Flooding
A large amount of water, covering an area that is normally dry.
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Hurricanes and Tornados
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Hurricane - also called typhoons and cyclones, forms near the equator over warm ocean water. It maintains wind speeds greater than 74 mph. Hurricanes rotate counterclockwise. Hurricanes can last a few hours up to 2 weeks. A hurricane can be more than 300 miles wide. Source: NOAA |
Tornadoes - also called twisters form from thunderstorms when warm moist air and cool dry air collide. Wind speeds can be from 40 mph to over 300 mph. Tornadoes rotate counterclockwise, clockwise south of the equator. Most tornadoes last a few seconds, but no longer than 10 minutes as they travel across land. They can be a few yards in diameter, to over 2 miles. Source: NOAA
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Volcano
A volcano is an opening in the earth's surface that allows molten rock/magma to escape or explode.
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Earthquake
An earthquake is what happens when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one another. The surface where they slip is called the fault line. This is the movement of earth's tectonic plates. Source: USGS.gov
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Tsunami
A tsunami occurs following an underwater earthquake. It is a series of waves that get higher and higher as they move inland. NOAA
The waves can be as high as 10 feet (3 meters) to over 100 feet (30 meters). The waves in the 2011 Japan tsunami reached 128 feet and traveled inland as far as 6 miles. Livescience.com
The waves can be as high as 10 feet (3 meters) to over 100 feet (30 meters). The waves in the 2011 Japan tsunami reached 128 feet and traveled inland as far as 6 miles. Livescience.com
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Drought
A lack of precipitation/rain over a long period of time. Usually a season. For example: We usually have a large amount of rainfall between March and May (our spring), then have a dry summer. If we received little to no rainfall during spring, leading into our hot summers, we would have a drought.
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Landslide
The sliding down or breaking off of a portion of earth, such as part of the mountainside or cliff sliding down.
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Wildfires
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A large uncontrolled fire that quickly sweeps across woodlands. Lightning and lava can cause wildfires; however according to the National Parks Service most wildfires are caused by humans. How does this happen?
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Sinkholes |
Land Subsidance |
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When a portion of the earth's surface caves into a hole in the ground.
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The lowering of land level.
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