cause and effect of catastrophes research class notes
TRANSCRIPT
Cause and Effect of Catastrophes
Research Class notes
FloodsCause and Effect
How floods form:• Often caused by extreme
weather – thunderstorms, snow and ice melts, hurricanes
Main features: Overflowing of water
onto land that is normally dry
Can last a few minutes (flash flood) to months
Weather relatedChanges in habitats – destruction of habitats, water contamination, loss of animals due to drowning
Changes in landforms: mudslides, erosion of land
Other impacts: loss of life, disease, property loss or damage, destruction of crops and livestock.
HurricaneCause and Effect
How hurricanes form:• Created by moist, warm air in a
convection current – warm and cool air masses join and spiral upward creating high wind speeds
Main features: Wind speeds of 74 mph or
more, extreme rain fall, dangerous storm surge, flooding, ocean water can enter river ways
Can produce tornadoes
Weather related• Develops over ocean/Sea waters –
Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico.Changes in habitats – salt water invades freshwater killing off plant life, and drowning animals. Erosion destroys habitats.
Changes in landforms: large storm surge waves erode beach land.
Other impacts: flooding and land debris washes out to sea, wind speed uproots trees and strips leaves from plants, tear down buildings. Human deaths due to drowning
TornadoCause and Effect
How tornadoes form:• Thunderstorms produces by
cold front movement – funnel from cumulonimbus clouds reach the surface of the ground
Main features: Violently rotating columns of
air – 250 mph or more, funnel shape – 1 mile to 50 miles long
Large hail, strong winds Waterspout – tornado over
water
Weather relatedChanges in habitats – uproots trees, remove top soil down to bare rock,
Changes in landforms – removes top layer of dirt
Other impacts – kills humans and animals, destroys buildings and vehicles and hail damage
Drought
a period of dryness especially when prolonged; specifically :one that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth
DroughtCause and Effect
How Droughts Form:• Dry Weather lasting 2-3
years
Main features: Lack of moisture for an
extended period of time Water shortages
Weather relatedChanges in habitats – plant life dies, increase forest fires, shortage of water, heat waves and stress to ecosystemsOther impacts -- crop failure, livestock death, energy shortage, water shortage, dry soils, high evaporation
Earthquake
A sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust
EarthquakeCause and Effect
How earthquakes form:• Shifts in Earth’s crust –
tectonic plate movement or volcanic activity. Plates break and snap into new positions
Main features: Large cracks open in the
ground, bodies of water disappear, land can rise or fall, landslides, avalanches, fires, or tsunamis
Geologic in natureChanges in habitats – lost of habitats
Changes in landforms – liquefying of ground causing landslides, avalanches, fires, or tsunamis.
Other impacts – Humans – property damage and loss of life
Tsunami
A tsunami is a large ocean wave usually caused by an underwater earthquake or a volcanic explosion.
TsunamiCause and Effect
How Tsunamis Form:• Ocean waves produced by
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, meteorite impact or underwater landslides.
Main Features: Series of large waves
traveling 450-600 mph in open ocean
On shore speed slows but height of wave increases with lots of debris
Geological in natureChanges in habitats – extreme environmental destruction of habitats
Other impacts – human tragedy by drowning, flooding, water contamination, lost of housing and fires due to broken gas lines
Volcano
A volcano is a landform (usually a mountain) where molten rock erupts through the surface of the planet.
VolcanoCause and Effect
How Volcanoes Form:• Opening in Earth’s crust
where molten rock escapes out due to pressure from gases within the magma
Main Features: Hazards – landslides,
mudflows, lava flow, earthquakes, fire, explosions, flash flood, and tsunamis
Eruptions sends volcanic ash into the air that can spread thousands of miles
Geologic in nature Changes in habitats – can destroy plants, cover soil, contaminate water supply and decrease air quality
Changes in landforms – lava flow covers over plants and soil creating new land (rock). Landslides and mudflows will change the land
Other impacts – produce more greenhouse gases, destroy animals and insects, collapsed roofs, disrupt machinery, and cause plane engine failure while flying
Benefit – soil not covered by lava gains nutrients from the ash allowing plant life to return. New land is formed
Wildfire
any large fire that spreads rapidly and is hard to extinguish.
WildfiresCause and Effect
How Wildfires forms:• Lightning or human activities –
campfires, cigarettes, arson
Main Features: Burns through millions of acres
of forest
Produces strong winds
Severity depends on moisture, ground cover, wind, temperature, type of land,
Geologic in nature and/or caused by humans
Changes to habitats and populations – destroys animal habitats, burns out plant life
Changes in landforms – clears land of vegetation
Other impacts – affects air and water quality.
Benefit – increases nutrients of soil and can bring new animal life over time