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The natural phenomena are all those that occur for natural reasons without the direct participation of man. Eg. volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, earthquakes.
In colloquial language, we normally speak of natural phenomena in allusion to unusual events of high negative impact (from the perspective of man), that is, as a synonym for natural disasters.
Poor planning of cities, deforestation or the construction of poorly planned mega-works of engineering (reservoirs, dikes) can be associated with the occurrence of natural disasters.
- See also: 20 Examples of Environmental Problems
Rains, winds or tidal rises can turn into terrible natural disasters if they reach an exaggerated dimension. Worse, these often come unexpectedly, magnifying their impact.
Natural phenomena, in addition,govern the biological cycle of plants and animals. Eg. the migration of birds when the climatic season changes in search of more favorable temperatures, or the arrival of whales near the coast at certain times of the year, or the spawning of fish in certain sectors of the river.
Also, daylight hours and temperatures govern flowering, the fruits and their maturation in numerous plant species. The phenomena just named are common and necessary for the harmony of the ecosystem.
Examples of natural phenomena
- Electric storms
- Rains
- Hail
- Earthquakes
- Tidal waves
- Snow storms
- Winds
- Cyclones
- Hurricanes
- Volcanic eruptions
- Stalactite formation
- Salinization of water mirrors
- Appearance of flowers
- Fish oviposition
- Monarch butterfly migration from the United States and Canada to Mexico
- Northern lights at the poles
- Metamorphosis or molting of insects
- Forest fires
- Avalanches
- Tornadoes
Natural disasters
Some natural phenomena, such as earthquakes or tidal waves, generate, on the contrary, a violent change in the ecosystem, and it often happens that it takes many years for the situation to return to its original equilibrium.
For the human being, these events can turn into terrible tragedies. We all remember the loss of material and human life caused by some natural phenomena that occurred in recent years, such as:
- The 2010 Haiti earthquake.
- The 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.
- Hurricane Katrina of 2005, which caused a real disaster in all the coastal cities of the Mississippi River, and the almost total destruction of the city of New Orleans in Louisiana, United States.
- The eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in ancient Rome, which reduced the city of Pompeii to rubble. (See: examples of active volcanoes).
- It can serve you: 10 Examples of Natural Disasters
Further:
- Examples of Technological Disasters
- Examples of Man-made Disasters
- Air pollution
- Soil contamination
- Water contamination
