Extreme Natural Events

Focusing questions

• What are extreme natural events and where and how often do they occur?

• What are the natural and cultural features of the environments that make them vulnerable to earthquakes?

• What natural processes are involved in the formation of earthquakes?

• What effects do earthquakes have on land and the people?

• How have different groups of people responded to the effects of earthquakes?

Brainstorm

• How many extreme natural events can you think of?

• How may these be categorised?

• Use the A-Z template in teams.

Video clipshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_8hOai9hGQ

Key Terms

• Extreme natural event : An abnormally severe natural event, like a storm, flood, tropical cyclone, landslide or tsunami.

• Natural event : Any event that is caused by natural processes.

• Natural disaster : An extreme natural event that affects people.

• Natural hazard : an extreme natural event which could threaten people.

Natural processes

• A natural event is the result of a series of related actions known as processes. Rainfall processes for example, include evaporation, condensation and precipitation.

Human use of an area

Extreme NaturalEvent

Intersection

• Copy the Venn diagram below and give a name to the data found at the intersection of the diagram.

• Add the following examples to the appropriate places : 1. Farms, towns, mines2. A volcanic eruption on an uninhabited island3. A volcanic eruption in Auckland

Classification of Extreme natural events

1. Duration of the event. Some may last for years (eg. coastal erosion) while others are over in a few seconds. (eg. An earthquake)

2. Frequency of the event. Some may occur many times a year (eg. Storms) while others may occur only once every 500 years (eg. earthquake)

Classification of Extreme natural events ctd..

3. Damage caused. Some extreme natural events cause a lot of damage and death (eg. a cyclone) while others cause very little damage & are rarely life-threatening (eg. A frost)

4. The area affected. Some extreme natural events affect huge areas (eg. A tsunami) while others may affect only a few hectares (eg. hail)

Scattergraph to show different types of extreme natural events.

3.

Activities

• Construct a pie graph of the world’s extreme natural events.

World pattern of extreme natural events

• Use an atlas to help you complete a world map showing the pattern of extreme natural events.

• Complete activity sheet on world patterns.

Personal Key

• Choose an extreme natural event that you have either experienced or studied. Describe your thoughts and feelings about this event.

The reasons why New Zealand is vulnerable to different types

of extreme natural events.