Describe in a few lines any 3 natural disasters.
Answers
By definition, a natural disaster is an event that is caused by the natural forces of the earth and results in great damage and possibly loss of life. Each year, the earth experiences natural disasters. When natural disasters occur in heavily populated areas, a lot of people may lose their lives. A recent example is the Italian earthquake of 2016, where over 200 people died. The deadliest of all earthquakes happened in 1556 in China, where approximately 830,000 people lost their lives.
Let's now take a look at the different types of natural disasters that can happen.
Earthquakes
We'll begin with earthquakes. An earthquake occurs when the earth releases pent-up energy and causes the ground to shake. Earth's ground is made up of several very large pieces of land called tectonic plates. Most earthquakes occur when these plates rub against each other in some way. These same plates also create mountains when they push against each other. As the mountains are formed, earthquakes may be felt. Sometimes, people cause earthquakes when they do mine blasts or nuclear tests.
Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones
Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones refer to the same weather phenomenon, where a really large storm swirls in circles. You'll see the cloud of the storm turning in a spiral, touch down on the ground, and then reach toward the sky. When a storm reaches a wind speed of over 74 miles per hour, it gets classified as a hurricane, typhoon, or cyclone depending on where the storm is located. The storm is called a hurricane if it happens in the Atlantic and northern Pacific. If the storm occurs in the northwestern part of the Pacific, then it is called a typhoon. In the southwestern Pacific and the Indian Ocean, the same type of storm is called a cyclone.
Tsunamis
A tsunami consists of huge waves caused by either an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption. In Japanese, the word means 'harbor wave.' These waves can get as high as 100 feet and aren't the gentle waves that you surf on. No, these are destructive waves that can knock down buildings, trees, and anything else in their path.
Floods
A flood is an overflow of water that covers the earth. This overflow can damage buildings and cars in its path. In a severe flood, the water can seep into houses and completely cover them, ruining everything. And, if people get caught up in the flood, they can be washed away with the flood and drown.