Geography

• What geological feature is associated with the mid-Atlantic ridge in Iceland?


  Volcano
• What is the difference between continental and oceanic lithosphere?


  Continental lithosphere is thick but light, while oceanic lithosphere is thin but heavy
• What drives the movement of tectonic plates?


  Convection currents in the mantle
• What happens to the denser oceanic plate during subduction?


  It goes underneath the continental plate
• What geological events are caused by friction between tectonic plates?


  Strong earthquakes
• What is the composition of the Earth's crust?


  A mixture of rocks and minerals
• How thick can the crust be beneath land masses?


  Up to 40 miles
• How thick can oceanic crust be?


  As thin as 3 miles
• Why is oceanic crust denser than continental crust?


  Because it is made of heavier materials
• How thick is the mantle?


  1,500 miles thick
• What state does the mantle exist in?


  Solid rocks that flow like a thick, slow-moving liquid
• What causes the flow of the mantle?

  Intense heat from the Earth's interior
• What are the temperature ranges in the mantle?


  From 530°C in the outermost mantle to 3,870°C in the innermost mantle
• How thick is the outer core?


  1,400 miles thick
• What metals make up the outer core?


  Iron and nickel
• What state is the outer core in due to high temperatures?


  Molten state
• How dense is the inner core?


  A dense ball of iron
• What is the temperature of the inner core?


  5,500°C
• What prevents the inner core from melting despite high temperatures?


  Intense pressure from the Earth
• How does the depth of focus affect earthquake damage?


  The shallower the focus, the more energy to cause damage
• How does distance from the epicenter affect earthquake magnitude perception?


  The closer to the epicenter, the greater the magnitude felt
• What are the primary effects of earthquakes at convergence plate boundaries?

  • Ground shaking
  • Damage to buildings
  • Loss of life
• What are the secondary effects of earthquakes?


  • Landslides
  • Job losses
  • Infrastructure damage
• What was the magnitude of the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010?


  1. 0
• What were some of the primary effects of the Haiti earthquake in 2010?


  220,000 deaths and 300,000 injuries
• What was the impact on housing in Haiti after the earthquake?


  250,000 homes were destroyed
• What outbreak occurred in Haiti due to the earthquake?


  Cholera outbreak infecting 216,000 people
• What was the magnitude of the earthquake in New Zealand on November 14, 2016?


  1. 8
• What were some of the primary effects of the New Zealand earthquake in 2016?


  20,000 injuries and 2 deaths
• What infrastructure was damaged in New Zealand due to the earthquake?


  190 km of road and 200 km of rail network were destroyed
• What caused flooding in New Zealand after the earthquake?


  A landslide blocked the Clarence River
• What was the height of the tsunami that affected New Zealand?


  5 meters high
• What are the differences in earthquake impacts between Haiti and New Zealand?


  • Haiti had more deaths and injuries due to poorer infrastructure
  • New Zealand had better preparedness and response
  • Economic recovery was slower in Haiti
• What is a common consequence of earthquakes in terms of employment?


  People lose their jobs due to destruction of businesses
• What is a significant health concern following earthquakes?


  Increased healthcare needs due to injuries
• What are some methods used to prepare for earthquakes?


  • Hazard maps for evacuation routes
  • Earthquake drills for practice
  • Building codes for earthquake-resistant structures
• How does global atmospheric circulation affect weather patterns?


  It creates high and low-pressure systems
• Why is the equator warmer than the poles?


  Because it receives more solar radiation
• What happens to air as it rises in the atmosphere?


  It cools and condenses to form clouds
• What is the pressure at high altitudes?


  Low pressure