natural disasters Flashcards
how are hurricanes formed?
they draw heat from warm ocean air and releases it through condensation in thunderstorms
what happens if there is no water (for a hurricane)?
the hurricane dies
what causes hurricanes?
warm ocean air rises and leaves an area of cold low pressure air
the area is replaced with more warm air and also rises
more cold air goes into the low pressure area
the cycle repeats
how far inland can a hurricane extend?
100 miles
how much rain does a hurricane drop in a day?
over a trillion liters
how strong do hurricane winds reach?
74 mph
name two hazards of a hurricane
destroy houses and buildings
can kill people
what is a volcano?
vents in the earth’s surface from molten rock, debris and steam
when and how does volcanic activity occur?
when tectonic plates move toward each other or away from each other
where are 90% of the volcanoes located?
in the ring of fire (a band of volcanoes circling the edge of the pacific ocean)
name one way we can predict a volcanic eruption
increase in sulfur dioxide
how are earthquakes formed?
two tectonic plates converge, sending ripping shockwaves and building pressure
seismic waves that make the ground shake when two plates collide or slide past each other
when do earthquakes occur?
daily, but most are too insignificant to be felt
name five hazards of an earthquake
collapsed buildings mudslides fires floods tsunamis
how are tornadoes formed?
warm moist air meets cold dry air, which creates an updraft and makes a funnel
when the funnel reaches the ground, a tornado is formed
