Transcript Power Point for Catastrophic Events

Tornado
• Strong cyclone (circle) wind
• Fast rotating columns of air associated
with severe thunderstorms.
• Common in ‘tornado alley’
– Texas panhandle and Oklahoma
Hurricane
• Huge tropical cyclones that form over an
ocean
• Produces severe rain – can cause flooding
• Only effects coastal regions
Flood
• Flashfloods are caused by severe rain
storms
• Effects low elevation areas the most since
gravity pulls water downward
Tsunami
• A giant tidal wave created by an under
water earthquake or volcanic eruption
• Discuss with your neighbor the recent
tsunami in Japan
Mudslide/Landslide
• Downward movement of a large
amount of land.
Droughts
• Lack or severe decrease of
rainfall in an area.
• Can lead to wild fires
Wildfires
• Large fires often covering many
square miles (kilometers) that
can burn for many days.
Earthquakes
• Shaking of the ground caused
by the sudden shift in tectonic
plates overcoming friction.
Volcano
• Cone shaped mountain with a
vent through which lava flows.
Other Events
• Copy all the information from this slide.
– Meteorite: giant meteor collides with Earth causes
debris to rise and block out sunlight for months.
How do you think the climate and plants are
effected?
– 9/11: Terrorists attacks destroying structures and
killing civilians in the U.S.
– Sinkhole: A giant landmass sinking into the ground
filling an underground cave that was formed by
groundwater dissolving limestone.
– Epidemic: Disease spreading rapidly affecting many
individuals in an area or a population at the same
time. (AIDS, Polio, Influenza)
– Oil Spill
Catastrophic Event Reflection
1. Pick tornado, flood, or hurricane… describe how this
event could impact an ecosystem. (5 sentence
minimum.)
2. Explain why it is not possible for a hurricane to
develop in Allen, TX.
3. Is it likely for a tornado to occur in our community?
Explain your answer.
4. Give 2 ways a major drought could impact our
community?
5. What are the possible reasons for a tsunami to
occur?
6. Where and Why does an earthquake take place?
7. Name three additional catastrophic events.
Catastrophic Event Reflection
1. (6) Pick tornado, flood, or hurricane… describe how
this event could impact an ecosystem. (5 sentence
minimum.)
•
•
•
•
Destruction of habitat (vegetation, homes)
Loss of life (animals, plants)
Increase in WED
Increase in pollution (in watershed)
2. Explain why it is not possible for a hurricane to
develop in Allen, TX. b/c need warm ocean and there
is not one in or around Allen
3. (2) Is it likely for a tornado to occur in our
community? Explain your answer. Yes, close to
tornado alley – right conditions for one to develop
Catastrophic Event Reflection
4. (2) Give 2 ways a major drought could impact our community?
– animals migrate to find food,
– crops/plants die b/c cannot go through photosynthesis
– Plants wilt (lack of turgor pressure)
– Water restrictions
– Famine
5. (2) What are the possible reasons for a tsunami to occur?
Underwater earthquake AND underwater volcano eruption
6. (2) Where and Why does an earthquake take place?
– Along faults/plate boundaries
– Pressure/stress/energy builds as plates try to move bit friction
prevents then; energy is released quickly when plates finally
slide past one another
7. Name three additional catastrophic events.
Catastrophic Event Reflection
7. (3) Name three additional catastrophic events. (not
mentioned above!)
– Sinkhole
– Sand storm
– Avalanche
– blizzard
– atomic bomb, war, 9/11
– Oil spill
– Mud/Rock/Land slide
– Deforestation
– Forest fire
– Volcano