Natural Disasters and Environmental Hazards Flashcards
7 cards from real Environmental Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Natural Disasters and Environmental Hazards flashcards as text
What is a lahar, and which natural disaster is it most directly associated with?
Answer: A mudflow of volcanic debris and water associated with volcanic eruptions
A lahar is a fast-moving mudflow or debris flow composed of a mixture of volcanic material and water that travels down the slopes of a volcano.
Which region of the United States is most frequently referred to as 'Tornado Alley' due to the high frequency of tornado formation?
Answer: The Great Plains states from Texas to South Dakota
The Great Plains, stretching from Texas northward through South Dakota, is called Tornado Alley because the frequent collision of warm moist Gulf air with cold dry Arctic air creates ideal tornado-forming conditions.
Which term describes the process by which saturated soil loses its strength and behaves like a liquid during an earthquake?
Answer: Liquefaction
Liquefaction occurs when seismic shaking causes water-saturated, loosely packed sediment to temporarily act as a liquid, causing buildings and infrastructure to sink or tilt.
The Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale differs from the Richter scale in that the MMI measures:
Answer: The perceived shaking and damage at a specific location
The MMI scale measures the intensity of shaking felt and the resulting damage at specific locations, which can vary across a region depending on distance from the epicenter and local geology.
During a hurricane, which component is responsible for the greatest loss of life along coastlines?
Answer: Storm surge flooding
Storm surge—the abnormal rise in sea level driven by a hurricane's winds and low pressure—is historically the deadliest hurricane hazard, capable of inundating coastal areas with several meters of water.
What is the primary environmental benefit of natural wildfire in many ecosystems?
Answer: It clears accumulated dead biomass and promotes new growth and biodiversity
Natural wildfires clear accumulated dead wood and leaf litter, recycle nutrients into the soil, and open the canopy for light-dependent plant species, ultimately promoting habitat diversity.
Which type of drought is defined by a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period?
Answer: Meteorological drought
A meteorological drought is defined purely in terms of the degree of dryness compared to normal precipitation levels over a defined period.