List of Natural Disasters

A natural disaster is defined as a result or a consequence of a natural hazard, which has a negative effect on human beings. Though some of the natural disasters are geological many of them are due to the changes in the climatic conditions. Some of the natural hazards that have caused natural disasters are landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, blizzards and so on. Given below are some of the very important natural disasters.

Avalanche

Avalanches kill an average of 200 people each year. The victims of avalanche incidents are mostly the snow-mobilers, snow-boarders and skiers. Avalanches are snowballs which roll down the mountainside and shatter like a glass. Avalanches mostly occur after a heavy snowfall. When the snow piles up quickly, it weakens the layer beneath the snow and causes a fracture. This loosens the snow on the top layer causing it to move down the mountain slope at a great speed. A victim caught in an avalanche seldom escapes. The factors that foster an avalanche include temperature, storminess, wind and also the steepness of the slope.

Blizzard

A severe winter storm is known as a blizzard. Strong winds, heavy snowfall and low temperatures characterize a blizzard. A blizzard that occurred in 1888 killed over 400 people in the northeastern United States. Two hundred ships were wrecked in this blizzard. This blizzard is known as the Great Blizzard of 1888.

Drought

Drought can be defined as a condition of unusually dry climate within a certain geographic region due to lack of annual rainfall. Drought is a natural disaster, which is hazardous to human beings because it results in water shortage, causes damages to crops, and an increased death rate of livestock and wild animals. Drought also results in shortage of electricity. Reports show, many people worldwide die during the time of drought. In drought-prone areas certain measures such as construction of reservoirs, rain-harvest system and stopping over-grazing could be taken. Drought causes increase in food prices and unemployment. The incidents of forest fires would be more at the time of drought. Drought affects the entire human and animal population of that geographical location.

Earthquake

An earthquake occurs when the tectonic plates that form the upper crust of the earth collide or slide against each other. The zone where an earthquake occurs is known as the fault zone. When the tectonic plates collide against each other, the stress is released and it sends massive vibrations called seismic waves. The magnitude of an earthquake is measured using Richter scale.

Famine

Famine is a hazard that is induced by over-population. You may define famine as the shortage of food and clean drinking water. Famine leads to human and animal deaths. The main cause of famine is crop failure due to lack of rain or untimely rain. Other causes could be natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and so on.

Flood

A flood is a natural disaster as it results in the death of human beings, animals, and livestock. The crops are destroyed in the flood, which would gradually result in increased food prices due to food shortages. A flood can be defined as an event that occurs when the rivers and dams overflow and thereby submerging the all land that lies near them. In case of a flood situation, drinking water becomes scarce because water is contaminated. Due to unhygienic conditions many water-borne diseases are spread.

Hailstorm

You can say, a hailstorm is a precipitation that consists of lumps of ice. Hailstorm is sometimes called as freezing rain. The size of the ice lumps depends on the strength of the thunderstorm. It has been observed that a hailstorm in early spring can turn the green grass white. A hailstorm could destroy the crops and harm the livestock.

Heat Wave

When the temperatures soar above the normal temperature and if this condition continues for a prolonged period, then it is known as a heat wave. The temperatures that are considered as normal in the hotter regions of the globe could be termed as a heat wave in a cooler geographical location. Severe heat waves could lead to crop failures, death of human beings due to hypothermia. Domestic and wild animals also die in a severe heat wave.

Hurricane

Hurricanes are strong winds that develop as a result of low-pressure area in the ocean that later leads to heavy rainfall and thunderstorm. Hurricane is also known as a tropical cyclone, tropical depression and tropical storm.

Ice Storm

A precipitation that occurs at a very cold temperature is known as the winter storm. An ice storm is a form of winter storm wherein cold and freezing rain is experienced. Ice storm is a natural disaster, which could cause damages and health hazards to mankind and livestock.

Lahar

Lahar is one of the volcanic and avalanche hazards. A lahar is a pyroclastic flow which is formed from the debris of an avalanche, volcano or a rainfall. They move down the slope of a valley and are hazardous to the people, plants and animals that inhabit such valley. The reason is a lahar has the force to bring along with it boulders, trees and so on. A lahar destroys not only the houses and other buildings but also the crops.

Landslide

When the stability of a mountain slope is destabilized by factors such as erosion, earthquake, volcanic eruptions and heavy rainfalls, the natural disaster called landslide occurs. A landslide is a natural disaster that uproots the boulders, huge trees and houses. Landslides that occur due to heavy and continuous rainfall are known as mudslides.

Lightning

Lightning is a natural phenomenon that occurs when electricity is discharged between rain clouds and the earth or between two or more rain clouds. Lightning becomes a disaster when it strikes the earth and causes destruction to mankind, buildings and all living things.

Limnic Eruption

A liminic eruption is one of the natural disasters, which occurs very rarely. A liminic eruption occurs when the lake water rises due to an eruption within the lake. The carbon dioxide displaces water that results in loss of wildlife, humans and livestock. The lakes that erupt are known as limnically-active lakes. One of the features of a limnically-active lake is carbon dioxide saturated water.

Sandstorm

A sandstorm is also known as the dust storm, which is a strong wind that blows across the arid and semi-arid regions. Sandstorm causes soil erosion and it occurs due to the poor management of dry land and over-grazing of vegetation.

Tornado

One of the natural disasters caused by weather conditions is a tornado. A tornado is also called as a twister. A tornado is a strong and violent wind that swirls in an anti-clockwise direction north of the equator and in the clockwise direction south of the equator. A tornado rotates at a speed of over 450 kilometers per hour.

Tsunami

A submarine earthquake or a volcanic explosion in an ocean creates a set of tidal waves which rises as high as 50 feet or more is a natural disaster known as tsunami. Tsunami is so powerful, it is capable of killing the residents who reside along the coastal area.

Volcanic Eruption

Volcano is one of the natural disasters which causes destruction to all living beings and plant life around it. When a volcano erupts it sprays out hot gases and molten rocks. There are around 2,500 active volcanoes worldwide.

Wildfire

Forest fire is also known as the wildfire or a bush fire is a natural disaster caused due to volcanic eruption, arson or human carelessness. A wildfire could be a threat to wildlife and the human habitation close to the forest. A forest fire could also produce an ember attack where the floating embers could set fire to the buildings close to the forest.

Studies on natural disaster show that ninety percent of all natural disasters are weather related. If the area affected by a natural disaster does not receive enough help then the condition is worse than the natural disaster itself.

You would be interested to know more about natural disasters.