How do natural occurrences impact on people and the environment?
1. What are natural occurrences and where do they happen?
2. How do natural occurrences happen?
3. How do natural occurrences affect our environment?
4. How do people respond to natural occurrences?
2. How do natural occurrences happen?
3. How do natural occurrences affect our environment?
4. How do people respond to natural occurrences?
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Before we start....
Click on the image to the left and find a simple definition for natural disasters and some great information on the different kinds of natural occurrences.
You can also click here to go the Kids Konnect website to learn some fast facts about different types of natural occurrences.
As you investigate - why do you think we use the word 'occurrence' instead of 'disaster'?
You can also click here to go the Kids Konnect website to learn some fast facts about different types of natural occurrences.
As you investigate - why do you think we use the word 'occurrence' instead of 'disaster'?
TIMELINE OF NATURAL OCCURRENCES
There are many different timelines of natural occurrences around the world and over time. Click on the picture on the right or here to go to an interactive timeline - click on each of the black titles to find out more about that particular event.
The World History Project also has a very informative timeline you can explore here.
If you just want to focus on Australia - have a look at this timeline.
There are many different timelines of natural occurrences around the world and over time. Click on the picture on the right or here to go to an interactive timeline - click on each of the black titles to find out more about that particular event.
The World History Project also has a very informative timeline you can explore here.
If you just want to focus on Australia - have a look at this timeline.
1. What are natural occurrences and where do they occur?
What natural occurrences do you know?
Learn more about them below - all links are from Kidcyber (then click 'Planet Earth' and find each section:
Bushfires
Cyclones and Tornadoes
Drought
Earthquakes
Floods
Tsunamis
Volcanoes
Fun weather facts
Learn more about them below - all links are from Kidcyber (then click 'Planet Earth' and find each section:
Bushfires
Cyclones and Tornadoes
Drought
Earthquakes
Floods
Tsunamis
Volcanoes
Fun weather facts
Climatic Zones
The world can be split into three main climatic zones - torrid, temperate and frigid zones. Read more about these zones here and here. Another simple summary can be found here.
The world can also be split into seven major climatic zones rather than just torrid, temperate and frigid. Some information on the seven zones can be found here and a good image of the world split into those seven zones can be found here.
The world can be split into three main climatic zones - torrid, temperate and frigid zones. Read more about these zones here and here. Another simple summary can be found here.
The world can also be split into seven major climatic zones rather than just torrid, temperate and frigid. Some information on the seven zones can be found here and a good image of the world split into those seven zones can be found here.
2. How and why do natural occurrences happen?
Lots of information on how and why natural occurrences happen can be found on the internet.
We have gathered some useful resources for you below.
Let's start here with a link to the World Meteorological Organisation's site on Natural Hazards. We have had a look at their amazing poster on the different kinds of natural hazards but here's the link for yourself - poster.
Scholastic has a lot of information on severe weather and natural disasters here. The ESA (European Space Agency) has some information on the major natural occurrences here. KidStorm has information about tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes and storm chasing - click here.
There is a LOT of information from the National Geographic site (see links below) on different natural occurrences but start here by investigating different forces of nature. You can choose the different forces to explore by clicking on the small icons below the title.
The next few pictures underneath will take you to the BBC website. Each picture links to an interactive slideshow explaining how the different natural occurrences happen.
We have gathered some useful resources for you below.
Let's start here with a link to the World Meteorological Organisation's site on Natural Hazards. We have had a look at their amazing poster on the different kinds of natural hazards but here's the link for yourself - poster.
Scholastic has a lot of information on severe weather and natural disasters here. The ESA (European Space Agency) has some information on the major natural occurrences here. KidStorm has information about tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes and storm chasing - click here.
There is a LOT of information from the National Geographic site (see links below) on different natural occurrences but start here by investigating different forces of nature. You can choose the different forces to explore by clicking on the small icons below the title.
The next few pictures underneath will take you to the BBC website. Each picture links to an interactive slideshow explaining how the different natural occurrences happen.
National Geographic - Environment
Natural Disasters
Earthquakes 101 and Earthquakes
Hurricanes 101 and Hurricanes
Tornadoes 101 and Tornadoes
Avalanches
Floods
Tsunamis
Volcanoes 101
Wildfires
Natural Disasters
Earthquakes 101 and Earthquakes
Hurricanes 101 and Hurricanes
Tornadoes 101 and Tornadoes
Avalanches
Floods
Tsunamis
Volcanoes 101
Wildfires
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Investigating natural occurrences through experiments and design and make tasks...
Bushfires
Investigate how we keep safe in a bushfire. The emergency services in each state in Australia have information on how to be prepared and keep safe - have a look here, here, here and here. There is some good information on bushfires. ABC Behind the News also has information on planning ahead for bushfires and investigating how they started. They also look at how a regular family might react to a bushfire. |
Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons
Do you know what the difference is between the three? Learn a bit more background about them here, and some tips about being ready for them here. There are a few different experiments to show what is happening inside a hurricane here, here and here. Some other investigations can be found here and here. Avalanches, landslides and mudslides
Avalanches, landslides and mudslides are usually triggered by another natural occurrence. They can cause huge amounts of damage to anything in their path. Investigate some ways of protecting yourself here and here. Learn about some different experiments you can do here, here, here and here. |
Volcanoes
There are lots of different ways you can create your own volcano or volcanic eruption. Investigate how to make your own volcano here and here. There are also steps and instructions here. This link has a few options for making a volcano. Experiment with volcanic eruptions here and here. Some, like this one here, might need to take place outside! Tsunamis
Tsunamis are formed out at sea, usually due to an earthquake or volcanic eruption. There are different experiments you can make to show the effect of a tsunami. Check out links here, here, here and here for some ideas and information. You can also explore links here and here. Tornadoes and dust devils Tornadoes have a few different names; dust devils, whirly-whirlys, willy-willys, twisters, and more. There are a few different experiments you can perform to see how they work. There are some links here, here, here and here. How do you keep safe when there is a tornado? Find out some important facts here, and three parts of a safety guide here, here and here. |
3. How do natural occurrences affect our environment?
ABC Splash has great videos and information on Natural Occurrences
Some of the information is about how natural occurrences happen, but the links also look at how the environment is affected during and after the natural occurrence.
Earthquakes: When the earth shakes
New Zealand Earthquakes
East coast floods of 2009
Bushfire disaster, Victoria 2009
Ecological effects of bushfires
Increasing threat of megafires
Tsunamis
Japanese Tsunami's nuclear threat 2011
Volcanoes and people
Volcanic eruptions at Mount Ruapehu
Cyclone Yasi
Some of the information is about how natural occurrences happen, but the links also look at how the environment is affected during and after the natural occurrence.
Earthquakes: When the earth shakes
New Zealand Earthquakes
East coast floods of 2009
Bushfire disaster, Victoria 2009
Ecological effects of bushfires
Increasing threat of megafires
Tsunamis
Japanese Tsunami's nuclear threat 2011
Volcanoes and people
Volcanic eruptions at Mount Ruapehu
Cyclone Yasi
When we think of natural occurrences, we think of the massive amounts of destruction they cause to the environment. This is the case for most severe natural occurrences. However, some natural occurrences have both a negative AND a postive impact on the environment, as you would have noticed from some of the ABC Splash links above.
Here is some information from a 1999 Report, The Impacts of Natural Disasters: A Framework for Loss Estimation, written by the Commission on Geosciences, Environment and Resources (CGER). It comes from this website here and was originally posted by Kyley Eagleson on Thursday, 1st November, 2012.
1. Floods – Major floods have varied effects on river-floodplain ecosystems. As the rivers flood during rainy seasons the water will rise and “recharge” the floodplains surrounding them with “fresh supplies of water, nutrients, and sediments.” However, flooding can have a negative impact on trees if they are too long submerged.
2. Drought – “Unlike floods, droughts generally damage ecological systems and yield few offsetting benefits.” Drought damages occur gradually over time but stem primarily from the inability of different plant and animal species to get the water they need to survive.
3. Hurricanes and Tropical Storms – The environmental damages of these types of storms can be incredibly far reaching and mainly have to do with damages to trees and underbrush in the path of the storm.
4. Severe Local Storms – While individual instances of these events do not often cause major environmental impacts several in quick succession could. Things like Trees being uprooted by tornadoes, forest fires being started due to cloud to ground lightning, and flash floods are all possibilities.
5. Earthquakes - “Although the dominant losses from earthquakes are to structures and potentially to humans, these events can also result in adverse environmental consequences. Examples include flora and fauna damaged by the shocks and shifts in land surfaces, as well as alterations in local hydrologic systems.”
6. High Winds – Strong winds can damage trees and plants as well as help along large-scale fires.
It’s really quite interesting to think about. While natural disasters are generally only thought of as “disasters” some of the effects can be good for area ecosystems.
More information about the negative impact of natural occurrences and the impact on people and the environment can be found here, here and here.
Here is some information from a 1999 Report, The Impacts of Natural Disasters: A Framework for Loss Estimation, written by the Commission on Geosciences, Environment and Resources (CGER). It comes from this website here and was originally posted by Kyley Eagleson on Thursday, 1st November, 2012.
1. Floods – Major floods have varied effects on river-floodplain ecosystems. As the rivers flood during rainy seasons the water will rise and “recharge” the floodplains surrounding them with “fresh supplies of water, nutrients, and sediments.” However, flooding can have a negative impact on trees if they are too long submerged.
2. Drought – “Unlike floods, droughts generally damage ecological systems and yield few offsetting benefits.” Drought damages occur gradually over time but stem primarily from the inability of different plant and animal species to get the water they need to survive.
3. Hurricanes and Tropical Storms – The environmental damages of these types of storms can be incredibly far reaching and mainly have to do with damages to trees and underbrush in the path of the storm.
4. Severe Local Storms – While individual instances of these events do not often cause major environmental impacts several in quick succession could. Things like Trees being uprooted by tornadoes, forest fires being started due to cloud to ground lightning, and flash floods are all possibilities.
5. Earthquakes - “Although the dominant losses from earthquakes are to structures and potentially to humans, these events can also result in adverse environmental consequences. Examples include flora and fauna damaged by the shocks and shifts in land surfaces, as well as alterations in local hydrologic systems.”
6. High Winds – Strong winds can damage trees and plants as well as help along large-scale fires.
It’s really quite interesting to think about. While natural disasters are generally only thought of as “disasters” some of the effects can be good for area ecosystems.
More information about the negative impact of natural occurrences and the impact on people and the environment can be found here, here and here.
4. How do people respond to natural occurrences?
When we talk about responding to natural occurrences, we think about four steps; prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
Each state has a State Emergency Service who respond to emergencies. Click here to investigate the NSW website - they also have some community safety and awareness information - especially two new sites on flood and storm safety.
The Australian Government department of Geoscience has lots of information on emergency management. You can also click on the links on the left hand side for more information about specific natural occurrences. Information about readiness and recovery can also be found here at the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
The USA has a lot of great information we can learn from too. Have a look here and here for information from FEMA.
This site has some interesting information on forecasting volcanic eruptions and this site has an interactive game for you to help reduce the various costs of natural occurrences.
Each state has a State Emergency Service who respond to emergencies. Click here to investigate the NSW website - they also have some community safety and awareness information - especially two new sites on flood and storm safety.
The Australian Government department of Geoscience has lots of information on emergency management. You can also click on the links on the left hand side for more information about specific natural occurrences. Information about readiness and recovery can also be found here at the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
The USA has a lot of great information we can learn from too. Have a look here and here for information from FEMA.
This site has some interesting information on forecasting volcanic eruptions and this site has an interactive game for you to help reduce the various costs of natural occurrences.
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