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Natural phenomena are occurrences resulting from natural forces, which can be either desirable or undesirable. Undesirable occurrences, such as disasters like earthquakes and cyclones, can cause serious disruptions to human lives, prompting the need for protective measures. |
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Earthquakes are caused by disturbances within the Earth's crust, primarily due to the movement of tectonic plates along seismic fault zones. The power of an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale, which is logarithmic. |
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In earthquake-prone areas, buildings should be designed to withstand tremors. Individuals should take shelter under sturdy furniture indoors or move to open areas away from buildings and trees if outdoors during an earthquake. |
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The hypocenter is the point below the Earth's surface where an earthquake originates, while the epicenter is the point on the surface directly above the hypocenter. |
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Which regions in India are considered earthquake-prone and why is this significant? |
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Earthquake-prone areas in India include Kashmir, the Western and Central Himalayas, the North-East, the Rann of Kutch, Rajasthan, the Indo-Gangetic plains, and some parts of South India. This is significant as it highlights the regions that require specific earthquake preparedness and building designs to mitigate risks. |
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How has human activity accelerated climatic changes related to natural disasters? |
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Human activities, such as industrialization and deforestation, have contributed to accelerated climatic changes, which can exacerbate the frequency and severity of natural disasters, making them a global concern. |
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A landslide is the rapid sliding of large masses of bedrock. It can be caused by various factors including earthquakes, sudden rock failures, or the over-steepening of slopes due to excavation or river erosion. |
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Lightning occurs due to the accumulation of electrical charges in clouds. During a thunderstorm, upward-moving air currents carry water droplets upward while they separate charges, resulting in streaks of bright light and sound. |
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During lightning storms, it is important to avoid open areas, stay away from poles and metal objects, remain inside a car with windows and doors closed, refrain from using electrical appliances or phones indoors, and avoid contact with running water. |
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A lightning conductor is a device designed to protect buildings from lightning strikes. It consists of a metallic rod that is taller than the building, providing a safe path for electric charge to reach the ground. |
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Floods are caused by an overflow of water that submerges land, which can occur due to heavy rainfall, the collapse of dams, storm surges, or unplanned development on floodplains. |
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Effective safety measures include implementing practical watershed management by preventing deforestation and promoting reforestation, constructing high walls and strong embankments along riverbanks, and using floodplains only for recreational or agricultural purposes. |
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A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by large movements or disturbances on the ocean’s floor, such as volcanic eruptions, landslides, and earthquakes. |
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Tsunamis can travel at speeds of 600-800 km per hour, depending on the water depth. |
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Why are tsunamis less frequent in the Indian Ocean compared to the Pacific Ocean? |
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Tsunamis are less frequent in the Indian Ocean due to lower seismic activity compared to the Pacific Ocean. |
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What event caused the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, and what was its magnitude? |
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The devastating Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake near the Western boundary of Sumatra. |
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Drought is defined as a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, leading to prolonged shortages of water supply, whether surface water or groundwater. |
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A drought can last from a few weeks to several years, depending on the severity of the water shortage. |
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The main causes of drought include scarcity of rainfall and inadequate monsoons, lack of irrigation facilities and rainwater harvesting systems, and deforestation which reduces soil water retention. |
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Safety measures to mitigate drought effects include practicing rainwater conservation and storage, educating the public on the importance of water conservation, implementing improved rainwater harvesting methods, discouraging deforestation, promoting watershed management, and building dams while adopting efficient irrigation techniques. |
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Education can contribute to drought prevention by raising awareness about the importance of water conservation, teaching communities about sustainable practices, and empowering individuals to take action in managing water resources effectively. |
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Wind is caused by the movement of air resulting from differences in atmospheric pressure, which arise from the unequal heating of the Earth's surface by the sun. Warm air near the equator rises, creating low-pressure areas, while cooler air from the poles moves toward the equator, forming wind currents. |
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A cyclone is a violently rotating windstorm with wind speeds ranging from 120 to 200 km/h. It is characterized by a central area of very low atmospheric pressure, known as the eye of the cyclone, and can lead to significant flooding due to strong winds pushing water. |
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Cyclones are referred to as hurricanes in America and typhoons in Asia. Tornadoes are a specific type of cyclone characterized by rotating columns of high-speed winds. |
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The states in India most affected by cyclones include Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu. The Eastern coast is more vulnerable to cyclones than the Western coast. |
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Safety measures for cyclones include installing a cyclone forecast system, heeding warnings issued by meteorological departments, and utilizing advanced technologies that allow for a cyclone alert 48 hours in advance and a cyclone warning 24 hours in advance. |
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Man-made disasters are events resulting from human errors or negligence during technological and industrial activities. They can cause significant loss of life and property and can occur suddenly. |
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The two types of man-made disasters are direct disasters, which include accidents like train crashes and industrial disasters, and indirect disasters, which are natural events worsened by human actions, such as floods from dam failures. |
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Global warming refers to the increase in the Earth's atmospheric temperature due to the rising levels of greenhouse gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. |
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Global warming leads to the melting of glaciers and ice caps, which causes flooding in low-lying areas around the world and has a detrimental impact on climate patterns. |
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The greenhouse effect is a process where greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane absorb thermal radiation from the Earth's surface, trapping outgoing infrared radiation. This process increases the average surface temperature of the Earth, contributing to global warming. |
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Some greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere but trap heat, which leads to an increase in global temperatures. |
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The ozone layer is a protective shield located in the Earth's stratosphere, approximately 17-26 km above the surface. It is important because it absorbs about 99% of harmful non-ionizing ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, protecting living organisms from potential damage. |
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The primary causes of ozone layer depletion are the increased use of chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), carbon tetrachloride, and halons. These substances release chlorine and bromine when they break down in the stratosphere, leading to the destruction of ozone molecules. |
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Ozone layer depletion can lead to increased levels of harmful UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, which can cause adverse effects on human health, including skin cancer and cataracts. It can also harm ecosystems, particularly affecting marine life, phytoplankton, and terrestrial plants. |
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The ozone layer absorbs UV rays through a chemical reaction where ozone (O3) molecules absorb the energy from UV radiation, which causes the ozone molecules to break apart into oxygen molecules (O2) and individual oxygen atoms. This process effectively reduces the amount of UV radiation that reaches the Earth's surface. |