Transcript Lab 7: Natural Hazards and Our Dynamic Planet. Key Q: What

LAB 7
Natural Hazards
and
Our Dynamic Planet
Key Question:
What natural hazards do
dynamic events cause?
• Our planet is dynamic because
it is powerful, active
and ever-changing.
• Convection in the mantle causes
the tectonic plates to move and
interact with each other.
• Natural hazards such as
earthquakes & volcanoes to occur
at plate boundaries.
Recent
Earthquakes
Volcano
Hazards
Program
Consider what might happen if an
earthquake occurred in your
community...
-What would happen to dams, reservoirs, or
water supply stations?
-What would happen to schools, homes, and
government buildings?
-What would happen to electrical power plants
and power lines?
-What would happen to local hospitals?
Earthquake Hazards
• Buildings and bridges collapse
• Roads crack
• Fires blaze due to ruptured gas lines
• Landslides occur because shaking cause
rock to slide downhill
• Earthquake vibrations can cause wet soil to
act like quick sand (Liquefaction)
• Dams fail and cause flooding
Earthquakes cannot be predicted…
• As population continues to increase
building on active seismic zones is
unavoidable
• These are some factors to consider when
assessing potential earthquake hazards for
a particular area:




Closeness to active earthquake faults
Seismic history of the region
Local conditions
Building construction
Earthquake Magnitude Simulation
• Natural hazards such as volcanic
eruptions also occur at
plate boundaries
• Hazards from a volcanic eruption
vary based on the type of volcano
Consider what might happen if an
volcanic eruption occurred in your
community...
-What would happen to dams, reservoirs, or
water supply stations?
-What would happen to schools, homes, and
government buildings?
-What would happen to electrical power plants
and power lines?
-What would happen to local hospitals?
Low Gas Content
High Gas Content
Volcano Hazards
• Lava streams burn all in their path
• Aircrafts endangered from ash in the
atmosphere
• Roofs collapse, cities and surrounding
landscape covered from ash fall & flow
• Volcanic pollution
Volcanic eruptions can be
predicted…
 Gases begin to escape from around
the volcano
 Minor earthquakes in the area beneath
the volcano become much more common
 The surface of the volcano
swells upward