Catastrophic Events Quiz: Earth and Space Disasters

Study Notes

The surface of Earth is always changing, and rapid changes can be devastating to an ecosystem.
Tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods are examples of catastrophic weather events that cause rapid changes.

Tornadoes can form as part of a powerful thunderstorm when warm, moist air becomes trapped under a layer of cold, stable air.
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that reaches from the base of the thunderstorm down to the ground.
Tornadoes can act like a giant vacuum cleaner, damaging everything in their path, with wind speeds as high as 300 miles per hour.
Tornadoes can uproot trees, kill animals, and cause catastrophic damage to buildings.
The damage done to an ecosystem by a tornado can take a very long time to repair.

Hurricanes are very large and violent tropical storms that develop over warm ocean water.
When hurricanes move onshore, they cause high winds, tornadoes, heavy rains, and floods.
In an aquatic ecosystem, saltwater can flood into areas of freshwater, killing large numbers of fish, and pollutants can kill animals.
In a terrestrial ecosystem, strong winds, tornadoes, and floods can destroy trees, plants, and animals.
Barrier islands can experience large amounts of erosion, be shifted or completely eroded away during hurricanes.

Heavy downpours of rain or sudden melting of large amounts of snow can saturate the land, causing rivers and streams to overflow.
Flash floods can occur in flat areas of land, canyons, and valleys, washing away plants and animals.
Floods can mix pollutants in with the water, poisoning habitats, and mud can form thick layers over plants and animals.
Fish and other aquatic animals can be swept out of their habitats and may not find their way back when the flood waters recede.

Catastrophic events, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods, can completely devastate an ecosystem.
These events can kill plants and animals or force them out of their homes.
The damage caused by these events can have a lasting impact for many years.