Tectonic Hazards
Year 8 🏔️ Physical Geography Plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and their impacts.
🌋 Plate Tectonics
The Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move on the semi-molten asthenosphere.
Destructive Boundary
Oceanic plate subducts under continental. Creates: ocean trenches, fold mountains, composite volcanoes, earthquakes. e.g. Andes.
Constructive Boundary
Plates diverge, magma fills gap. Creates: mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, shield volcanoes. e.g. Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Conservative Boundary
Plates slide past each other. Creates: earthquakes (no volcanoes). e.g. San Andreas Fault.
Collision Boundary
Two continental plates collide — neither subducts. Creates: fold mountains, earthquakes. e.g. Himalayas.
📊 Impacts and Management
The impact of tectonic hazards depends on economic development, preparation, and location.
Primary Effects
Immediate: buildings collapse, tsunamis, eruptions. Deaths, injuries, infrastructure destroyed.
Secondary Effects
After: disease, homelessness, economic disruption, fires, lahars, landslides.
Prediction
Seismometers monitor tremors. Satellites track ground deformation. Volcanic gases monitored. Evacuation plans prepared.
Protection
Earthquake-proof buildings, exclusion zones near volcanoes, early warning systems, education, insurance.
Data analysis tools for this topic coming soon.
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