Fast and Curious: Natural Hazards (7th)

Front

What is a tsunami?

Back

A wave that forms when an ocean disturbance suddenly moves a large volume of water.

Front

What is a landslide?

Back

A rapid, downhill movement of soil, loose rocks, and boulders.

Front

What is liquefaction?

Back

The conversion of soil into a fluidlike mass during an earthquake or other seismic event.

Front

What is the Modified Mercalli scale?

Back

A rating scale that measures earthquake intensity based on descriptions of the earthquake's effects on people and structures.

Front

What is the Moment magnitude scale?

Back

A rating scale that measures the energy released by an earthquake, considering the size of the fault, the motion along the fault, and the strength of the rocks that break.

Front

What causes a tsunami?

Back

A sudden disturbance in or near a body of water, such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide.

Front

What are the effects of a landslide?

Back

Destruction of property, alteration of landscapes, and potential loss of life.

Front

How does liquefaction affect buildings?

Back

It can cause buildings to sink or tilt as the ground loses its strength during an earthquake.

Front

What is the difference between the Richter scale and the Moment magnitude scale?

Back

The Richter scale measures the amplitude of seismic waves, while the Moment magnitude scale measures the total energy released by an earthquake.

Front

What is an earthquake?

Back

A sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates.