Natural Disasters and Environmental Hazards Flashcards
7 cards from real Environmental Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Natural Disasters and Environmental Hazards flashcards as text
Which type of natural hazard is primarily caused by the movement of tectonic plates along fault lines?
Answer: Earthquakes
Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy as tectonic plates slip or fracture along fault lines.
The Richter scale is used to measure which characteristic of an earthquake?
Answer: Magnitude (energy released)
The Richter scale quantifies the magnitude, or total energy released, by an earthquake using seismograph readings.
Which atmospheric condition is the primary driver for the formation of a hurricane?
Answer: Warm ocean surface temperatures above 79°F (26°C)
Hurricanes require warm ocean surface water (at least 26°C/79°F) to provide the heat and moisture energy that fuels their development.
A tsunami is most commonly triggered by which event?
Answer: A large submarine earthquake or undersea landslide
Most tsunamis are generated by large submarine earthquakes that displace the ocean floor, causing a series of powerful waves.
What is the term for the geographic zone around a volcano where the most severe pyroclastic hazards are likely to occur?
Answer: Exclusion zone
An exclusion zone is the designated area around an active volcano where access is restricted due to the high risk of pyroclastic flows, ash fall, and lahars.
Which type of flood occurs with little or no warning due to intense, localized rainfall in a short period?
Answer: Flash flood
Flash floods develop rapidly—often within six hours—due to intense rainfall over a small area, leaving little time for warning or evacuation.
The 'fire triangle' concept describes the three elements required for a wildfire to ignite and spread. Which set correctly identifies these elements?
Answer: Heat, fuel, and oxygen
The fire triangle consists of heat (ignition source), fuel (combustible vegetation or materials), and oxygen, all of which must be present simultaneously for combustion.