2. Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous,
rotating column of air that is in
contact with both the surface of the
earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or,
in rare cases, the base of a cumulus
cloud. Tornadoes come in many
shapes and sizes, but are typically in
the form of a visible condensation
funnel, whose narrow end touches the
earth and is often encircled by a cloud
of debris and dust. Most tornadoes
have wind speeds less than 110 miles
per hour (177 km/h), are
approximately 250 feet (80 m) across,
and travel a few miles (several
kilometers) before dissipating. The
most extreme can attain wind speeds
of more than 300 mph (480 km/h),
stretch more than two miles (3 km)
across, and stay on the ground for
dozens of miles (more than 100 km).
3. Drought
A drought is an extended period of
months or years when a region notes
a deficiency in its water supply.
Generally, this occurs when a region
receives consistently below average
precipitation. It can have a
substantial impact on the ecosystem
and agriculture of the affected
region. Although droughts can
persist for several years, even a short,
intense drought can cause
significant damage and harm the
local economy.
4. Typhoon
A typhoon is a tropical cyclone that
develops in the northwestern part
of the Pacific Ocean between 180°
and 100°E. The term Typhoon is
related to Chinese and wind.
5. Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse
of water that submerges land. The
EU Floods directive defines a flood
as a temporary covering by water of
land not normally covered by water.
In the sense of "flowing water", the
word may also be applied to the
inflow of the tide. Flooding may
result from the volume of water
within a body of water, such as a
river or lake, which overflows or
breaks levees, with the result that
some of the water escapes its usual
boundaries.
6. Tsunami
A tsunami or tidal wave is a series
of water waves caused by the
displacement of a large volume of
a body of water, usually an ocean,
but can occur in large lakes.
Tsunamis are a frequent
occurrence in Japan;
approximately 195 events have
been recorded. Due to the
immense volumes of water and
energy involved, tsunamis can
devastate coastal regions.
7. Famine
A famine is a widespread
scarcity of food that may apply
to any faunal species. This
phenomenon is usually
accompanied or followed by
regional malnutrition,
starvation, epidemic, and
increased mortality.
8. Volcano
A volcano is an opening, or rupture, in
a planet's surface or crust, which allows
hot magma, volcanic ash and gases to
escape from below the surface.
Volcanoes are generally found where
tectonic plates are diverging or
converging. Volcanoes are usually not
created where two tectonic plates slide
past one another. Volcanoes can also
form where there is stretching and
thinning of the Earth's crust in the
interiors of plates.
9. Earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a
quake, tremor or temblor) is the
result of a sudden release of
energy in the Earth's crust that
creates seismic waves. The
seismicity or seismic activity of
an area refers to the frequency,
type and size of earthquakes
experienced over a period of
time.
10. Forest fire
Forest fire - is a
moving combustion
reaction, spreading
outwards in a band
from its ignition
point.