Earthquakes What is an earthquake? Earthquakes are the shaking, rolling or sudden shock of the earth’s surface. They are the Earth's natural means of releasing stress. More than a million earthquakes rattle the world each year. Earthquakes can be felt over large areas although they usually last less than one minute. Earthquakes cannot be predicted - although scientists are working on it!

What is a volcano? Volcano- Areas of earth’s surface through which magma and volcanic gases pass Volcano comes from the Roman word Vulcan, which means “fire” Deep in the earth it is very hot. It is so hot that rocks melt. The melted rock is called magma. The magma is lighter than the rocks around it so it rises. Sometimes it finds a crack or hole in the earth’s crust and bursts through. This is how a volcano begins.

What’s inside a volcano? Magma Chamber- molten rock that feeds a volcano Vents- cracks in the crust What is the difference between magma and lava?

What is a flood? A flood results from days of heavy rain and/or melting snows, when rivers rise and go over their banks.

Landslides A landslide is a large amount of earth, rock, and other material that moves down a steep slope. Landslides happen when a layer of earth or rocks separates from the layer below it.