Climate & Vegetation

(Some of) Chapter 2 & 3

Weather Extremes
Chapter 3, Section 1 (pgs. 51-53)
Earthquakes
Earthquake: the violent
movement (shaking,
trembling) of the earth
Plates grind or slide
past each other at a
fault
Seismograph: special
device, measures waves
caused by earthquake
Focus: in the earth where an
earthquake begins
Epicenter: point directly above the
focus on the earths surface
Characteristics:
Squeezing, stretching, shearing
motions = damage land &
structures
Ex: landslides, fires, collapsed
buildings
Richter Scale: determines the relative
strength of an earthquake
>2 = unnoticeable
+4.5 = reported in news
+7 = major earthquake
9.5 = largest ever measured (Chile)
Tsunami
Tsunami: giant wave in the
ocean, caused by earthquake
Speed: up to 720km/hour
Wave size: 15-30 meters high
Tsunamis can travel across
wide stretches of ocean, do
damage on distant shores
Ex: 1960 Chile quake
damaged Japan
Ex 2: Indian Ocean 2004,
225,000 killed, 1.2 million
IDPs (internally displaced
persons)
Atlantic Hurricanes, Pacific Typhoons,
Australian Willy-Willies, Mexican
Chubascos etc., etc.,
Hurricanes: storms that form
over warm, tropical ocean
waters
Water winds: air flowing over
ocean with + 26C pick up
moisture & heat energy
Water winds + low-pressure =
tighten to form an eye
Eye of the storm: 16-32km
wide; clear, calm skies
Outside the eye, winds =
320km/hour
Size: up to 800km wide
Characteristics: howling
winds, very heavy rains,
storm surge (large waves,
up to 3 meters high)
Tornadoes
Tornado (or twister): powerful,
funnel-shaped column of spiraling
air
Unlike Hurricanes, can form
quickly; without warning
Characteristics:
Winds up to 480km/hour
Diameter: 90 meters
Distance: travel 1.6km, last
only a few minutes
Damage: can lift large
objects, such as cars and
homes
Blizzards
Blizzard: heavy snowstorm
Winds: +56km/hour
Reduced visibility (or
sight)
Characteristics:
Traffic stops
Endanger livestock
Damage crops
Can trap travelers
Water Weather:
too much vs. too little
Droughts
Drought: long period of time
without rain (or very little rain)
Characteristics:
Crop failures = famine
Lack of water
1930s: Dust Bowl (pg. 150-151)
Dust storms damaged
240,000-square-km area of
U.S. Great Plains
Thousands of families forced
to leave
Floods
Flood: an unusual rise in
water levels
Causes: 1) melting snow
or 2) rainwater
Effect: rivers overflow
into surrounding area,
called floodplain
Damage low, flat places
Ex: Bangladesh
Assignment: A3 Poster
Choose one natural disaster (confirm with teacher)
Visuals > text
Make your own visuals > pictures
Research case study: country example
Where?
When?
Why?
How?
Lessons learnt
Prevention and precaution


October Break HW
R.S.G Highlighted & Answered
Chapter 3 Review Worksheet completed, including
Critical Thinking Qs
All Guided Reading WSs completed
Skillbuilder Practice WS completed

EXTRA CREDIT : Map of Central America
up to 5 Merit Cards (9 elements + coordinate notes)