Natural Disasters Flashcards
What is a natural disaster?
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard.
What does a natural disaster lead to?
Financial, environmental or human losses. The resulting loss depends on the vulnerability of the affected population to resist the hazard, also called the resistance.
When do disasters occur?
When they meet vulnerability, thus a natural hazard will not result in an area with no vulnerability.
What is an avalanche?
An avalanche is a mass of snow that slides rapidly down an inclined slope.
What is a hailstorm?
Any thunderstorm which produces hail that reaches the ground. (Hailstones=pellets of frozen rain)
What is a landslide?
A landslide happens when rocks, debris and soil move down a slope.
What is a wildfire?
A large destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland.
What is a drought?
A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.
What is an earthquake?
A sudden violent shaking of the ground typically causing great destruction, as a result of movement within the earth’s crust.
What is a thunderstorm?
A storm with thunder and lightning and typically also heavy rain or hail.
What is a hurricane?
It is a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics.
What is a volcanic eruption?
A volcanic eruption occurs when hot materials are thrown out of a volcano.
What is a tsunami?
A large ocean wave usually caused by an underwater earthquake or a volcanic eruption.
What is a tornado?
A violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
What is a flood?
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry.
