Environmental Science Natural Disasters and Environmental Hazards 2

Question 1

What is a lahar, and which natural disaster is it most directly associated with?

Accepted Answer

A mudflow of volcanic debris and water associated with volcanic eruptions

Answer

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.

Question 2

Which region of the United States is most frequently referred to as 'Tornado Alley' due to the high frequency of tornado formation?

Accepted Answer

The Great Plains states from Texas to South Dakota

Answer

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.

Question 3

Which term describes the process by which saturated soil loses its strength and behaves like a liquid during an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

Liquefaction

Answer

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.

Question 4

The Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale differs from the Richter scale in that the MMI measures:

Accepted Answer

The perceived shaking and damage at a specific location

Answer

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.

Question 5

During a hurricane, which component is responsible for the greatest loss of life along coastlines?

Accepted Answer

Storm surge flooding

Answer

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.

Environmental Science Practice Test

Environmental Science Practice Test

Environmental Science Natural Disasters and Environmental Hazards 2