1. DO NOW WEDNESDAY
Which natural disaster do you think would be the worst and why?

2. TODAY’S PLAN TODAY’S DO
Identify and define different types of natural disasters and their causes.
Analyze and interpret data on natural disasters to forecast future events.
Explain how technology can be used to predict and prepare for natural disasters.
TODAY’S DO
We will discuss definitions and causes of earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and forest fires

3. Definitions and Causes
Natural Disasters
Definitions and Causes

4. Earthquake Definition and Causes
What is an Earthquake

5. Earthquake Definition
Earthquake = the shaking and trembling that results from movement of rock beneath Earth’s surface
Intro to Earthquakes

6. What causes earthquakes?
Movement of lithospheric plates

7. Where do earthquakes happen?
Along plate boundaries, where movement is occurring.

8. Tsunamis
Definition and Causes

9. Tsunami Definition
A tsunami is a series of ocean waves with very long wavelengths (typically hundreds of kilometers) caused by large-scale disturbances of the ocean

10. What causes tsunamis? earthquakes landslides volcanic eruptions
explosions
meteorites

11. Where do tsunamis happen?
The Pacific “Ring of Fire” is the most common place for tsunamis to happen, due to the number of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

12. Floods
Definition and Causes

13. Flood Definition An overflow of water onto normally dry land
The most common environmental hazed worldwide

14. What causes floods? Heavy rains, especially in a short period of time
Overflow of a river when there is more water upstream than usual
Strong winds, hurricanes, and tsunamis in coastal areas
Breakage of a dam
Melting of ice and snow

15. Where do floods happen?
River floodplains and coastal areas are most prone to flooding
Areas with unusually long periods of heavy rainfall
Bangladesh is the most flood prone area in the world

16. Hurricanes
Definition and Causes

17. Hurricane Definition
Storm system made up of a low pressure center and thunderstorms with strong winds and heavy rains
Called hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean
Called typhoons in the Pacific Ocean
Northern Hemisphere hurricanes rotate counterclockwise
Southern Hemisphere hurricanes rotate clockwise

18. What causes hurricanes?
Six factors in combination cause hurricanes:
High water temperatures (>80°F)
Rapid cooling of air
High humidity
Low wind shear
Some kind of circulation of air and low pressure center (a pre-existing weather disturbance)

19. Where do hurricanes happen?
In any of the world’s ocean, usually in the tropics, and then hit coastlines all over the world

20. Tornadoes
Definition and Causes

21. Tornado Definition
A violently rotating column of air that is in contact with the ground

22. What causes tornadoes?
3 conditions in combination result in tornadoes:
Warm, humid air stream meets with a cold, dry air stream and the jet stream coming at speeds of about 150 mph.

23. Where do tornadoes happen?
Have been observed on every continent (except Antarctica)
The U.S. has the most tornadoes per year, especially in “Tornado Alley”: Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska

24. Wild Fires
Definition and Causes

25. Wild Fire Definition
Uncontrolled fire in a wooded area

26. What causes forest fires?
High temperatures, drought conditions
Can be triggered by lightning, lava, or human influence
It is estimated that 90% are due to human activity, while 10% are started by lightning or lava.

27. Where do wild fires happen?
Occur on every continent
Australia is the most wild fore prone country in the world
Among the most wild fire prone states in the U.S. are California and Texas

28. Want to know more?
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