JH-KEADLE Catastrophic Events
Catastrophic Event An event that results from Earth processes and that can cause damage and endanger human life Weather Geologic tornado earthquake hurricane tsunamis floods volcanoes drought wildfire
Catastrophic Event The result of Processes in the atmosphere Processes on the Earth’s surface Processes in the oceans Processes inside the Earth
Catastrophic Events Can effect Earth in several ways Surface – speed up erosion and deposition Inside Earth – change the ground
Human Activities Where people decide to live can increase the damaging effects of natural hazards How people use land can also alter Earth’s systems in ways that contribute to catastrophic events
Impact of How People Use Land People can alter the land so that flooding and fire can be worse New Orleans built in a low depression Queensland built on fire prone plains California builds on steep slopes and creates mudslides
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JH-KEADLE Tornado
A violently rotating column of air formed when warm and cold air meet. Tornado A violently rotating column of air formed when warm and cold air meet.
Tornado Cause – cold and warm air colliding when thunderstorms meet Impact to Earth – kills plants, damages topsoil Impact to People – high winds destroy buildings, can have flooding Similar to – hurricane How are they similar – high winds and rain
Statistics Texas ranks 11th among the 50 states in density of tornadoes with an average of 5.7 tornadoes per 10,000 square miles, per year.
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JH-KEADLE Hurricane
New Orleans after Katrina
hurricane A large rotating spiral of air formed when high and low pressure systems meet over warm ocean water.
Hurricane Cause – air pressure differences over the ocean Impact to Earth – kills plants, destroys beaches Impact to People – high winds destroy buildings, can have flooding Similar to – tornado How are they similar – high winds and rain
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JH-KEADLE Tsunami
tsunami A large, fast moving wave caused by an earthquake deep under the ocean floor.
Tsunami Cause – earthquake under the ocean floor Impact to Earth – destroys beaches and coral reefs Impact to People – large loss of life, destroys buildings Similar to – earthquake, flood, volcano How are they similar – causes tsunami, water, pressure release
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JH-KEADLE Volcano
volcano A vent in the Earth’s surface which allows magma and ash to escape. It relieves pressure.
Volcano Cause – build up of pressure deep inside Earth Impact to Earth – burns plants, creates new land Impact to People – burns or covers buildings Similar to – earthquake, wildfire How are they similar – pressure release, burns everything
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JH-KEADLE Earthquake
Earthquake
earthquake A vibration of the Earth’s surface caused by a release of pressure deep within the Earth. Tectonic plate movement.
Earthquake Cause – moving tectonic plates Impact to Earth – changes the look of the land Impact to People – damages buildings, kills people Similar to – volcano, tsunami How are they similar – pressure release
1847-2012
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JH-KEADLE Drought
drought Extremely dry conditions caused by a lack of rain over a long period of time.
Drought Cause – lack of rain, heat Impact to Earth – kills plants and animals Impact to People – money loss from crop and livestock damage Similar to – wildfire How are they similar – loss of life and vegetation
Statistics
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JH-KEADLE Wild Fire
Wildfire
A large are of fire caused by a lightning strike or man. wildfire A large are of fire caused by a lightning strike or man.
Wildfire Cause – lightning, can be man-made Impact to Earth – burns everything, fertilizes the soil Impact to People – destroys everything in it’s way Similar to – drought, volcano How are they similar – loss of life, fire
Flood
Large amounts of water caused by heavy rains or melting snow. flood Large amounts of water caused by heavy rains or melting snow.
Flood Cause – too much rain Impact to Earth – changes the land, fertilizes the soil Impact to People – loss of life and buildings Similar to – tsunami How are they similar – large amounts of water
Which of these natural disasters can happen in our area? JH-KEADLE Which of these natural disasters can happen in our area?