Earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes with cause and key facts, distinct from the cloud and weather-pattern deck.
35 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What causes earthquakes?
- Movement of tectonic plates sliding past, colliding with, or separating from each other
- What is the Richter scale?
- A scale that measures the magnitude of an earthquake based on the amplitude of seismic waves recorded by instruments
- What is the moment magnitude scale?
- A scale that measures earthquake magnitude based on the total energy released by the earthquake
- Where do most earthquakes occur?
- Along plate boundaries where tectonic plates meet
- What is the epicenter of an earthquake?
- The point on Earth's surface directly above where the earthquake originates underground
- What is the focus (or hypocenter) of an earthquake?
- The point within Earth's crust or mantle where the earthquake originates
- What causes tsunamis in earthquakes?
- Sudden, large-scale movement of the ocean floor that displaces water
- What is an aftershock?
- A smaller earthquake that follows a larger earthquake in the same area
- What are foreshocks?
- Smaller earthquakes that occur before a larger main earthquake
- Which seismic waves travel fastest?
- P-waves (primary waves), which compress rock as they move
- What is liquefaction during an earthquake?
- Soil loses its strength and acts like liquid when shaken, causing structures to sink
- How deep can earthquake foci reach?
- Up to approximately 700 kilometers below Earth's surface
- What is a volcano?
- An opening in Earth's crust through which magma, rocks, and gases erupt
- What is the difference between magma and lava?
- Magma is molten rock beneath Earth's surface; lava is molten rock that erupts onto the surface
- What are the three main types of volcanoes?
- Shield volcanoes, cinder cone volcanoes, and composite (stratovolcano) volcanoes