Environmental Effects of Thunderstorms, Floods, Tornadoes and Droughts

THUNDERSTORMS  Electrical storms formed in cumulonimbus clouds  Some storms produce very high winds and extreme rainfall  Can cause floods and tornadoes

FLOODS  Flood—overflow or accumulation of water over a land mass 3 TYPES 1. Coastal - tropical storms and hurricanes

FLOODS (cont.) 2. River - river flow is larger than its channel, due to heavy rain or snow melt 3. Urban - water in streets cannot drain before streets are submerged.

EFFECTS OF FLOODING  Standing water a source of disease and infection (most immediate effect)  Removes nutrients from soil  Destroys plants (crops, grasses)

TORNADOES  Tornado — rotating column of air caused by wind shear during severe thunderstorms or cyclones

EFFECTS OF TORNADOES  Extremely high winds destroy habitats of small and large animals  Can completely destroy homes, schools, roadways

Effects of Tornadoes  High winds capable of killing many organisms—people included  Disrupt movement of energy in food web

Some Famous Tornadoes  5/4/2007  Greensburg, KS  95% of all structures leveled  11 dead

Some Famous Tornadoes  Moore, OK  5/4/99  Strongest tornado recorded in U.S.—Winds >220 mph  44 people dead

Some Famous Tornadoes  3/18/1925  IL, MO, IN  219 mile path of 1 tornado  Killed 695 people

DROUGHT  Drought—lack of precipitation or other water resources over an extended period of time

EFFECTS OF DROUGHT Water shortages; slow plant growth, low streams, rivers, and lakes Lack of food and water throughout ecosystem (food web disrupted)  Grass fires and forest fires due to dryness