We all have heard about natural disasters. And despite our wish for them to never occur, it is true that they struck long before modern humans inhabited the planet and will likely continue as long as Earth exists. Some of us, unfortunately, maybe have experienced it.
Have you ever wondered what causes them? Or can they be predicted or avoided? Have they noticed that certain natural disasters cause or trigger other natural disasters?
In this lesson, we are going to discuss NATURAL DISASTERS We will learn:
A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from the natural processes of the Earth. They are catastrophic events with atmospheric, geological, and hydrological origins. These disasters are violent events and unfortunately are outside the control of humans, and may result in loss of life, injury, and damage to property.
They are caused due to different reasons like soil erosion, seismic activity, tectonic movements, air pressure, ocean currents, etc.
Natural disasters include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and storms.
To be classified as a disaster it should have a profound environmental effect and (or) human loss and frequently causes financial loss.
Sometimes, human activities are also causing changes in global weather patterns, leading to an increase in natural disasters like floods or wildfires.
Tornadoes are outgrowths of powerful thunderstorms that appear as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds. They can strike quickly with little or no warning, giving those in impacted areas barely enough time to take shelter.
Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry.
A storm is a violent meteorological phenomenon in which there is heavy rain, and wind due to moisture in the air.
Hurricanes are a type of storm called a tropical cyclone, which form over tropical or subtropical waters.
A volcanic eruption occurs when hot materials from the Earth's interior are thrown out of a volcano.
An earthquake is the sudden movement or trembling of the Earth's tectonic plates, resulting in the shaking of the ground.
A tsunami is a series of extremely long waves caused by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean, usually the result of an earthquake below or near the ocean floor.
Natural disasters can not be prevented from happening, but they can be detected by professionals with help of technology. This sometimes can give people precious time to get to safety.
Natural disasters rarely can be predicted. Anyway, earth scientists are able to forecast floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and wildfires.
Earthquakes differ from other types of natural disasters. Hurricanes can be tracked with precision, but when and where an earthquake will occur can not be predicted.
Tsunami prediction can only be done after an earthquake has occurred.
Some natural disasters have really made history, because of their devastating, long-lasting effects. Some of them are:
1. Haiti Earthquake of 2010
2. Hurricane Katrina in the United States, 2005
3. Hurricane Andrew in the United States, 1993
4. Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan
5. Tsunami of 2011, the coast of Sumatra
6. Tangshan Earthquake, 1976, China
7. Cyclone Nargis, 2008, Myanmar
8. 2008, China Earthquake
9. 2003, Iran Earthquake
10. 2005, Pakistan Earthquake
The impact of such large disasters is tremendous.
Natural disasters have a significant impact on the public health and well-being of the populations affected. Negative health impacts can be direct (e.g., injuries) or indirect (e.g., malnutrition and an increase in infectious diseases). They include:
