Geography definitions

?
Context hazard
Widespread (global) threat due to environmental factors such as climate change
1 of 29
Geophysical hazard
A hazard formed by tectonic/geological processes
2 of 29
Hydro - meteorological hazards
A hazard formed by hydrological and atmospheric processes
3 of 29
Hazard
A perceived natural event which has the potential to threaten both life and property
4 of 29
Vulnerability
A high risk combined with an inability of individuals and communities to cope
5 of 29
Disaster
A hazard becoming a reality in an eventt that causes death and destruction to property
6 of 29
Risk
The probability of a hazard event occurring and created loss of life and livelihood
7 of 29
Albedo
How much solar radiation a surface reflects
8 of 29
climate change
any long term trend or shift in climactic event a sustained shift in the average value for any climactic event
9 of 29
enhanced greenhouse effect
This occurs when the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase owing to human activity
10 of 29
Fossil fuels
Energy sources that are rich in carbon and which release carbon dioxide when burnt
11 of 29
Global warming
A recently measured rise in the average surface temperature of the planet
12 of 29
Greenhouse effect
The warming of the Earth’s atmosphere due to the trapping of heat that would otherwise be radiated back into space – it enabled the survival of life on Earth.
13 of 29
Tipping point
The point at which a system switches from one state to another
14 of 29
Tipping point
Where the output of a system acts to amplify (positive) or reduce (negative) further output (e.g. the melting of Arctic permafrost leads to the release of trapped methane which leads to further global warming)
15 of 29
Frequency
How often an event of a certain size (magnitude) occurs.
16 of 29
Magnitude
The size of the event (e.g. size of an earthquake on the Richter scale)The size of the event (e.g. size of an earthquake on the Richter scale)
17 of 29
Asthenosphere
A semi-molten zone of rock underlying the Earth’s crust
18 of 29
Conservative boundary
A boundary between plates where the movement of the plates is parallel to the plate margin and the plates slide past each other.
19 of 29
Constructive boundary
A boundary between plates where the plates are diverging or moving apart
20 of 29
Destructive boundary
A boundary between plates where the plates are converging (moving together)
21 of 29
Lithosphere
The crust of the Earth, around 80-90km thick
22 of 29
Magma
: Molten material that rises towards the Earth’s surface when hotspots within the asthenosphere generate convection currents
23 of 29
natural hazard
a natural event or process which affects people e.g. causing loss of life or injury, economic damage, disruption to people’s lives or environmental degradation
24 of 29
Plates
Rigid, less dense ‘slabs’ of rock floating on the asthenosphere
25 of 29
Hotspot (geological)
A localised area of the Earth’s crust with an unusually high temperature
26 of 29
Hotspot
A place with a vulnerable population that suffers from two or more hazards
27 of 29
Plume
An upwelling of abnormally hot rock within the Earth’s mantle
28 of 29
Inter - tropical convergence zone
A zone of low atmospheric pressure near the equator. This migrates seasonally
29 of 29

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

A hazard formed by tectonic/geological processes

Back

Geophysical hazard

Card 3

Front

A hazard formed by hydrological and atmospheric processes

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A perceived natural event which has the potential to threaten both life and property

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

A high risk combined with an inability of individuals and communities to cope

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Geography resources:

See all Geography resources »See all World at risk resources »