Natural Disaster MCQ Quiz!

The word "tsunami" is Japanese for "harbor wave", because tsunamis cause little or no visible effect in deep sea.

Hurricanes in the southern hemisphere rotate clockwise because of the Coriolis effect. The Coriolis effect is caused by the rotation of the Earth, which deflects moving objects to the right in the southern hemisphere. This deflection causes air masses to circulate in a clockwise direction around a low-pressure center, forming a hurricane.

The Ring of Fire is located in the Pacific Ocean. It is called the Ring of Fire due to the shape made when mapping the volcanoes located in this area of the world. The Ring of Fire is home to approximately 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes.

Tsunamis occur most often in the Pacific Ocean and Indonesia because the Pacific Rim bordering the Ocean has a large number of active submarine earthquake zones.

Tsunamis travel very long distances, not short distances. Tsunamis are large ocean waves that can travel across entire ocean basins, reaching coastlines thousands of kilometers away from their source. They are typically caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides, rather than bad weather. The term "tsunami" originates from the Japanese words "tsu" meaning harbor and "nami" meaning wave, hence the translation "harbor wave".

In the northern hemisphere, hurricanes rotate in a counterclockwise direction. This is due to the Coriolis effect, which is caused by the rotation of the Earth. As air moves from high pressure to low pressure, it is deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere. This deflection causes the air to curve counterclockwise around the low-pressure center of a hurricane, resulting in a counterclockwise rotation.

The Fujiwhara Effect refers to the phenomenon where two nearby hurricanes rotate around a common center and interact with each other. This interaction can result in one hurricane overpowering the other, causing it to weaken or change direction, or both hurricanes merging into a single storm. Therefore, hurricanes cannot exist at the same time without being affected by the Fujiwhara Effect.

Tephra is the correct answer because it refers to the small hard rock-like matter that is ejected during a volcanic eruption. This can include a variety of materials such as ash, cinders, and volcanic bombs. Lava, magma, and pahoehoe are not the correct answers as they refer to different aspects of volcanic activity.

Most hurricanes originate off the coast of Africa. This is due to a phenomenon known as the African Easterly Jet, which is a strong wind that blows across the continent from east to west. As the wind moves over the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean, it can create favorable conditions for the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes. These disturbances then move westward, often intensifying into hurricanes as they travel across the warm ocean waters.

A shift in tectonic plates can cause tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes. When tectonic plates move, they can create a sudden release of energy, resulting in an earthquake. This movement can also cause the formation of volcanoes as molten rock rises to the surface through cracks in the Earth's crust. Additionally, underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions can generate powerful waves known as tsunamis, which can travel across the ocean and cause significant damage when they reach the shore.

Tsunamis are large ocean waves caused by a combination of factors, including a shift in tectonic plates, underwater earthquakes, and landslides. When tectonic plates move, they can displace large amounts of water, creating powerful waves. Underwater earthquakes also generate tsunamis by causing the seafloor to uplift or subside rapidly. Additionally, landslides occurring near or under the water can trigger tsunamis as the displaced material displaces water and generates waves. Therefore, all three options (shift in tectonic plates, underwater earthquake, landslides) are correct explanations for the cause of tsunamis.