Catastrophic Events

Catastrophic Events

Learning Objective:

• We will predict and describe how different types of catastrophic events impact ecosystems such as floods, hurricanes, or tornados.

Open Ended

What are some natural disasters that you are familiar with?

Multiple Choice

What are natural disasters?

• When the climate changes in an area

• The violent events of nature that are outside of the control of humans

• Natural disasters are just droughts

• When fossil fuels are burned and cause the planet to have violent weather

Hurricane

An intense storm that forms in the ocean with swirling winds up to 150 miles per hour.

Hurricane

Form over warm ocean water – 80° Fahrenheit or warmer.

Multiple Choice

Where does a Hurricane form?

• In the desert

• Over the land.

• Over warm ocean water.

• Over warm dry land.

Hurricane

Range from Category 1 (74-95 mph) to Category 5 (157 mph or higher) on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Hurricane

Cause severe wind damage and extreme flooding.

Multiple Choice

What can Hurricanes do once they reach land?

• Cause flooding and wind damage.

• Cause the ocean to warm 80 degrees or more.

Tornado

A spinning column of air with wind speeds up to 300 miles per hour.

Tornado

Debris – the remains of anything broken or destroyed.

Debris traveling with a tornado can cause major wind damage buildings, homes, and property.

Multiple Choice

What damage does a Tornado do?

• Major wind damage buildings, homes, and property.

• Causes flooding.

• Causes volcanic eruptions.

Tsunami

A long, high wave of water caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption.

Some tsunamis can generate a wall of water over 100 feet high.

Tsunami

Cause major damage due to the crushing force of water.

Earthquakes

• Earthquakes are the shaking, rolling, or sudden shock of the earth's surface. They are the Earth's natural means of releasing stress. Earthquakes can be felt over large areas although they usually last less than one minute.

Multiple Choice

A sudden shift in the earth's crust is called a...

• Earthquake 
• Volcano 
• Tsunami
• Flood

Multiple Choice

What is this natural disaster?

• Flood

• Earthquake

• Tsunami

• Landslide

Volcanic Eruptions

• A volcano is formed when hot molten rock, ash, and gases escape from an opening in the Earth's surface.

• As a volcano erupts, it spills lava that flows downslope. Hot ash and gases are thrown into the air.

Poll

What Natural Disasters do you want to Learn about next?

• Volcanic Eruption

• Earthquake

• Flood

• Wildfire

• Drought