Tectonic Terror
The point on the Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake starts.
What is the epicenter?
To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must reach a sustained wind speed of at least this many mph.
What is 74 MPH
A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall leading to a water shortage.
What is drought
This instrument is used to detect and record the vibrations of the Earth's crust.
What is seismograph
An embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river.
What is a levee
This type of plate boundary is most commonly associated with the "Ring of Fire" and explosive volcanic eruptions.
What is a convergent boundary?
This scale, ranging from EF0 to EF5, rates the intensity of tornadoes based on damage.
What is enhanced Fujita Scale
This "deadly" type of flood occurs suddenly, often due to heavy rain in a short amount of time.
what is flash flood
Meteorologists use this type of "echo" technology to track the location and intensity of precipitation.
What is Doppler Radar
These flexible pads placed under buildings allow them to sway during an earthquake without collapsing.
what are base isolators
This scale measures an earthquake's magnitude based on the size of its seismic waves.
What is Richter Scale
The calm, low-pressure center of a hurricane.
What is the eye
A mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside.
What is avalanche
This alert means that hazardous weather is occurring or imminent in the area.
What is warning
Planting vegetation on a slope helps prevent this type of disaster by anchoring the soil.
what is a landslide or a mudslide
Fast-moving clouds of hot ash, gas, and rock that barrel down a volcano during an eruption.
What is Pyroclastic Flow
This atmospheric condition occurs when warm, moist air trapped near the ground is suddenly pushed upward by a cold front.
What is instability or convection
Large-scale "rivers" of ice that can cause slow-moving disasters like sea-level rise.
What are glaciers
Small earthquakes that happen before a larger "mainshock.
what are foreshocks
A heavy weight placed at the top of a skyscraper to counteract the swaying caused by wind or earthquakes.
what is a tuned mass damper
Underwater earthquakes or landslides often trigger these massive, long-wavelength ocean waves.
What is Tsunamis
A severe winter storm characterized by winds over 35 mph and visibility less than 1/4 mile.
What is a blizzard
The rise in seawater level caused solely by a storm's wind and low pressure, often the deadliest part of a hurricane.
What is storm surge
These floating ocean sensors are used to detect pressure changes that indicate a tsunami is passing over.
What are DART buoys
The process of making an older building more resistant to seismic activity.
what is seismic retrofitting