Earthquake and volcanic hazards and impacts: Practice Questions

Which term describes the exact point within the Earth's crust where an earthquake's seismic energy is first released?

Which physical characteristic most accurately distinguishes a mudflow from a landslide in the study of mass movements?

The provided cross-section of a subduction zone shows an oceanic plate descending beneath a continental plate. Which lettered feature corresponds to the Benioff zone, where seismic activity originates from the descending slab?

Large-scale tropical disturbances are given different names based on their geographic location. What is the correct term for these systems when they form in the Northwest Pacific Ocean?

Which of the following best distinguishes the Moment Magnitude Scale from the Modified Mercalli Scale?

Define hazard mapping and state one way it helps in the preparedness stage of managing tectonic hazards.

Explain how the use of a tiltmeter contributes to the monitoring and early warning systems for mass movements on unstable slopes.

With reference to the provided frequency-magnitude graph, explain the inverse relationship between the magnitude of a tectonic event and its recurrence interval.

(a) Give the meaning of the term tsunami.
(b) Describe the role of tectonic plate displacement on the ocean floor in the generation of a tsunami.

(a) Contrast the nature of soil heave with that of mudflows in terms of their typical velocity and water content.
(b) Explain how human activities, such as deforestation or urbanisation, can decrease the stability of a slope and increase the frequency of mass movements.