Natural Disasters

Natural Disasters

by Kevin and Heilyn

​Landslides

It reffers to the downward movement of solid bodies such as rocks, soil, and mud from mountains or cliffs. Most of the time it is set off by heavy rainfalls or earthquakes, but gravity alone can be the reason for a landslide.

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​"Storm Eta’s torrential downpours toppled trees, engorged swift-moving rivers, and ripped down parts of a mountainside above the village of Queja in the central Guatemalan region of Alta Verapaz, burying dozens of people in their homes."

​Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3108948/storm-eta-woman-loses-22-relatives-guatemala-landslide-weather

​Droughts

​A drought is a prolonged absence of either surface or underground water in a region due to extreme dry weather. The lack of water is not only harmful to humans and animals, but it also prevents crops to grow.

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​"Drought is impacting the agriculture sector across Canada but the brunt of the dry weather is being felt in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where moisture levels have been low since last fall."

​Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/7918107/drought-threatens-crops-farms-canada-weather/

​Earthquakes

​They are a shaking of the earth's surface as the result of a release of energy from the clashing of the teutonic plaques. It can vary from a slight tremor to a more devastating earthquake, and if it is close enough to the water, it can cause a tsunami.

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"The United States Geological Survey reported the quake was of a magnitude 7.0, felt as far away as Mexico City from its epicenter near Acapulco. At least one person died in the state of Guerrero."

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Source: https://www.dw.com/en/mexico-rocked-by-strong-earthquake/a-59117514

​Hurricane

​A hurricane is an accumulation of clouds and strong winds that revolve around a defined low pressure center, with speeds reaching 74 mps. It also attracts heavy rains and thunder storms.

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​"Eight months of rainfall fell on Sicily in a matter of eight hours, civil defence volunteers said, as cyclone Apollo ravaged the south and east coast (Italy)."

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​Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59095026

​Flooding

​Flooding is caused mainly by the accumulation of rainwater on rivers or lakes, which eventually overflow and large quantities of water accumulte on otherwise dry land.

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​"Several properties in Dalbeattie were inundated while two footbridges in Annan collapsed as waters rose on Thursday evening (Scotland)."

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​Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-59071373

Time to play!​

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

Which country is mentioned in the example for earthquakes?

• Mexico

• Guatemala

• Italy

• Scotland

Multiple Choice

What country is mentioned in the example for flooding?

• Italy

• Canada

• Guatemala

• Scotland

Multiple Choice

What natural disaster is being shown in this image?

• Landslides

• Earthquakes

• Hurricane

• Flooding

Multiple Choice

This image is showing the results of which natural disaster?

• Landslides

• Droughts

• Earthquakes

• Flooding

Open Ended

Describe Landslides using your own words: