Chapter 11.2
Natural Hazards: Understanding Earth's Most Powerful and Dangerous Events
Explore how tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires form, spread, and connect to climate systems and human communities.
What You'll Learn
Tornadoes form when warm and cool air masses collide violently.
Hurricane storm surge floods low-lying coastal areas during landfall.
The Richter scale measures earthquake intensity using tenfold increments.
Climate change intensifies wildfires, droughts, and coastal flooding risks.
What You'll Practice
1
Students analyze formation conditions for tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards.
2
Learners identify key vocabulary including storm surge and Richter scale.
3
Practice questions connect climate change to increasing natural hazard intensity.
Why This Matters
Understanding natural hazards equips students with the scientific knowledge and geographic awareness needed to assess risk, interpret climate data, and contribute to community safety and resilience planning.
This Unit Includes
Practice exercises
Learning resources
Skills
Storm Surge
Richter Scale
Wildfire Spread
SST Anomalies
Tornado Formation
OH Curriculum Aligned
