2. Avalanche
• Large amount of snow travels down
slope
• Two components- snow filled slope
and trigger
• Powerful enough to snap trees,
destroy buildings
• When over, snow sets up compact
making rescue difficult
• Caused more deaths in U.S. than
earthquakes
3. Blizzards
• Snowstorm with strong winds and low
temps
• Winds 35 mph or greater
• Reduced visibility past 400 meters
• Lasts typically 3 hours or more
4. Blizzards
(continued)
• Severe blizzard
• winds over 45 mph
• almost zero visibility
• 10 degrees F or less
5. Earthquake
• Two plates shift/slide past each other
• Plates touch at points called faults
• Focus- point at which an earthquake
begins
• Epicenter- point right above focus
where earthquake causes most
movement
• Millions occur worldwide
• Can damage buildings and roads
6. Hurricane
• Tropical cyclone with winds of 74
mph or greater
• Takes days/weeks to gather strength
to be considered hurricane
• Process starts in warm, moist
conditions over water
• Coriolis force- causes wind to spiral
counter-clockwise in Northern
Hemisphere
• Categorized on a 1-5 scale
• Eye- circular area found at center of
hurricane
7. Landslide
• Earth moving down a slope
• Abrupt- move fast/hard to detect
• harmful to people
• Gradual- move slow/mm or cm a
year
• damage property
• Triggered by earthquakes or
erosion
8. Thunderstorm
• Lightning, thunder, rain are present
• Formed by rising warm, humid air
• After rising, air cools and
condenses to form clouds
• Clouds release rain water
9. Thunderstorm
(continued)
• Considered severe
• Hail 3/4 inch or greater in diameter
• 58 mph or greater winds
• Tornadoes
10. Tornado
• Formed when cold air meets warm air
• Take the shape of a funnel
• Usually less than a mile wide
• Form over land
11. Tornado
(continued)
• Classified as
• Weak- speed less than 110 mph, lasts 1-10
min
• Strong- speed between 110- 205 mph, lasts 20
min
• Violent- speed greater than 200 mph, lasts 1
hour
12. Tsunami
• Large waves caused by earthquakes
or volcanoes under water
• As waves travel toward land they
gather height
• Speed- determined by depth of
ocean
• Pick up speed in deep water
• Slow down as water shallows
13. Volcano
• Vent connecting molten rock to Earth
• Cone like shape
• When pressure rises from water and CO2
in magma, volcano erupts
• Active volcano- lava, gas, rock erupt
