Earth Life Notes – Week 13

NATURAL PROCESSES AND HAZARDS

 Natural hazard – a naturally occurring event or phenomenon which has a negative effect on
humans and the environment; any hazard or threat that causes casualties or damage to property.

Geologic Hazards

 Earthquakes – a sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused by the shifting of rocks deep
underneath the earth’s surface. Can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides, or avalanches.
o Focus – place inside the Earth’s crust where an earthquake originates.
o Epicenter – point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus.
Richter scale – used to rate the magnitude of an earthquake.
 Volcanic eruption – when lava and gas are released from a volcano – sometimes explosively.
 Landslides – Defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope.

Hydro-meteorological Hazards

 Tropical cyclones – abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted
astronomical tides. Has a low pressure center and spiraling towards the eyewall surrounding the
“eye”.
 Monsoon – a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing winds.
o Amihan – a northeast monsoon characterized by cold gusty winds with little
precipitation. Winds blow in the east. Also known as easterlies.
o Habagat – southwest monsoon characterized by hot and humid atmosphere with frequent
or heavy rainfall. Winds blow in the west. Also known as westerlies.
 Tornado – a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the
ground.

COASTAL PROCESSES

 Coastal Erosion – process by which local sea level rise, strong wave action, and coastal flooding
wear down or carry away rocks, soils, and/or sands along the coast.
 Saltwater Intrusion – upstream movement of brackish or saline water that causes concentrations
of salt and other seawater-derived ions to increase above natural background levels.