Environmental Science Natural Disasters and Environmental Hazards 3

Question 1

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale classifies hurricanes into categories based primarily on which factor?

Accepted Answer

Sustained wind speed

Answer

The Saffir-Simpson scale categorizes hurricanes (Categories 1–5) based on their maximum sustained wind speed, which correlates with potential property damage.

Question 2

What is the primary mechanism by which volcanic eruptions can cause short-term global cooling?

Accepted Answer

Sulfur dioxide emissions form sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere that reflect sunlight

Answer

Large eruptions inject sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, where it converts to sulfate aerosols that scatter incoming solar radiation, temporarily reducing surface temperatures globally.

Question 3

Which U.S. federal agency is primarily responsible for monitoring and providing warnings for severe weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes?

Accepted Answer

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Answer

NOAA, through its National Weather Service, is the primary federal agency responsible for weather observation, forecasting, and issuing severe weather warnings in the United States.

Question 4

An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale releases approximately how many times more energy than a 6.0 earthquake?

Accepted Answer

32 times more

Answer

Each one-unit increase on the moment magnitude scale corresponds to approximately 31.6 (roughly 32) times more energy released, reflecting the logarithmic nature of the scale.

Question 5

Which land use practice significantly increases a region's vulnerability to landslides and debris flows?

Accepted Answer

Clear-cutting forests on steep hillsides

Answer

Removing forest cover through clear-cutting eliminates tree roots that bind the soil, dramatically increasing erosion and the likelihood of landslides on steep slopes when rainfall saturates the ground.

Environmental Science Practice Test

Environmental Science Practice Test

Environmental Science Natural Disasters and Environmental Hazards 3