Natural Disruptive Events Test Review (Unit 5)

2014-2015

Lightning is formed when excited electrons in the clouds are

attracted to positive charges within a cloud, between clouds, or

on the ground. What type of energy is released when this

happens?

light and sound

Hurricanes are formed when ocean temperatures exceed 80°F. What type of energy is

this?

Thermal (heat)

Tornado warnings are issued when tornadoes have been sighted in an

area.

When do you think tornado watches are issued?

When conditions are right for

tornadoes to form.

What effects does a volcanic eruption have on the local

environment?

• Ash and dust in the air can affect plants and animals in the area

• Lava flow can kill trees and other vegetation

• Coral reefs can be destroyed by lava flow into the ocean

Explain why hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean is

from June to November.

The ocean temperatures must be warmer than

80°F. The summer months have the warmest

temperatures.

Name at least 1 condition that

upgrades a thunderstorm to

“severe”.

1. Hail that is ¾” or bigger2. Wind gusts greater than

58 mph3. Tornado formation

Name at least 1 condition that must be present for a hurricane

to form.• Ocean temperature greater than 80°F• Winds of similar speed blowing in the

same direction• Drop in atmospheric temperature as

winds move upwards• Location: just north of the equator

over the ocean• Dry winds blowing off the African

coast

When a tropical storm reaches the criteria to be

classified as a hurricane, it is given a name. How are

hurricanes named?

Alphabetically

Tropical storms are classified as hurricanes

when wind speeds reach …

74 mph

The center of many tropical weather

patterns is called …

the eye.

Which describes a drought?

A.A very long period of heavy rain

B.High temperatures for an extended period of time

C.A large wave generated by an earthquake

D.An extended period of very dry conditions

D

What structure in Galveston was built to protect the island

from storm surges?

A.The Hotel Galvez

B.The Seawall

C.UTMB

D.Moody Gardens

E.Schlitterbahn Water Park

B

Tornadoes are measured on the _____

scale.A.SeismicB.Fujita (EF)C.RichterD.DopplerE.MetricF. Category

B

Hurricanes are ranked according to wind speed. How many categories are

there for ranking hurricanes?

5

Hurricanes are called by another name when they

occur in the Southern Pacific Ocean, the Indian

Ocean, and near Australia. What is that

name?

cyclone

Of all the natural disruptive events we have learned about, which has the most

widespread negative effect on Texas ecosystems?

hurricanes

Name at least 1 vehicle or tool scientists use to

monitor hurricane activity.

ShipsSatellit

esAirplan

es

Which part of volcanic eruptions is responsible

for affecting Earth’s weather and climate?

Dust and ash ejected into the

atmosphere upon eruption

Cyclone: a tropical storm that forms in the Southern Pacific or Indian OceanTyphoon: a storm that forms in the Northwest Pacific (near Japan)Hurricane: severe tropical storm that forms over the North Atlantic Ocean

What do all these storms have in common?

They all form over an ocean.

Earth’s atmosphere is found _____________.

surrounding the planet

As severe storms come ashore, they push large volumes of water onto the land, threatening

lives, and causing flooding and property damage. What is this

flood called? Storm surge

Blizzards dump enormous amounts of snow on land.

What is an effect that might follow a blizzard?

flooding

Tornado Alley stretches from

Nebraska to Texas. Why is this region prone to tornado

activity?Conditions in tornado alley are favorable for tornado

formation. During the summer, the plains of Middle America get very hot (creating updrafts) and there are many

thunderstorms. Tornadoes form during thunderstorms, when unstable hot air near the ground rises and meets the cooler air above in the thunder clouds. Tornadoes can form at any

time of the year, but most of them form from March to August (in the Northern Hemisphere). The flatter landscape

allows storms to travel without mountains or other landforms to block them.

Which storms have overall

stronger winds: hurricanes or tornadoes?tornadoes

Where can droughts occur?

In any area and climate where there is a lack of precipitation over a long period of

time.

What are the 2 most destructive

parts of a hurricane?

wind and water

Most tornadoes

occur in the late

afternoon. Why?

The ground is hotter because it

has had more time to absorb heat.