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Tectonic Hazards

The document provides an overview of tectonic hazards, detailing the Earth's structure, plate tectonics, and types of plate boundaries that lead to earthquakes and volcanoes. It highlights the causes and effects of earthquakes, including a case study of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Key concepts include the movement of tectonic plates, the measurement of seismic activity, and the impact of natural hazards, particularly on less economically developed countries.

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14 views2 pages

Tectonic Hazards

The document provides an overview of tectonic hazards, detailing the Earth's structure, plate tectonics, and types of plate boundaries that lead to earthquakes and volcanoes. It highlights the causes and effects of earthquakes, including a case study of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Key concepts include the movement of tectonic plates, the measurement of seismic activity, and the impact of natural hazards, particularly on less economically developed countries.

Uploaded by

george998niss
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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🌍 Physical Geography – Lesson 1: Tectonic Hazards

📖 Key Ideas Explained Clearly

1. Structure of the Earth

 Core – very hot, made of iron and nickel (inner = solid, outer = liquid).
 Mantle – semi-molten rock (magma), moves slowly.
 Crust – thin outer layer, broken into tectonic plates.

2. Plate Tectonics

The Earth's crust is split into tectonic plates. These float on the mantle and move due
to convection currents caused by heat from the core.

3. Plate Boundaries (Where earthquakes/volcanoes happen)

Type What Happens Hazards Example


Oceanic plate subducts under Volcanoes, Nazca & South
Destructive
continental plate earthquakes American
Constructive Plates move apart, magma rises Volcanoes Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Conservative Plates slide past each other Earthquakes only San Andreas Fault
Earthquakes,
Collision Two continental plates collide Himalayas
mountains

4. Earthquakes

 Caused by a sudden release of pressure at plate boundaries.


 Measured using the Richter Scale (magnitude) and Mercalli Scale (impacts).

5. Volcanoes

 Form at destructive and constructive boundaries.


 Magma rises and erupts through the crust.

6. Case Study Example: Haiti Earthquake (2010)

 Magnitude: 7.0
 Primary effects: 230,000 deaths, buildings collapsed.
 Secondary effects: Cholera outbreak, aid difficulties.
 Responses: International aid, rebuilding efforts.
📌 Recap Notes
 Tectonic hazards = natural hazards caused by movement of Earth's plates.
 Earthquakes and volcanoes mainly happen at plate boundaries.
 4 boundary types: destructive, constructive, conservative, collision.
 Earthquakes = sudden energy release.
 Volcanoes = magma rising to the surface.
 LICs suffer more due to weaker infrastructure and slower responses.

🧠 Flashcards
Q: What causes tectonic plates to move?
A: Convection currents in the mantle.

Q: What is a destructive plate boundary?


A: When an oceanic plate sinks under a continental plate.

Q: Which type of plate boundary causes only earthquakes?


A: Conservative.

Q: Give a primary effect of the Haiti earthquake.


A: Buildings collapsed, 230,000 people died.

Q: What is the difference between the Richter and Mercalli scales?


A: Richter = magnitude, Mercalli = impact.

Would you like:

 A quick quiz to test this?


 A printable summary page?
 To move to the next topic (e.g. Weather Hazards)?

Let me know what works best for you!

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