Tectonics Mid Unit Test

• What is a natural hazard?

  extreme natural events that can cause loss of life, extreme damage to property and disrupt human activities.
• What makes countries vulnerable


  poor health services, lack of emergency services and poorly built houses and structures.
• Why do some people live in hazardous areas

  economic benefits such as resources and jobs, not wanting to leave because of family ties, not thinking the risk is great enough, and practical reasons such as not having enough money to move
• Types of volcano and volcanic hazards and Mount Merapi Example

  There are mainly four types of volcanoes: shield, composite (or stratovolcanoes), cinder cone, and lava dome. Volcanic hazards include pyroclastic flows, lahars, ashfall, and volcanic gases. Mount Merapi in Indonesia is a composite volcano known for its frequent eruptions and associated hazards, such as pyroclastic flows and lahars, which pose significant risks to nearby communities.
• Predicting and planning for earthquakes

  Earthquakes are hard to predict, so planning ahead is key. We can build stronger buildings, set up warning systems, teach people what to do during a quake, and practice drills. These steps help keep us safer when earthquakes happen.
• Moment Magnitude Scale

  The moment magnitude scale measures the energy released by an earthquake, focusing on the actual seismic waves. It provides a more accurate assessment of an earthquake's strength compared to the Richter scale.
• Mercalli Scale

  The Mercalli scale, on the other hand, measures the intensity of shaking and the damage caused by an earthquake at a specific location. It uses Roman numerals to rate the effects on people, buildings, and the environment.
• Plate boundaries and hot spots

  Plate boundaries are where tectonic plates meet. There are three types: where plates move apart, collide, or slide past each other. Hot spots are where magma rises from deep within the Earth, creating volcanoes.
• Earthquake formation and tsunamis and Haiti 2010/ Japan 2011

  Both the Haiti 2010 and Japan 2011 earthquakes were caused by the shifting of tectonic plates. In Haiti, the Caribbean Plate and North American Plate collided, while in Japan, the Pacific Plate slipped beneath the North American Plate. These movements triggered tsunamis, massive waves that caused widespread destruction, especially in Japan.
• Distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes, inc. continental drift

  Earthquakes and volcanoes are mainly found where tectonic plates meet. When plates move apart or collide, earthquakes happen. Volcanoes form where plates separate or collide too, causing magma to rise. This is why most earthquakes and volcanoes occur along plate boundaries.