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Catastrophic Events
Review of Catastrophic Events Vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Catastrophic Events | sudden, natural or man-made, situations where change & destruction occur. They are the Earth's way of maintaining equilibrium during change. |
Ecosystem | a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. |
Flood | an overflowing of a large amount of water beyond its normal confines, especially over what is normally dry land. |
Hurricane | a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean. |
Tornado | a mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system. |
Wildfire | a large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland or brush. |
Tsunami | a long high sea wave caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide, or other disturbance. |
Earthquake | a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action. |
Meteor | a small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere, becoming incandescent as a result of friction and appearing as a streak of light. |
Blizzard | a severe snowstorm with high winds and low visibility. |
Drought | a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. |
Volcano | a mountain or hill, typically conical, having a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and gas are being or have been erupted from the earth's crust. |