Chart 551 - Natural Disasters - 2

Natural Disasters Chart

Spectrum Chart - 551 : Natural Disasters 2

1. Avalanche - An avalanche (also called a snowslide) is a rapid flow of snow down a sloping surface. Large avalanches may carry stones, boulders and trees with them. They may bury people under them. If the people are not found rapidly enough by rescue teams they will die of suffocation (not getting enough air) or of hypothermia (freezing cold).

2. Cloudburst – A cloudburst is an extreme amount of precipitation, sometimes accompanied by hail and thunder, that normally lasts no longer than a few minutes but is capable of creating flood conditions. A cloudburst can suddenly dump large amounts of water. In the Indian subcontinent, a cloudburst usually occurs when a monsoon cloud drifts northwards, from the Bay of Bengal or Arabian Sea across the plains, then onto the Himalaya and bursts, bringing rainfall as high as 75 mm per hour.

3. Cyclone - A cyclone is a large scale air mass that rotates around a strong centre of low pressure. They are usually characterised by inward spiralling winds that rotate counter clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the southern. Cyclone is the general term for a variety of low pressure system types, such as tropical cyclones, extra tropical cyclones and tornadoes.

4. Dust Devil – A dust devil is a strong, well-formed and relatively long-lived whirlwind, ranging from small to large. The primary vertical motion is upward. Dust devils are usually harmless, but can on rare occasions grow large enough to pose a threat to both people and property. Dust devils form when hot air near the surface rises quickly through a small pocket of cooler, low-pressure air above it. If conditions are just right, the air may begin to rotate.

5. Limnic Eruption – A limnic eruption, also referred to as a lake overturn, is a rare type of natural disaster in which dissolved carbon dioxide(CO₂) suddenly erupts from deep lake water, suffocating wildlife, livestock and humans. Such an eruption may also cause tsunamis in the lake as the rising CO₂ displaces water. Scientists believe earthquakes, volcanic activity or explosions can trigger such an eruption. Lakes in which such activity occurs may be known as limnically active lakes or exploding lakes.

6. Famine - A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, population imbalance or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic and increased mortality. Some countries, particularly in sub-Sahara Africa, continue to have extreme cases of famine.

7. Solar Flare – A solar flare is a sudden flash of brightness observed near the Sun's surface. The flare ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the corona of the sun into space. These clouds typically reach Earth a day or two after the event. Solar flares affect all layers of the solar atmosphere. X-rays and UV radiation emitted by solar flares can affect Earth's ionosphere and disrupt long-range radio communications.

To Buy Chart - CLICK HERE