Natural Disasters Vocabulary

What is a forest fire?

• A forest fire is a fire that occurs only in urban areas.

• A forest fire is an uncontrolled fire that spreads through forested areas.

• A forest fire is a controlled burn used for land management.

• A forest fire is a type of weather phenomenon.

Define avalanche.

• A type of weather phenomenon involving rain and wind.

• An avalanche is a mass of snow, ice, and debris that falls rapidly down a mountainside.

• A geological formation created by volcanic activity.

• A small amount of snow that accumulates on a flat surface.

What causes a tsunami?

• Underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.

• Strong winds creating large waves

• Heavy rainfall flooding coastal areas

• Tidal waves caused by lunar phases

Explain what an earthquake is.

• An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates.

• A weather phenomenon that causes heavy rain and floods.

• A gentle breeze that shakes trees and buildings.

• A series of loud noises caused by volcanic eruptions.

What are volcanic eruptions?

• Volcanic eruptions are geological events where magma, gases, and ash are expelled from a volcano.

• Volcanic eruptions are weather phenomena that occur during storms.

• Volcanic eruptions are simply large explosions of rocks.

• Volcanic eruptions are caused by earthquakes.

Define floods in the context of natural disasters.

• Floods are caused by drought and lack of rainfall.

• Floods occur only in coastal areas during hurricanes.

• Floods are the result of excessive heat causing evaporation.

• Floods are the overflow of water onto normally dry land, caused by various factors such as heavy rainfall or dam failure.

What is a tornado?

• A tornado is a stationary weather pattern.

• A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.

• A tornado is a large body of water.

• A tornado is a type of earthquake.

Describe a heatwave.

• A heatwave is characterized by heavy rainfall and storms.

• A heatwave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather.

• A heatwave is a brief period of mild weather.

• A heatwave is a time when temperatures drop significantly.

What is a blizzard?

• A blizzard is a severe snowstorm with strong winds and low visibility.

• A blizzard is a type of tropical storm with heavy rain.

• A blizzard is a light snowfall with warm temperatures.

• A blizzard is a weather condition characterized by clear skies and high temperatures.

Explain the term melting glaciers.

• Melting glaciers is the process of glaciers losing ice due to rising temperatures, primarily caused by climate change.

• Glaciers are formed by volcanic activity.

• Melting glaciers refers to the freezing of water in polar regions.

• Melting glaciers is the process of glaciers gaining ice due to colder temperatures.