Hazards

• What is adaptation in the context of climate change?


  Responding to climate change by coming up with ways to live and cope with the effects.
• What does atmospheric circulation refer to?


  The general movements of air around the Earth due to pressure and temperature.
• What is an atmospheric hazard?


  Hazards caused by the weather and processes in the atmosphere.
• What does Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) involve?


  The process of capturing carbon dioxide that would normally be emitted into the atmosphere and storing it underground in reservoirs.
• How is climate change defined?


  A distinct change in global or regional patterns of climate, such as changes in temperature or precipitation patterns.
• What is a conservative plate margin?


  A plate margin where two plates are moving alongside each other.
• What is a constructive plate margin?


  A plate margin where two plates are moving away from each other.
• What is the continental crust?


  The thicker, less dense crust that makes up the continents.
• What is a convection current?


  The movement of a fluid caused by a difference in temperature or density.
• What is the Coriolis Effect?


  The effect of the Earth’s rotation on wind movements.
• What is a cyclone?

  A tropical storm that hits Oceania or Madagascar.
• What is a destructive plate margin?


  A plate margin where two plates are moving towards each other.
• What does eccentricity refer to in Earth's orbit?


  The changing of the orbit of the Earth around the Sun from a circular shape to an ellipse.
• What is the eye of a tropical storm?


  An area of a tropical storm with extremely low pressure and calm conditions.
• What is the eyewall in a tropical storm?


  An area of a tropical storm with the most intense, powerful winds and torrential rain.
• What happens in the Ferrel Cell?


  At around 60° either side of the equator, moist air rises, and travels to lower latitudes at around 30° where it sinks, along with air travelling from the equator.
• What are fossil fuels?


  Fuels made up of the remains of organic material, such as oil, coal and gas.
• What is a geological hazard?


  A hazard caused by processes on the land.
• What are greenhouse gases?


  Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap energy in the Earth’s system and contribute to the greenhouse effect.
• What is the Hadley Cell?


  At the equator, hot moist air rises, moves to higher latitudes (30°) and sinks.
• What is hazard risk?

  The probability that a natural hazard will negatively affect a population.
• What is a hotspot in geological terms?


  An area where unusually hot magma breaks through the middle of a plate and travels up to the surface, creating a volcano.
• What is a hurricane?


  A tropical storm that hits the USA, Latin America or the Caribbean.
• What is a hydrological hazard?


  A hazard caused by the movement of water on the land.
• What is an ice core?


  A cylinder of ice extracted from an ice sheet or glacier, which is used to analyse past environmental conditions.
• What are immediate responses to hazards?


  Actions taken as soon as the hazard happens and in its immediate aftermath.
• What are long-term responses to hazards?


  Actions taken after the immediate responses when the effects of the hazard have been minimised.
• What is magma?


  Molten rock found beneath the Earth’s surface.
• What is the mantle in geological terms?


  The area underneath the crust which contains magma.
• What is a marine sediment core?


  A cylinder of ocean sediments removed from the ocean floor, which is used to analyse past environmental conditions.
• What are Milankovitch Cycles?


  The cyclical variations in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
• What is mitigation in the context of climate change?


  Reducing the severity or seriousness of climate change impacts.
• What is the mantle?


  The area underneath the crust which contains magma.
• What is a marine sediment core?


  A cylinder of ocean sediments removed from the ocean floor.
• What is the purpose of a marine sediment core?


  It is used to analyze past environmental conditions.
• What does mitigation refer to in the context of climate change?


  Reducing the causes of climate change to slow or stop it.
• What is monitoring in relation to natural hazards?


  Detecting and recording physical changes and warning signs of a hazard.
• What is a natural hazard?


  A naturally occurring event that is a threat to a population.
• What is obliquity (or axial tilt)?


  The tilt of the Earth’s axis, which changes from 21.5° to 24.5°.
• What is oceanic crust?


  The thinner, denser crust that makes up the ocean floor.