Need to Know # 8 ~ Natural Hazards

Complete the following questions using chapter 15 of Planet Earth.

  1. Examples of an atmospheric hazard are …

a)droughts and earthquakes

b)floods and tropical cyclones

c)floods and volcanoes

d)earthquakes and volcanoes

  1. An example of a geologic hazard is …

a)droughts and earthquakes

b)floods and tropical cyclones

c)floods and volcanoes

d)earthquakes and volcanoes

  1. Droughts are most common in …

a)rainforests

b)the Arctic

c)semi-arid climate regions

d)Toronto, where the Leafs still haven’t won a cup

  1. Tsunamis occur most frequently in the …

a)Pacific Ocean

b)Arctic Ocean

c)Indian Ocean

d)Atlantic Ocean

  1. Another name for a tropical cyclone is …

a)hurricane

b)typhoon

c)willy willy

d)all of the above

  1. As a result of global climate change it is expected that the number of tropical cyclones will…

a)decrease

b)increase

c)disappear

d)stay the same

  1. On average there are ______tornadoes that occur each year.

a)600 to 700

b)200 to 500

c)1000 to 1500

d)450 to 900

  1. The most frequently used measure of an earthquake’s magnitude is …

a)the number of buildings it knocks down

b)satellite imagery

c)Richter Scale

d)Zephyr scale

  1. The number of volcanoes around the world is approximately …

a)250

b)500

c)650

d)800

  1. The large majority of the world’s volcanoes are found in …

a)the Pacific Ocean

b)the Atlantic Ocean

c)the Himalayas

d)the Indian Ocean

  1. What is the difference between a natural hazard and a natural disaster?
  2. a) What are the four (4) measures used to determine the impact of the natural
    disaster?

b) Which two measures used to determine the impact of natural disasters do you think
are the most useful? Explain your answer.

  1. Prepare an argument to show that our society is more, rather than less, susceptible to disruption by natural events as our level of technology continues to increase.
  2. a) List the various types of atmospheric natural hazards.

b) From your list, rate the hazards you perceive as having the highest risk in terms of:

i) frequency

ii) danger to life

iii) danger to property
iv) magnitude of total effect

  1. For what reasons are droughts ranked as the highest natural hazard?
  2. Suggest reasons why tropical cyclones are the second ranked of all the world’s natural hazards.
  3. Suggest reasons why tornadoes are not ranked as high in the list of natural disasters as hurricanes, even though they are responsible for more deaths I the United States than hurricanes.
  4. Explain why wealthier parts of the world should be better able to reduce death rates resulting from earthquakes.
  5. By examining Figure 15.2 on page 305, discuss three ways in which earthquakes differ in nature from atmospheric natural hazards.
  6. A Japanese proverb says: “A natural calamity will strike at about the same time the terror of the last one is forgotten.”

a) Suggest reasons why this is a proverb with some degree of truth to it.