Natural Disasters

Ama Hettigama
• Naturally occurring destructive incidents without the mediation of man
which causes damage to life, property and economy.
• Ex:
Lightning Earth quake
Land slid Volcano
Tsunami Cyclone
Drought
Flood
Forest fires
Drought
• This is a prolonged dry period (deficiency in precipitation over an
extended period)in the natural climate cycle that can occur anywhere
in the world.

• This can happen due to decrease of amount of rainfall or change in

the pattern of rainfall.
Reasons for Droughts
• Global warming----------increase of evaporation----dry soil
• Deforestation----------Lack of evaporation of water to form clouds.
• Deforestation ---------soil get exposed to direct sun ----drying of water
springs
• High water demand---excessive use of water for agriculture ,industry,
human use, may dry up underground water bodies
• Drop of soil moisture level---------------no water to form clouds
• Lack of timely monsoon winds-----reduction of evaporation of water
from sea to form clouds.
• Dry air currents ---plants absorb more water from the soil ---drying of
water fountains.
• ELNINO – Warming of sea surface temperature specially in the pacific
Even if the temperature rises 0.5 degrees .
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How to manage bad effects caused by
droughts
• Avoid pollution of water.
• Conserve water.
• Increase the water retention capacity of soil.
• Cultivate drought resistant crops.
• Mulching-Applying a layer on the soil to prevent evaporation of water.
• Rain water harvesting.
• Reforestation.
Floods
• Inundation of a usually un inundated area due to high rainfall during a
short period of time.

• Reasons
• Overflowing of waterways - (due to sand mining ,blocking drains by
garbage)
• Instantaneous floods - Blocking of waterways by garbage and
unplanned constructions)
Land slides
• Slipping down of soil layer in sloppy regions in highlands.
• Reasons - Continuous heavy rain
• Mining
• Deforestation