Natural Hazards and Disasters

This is the correct option. All these statements are excellent ways of protecting our property from damage during an earthquake.

The energy that intensifies the storm, comes from the condensation process in the towering cumulonimbus clouds, surrounding the centre of the storm. This statement is incorrect.

The term epicenter specifically refers to the point on Earth's surface directly above the origin (focus) of an earthquake. The prefix 'epi-' means 'on' or 'above', so epicenter is the surface point above the earthquake's underground starting point. It is not related to nuclear explosions, cyclonic storms, or other phenomena in this context.

Hanging valleys are formed when a smaller tributary glacier carves a U-shaped valley that is shallower than the main valley carved by a larger glacier. When the glaciers retreat, the tributary valley 'hangs' above the main valley, often creating spectacular waterfalls. Rivers, waves, and volcanic activity do not create this distinctive glacial landform.

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that grow along coastal areas and form dense natural barriers that significantly reduce cyclone impact. While 'shelter belts' and 'wind breaks' are similar concepts for inland areas, mangroves are specifically the coastal vegetation ecosystem. The term 'protection forests' is too general.

This is the correct option, as this is not a consequence of floods. The ground water level, infact rises due to floods as more water is seeped into the ground. 

Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar in May 2008, causing widespread destruction in the Irrawaddy Delta region and significant loss of life. Katrina affected the USA in 2005, while Reena and Hema are not names of major tropical cyclones in this context.

A tsunami is a series of large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. The term comes from Japanese meaning 'harbor wave'. It is not a small island, cushion-shaped land, or cyclone.

Barren Island, located in the Andaman Sea, is India's only active volcano. It last erupted in 2017-2018 and continues to show volcanic activity. The other options are volcanoes in Indonesia (Krakatoa), Italy (Etna), and USA (Rainier).

Tsunami literally means 'harbour wave' in Japanese (tsu = harbour, nami = wave). The term originated because these waves were noticed by fishermen in open ocean where they weren't dangerous, but caused damage when reaching harbours. Killer, Giant, and Silent are descriptive but not the literal meaning.

Richter scale is used to rate the magnitude of an earthquake, i.e. the amount of energy released during an earthquake.

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that grow along tropical and subtropical coastlines. Their dense root systems (called pneumatophores) trap sediment, reduce wave energy, and act as natural barriers against cyclones, storm surges, and coastal erosion. Rows of mangroves are specifically planted as cyclone protection in vulnerable coastal areas like Bengal and Odisha.

The term 'depression' is commonly used in India for tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal. While hurricanes and typhoons are the same phenomena, they are regionally named - hurricanes in Atlantic/NE Pacific, typhoons in NW Pacific.

Excessive rains may cause floods. No rainfall for a year or more may lead to drought in that region. Steam rising from a hot girdle when water is sprinkled on it is due to evaporation.