Chapter 5 Changing the Balance in Ecosystems 5.1 Natural Phenomena and Ecosystem

NATURAL WEATHER EVENTS

Flood August 30, Hurricane Katrina caused a flood

Drought In 2005, the Amazon basin in South America (mostly in Brazil) suffers the worst drought in 100 years

Fire October 20, 2007 California wildfire Burning over 2000 km squares 1500 homes destroyed 9 people died

Tornado May 6-May 9, Oklahoma tornado outbreak 66 tornadoes broke out in Oklahoma and nearby states

Hurricanes Hurricane Katrina -August 30, New Orleans (Louisiana), Florida, Mississippi -$81 billion US of damages ~2000 people died

Blizzard March 6-8, 2008 a huge blizzard (winter storm) hit North America east coast. Ontario and Quebec were majorly affected SWC French Immersion students stranded

Infestation Pine beetle infestation in B.C. and Alberta, including Banff National Park Pine beetles drill through bark and feed on inner layer of pine tree. They also lay their eggs in the “sapwood” layer

Normally, -30 to -40 degree winter would keep the population in check Global warming lead to interior B.C. and Alberta not experiencing cold winters anymore. Beetles strive, killing pine trees

NATURAL GEOLOGICAL EVENTS

Volcanic Eruption Mount St. Helen on May 18, 1980 Earthquakes and steam-venting before eruption

Ashes covered Interstate-5 highway Ashes travelled all the way to Vancouver

Earthquake May 12,2008 in Sichuan province of China, magnitude 8.0 earthquake hit, followed by two magnitude 7.9 earthquakes 70,000 people dead 400,000 people injured 4.8 million people homeless

Deadliest earthquake of 20 th century: Tangshan Earthquake (July 28, 1976) in China 8.2 on Richter scale

779,000 people died (~600,000 live in the city of Vancouver)

Tsunami Indian Ocean Tsunami, aka. Boxing Day Tsunami -Triggered by 9.1 scale Earthquake -230,000 people died -$7 billion US of damage

We had tsunami in BC as well March 27, 1964, Port Alberni on Vancouver Island was attacked by a tsunami originated from an Alaskan Earthquake

Landslide San Salvador, El Salvador landslide in 2001 triggered by an earthquake

Avalanche Big White (Ski Resort) in Kelowna experienced a huge avalanche 2 skiers died