Learning Geography Through Natural Disasters What is a natural disaster? What is a natural disaster?...

Learning Geography Through Learning Geography Through Natural DisastersNatural Disasters

What is a natural What is a natural disaster?disaster?

Where do natural disasters occur?

What were the worst natural disasters of the 20

th century?

What map skills do I need to find natural disasters?

There are many types of natural There are many types of natural disastersdisasters

EarthquakesEarthquakes DroughtsDroughts

VolcanoesVolcanoes LandslidesLandslides

TornadoesTornadoes AvalanchesAvalanches

FloodsFloods TsunamisTsunamis

HurricanesHurricanes WildfiresWildfires

Click the buttons to move forward and backwards

Wild firesWild fires

Wild fires definedWild fires defined

A fire that burns uncontrollably in a A fire that burns uncontrollably in a natural setting (e.g., a forest, or natural setting (e.g., a forest, or grassland).grassland).

Wildfire VideoWildfire Video

EarthquakesEarthquakes

Earthquake definedEarthquake defined

A sudden movement in the crust of A sudden movement in the crust of the Earth caused by the rapid release the Earth caused by the rapid release of tectonic strain of tectonic strain

Earthquake videoEarthquake video

TornadoesTornadoes

Tornado definedTornado defined

A violently rotating storm of small A violently rotating storm of small diameter; the most violent weather diameter; the most violent weather phenomenon. It is produced in a very phenomenon. It is produced in a very severe thunderstorm and appears as severe thunderstorm and appears as a funnel cloud extending from the a funnel cloud extending from the base of a Cumulonimbus to the base of a Cumulonimbus to the ground.ground.

Tornado videoTornado video

HurricanesHurricanes

A strong tropical revolving storm of A strong tropical revolving storm of force 12 or higher in the northern force 12 or higher in the northern hemisphere. Hurricanes revolve in a hemisphere. Hurricanes revolve in a clockwise direction. In the southern clockwise direction. In the southern hemisphere these storms revolve hemisphere these storms revolve counterclockwise and are known as counterclockwise and are known as typhoons .typhoons .

Hurricane definedHurricane defined

Hurricane videoHurricane video

DroughtDrought

A drought is an extended period A drought is an extended period where water availability falls below where water availability falls below the statistical requirements for a the statistical requirements for a region. Drought is not a purely region. Drought is not a purely physical phenomenon, but instead is physical phenomenon, but instead is an interplay between natural water an interplay between natural water availability and human demands for availability and human demands for water supply.water supply.

Drought definedDrought defined

Drought videoDrought video

VolcanoesVolcanoes

A vent in the surface of the Earth A vent in the surface of the Earth through which magma and through which magma and associated gases and ash erupt; also, associated gases and ash erupt; also, the form or structure, usually conical, the form or structure, usually conical, that is produced by the ejected that is produced by the ejected material.material.

Volcano definedVolcano defined

Volcano videoVolcano video

AvalanchesAvalanches

A large mass of material or mixtures A large mass of material or mixtures of material falling or sliding rapidly of material falling or sliding rapidly under the force of gravity. under the force of gravity. Avalanches often are classified by Avalanches often are classified by their content, such as snow, ice, soil, their content, such as snow, ice, soil, or rock avalanches. A mixture of or rock avalanches. A mixture of these materials is a debris these materials is a debris avalanche.avalanche.

Avalanche definedAvalanche defined

Avalanche videoAvalanche video

TsunamisTsunamis

A great sea wave produced by a A great sea wave produced by a submarine earthquake, volcanic submarine earthquake, volcanic eruption, or large landslideeruption, or large landslide

Tsunami definedTsunami defined

Tsunami videoTsunami video

LandslidesLandslides

A large mass of material or A large mass of material or mixtures of material falling or mixtures of material falling or sliding rapidly under the force of sliding rapidly under the force of gravity. Avalanches and landslides gravity. Avalanches and landslides often are classified by their content, often are classified by their content, such as snow, ice, soil, or rock such as snow, ice, soil, or rock avalanches. A mixture of these avalanches. A mixture of these materials is a debris avalanche.materials is a debris avalanche.

Landslide definedLandslide defined

Landslide videoLandslide video

FloodsFloods

Flood definedFlood defined

The overflowing by water of the The overflowing by water of the normal confines of a stream or other normal confines of a stream or other body of water, or the accumulation of body of water, or the accumulation of water by drainage over areas which water by drainage over areas which are not normally submerged.are not normally submerged.

Flood videoFlood video

Natural Disasters Occur All Natural Disasters Occur All Over the WorldOver the World

EarthquakesEarthquakes

Avalanche/LandslidesAvalanche/Landslides

Hurricanes/Cyclones/TyphoonsHurricanes/Cyclones/Typhoons

Drought/FamineDrought/Famine

VolcanoesVolcanoes

FloodsFloods

TornadoesTornadoes

Click the buttons to move forward and backwards

TornadoesTornadoes

EarthquakesEarthquakes

Avalanches/LandslidesAvalanches/Landslides

Hurricanes/Cyclones/TyphoonsHurricanes/Cyclones/Typhoons

Drought/FamineDrought/Famine

VolcanoesVolcanoes

FloodsFloods

Top Ten Natural Disasters of Top Ten Natural Disasters of the 20the 20thth Century Century

Number 10Number 10

Number 9Number 9

Number 8Number 8

Number 7Number 7

Number 6Number 6

Number 5Number 5

Number 4Number 4

Number 3Number 3

Number 2Number 2

Number 1Number 1

Number10Number10At the turn of the 20At the turn of the 20thth century in century in 1906, Hong Kong was ravaged by a 1906, Hong Kong was ravaged by a typhoon that killed 10,000 people typhoon that killed 10,000 people with wind gusts of up to 100 miles with wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour. More recently in 1984, per hour. More recently in 1984, typhoon “Ike” hit the Philippines; typhoon “Ike” hit the Philippines; while only 1,363 people lost their while only 1,363 people lost their lives, over 1 million were left lives, over 1 million were left homeless.homeless.

Find this country on a map and put the number of the disaster that occurred there.

Number 9Number 9

In May of 1970, Peru succumbed to a In May of 1970, Peru succumbed to a landslide that took the live of 18,000 landslide that took the live of 18,000 people. No other landslide comes people. No other landslide comes close in terms of casualties. close in terms of casualties. However, when it comes to material However, when it comes to material damage, California suffered over 140 damage, California suffered over 140 million dollars in losses in January of million dollars in losses in January of 1969.1969.

Find this country on a map and put the number of the disaster that occurred there.

Number 8Number 8

Indian Ocean Tsunami: The Deadliest in Indian Ocean Tsunami: The Deadliest in HistoryHistoryOn Dec. 26, 2004, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake—the On Dec. 26, 2004, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake—the largestlargest earthquake in 40 years—occurred in the Indian earthquake in 40 years—occurred in the Indian Ocean, off the northwest coast of the Indonesian island Ocean, off the northwest coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The earthquake triggered the deadliest of Sumatra. The earthquake triggered the deadliest tsunami in world history, so powerful that the waves tsunami in world history, so powerful that the waves caused loss of life on the coast of Africa and were even caused loss of life on the coast of Africa and were even detected on the East Coast of the United States. More detected on the East Coast of the United States. More than 283,106 people have died from the disaster, a half than 283,106 people have died from the disaster, a half a million have been injured, thousands still remain a million have been injured, thousands still remain missing, and millions were left homeless. missing, and millions were left homeless.

Find this country on a map and put the number of the disaster that occurred there.

Number 7Number 7

Just under 100,000 people died when Just under 100,000 people died when the Tambora volcano erupted in the Tambora volcano erupted in Indonesia in April 1815.Indonesia in April 1815.

Find this country on a map and put the number of the disaster that occurred there.

Number 6Number 6

Back in 1556, two provinces in China lost over Back in 1556, two provinces in China lost over 800,000 lives in a massive quake. In modern 800,000 lives in a massive quake. In modern times,China suffered another quake in July of times,China suffered another quake in July of 1976. Curiously, the death toll was revised 1976. Curiously, the death toll was revised two times, while originally at over 300,000 two times, while originally at over 300,000 deaths,it was then downgraded to 240,000 deaths,it was then downgraded to 240,000 victims. While these certainly took more lives, victims. While these certainly took more lives, no earthquake parallels 1995,s Kobe shake no earthquake parallels 1995,s Kobe shake that cost in excess of $1 billion in damages.that cost in excess of $1 billion in damages.

Find this country on a map and put the number of the disaster that occurred there.

Number 5Number 5

Roughly 400,000 people died in Roughly 400,000 people died in November 1970 when a violent cyclone November 1970 when a violent cyclone ravaged through East Pakistan (current ravaged through East Pakistan (current day Bangladesh). Winds hit up to 150 day Bangladesh). Winds hit up to 150 miles per hour, and the 50-foot tidal wave miles per hour, and the 50-foot tidal wave slammed the coasts and raised the water slammed the coasts and raised the water levels of the numerous surrounding riverslevels of the numerous surrounding rivers

Find this country on a map and put the number of the disaster that occurred there.

Number 4Number 4

Half a million people died of Half a million people died of starvation in the Sub-Saharan African starvation in the Sub-Saharan African region of Sahel in the mid-1980s, due region of Sahel in the mid-1980s, due to the severe droughts that hit the to the severe droughts that hit the regionregion..

Find this country on a map and put the number of the disaster that occurred there.

Number 3Number 3

The Yellow River (or Huang He) in China's banks The Yellow River (or Huang He) in China's banks burst in October 1887, and the ensuing flood took burst in October 1887, and the ensuing flood took with it over 900,000 people. In 1950, about with it over 900,000 people. In 1950, about 900,000 dwellings were inundated when the Hwai 900,000 dwellings were inundated when the Hwai and Yangtze rivers in eastern China flooded. What and Yangtze rivers in eastern China flooded. What made matters worse was the 3.5 million acres made matters worse was the 3.5 million acres that were destroyed for the rest of the harvest that were destroyed for the rest of the harvest season. In 1978, a flood in India's West Bengal season. In 1978, a flood in India's West Bengal State left 15 million people homeless.State left 15 million people homeless.

Find this country on a map and put the number of the disaster that occurred there.

Number 2Number 2

In 1970, a hurricane ravaged the Ganges In 1970, a hurricane ravaged the Ganges Delta Islands (Bangladesh), wiping out Delta Islands (Bangladesh), wiping out almost 1 million people. Back home, most almost 1 million people. Back home, most people remember Hurricane Andrew that people remember Hurricane Andrew that hit Homestead, Florida in August 1992, hit Homestead, Florida in August 1992, and caused over $15 billion in damages. and caused over $15 billion in damages. Andrew leaves a big tab everywhere he Andrew leaves a big tab everywhere he goesgoes..

Find this country on a map and put the number of the disaster that occurred there.

Number 1Number 1

Over a 2-year period circa 1960, Over a 2-year period circa 1960, roughly 40 million Chinese perished roughly 40 million Chinese perished due to starvation in Northern China.due to starvation in Northern China.

Find this country on a map and put the number of the disaster that occurred there.

These are the map skills you may These are the map skills you may need to find natural disasters.need to find natural disasters.

Map termsMap terms

Map ProjectionsMap Projections

Latitude and LongitudeLatitude and Longitude

Map termsMap terms

Prime MeridianPrime Meridian International DatelineInternational Dateline EquatorEquator HemisphereHemisphere Tornado AlleyTornado Alley Dust BowlDust Bowl Ring of FireRing of Fire

International DatelineInternational Dateline The International Date The International Date

Line is the imaginary Line is the imaginary line on the Earth that line on the Earth that separates two separates two consecutive calendar consecutive calendar days. That is the date in days. That is the date in the Eastern the Eastern hemisphere, to the left hemisphere, to the left of the line, is always of the line, is always one day ahead of the one day ahead of the date in the Western date in the Western hemisphere. It has been hemisphere. It has been recognized as a matter recognized as a matter of convenience and has of convenience and has no force in international no force in international law.law.

Prime MeridianPrime Meridian

Meridian of 0 degrees, the line from Meridian of 0 degrees, the line from which all lines of longitude are which all lines of longitude are measured.. The meridian of measured.. The meridian of Greenwich, England, is the Greenwich, England, is the internationally accepted prime internationally accepted prime meridian on most charts. However, meridian on most charts. However, local or national prime meridians are local or national prime meridians are occasionally used.occasionally used.

EquatorEquator An imaginary line around the Earth An imaginary line around the Earth

forming the great circle that is forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south equidistant from the north and south poles; "the equator is the boundary poles; "the equator is the boundary between the northern and southern between the northern and southern hemispheres" hemispheres"

Lines of LatitudeLines of Latitude Imaginary lines that cross the surface of Imaginary lines that cross the surface of

the Earth parallel to the Equator, the Earth parallel to the Equator, measuring how far north or south of the measuring how far north or south of the Equator a place is located.Equator a place is located.

Lines of LongitudeLines of Longitude An imaginary great circle on the surface An imaginary great circle on the surface

of the earth passing through the north of the earth passing through the north and south poles at right angles to the and south poles at right angles to the equator; "all points on the same equator; "all points on the same meridian have the same longitude"meridian have the same longitude"

HemisphereHemisphere

Hemispheres are half of the earth's Hemispheres are half of the earth's surface. There are four hemispheres: The surface. There are four hemispheres: The northern hemisphere (north of the northern hemisphere (north of the equator); the southern hemisphere (south equator); the southern hemisphere (south of the equator); the eastern hemisphere of the equator); the eastern hemisphere (east of the prime meridian); the western (east of the prime meridian); the western hemisphere (west of the prime meridian).hemisphere (west of the prime meridian).

Dust BowlDust Bowl An area of the U.S. Plains that included parts of Kansas, An area of the U.S. Plains that included parts of Kansas,

Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. The term Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. The term was coined in the 1930s, when dry weather and high was coined in the 1930s, when dry weather and high winds caused many dust storms throughout the United winds caused many dust storms throughout the United States, but particularly in this area.States, but particularly in this area.

Ring of FireRing of Fire The regions of mountain-building The regions of mountain-building

earthquakes and volcanoes which earthquakes and volcanoes which surround the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes surround the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes referred to geographically as the Pacific referred to geographically as the Pacific Rim.Rim.

Tornado AlleyTornado Alley Tornado Alley is the designation of the American Tornado Alley is the designation of the American

Meteorological Society for the area of the United States in Meteorological Society for the area of the United States in which tornadoes are most frequent. It encompasses the great which tornadoes are most frequent. It encompasses the great lowland areas of the Mississippi, the Ohio, and lower Missouri lowland areas of the Mississippi, the Ohio, and lower Missouri River Valleys. Although no state is entirely free of tornadoes, River Valleys. Although no state is entirely free of tornadoes, they are most frequent in the Plains area between the Rocky they are most frequent in the Plains area between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians.Mountains and Appalachians.

There are three types of map There are three types of map projections.projections.

Mercator ProjectionMercator Projection Azimuthal ProjectionAzimuthal Projection Conic ProjectionConic Projection

Click the buttons to move forward and backwards

Mercator ProjectionMercator Projection The Mercator projection has straight meridians and The Mercator projection has straight meridians and

parallels that intersect at right angles. Scale is true at parallels that intersect at right angles. Scale is true at the equator or at two standard parallels equidistant the equator or at two standard parallels equidistant from the equator. The projection is often used for from the equator. The projection is often used for marine navigation because all straight lines on the map marine navigation because all straight lines on the map are lines of constant azimuth. are lines of constant azimuth.

Azimuthal ProjectionAzimuthal Projection

Azimuthal equidistant projections are Azimuthal equidistant projections are sometimes used to show air-route distances. sometimes used to show air-route distances. Distances measured from the center are true. Distances measured from the center are true. Distortion of other properties increases away Distortion of other properties increases away from the center point. from the center point.

Conic ProjectionConic Projection A conic projection that distorts scale and A conic projection that distorts scale and

distance except along standard parallels. distance except along standard parallels. Areas are proportional and directions are true Areas are proportional and directions are true in limited areas. Used in the United States and in limited areas. Used in the United States and other large countries with a larger east-west other large countries with a larger east-west than north-south extent than north-south extent