California Dreamin’

Slideshow Transcript

1. Slide 1: California Dreamin’ The Natural Hazards of California
2. Slide 2: When you think of California Do you think…
3. Slide 3: OF THIS?
4. Slide 5: OR THIS?
5. Slide 6: MUDSLIDES EARTHQUAKES FLOODS, FIRES DROUGHT, STORM SURGES. LANDSLIDES
6. Slide 7: Mudslide/ Mudflow DEFINITION: • A general term for a mass-movement landform and process characterized by a flowing mass of fine-grained earth material with a high degree of fluidity. The water content may range up to 60%
7. Slide 8: Causes • short period of high- intensity rainfall during the summer dry season • thaw of the winter snow pack. • Wildfires followed by thunderstorms or heavy rain • most likely to occur on slopes greater than 65 percent
8. Slide 9: Wildfires • Definition • An uncontrolled fire that spreads though vegetative fuels, exposing and possibly consuming structures
9. Slide 10: Causes • Build up of vegetation fuel due to dry climate • Santa Ana Winds • Sparks from human source • Controlled burning • Arson
10. Slide 11: Floods • Definition An overflowing of a body of water onto normally dry land.
11. Slide 12: Causes •Winter Storms •El Nino •Deforestation •Poorly maintained defences
12. Slide 13: Earthquakes • Definition • An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves.
13. Slide 15: Causes • A Network of over 300 active faults (e.g. San Andreas) • About 10,000 quakes each year rattle Southern California alone, although most of them are too small to be felt • 5 major earthquakes in the last 100 yrs including SF - 1906
14. Slide 17: Drought • Definition • A drought is a prolonged, abnormally dry period when there is not enough water for users' normal needs
15. Slide 18: Causes • Issues with El Nino • Lack of rain • Constantly high demand from urban populations • Needs better infrastructure. • Temperature
16. Slide 19: Storm Surges • Definition • A rise above normal water level on the open coast due only to the action of wind stress on the water
17. Slide 20: Causes • Strong Winds • Rising sea levels • Spring/ High tides
18. Slide 21: Landslides • Landslides often accompany other natural hazards and are often more damaging and deadly than the triggering event • Human activities and population expansion are major factors in increased landslide damage and costs.
19. Slide 23: Causes • Earthquakes • Wildfires • Storms • Man induced • Rainfall
20. Slide 24: Fog/ Smog • Definition • a mixture of pollutants, principally ground-level ozone, produced by chemical reactions in the air involving smog-forming chemicals.
21. Slide 25: Causes • burning of petroleum-based fuels • consists of over 100 chemicals • Major producers of smog include automobiles, fires, waste treatment, oil production, industrial solvents, paints, and coatings