Natural Events

Instructions
List three different natural events that can cause changes to the Earths Surface and how.
Include a drawing or Image.
1 Volcanic Eruptions
Volcanic Eruptions can cause the Earths surface to change, due to the
amount of earth in which a volcanic eruption moves. Lava flows, landslides,
Ash Flows, Ash Falls, mudflows, earthquakes and tsunamis, can all be
present in a volcanic eruption. The main event that causes the Earths
surface to change in a volcanic eruption is that of Lava Flows, ash flows and
mudflows. These particular events whether it is on a small or large scale
can cause the Earths Surface to change depending on the velocity that the
event occurs at. Lava Flows change the surface depending on two things, the temperature of the
lava and the speed that the lava flows at. The temperature and speed of the lava can burn and
light objects ablaze such as plants and buildings as well as have the force to move or carry items
from their original location, once the lava has cooled it forms a solidified rock like substance that
becomes set in place this therefore changing the surface in which it sets on. An ash flow then
changes the earths Earths surface by producing a layer of ash that covers the surface around the
area the eruption occurred in. The ash produced can asphyxiate many living animals as well as
humans, not only can this occur but an ash flow can vary in heat as well this therefore meaning that
the ash itself can also burn. Ash is also very heavy, with the amount of ash that falls there are also
chances of the ash being able to cave house rooves in and flatten the local fauna. Mudflows can also
be an issue due to the amount of rock and dirt moving in the flow, much like the Lava flow this can
move and carry objects as well as flatten buildings and trees. For example the Mt St Helens eruption
on May 18
th
1980, removed a large fragment of the volcano in a debris avalanche.
2 Tsunamis
Tsunamis are created by the displacement of water caused by a number of
other natural occurrences, some of these occurrences are: Volcanic
eruptions and lava flows, a shift in the tech-tonic plates, an earthquake or
landslide. An Tsunami is created when a large sum of water is displaced in
any one given moment, this movement of water can create a single wave,
or that of a series of waves known as a wave train. The most common
place for tsunamis is in the ring of fire, this is due to the large sum of
volcanic and tech-tonic movement that occurs in this region. Tsunamis can
then affect the earths surface, when the wave comes into contact with a
land mass. The wave grows in size as sea floor starts arching upwards to create the shores of land, as
the space becomes smaller the wave has no choice but to flow inland. This therefore can cause the
destruction of both buildings and the local habitat. Tsunamis therefore being able to change the
landscape in which it comes into contact with. Tsunamis in some cases can also cause the death of
many human and animals. Take for example the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, which killed over 300,
000 people and the waves reached over 20m in height as it made and fall.
3- Earthquakes
An earthquake is caused by vibrations from rocks breaking under
stress below the Earths surface. Many of these earthquakes occur
over a fault line. The severity of an earthquake is determined by
many factors a few being the magnitude, distance from the
epicentre and the ground conditions in the area. An earthquake can
cause a variety of effects on the Earths surface, this all depends on
the severity of the earthquake. Some earthquakes can cause
chimneys or the ground to shake, whether others can cause whole
buildings to collapse. Earthquakes can also cause landslides and can also be responsible for
flattening both towns and the wildlife around the area affected. There have been cases where
Earthquakes have been known to cause many fatalities and tear the earth into two. For example the
Great Hanshin Earthquake Disaster that occurred in Japan in 1995 killed 6,433 people and caused
over $100 Billion worth of damages.