Natural Disasters

Most natural disasters have an effect on the earth's surface. Rock slides, erupting volcanoes, tidal waves and floods all affect the shape of the land. Mountains are continually being built up and eroded down in the slow rock cycle. Disasters are a small part of this cycle but they are of interest to us because they effect us - their impact is immediate.

Volcanoes Volcano World

Earthquakes Earthquake  Shows effect of recent earthquake in California, USA. Maintained by Discovery Channel. National Earthquake Information Centre  Lots of data on earthquakes around the world. Few pictures. Maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey. Kobe Earthquake http://www.athena.ivv.nasa.gov/curric/land/kobe.html  Maintained by SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation), Washington, USA

Plate Tectonics This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics  Diagrams show how the continents were formed. Explains reasons for earthquakes & volcanoes. Maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Disasters The Disaster Area  Maintained by Fema for Kids, The Federal Emergency Management Agency, USA

Mud Slides Mud slides often occur because the natural vegetation has been removed from steep slopes. When there is a lot of rainfall in a short period of time, the soil layer becomes unstable and slides down the sides of mountains. Mud slides are also common along coastal areas where the cliffs have been eroded away by the action of waves. What is a mudslide? A site prepared by a Disaster Relief organization. How to deal with a mudslide A site maintained by the Red Cross

Avalanches Contrary to popular belief, avalanches are not only made of snow. Avalanches are composed of snow, ice, soil and rocks as well as vegetation like trees. Want to know more about avalanches? Visit this site for information and links to information about avalanches on the Web.

RocksForKidsWelcome       Table of Contents                 Contact Us                Grade 4 Rock Talks by Rockhounds       
The Junior Files of E2B2                              ©  1999 - 2009 GMB Services       Grade 4 Pulleys & Gears       Privacy Policy