Hazards

Question 1

What is a natural hazard?

Answer 1

A natural event that threatens people or has a large social impact.

Question 2

What are some examples of natural hazards

Answer 2

earthquake, flood, storm

Question 3

What are the three main types of natural hazards?

Answer 3

Geological, Atmospheric, Hydrological

Question 4

What is an example of a Geological natural hazard?

Answer 4

earthquakes, volcanoes

Question 5

What is an example of Atmospheric natural hazard?

Answer 5

storms, droughts

Question 6

What is an example of a Hydrological natural hazard?

Answer 6

flooding

Question 7

What factors affect hazard risk?

Answer 7

Urbanisation, poverty, climate change, and farming on vulnerable land.

Question 8

What are the three main plate boundaries?

Answer 8

Constructive, destructive, conservative.

Question 9

What happens at a constructive plate boundary?

Answer 9

Plates move apart, magma rises, new crust forms (e.g. Mid‑Atlantic Ridge).

Question 10

What happens at a destructive plate boundary?

Answer 10

Oceanic plate subducts under continental plate, causing earthquakes and volcanoes (e.g. Andes).

Question 11

What happens at a conservative plate boundary?

Answer 11

Plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes (e.g. San Andreas Fault).

Question 12

Case study – Amatrice earthquake (2016)

Answer 12

HIC, 6.2 magnitude, 299 deaths, quick recovery.

Question 13

Case study – Nepal earthquake (2015).

Answer 13

LIC, 7.8 magnitude, 9,000 deaths, weak infrastructure, slow recovery.

Question 14

Why do people live in hazardous areas?

Answer 14

Fertile soils, tourism, geothermal energy, lack of choice.

Question 15

What drives global atmospheric circulation?

Answer 15

Differences in temperature between the equator and poles, creating cells and prevailing winds.

Question 16

What are tropical storms?

Answer 16

Intense low‑pressure systems with strong winds and heavy rain, forming over warm oceans (>27°C).

Question 17

Case study – Typhoon Haiyan (2013).

Answer 17

Philippines, 6,000 deaths, 4 million displaced, international aid provided.

Question 18

How can tropical storm impacts be reduced?

Answer 18

Monitoring, prediction, planning (evacuation), protection (storm shelters).

Question 19

Example of UK extreme weather.

Answer 19

Storm Desmond (2015) - 341mm rain, 4000 homes flooded, 100 bridges collapse.

Question 20

What is the evidence for climate change?

Answer 20

Rising global temperatures, shrinking glaciers, sea level rise, seasonal changes.

Question 21

What are natural causes of climate change?

Answer 21

Orbital changes, volcanic activity, solar output.

Question 22

What are human causes of climate change?

Answer 22

Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture.

Question 23

What are the effects of climate change?

Answer 23

Rising sea levels, extreme weather, desertification, threats to food security.

Question 24

How can climate change be mitigated?

Answer 24

Renewable energy, carbon capture, afforestation, international agreements (Paris Agreement).

Question 25

How can we adapt to climate change?

Answer 25

Building flood defences, changing farming practices, managing water supplies.

Question 26

What is convection in the mantle?

Answer 26

Heat from the Earth’s core causes mantle material to rise, cool, and sink, driving plate movement.

Question 27

What is ridge push?

Answer 27

At constructive margins, newly formed hot crust pushes plates apart as it cools and becomes denser.

Question 28

What is slab pull?

Answer 28

At destructive margins, the dense oceanic plate sinks into the mantle, pulling the rest of the plate with it.

Question 29

What are hot spots?

Answer 29

Areas where plumes of hot mantle rise, creating volcanoes away from plate boundaries (e.g. Hawaii).

Question 30

Why are earthquakes and volcanoes found at destructive margins?

Answer 30

Subduction causes friction (earthquakes) and melting of oceanic crust, producing magma (volcanoes).

Question 31

Why does Japan have many volcanoes?

Answer 31

It lies on the “Ring of Fire” where several plates meet, causing frequent subduction.

Question 32

What is an example of a Japanese volcano?

Answer 32

Mount Fuji – iconic stratovolcano formed at a destructive margin.

Question 33

How is geothermal energy produced?

Answer 33

Heat from magma heats water underground, producing steam to drive turbines.

Question 34

Why is geothermal energy common in Iceland?

Answer 34

It lies on a constructive margin with abundant volcanic activity and hot rocks near the surface.

Question 35

What is monitoring and prediction in hazard management?

Answer 35

Using seismometers, satellites, and gas sensors to detect signs of earthquakes or eruptions.

Question 36

What is planning in hazard management?

Answer 36

Preparing evacuation routes, emergency supplies, and public education.

Question 37

What is protection in hazard management?

Answer 37

Building earthquake‑resistant structures, sea walls, and shelters.

Question 38

What drives global atmospheric circulation?

Answer 38

Heat from the equator rising, creating convection cells that redistribute energy.

Question 39

What are convection cells?

Answer 39

Large loops of air movement that control climate and wind patterns. (Hadley, Ferrel, Polar cells)

Question 40

Where is the Hadley Cell located?

Answer 40

Between the equator (0°) and about 30° latitude north and south.

Question 41

How does the Hadley Cell work?

Answer 41

Warm air rises at the equator, creating low pressure. It cools and sinks at 30°, creating high pressure.

Question 42

How can satellites reduce effects of tropical storms?

Answer 42

Track cloud patterns and storm development to give early warnings.

Question 43

How can aircraft reduce effects of tropical storms?

Answer 43

Fly into storms to collect data on wind speed, pressure, and rainfall for prediction.

Question 44

How does prediction reduce effects of tropical storms?

Answer 44

Accurate forecasts allow evacuation, preparation, and reduced loss of life.

Question 45

How can the causes of climate change be reduced?

Answer 45

Use renewable energy, afforestation, carbon capture, reduce deforestation, international agreements.

Question 46

How can climate change be managed through adaptation?

Answer 46

Build flood defences, change farming practices, manage water supplies, design climate‑resilient cities.