatures are cold enough to form glaciers and ice sheets.
- During the last ice age, the Earth was about 5°C colder than today.
- Ice covered approximately 30% of Earth's land surface during that period.
Formation and Movement of Glaciers
- Glaciers form in cold, snowy regions above the snowline.
- Snow accumulates and compresses under its own weight, transforming into ice.
- Gravity causes glaciers to flow downslope.
- Glaciers advance when accumulation exceeds ablation (melting and loss).
- Glaciers retreat when ablation exceeds accumulation.
Glacial Landscapes
- Glaciers sculpt landscapes through weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition.
- They carve valleys, form U-shaped valleys, create moraines, and deposit sediment.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts in plate tectonics and earthquake mechanics, including the causes of earthquakes, the role of tectonic plates, and risk management strategies. Test your knowledge on seismic waves, fault lines, and significant earthquake events.
