Volcanoes & Earthquakes
What is the name of the point where an earthquake starts?
This is the hypocenter/focus.
What natural disaster is most similar to avalanches and why?
Landslides are most similar to avalanches. They happen when shifts happen leading to falling objects on land, while avalanches happen in snow.
What are two differences between weather and climate?
Weather happens over a short period of time and a small location.
Climate happens over a long period of time and a large geographic location.
Weather can also change rapidly, while climate takes a long time to change.
What is the name of a cloud that we see on Earth's surface?
Fog.
What gas makes us 80% of our atmosphere?
*Bonus: What does it do? (+100)
Nitrogen makes up 80% of our atmosphere.
It helps keep the Oxygen from being too much (causing fires), helps balance pressure in our bodies, and in decomposition processes.
Which type of volcano has high viscosity lava and very explosive eruptions?
This is a composite (strata) volcano.
What is the name for a large rotating storm with high speed winds that forms over warm waters in tropical areas?
This is a hurricane.
What slows down wind moving above land?
This is friction.
Which type of clouds do we see that look like thin, fibrous sheets covering the sky? They can help predict upcoming storms.
These are altostratus clouds.
What layer of the atmosphere is most affected by climate change?
Most affected is the ozone layer, which is located in the stratosphere and helps block the sun's harmful rays.
Which is more dangerous to humans - lava or pyroclastic flow?
Pyroclastic flow is more dangerous, as it is made of ash, hot gases, and tephra. It can be 400*C+ and move at speeds above 100 km/h. Lava is very slow-moving comparatively, although it can be over 1000*C.
What is a natural disaster?
Natural disasters are naturally occurring events on Earth that cause great damage or loss of life.
How does an anemometer work?
A sensor in the anemometer measures the rotations caused by wind over a certain period of time (1 min, 5 min).
How do clouds form?
Clouds form when water vapor in the air reaches its dew point (100% RH) and condenses into water droplets.
What are the 5 layers of the atmosphere starting from Earth's surface?
1. Troposphere
2. Stratosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Thermosphere
5. Exosphere
What are two reasons why hot spot volcanoes can form in an area?
1. The crust is very thin (oceanic crust, 5-8 km).
2. A plume of very hot magma has risen from the Earth's core and burned a hole in the crust.
Do all droughts have to lead to famine? Explain why or why not.
All droughts do not lead to famine if governments respond appropriately. We can look at the case of Somaliland after 1998, when organizations built long rock walls and planted trees to hold fertile soil in place, keeping strong land for when the next drought approached in 2011.
What kind of weather do we see if we have high pressure? Why?
We will see good, sunny weather because the molecules are very dense and heavy, so will sink down and heat up as they move away from the atmosphere. This will cause our bucket (the amount of water the air can hold) to expand or get bigger. This will make our relative humidity go down, leading to no clouds and sunny weather.
Which type of clouds are large and tall with gray coloring at the base and whiter, anvil-shaped tops? These clouds bring heavy rain, snow/hail, and thunderstorms.
These are cumulonimbus clouds.
What are four reasons we need our atmosphere?
1. Keeps a good temperature.
2. Keeps a good pressure.
3. Protects us from meteors.
4. Protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
5. Keeps our Oxygen.
Describe the order of seismic waves during an earthquake.
*Bonus: (500) Which type is fastest and which type is most dangerous?
First, P (Primary) waves, which are fastest and can go through any type of material.
Second, S (Secondary) waves going through solids only.
Last, Surface waves which are most dangerous and destructive once they hit the top of the crust.
Are natural disasters only dangerous when they are occurring or after as well?
Give a specific example to explain your answer.
Afterwards - natural disasters can destroy roads, schools, and hospitals. Ex: 2004 earthquake, 9.1 MMS, which caused a tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and led to over 230,000 deaths, mainly from lack of clean drinking water and access to hospitals.
Describe the weather outside today.
Include temperature, relative humidity, clouds, wind, and pressure.
Do we often have clouds at Abaarso in the morning during January? Why or why not?
We often do have clouds because it is colder, so our bucket (RH) shrinks, leading it to overflow and make water droplets.
Why does our atmosphere stay where it is?
Because of gravity, our atmosphere does not float off into outer space. It is made of gas molecules, which have mass.