Disasters

1. Disasters By Breena Griffin

2. Tsunamis A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by sudden displacements in the sea floor, landslides, or volcanic activity. Once it reaches show water, that energy will thrust to the surface resulting in a mound of water building upwards from the surface.

3. Hurricane A hurricane is a warm core tropical cyclone that forms in areas of warm sea surface temperature of at least 80 degrees F and where there is little middle to upper level wind shear. In order for it to meet the definition of a hurricane, it must have sustained low level winds of 74 mph or greater.

4. Tornado A tornado is a violent vortex of rapidly spinning air in a shape of a funnel. This funnel must be attached to a base of the cumulus cloud and the bottom of the funnel must be touching the ground surface.

5. Flood Flood that are associated with precipitation will occurs when the rainfall rates exceed the drainage rate of a basin. Flooding is the number one killer in weather related natural disasters.

6. Drought A drought is usually the result of a long period of below normal precipitation that would result in significant economic damage to an area. Because of this unique definition, it is usually declared not by an meteorologist, but by the local government.