Natural Hazards NPTEL

1. NATURAL HAZARDS
INSTRUCTOR:
Prof. JAVED N. MALIK
TA: ANCHANA P

2. WEEK 1

3. Earth is a Dynamic & Evolving Planet…
❖ Change in size, shape, and geographic distribution of continents and
ocean basins through time
❖ Evolution of life forms
❖ Change in atmospheric composition
❖ Wind, water, and ice have carved a variety of landscapes
❖ An active interior revealed by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes

5. SYSTEM
Isolated
System
Open System
Closed
System
Energy exchange Matter exchange

6. Earth = approx. closed system
Comprises of primarily 4
open sub-systems:
•Atmosphere
•Biosphere
•Lithosphere/ Geosphere
•Hydrosphere

7. NATURAL HAZARDS
CATASTROPHE
NATURAL DISASTER
poses a threat to human life or property
causes significant damage to life or property
kills or injures large numbers of people or causes extensive
property damage

8. Human beings are influencing the earth’s external
processes.
Population
growth increase
Urbanization
Deforestation
Landslides in hilly
terrain & flooding in
plains
Agricultural fields
Increased
pollution affecting
climate and
ecosystem

9. PROBLEMS

10. 1. Earthquakes and Volcanism are ________ ,that threatens or
acts hazardously in a defined space and time.
a) Anthropogenic process
b) Exogenic process
c) Endogenic process
d) None of the above
Ans) Endogenic process

11. 2. Which of the following is NOT a geological hazard?
a) Slope failures
b) Volcano
c) Earthquakes
d) Cyclone
Ans) Cyclone

12. 3. When two tectonic plates move towards each other, then those
are called ______ plate margins.
a) Constructive
b) Transform
c) Destructive
d) None of the above
Ans) Destructive

13. 4. Himalayan orogeny is a classic example of ________ .
a) Collision tectonics
b) Mid oceanic ridge mountain system
c) Subduction volcanism
d) Continental rift
Ans) Collision tectonics

14. 5. A system which can exchange energy with its surroundings,
but not matter is termed as ___________ .
a) Open system
b) Closed system
c) Isolated system
d) None of the above
Ans) Closed system

15. 6. Earth releases its energy in the form of ___________
radiation.
a) Shortwave
b) Longwave
c) Both shortwave and longwave
d) None of the above
Ans) Longwave

16. 7. Identify the CORRECT statement about cyclones:
a) High speed winds circulate around a high pressure region
b) High speed winds circulate around a low pressure region
c) The wind direction is clockwise in southern hemisphere
d) Both b & c
Ans) Both b & c

17. 8. When the wind speed is in the range of about 49 to 61 km/h ,
the disturbance is known as _________ .
a) Cyclonic storm
b) Low pressure
c) Super cyclone
d) Deep depression
Ans) Deep depression
Type of disturbances Wind speed in km/h
Low pressure < 31
Depression 31-49
Deep depression 49-61
Cyclonic storm 61-88
Severe cyclonic storm 88-117
Super cyclone >221

18. 9. The cyclonic storm of Western Pacific ocean is popularly
known as ___________ .
a) Cyclone
b) Hurricane
c) Typhoon
d) Willy-willy
Ans) Typhoon

19. 10. A location where an earthquake originates is termed as:
a) Hypocenter
b) Ground zero
c) Epicenter
d) Fault line
Ans) Hypocenter

20. 11. Which of the following can occur as a consequence of an
earthquake?
a) Landslide
b) Cyclone
c) Tsunami
d) Both a & c
Ans) Both a & c