3 Term Geography
rd

Assignment 
 

AT RISK!

From the chapter natural hazards and

disasters 
 

  
Student name – Sasen Manmitha Wijesinghe 
Class           – 7-E 
 
 
 
Contents
What is a Hazard?........................................................................................................................................3
Types of Hazards......................................................................................................................................3
What is a Disaster?......................................................................................................................................4
How to prevent a Disaster?.....................................................................................................................4
Drought.......................................................................................................................................................5
What Causes Drought?............................................................................................................................5
Flood............................................................................................................................................................6
What causes flood?.................................................................................................................................6
Reasons for flood.....................................................................................................................................6
Where does all of that rain come from?..................................................................................................6
Earth slips....................................................................................................................................................7
What is an Earth Slip?..............................................................................................................................7
Cyclones (Storms)........................................................................................................................................8
How are Cyclones Formed?.....................................................................................................................8
Factor that can be held responsible for the formation of a cyclones......................................................8
Damages from cyclones...........................................................................................................................8
Thunderbolts (Lighting)...............................................................................................................................9
Facts about Lighting.................................................................................................................................9
Damages of Thunderbolts/Lighting.........................................................................................................9
Prevention of Thunderbolt accidents......................................................................................................9
Tsunami.....................................................................................................................................................10
What Causes a Tsunami?.......................................................................................................................10
What Happens When It Hits Land?........................................................................................................10
Earth Quakes.............................................................................................................................................11
What are the reasons for Earthquakes?................................................................................................11
Damages from Earth Quakes.................................................................................................................11
Global Climatic Change..............................................................................................................................12
What is Global Climatic Change?...........................................................................................................12
Reasons for Climatic change..................................................................................................................12
How climatic changes affect Sri Lanka?.................................................................................................12
Facing a Disaster........................................................................................................................................13
What is a Hazard? 
Natural phenomena that may cause damage to community or property are known as HAZARDS.A Hazard
is a continuous process. A hazard is a potential source of harm or adverse impact on something or
someone. Hazards can take many forms, such as natural disasters, accidents, and human actions.
Examples of hazards include earthquakes, floods, fires, toxic chemical spills, and terrorist attacks. The
potential harm caused by a hazard can range from minor inconvenience to death. The study of hazards
is known as hazard analysis, and it is used to identify and assess the risks associated with potential
hazards, in order to develop strategies for managing and mitigating them. 

Types of Hazards
 Drought
 Flood
 Earth Slips
 Cyclones
 Thunderbolts (Lightning)
 Tsunami
 Earth Quakes
 Global Climatic Change
 Volcanic Eruptions
 Avalanches
 Heat Waves
 Cold Waves
 Wild fires
 Epidemics and Pandemics
 Hail Storms   

Figure 1: Hazards

 
 
What is a Disaster? 
Disasters can be caused by many different kinds of hazards—scroll down for examples—and can have
devastating impacts on people and communities. 

The frequency, complexity and severity of their impacts are likely to increase in the future due to factors
such as climate change, displacement, conflict, rapid and unplanned urbanization, technological hazards
and public health emergencies.

But disasters can and should be prevented. We can prevent hazards from becoming disasters by helping
communities to be prepared, reduce their risks, and become more resilient.

How to prevent a Disaster?

Introduction: There is nothing natural about a disaster. Shocks and hazards do not inevitably lead to
catastrophe. Yet every year 67,000 people are killed, 26 million are driven into poverty, and nearly 200
million people are affected by natural hazards worldwide. It is the world’s poorest and most exposed
people who suffer the most. And older people, women and girls and people living with disabilities are
disproportionately affected.

How to prevent:

 Improve the capacity of each country to lessen the effects of natural disasters by applying early
warning systems.
 Promote scientific and technical knowledge to reduce human and material losses.
 Offer countries technical assistance that works based on prevention, evaluation and diagnostic
protocols to lessen natural disasters.
 Provide technology to affected regions and encourage educational and training projects.

Figure 2: Disasters
Drought
The dry condition that prevails for a lengthy period in a certain area, because of the delay in the rainfall
due to a particular period. Drought is a hazard that can exist in any region at any period. However, the
attention focused on drought is less. It is because, a drought is a silent destructive force that begins
without our knowledge and develops gradually creating a crisis in the whole human society

What Causes Drought? 

Introduction: A drought is caused by drier than normal conditions that can eventually lead to water
supply problems. Really hot temperatures can make a drought worse by causing moisture to evaporate
from the soil. Just because a region is hot and dry doesn't necessarily mean it is going through a
drought. Droughts only occur when an area is abnormally dry.

Because: Rain and snow don’t fall evenly across Earth. Some regions are routinely wet and others are
routinely dry. From season to season — and from year to year — the amount of rain or snow in a
location can vary. However, over a period of many years, the average amount of precipitation in a region
is fairly consistent.

Ex: In the deserts of the American Southwest, the average precipitation is less than 3 inches per year.
But, the average yearly precipitation in Atlanta is about 50 inches.

When a particular area gets less rain than usual, the soil gets much less moisture, too. The soil starts
drying out and plants die. When this pattern continues for several weeks, months or years, the flow of
streams and rivers decreases and water levels in lakes, reservoirs and wells fall. Eventually, the unusual
dry weather causes water supply issues, and the dry period becomes a drought.

HENCE: Causes Drought! 

Figure 3: Districts in which drought occurs frequently

Flood 
When a large mass of water is collected in rivers, canals, streams, reservoirs, and other natural
waterways in a brief period, they begin to overflow. At present, flooding of rainwater even in a light
shower is a common feature in urban areas where rivers and other waterways are not found.

What causes flood?

A flood is an overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods can happen almost anywhere. They
can cover an area with just a few inches of water or they can bring enough water to cover the roof of a
house. Floods can be dangerous for communities, lasting days, and weeks or sometimes even longer.

 Reasons for flood 
 Incessant heavy rains 
 Clearing of forests in hilly areas 
 Reclamation of lowlands 

Where does all of that rain come from?

Several different weather conditions can cause extreme rainfall in a region. Tropical cyclones form in
some tropical and subtropical areas, usually in the summer and fall. When they appear in the Atlantic
Ocean or the northwest part of the Pacific Ocean and reach a certain intensity, they are called
hurricanes. Tropical cyclones can produce huge amounts of rain, causing flooding and flash flooding
once the storm reaches land.

Another phenomenon that can cause extreme rainfall is called an atmospheric river. Atmospheric
rivers are long, narrow conveyor belts of moisture that move through the atmosphere.

Ex: Strong atmospheric rivers can deliver enormous amounts of rain and snow in California, the Pacific
Northwest and Alaska, especially during the winter months. This can lead to serious flooding.

Figure 4: Districts in which flood occurs frequently

Earth slips  
Sliding an extensive part of the earth at a higher elevation downwards along a slope with rock boulders,
gravel and soil lumps is called an earth slip. At present, earth slip is a common disaster in the world.
Though it is a natural process, human activities influence it to a great extent. Reasons for the earth slips
can be divided into two categories. There are two ways in which earth slips could occur.

1. Natural causes
2. Human activities

Natural causes Human Activities

• Incessant rain  • Setting fire to the forests in mountainous areas. 
• Lands with steep slope  • Improper use of land in mountainous areas. 
• Existence of weathered rock layers. • Insufficient research before doing constructions. 
• Earth quakes. • Blocking of natural water ways and storing of water in
highlands.

What is an Earth Slip?

 A landslide is the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a sloped section of
land. Landslides are caused by rain, earthquakes, volcanoes, or other factors that make
the slope unstable. Geologists, scientists who study the physical formations of the Earth,
sometimes describe landslides as one type of mass wasting. A mass wasting is any downward
movement in which the Earth's surface is worn away. Other types of mass wasting include rock
falls and the flow of shore etc.

Figure 5: Districts in which earth slips occur frequently

Cyclones (Storms) 
The hard blowing wind while spinning fast in a swirl is known as a cyclone or a storm. Hot temperatures
in a tropical zone and development of low-pressure centers influence the origin of cyclones. Sri Lanka is
a country found in the tropical zone. Due to the influence of the low-pressure centers that originate in
the Bay of Bengal, Sri Lanka is affected by cyclones often. The cyclonic winds enter the island from the
Eastern and North East coasts and exit from the North Western coast. As a result, the Northern and
Eastern regions of Sri Lanka are highly affected by cyclones. 
How are Cyclones Formed?
The formation of cyclones takes place in low-pressure areas. In meteorology, it refers to a large-scale
air mass that revolves around a strong low atmospheric pressure center. We can characterize cyclones
by spiraling inward winds rotating around a low-pressure zone.

Factor that can be held responsible for the formation of a cyclones

 Ample amount of warm temperature at the surface of the sea.
 Instability in the atmosphere.
 How the Carioles force is impacting the area so that low-pressure area can be created.
 When the humidity is high in the lower to middle levels of the troposphere.
 Disturbance in the pre-existing low-level area.
 When the vertical wind shear is low.

Damages from cyclones

 Massive loss of lives and property due to heavy rains and intense winds. 
 Destruction of cultivations. 
 Breaking down of infrastructure facilities such as electricity, Transport, due to the fall of trees. 
 Flooding of sea in coastal areas. 
 Figure 6: Districts in which Cyclone occur frequently

Thunderbolts (Lighting) 
 

Discharge of an electric current between two opposite charges due to the electric phenomenon that
occur in a cloud is known as a thunderbolt. Discharge of an electric current may occur in a cloud itself,
between two clouds or from a cloud to the earth. These electric currents can cause huge damages.
Lightning may occur any time of the year

Facts about Lighting

 How hot is a lightning bolt? Only about 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit — roughly five times hotter
than the surface of the sun!
 Lightning flashes more than 3 million times a day worldwide — that’s about 40 times a second.
Not all those flashes hit the ground. Some happen between or inside clouds.
 An average lightning bolt can release enough energy to operate a 100-watt light bulb for more
than three months straight (about 250 kilowatt-hours of energy).
 Lightning kills about 2,000 people a year, so stay inside during lightning storms.

Damages of Thunderbolts/Lighting 
 Loss of lives and property. 
 Breaking down of electric cable systems. 
 Destruction of houses. 
 Breaking down of communication networks. 
Prevention of Thunderbolt accidents 
 Keep away from open places when there are thunder showers. 
 Keep away from tall trees. 
 Avoid travelling during such occasions. 
 Disconnect all domestic electric circuits. 
 Do not use telephones.  

Figure 7: Lightning
Tsunami
The waves that travel fast towards the coast due to the occurrence of earth quakes, earth slips or
volcanic eruptions in the sea bed are called tsunami. A tsunami is a series of ocean waves that sends
surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 feet (30.5 meters), onto land. These walls of
water can cause widespread destruction when they crash ashore.

What Causes a Tsunami?

These awe-inspiring waves are typically caused by large, undersea earthquakes at tectonic plate
boundaries. When the ocean floor at a plate boundary rises or falls suddenly, it displaces the water
above it and launches the rolling waves that will become a tsunami. Tsunamis may also be caused by
underwater landslides or volcanic eruptions. They may even be launched, as they frequently were in
Earth’s ancient past, by the impact of a large meteorite plunging into an ocean. Tsunamis race across the
sea at up to 500 miles (805 kilometers) an hour—about as fast as a jet airplane. At that pace, they can
cross the entire expanse of the Pacific Ocean in less than a day. And their long wavelengths mean they
lose very little energy along the way. In Deep Ocean, tsunami waves may appear only a foot or so high.
But as they approach shoreline and enter shallower water they slow down and begin to grow in energy
and height. The tops of the waves move faster than their bottoms do, which causes them to rise
precipitously.

What Happens When It Hits Land?

A tsunami’s trough, the low point beneath the wave’s crest, often reaches shore first. When it does, it
produces a vacuum effect that sucks coastal water seaward and exposes harbor and sea floors. This
retreating of sea water is an important warning sign of a tsunami, because the wave’s crest and its
enormous volume of water typically hit shore five minutes or so later. Recognizing this phenomenon can
save lives. A tsunami is usually composed of a series of waves, called a wave train, so its destructive
force may be compounded as successive waves reach shore. People experiencing a tsunami should
remember that the danger may not have passed with the first wave and should await official word that
it is safe to return to vulnerable locations. The best defense against any tsunami is early warning that
allows people to seek higher ground. The Pacific Tsunami Warning System, a coalition of 26 nations
headquartered in Hawaii, maintains a web of seismic equipment and water level gauges to identify
tsunamis at sea. Similar systems are proposed to protect coastal areas worldwide.
 Figure 8: Tsunami Wave

Earth Quakes
Earthquake, any sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic waves through Earth’s
rocks. Seismic waves are produced when some form of energy stored in Earth’s crust is suddenly
released, usually when masses of rock straining against one another suddenly fracture and “slip.”
Earthquakes occur most often along geologic faults, narrow zones where rock masses move in relation
to one another. The major fault lines of the world are located at the fringes of the huge tectonic plates
that make up Earth’s crust. About 50,000 earthquakes large enough to be noticed without the aid of
instruments occur annually over the entire Earth. Of these, approximately 100 are of sufficient size to
produce substantial damage if their centuries are near areas of habitation. Very great earthquakes occur
on average about once per year. Over the centuries they have been responsible for millions of deaths
and an incalculable amount of damage to property.

In recent years attention has been devoted to earthquake prediction and, more successfully, to
assessing seismic hazards at different geographic sites in an effort to reduce the risks of earthquakes.
The physics of seismic fault sources have been better determined and modeled for computer analysis.
Moreover, seismologists have studied quakes induced by human activities, such as impounding water
behind high dams and detonating underground nuclear explosions. The objective of the latter research
is to find ways of discriminating between explosions and natural earthquakes.

What are the reasons for Earthquakes?

 High temperature in the interior of the earth and changes in pressure.
 Breaking down of the equilibrium of the earth due to the construction of reservoirs and large
scale constructions…

Damages from Earth Quakes

 Loss of lives and property
 Displacement of people
 Slowing down of day today activities…

What is Seismology?
Seismology, scientific discipline that is concerned with the study of earthquakes and of
the propagation of seismic waves within the Earth. A branch of geophysics, it has provided much
information about the composition and state of the planet’s interior.

The goal of seismology

The goals of seismological investigations may be local or regional, as in the attempt to determine
subsurface faults and other structures in petroleum or mineral exploration, or they may be of global
significance, as in attempts to determine structural discontinuities in the Earth’s interior, the geophysical
characteristics of island arcs, oceanic trenches, or mid-oceanic ridges, or the elastic properties of Earth
materials generally.
Global Climatic Change
What is Global Climatic Change?
Climate change is a broad topic that includes periodic alterations in Earth’s climate caused by natural
forces in combination with the effects of various human activities. Although climate change is a process
that has continued since Earth’s formation some 4.6 billion years ago, over the most-recent 100 years or
so, the collective weight of human activities has emerged as an important factor in guiding the trajectory
of global and regional climates.

Reasons for Climatic change

 Excessive burning of fossil fuel
 Destruction of forests
 Warming of the atmosphere
 Burning of agro and industrial waste
 Volcanic Eruptions

How climatic changes affect Sri Lanka?

Destruction of coastal eco system due to the rise of sea level.
 Pollution of drinking water.
 Increase in coastal erosion.
 Breaking down of fishing industry and destruction of coastal industries.

Destruction caused by heavy rains

 Floods and earth slips
 Loss of lives and property.
 Destruction of infrastructure facilities.

Destruction due to increase of atmospheric temperature

 Occurrence of droughts.
 Scarcity of water.
 Decrease in harvest.

Emergence of crisis connected to the production and use of energy sources

 Increase in the use of air condition equipment and fans due to the increase in temperature.
 Slowing down of the generation of hydro power.
 Increase of the demand for electricity and thermal power energy.

Actions taken to minimize the climatic change

 Establish Forest Reserves

 Minimize the emission of unfavorable gases like Carbon Dioxide in the fields of industry,
agriculture and transport.
 Enact limits to the emission of Green House Gases that increases the global warming.
 Make people aware.
Facing a Disaster
Man cannot prevent natural disasters completely. But their effect can be minimized. Disaster
management is important for it. The basic steps for disaster management are preparedness, response
and recovery. Following examples show how we should respond to natural disasters shown above
according to the disaster management cycle.
Table 1: Table about Facing a Disaster (Preparedness, Response and Recovery)

PREPAREDNESS RESPONSE RECOVERY

(During a Disaster)

 Identify the hazardous  Collect victims to safety  Identify problems.

zones and moving away places.  Establish emergency
from them.  Attempt to protect lives disaster centers.
 Make people aware of than property.  Introduce disaster kits.
disaster, place of  Face the disaster (Lifesaving kits.)
disaster, and period strongly.  Provide relief to the
when a disaster could  Provide medical victims.
occur. assistance and  Conduct health
 Protect the forest treatments to the programs.
cover. victims.  Plan the activities to
 Protect the catchment  Provide food and restore the mental
areas. beverages to the health of the victims.
 Fix lightning conductors refugees.
to the buildings.  Move away from the
 Do not construct buildings where
buildings under high accidents could occur.
tension electric lines.  Avoid consuming
 Build houses that resist polluted and
disasters. contaminated food.
 Be alert about tsunami
condition (warning)
when an earth quake
occurred in an adjoining
zone.