Flashcards on Major Natural Disasters

Major Natural Disasters: An Essential Guide for Students

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What is an avalanche?

A large mass of snow, ice, and rocks that slides rapidly down a mountainside, often triggered by movement or weather changes.

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Natural Disasters

10 cards

Card 1

Question: What is an avalanche?

Answer: A large mass of snow, ice, and rocks that slides rapidly down a mountainside, often triggered by movement or weather changes.

Card 2

Question: What defines a forest fire?

Answer: An uncontrolled fire that spreads quickly through wildland vegetation, often fueled by dry conditions and high winds.

Card 3

Question: What is a landslide?

Answer: The downward movement of rock, earth, or debris across a slope, usually caused by heavy rain, earthquakes, or unstable ground.

Card 4

Question: How is a drought described?

Answer: A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall that leads to a severe shortage of water for crops, animals, and people.

Card 5

Question: What causes an earthquake and what happens during one?

Answer: A sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates or volcanic activity beneath the Earth's surface.

Card 6

Question: What is a flood?

Answer: An overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry, often resulting from heavy rain or overflowing rivers.

Card 7

Question: How do hurricanes and tornadoes differ and what are they generally?

Answer: Both are violent windstorms: hurricanes are massive oceanic systems and tornadoes are smaller, intensely spinning funnels over land.

Card 8

Question: What is a famine?

Answer: An extreme scarcity of food in a region that leads to widespread hunger and malnutrition among the population.

Card 9

Question: What happens during a volcanic eruption?

Answer: Molten rock, ash, and gases are expelled from the Earth's interior through a vent in the crust.

Card 10

Question: What causes a tsunami and what is it?

Answer: A series of giant ocean waves typically caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions that can cause massive destruction on coasts.