Catastrophic Catastrophic EventsEvents

Catastrophic Catastrophic EventsEvents

Catastrophic EventCatastrophic Event–Any event naturally occuring or caused Any event naturally occuring or caused

by human action that:by human action that:Causes severe damage to the landCauses severe damage to the landEndangers human life or causes loss of lifeEndangers human life or causes loss of lifeSpeeds up the effects of erosion and Speeds up the effects of erosion and

depositiondeposition

–Also known as natural disastersAlso known as natural disasters

TornadoesTornadoes• High speed rotating winds often greater than High speed rotating winds often greater than 250 mph forming a funnel shaped cloud250 mph forming a funnel shaped cloud• Extreme low pressure causing materials to Extreme low pressure causing materials to be sucked up into the funnel like a vacuumbe sucked up into the funnel like a vacuum•Ranked from F-0 Tornado (light damage such Ranked from F-0 Tornado (light damage such as broken tree limbs) as broken tree limbs) to F-5 to F-5 Tornado (total demolition of and area Tornado (total demolition of and area including concrete sucked up from the including concrete sucked up from the ground)ground)•Causes erosion Causes erosion

Long periods of time with little to no Long periods of time with little to no significant precipitationsignificant precipitation

What other disasters can this cause?What other disasters can this cause?

Famine, Dust Storm, Erosion of soil.Famine, Dust Storm, Erosion of soil.

DroughtsDroughts

WildfiresWildfires

•Caused by lighting or careless Caused by lighting or careless handling of firehandling of fire

•What conditions could make fire more What conditions could make fire more likely to occur?likely to occur?

•Lighting, drought, high windsLighting, drought, high winds•What other disasters could this bring?What other disasters could this bring?•Floods, Erosion, smoke blocking out Floods, Erosion, smoke blocking out

sunlightsunlight

FloodsFloods

Occurs when a body of water overflows its Occurs when a body of water overflows its normal boundariesnormal boundaries

What disasters could cause a flood?What disasters could cause a flood? Caused by heavy rains from hurricanes or Caused by heavy rains from hurricanes or

thunderstormsthunderstorms melting snow or icemelting snow or ice Causes damage to home, property and erosion Causes damage to home, property and erosion

of top soilsof top soils

A large, swirling, low pressure system A large, swirling, low pressure system forming over a forming over a warmwarm ocean with a calm ocean with a calm

“eye” in the center“eye” in the center

Hurricanes/Typhoons/CyclonesHurricanes/Typhoons/Cyclones

Called a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, a typhoon in Called a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, a typhoon in the Pacific Ocean and a cyclone in the Indian Oceanthe Pacific Ocean and a cyclone in the Indian Ocean

What other What other disasters can this cause?disasters can this cause?

Often bring storm surge (flooding), tornadoes Often bring storm surge (flooding), tornadoes and heavy rain onto land causing erosion.and heavy rain onto land causing erosion.

The more people move towards the coasts The more people move towards the coasts the greater in damage costs the greater in damage costs

Earthquakes occur when the plates, making up the crust of Earthquakes occur when the plates, making up the crust of the Earth, move causing energy to be released in the form the Earth, move causing energy to be released in the form of a waveof a wave

The movement is along the boundary of the plates called a The movement is along the boundary of the plates called a fault and the waves are called seismic wavesfault and the waves are called seismic waves

Seismic waves are measured by the Richter Scale on a Seismic waves are measured by the Richter Scale on a machine called a seismographmachine called a seismograph

EarthquakesEarthquakes

TsunamiTsunamiss After an earthquake occurs on the ocean After an earthquake occurs on the ocean floor, the shift can cause a huge wave to form floor, the shift can cause a huge wave to form and rush towards landand rush towards land

Most tsunamis are less than 1 meter deep on Most tsunamis are less than 1 meter deep on formation however as the distance from the formation however as the distance from the seafloor to the surface of the water decreases seafloor to the surface of the water decreases as the wave moves towards land, the height of as the wave moves towards land, the height of the tsunami increases (can be as high as 30m the tsunami increases (can be as high as 30m above sea level) racing towards land at above sea level) racing towards land at speeds averaging 700 meters per hour.speeds averaging 700 meters per hour.

Not all ocean floor earthquakes form a Not all ocean floor earthquakes form a tsunami, however, a tsunami cannot form tsunami, however, a tsunami cannot form without the earthquake occurring without the earthquake occurring

VolcanoVolcanoMagma from deep within the Earth rises to Magma from deep within the Earth rises to the surface of a cone shaped mountain the surface of a cone shaped mountain scorching everything in its pathscorching everything in its path

Volcanoes form where there is movement of the plates of the Earth’s crust (both at convergent and divergent boundaries)

Volcanic Volcanic EruptionsEruptions How can a Volcanic Eruption cause problems How can a Volcanic Eruption cause problems

away from the immediate area?away from the immediate area? Volcanic dust and ash are thrown into the air Volcanic dust and ash are thrown into the air

blocking sunlight for long periods.blocking sunlight for long periods. How would this affect climate?How would this affect climate? Colder temperatures and fewer plantsColder temperatures and fewer plants Higher amounts of sulfur producing ACID RAIN.Higher amounts of sulfur producing ACID RAIN. Potential for flooding, mudslides erosion.Potential for flooding, mudslides erosion.

Ring Of FireRing Of Fire Area along the Pacific Plate boundaries Area along the Pacific Plate boundaries

where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.occur.

9. 9. Mass movementsMass movements Large areas of land changes location over a period of time(change can be gradual or can occur quickly)

What are different types of mass movement?What are different types of mass movement?AvalancheAvalancheLandslidesLandslidesMudflowsMudflows

Usually occurs with another event such as: Usually occurs with another event such as: floods, earthquakes, volcanic floods, earthquakes, volcanic

eruptions or after wildfireseruptions or after wildfires

Summary QuestionsSummary Questions Scientists hypothesize that a large meteorite Scientists hypothesize that a large meteorite

struck the Earth and killed all the dinosaurs, struck the Earth and killed all the dinosaurs, even those on the other side of the Earth. even those on the other side of the Earth. Describe how this event could have caused Describe how this event could have caused their extinction.their extinction.

How do we plan ahead in order to survive How do we plan ahead in order to survive catastrophic events?catastrophic events?

Yet more Summary QuestionsYet more Summary Questions

Explain possible impacts of a volcanic Explain possible impacts of a volcanic eruption on the Earth’s surface.eruption on the Earth’s surface.

If cities along coasts and major inland If cities along coasts and major inland waterways experienced a population waterways experienced a population growth, what affects would this growth growth, what affects would this growth cause if floods and hurricanes occur.cause if floods and hurricanes occur.