Geography · Environmental Studies

Natural Hazards and Disasters

1,357 Questions

Natural hazards and disasters involve the study of extreme natural events like earthquakes, floods, and cyclones, alongside their management and mitigation strategies. This geography and environmental studies topic is heavily tested in civil services and state public service examinations. Use these questions to prepare for inquiries on disaster response, community recovery, and tremor causes.

Earthquake and tremor causesDisaster management activitiesFlood management mythsCyclone and severe weatherPost-disaster health problemsCommunity disaster response

Natural Hazards and Disasters Questions

Multiple choice geography in search of the source of wind atmospheric pressure, pressure belts and winds elements of weather and climate :wind monsoon phenomena and its mechanism

__________ are strong moisture laden winds  with low pressure at the center surrounded by high pressure.

  1. Cyclones

  2. Tsunamis

  3. Hurricanes

  4. Earthquake
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Cyclones
Cyclones are violent Storms with an intense spiral and accompanied by strong winds and heavy rains. They are caused due to strong winds blowing around the central area having low atmospheric pressure.

Causes of cyclones
As we know that when water vaporizes, it absorbs heat from the surroundings. Water vapor rises in the atmosphere where it cools down. When water vapor changes back into liquid the heat is released into the atmosphere. This warms the air around it.

The warm air tends to rise and causes a drop in the pressure. The air moves from surrounding high-pressure areas to the central low-pressure area. This cycle is repeated. The chain of events leads to the formation of very low-pressure system surrounded by with very high-speed winds. This weather condition is a cyclone.
Multiple choice geography in search of the source of wind atmospheric pressure, pressure belts and winds elements of weather and climate :wind monsoon phenomena and its mechanism

Which of the following is the name of very violent and serious type of winds which bring a lot of disaster?

  1. Trade winds

  2. Hurricane

  3. Cirrus

  4. Stratus

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Hurricane
A tropical cyclone is a rotating low-pressure weather system that has organized thunderstorms but no fronts (a boundary separating two air masses of different densities). Tropical cyclones with maximum sustained surface winds of less than 39 miles per hour (mph) are called tropical depressions. Those with maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or higher are called tropical storms.

When a storm's maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, it is called a hurricane. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating, or category, based on a hurricane's maximum sustained winds. The higher the category, the greater the hurricane's potential for property damage.

Hurricanes originate in the Atlantic basin, which includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, the eastern North Pacific Ocean, and, less frequently, the central North Pacific Ocean. A six-year rotating list of names, updated and maintained by the World Meteorological Organization, is used to identify these storms.

"Hurricane Season" begins on June 1 and ends on November 30, although hurricanes can, and have, occurred outside of this time frame. NOAA's National Hurricane Center predicts and tracks these massive storm systems, which occur, on average, 12 times a year in the Atlantic basin.

As a world leader in hurricane research, NOAA strives to understand the mechanics of these complex storms in order to protect people, property, commerce, and natural resources.
Multiple choice evs sources of water water resources and conservation receding water table water conservation and irrigation importance of water water: a precious resource

______________ is the natural phenomenon, caused by an unlimited and unprecedented rainfall.

  1. Soil erosion

  2. Cyclone

  3. Floods

  4. Heightening
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Floods are natural disasters caused by excessive and prolonged rainfall that exceeds the drainage capacity of the land.

Multiple choice social studies precautions for natural disasters cyclonic winds monsoon phenomena and its mechanism tsunami, floods, cyclones, droughts and landslides

Natural disasters like cyclone, hurricane, typhoon and tornadoes show some initial _____ and thus give time to _____.

  1. neglect, destructions

  2. symptoms, preparations

  3. disperse, weaken

  4. plan, destruction
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Natural disasters like cyclones often show early meteorological symptoms or signs, allowing authorities and the public time to make necessary preparations to mitigate damage.

Multiple choice social studies precautions for natural disasters cyclonic winds monsoon phenomena and its mechanism tsunami, floods, cyclones, droughts and landslides

Disaster management covers _________.

  1. Maintaining control over disasters

  2. Reducing the effects of disasters

  3. Briefing the top officials of government on the effects of disasters

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Disaster Management should aim to prevent emergencies from occurring, and failing that, should develop a good action plan to mitigate the results and effects of any emergencies. The development of emergency plans is a cyclical process, common to many risk management disciplines are set out below:

  1. Recognition or identification of risks
  2. Ranking or evaluation of risks
  3. Maintaining control over disasters
  4. Responding to significant risks
  5. Resourcing controls
  6. Reducing the effects of disasters
  7. Reaction planning
  8. Briefing the top officials of government on the effect of disasters
  9. Reviewing the Risk Management framework

Multiple choice social studies precautions for natural disasters cyclonic winds monsoon phenomena and its mechanism tsunami, floods, cyclones, droughts and landslides

Mitigation measure/s that can help in effective disaster management during cyclones include ______.

  1. Coastal Regulation Zone norms should be strictly enforced

  2. Telecom systems need to be robust

  3. Suitable guidelines should be framed by states for construction of hoardings

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Effective disaster management for cyclones involves a multi-faceted approach, including strict coastal regulations, robust communication systems, and safe infrastructure construction, all of which are essential.

Multiple choice social studies precautions for natural disasters cyclonic winds monsoon phenomena and its mechanism tsunami, floods, cyclones, droughts and landslides

Cyclone in Japan and Philippines is called as _________.

  1. Hurricane

  2. Tornado

  3. Typhoon

  4. Thunderstorm
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When a tropical cyclone forms in the western Pacific between 180 degrees and 100 degrees East longitude, it's called a typhoon. So, Japan, China, the Philippines, etc., get typhoons.

Multiple choice social studies precautions for natural disasters cyclonic winds monsoon phenomena and its mechanism tsunami, floods, cyclones, droughts and landslides

Which of the following is an early warning system for disaster management in the event of cyclone?

  1. Agromet advisory service

  2. Potential fishing zone advisory services

  3. Both A and B

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Both Agromet advisory services and Potential fishing zone advisory services provide critical information that helps in disaster preparedness and mitigation for coastal communities during cyclones. These systems allow for timely warnings and protective measures.

Multiple choice evs the pride of our nation opposition and cooperation with the rulers heritage of ancient india in the field of science and technology india's heritage of science and technology

Rai Singh opened Sadavrats due to _______.

  1. flood

  2. drought

  3. famine

  4. earthquake
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Raja Rai Singh ascended the throne of Bikaner after the death of his father.  His reign faced the most severe famine which caused the death of many people in his kingdom. In order to supply an adequate amount of food to the people, Rai Singh opened the Sadavrats.

Multiple choice chemistry water in our life how can we conserve water? droughts, floods and water conservation conservation of water and its importance and methods

Situation which occurs due to occurrence of more rainfall than normal level or poor water distribution is :

  1. drought

  2. monsoon winds

  3. flood

  4. tropical rain
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

  • Floods occurs due to occurrence of more rainfall than normal level or poor water distribution.
As more rainfall can result in accumulation of water and when there is poor distribution of water it overflows and causes floods.
  • Drought is a dry condition in which there is shortage of water so it can't be the situation.
  • And winds does not occur due to rain.
  • Tropical rain is normal level rain which occurs in a region which cannot cause this situation of flood. 

Multiple choice geography traffic education traffic and road safety natural hazards : understanding of disaster, management in practice man-made disasters

According to the United Nations between 1992 and 2000 there were approximately__________ disasters per year throughout the world.

  1. 100

  2. 300

  3. 500

  4. 800
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

According to the United Nations between 1992 and 2000 there were approximately 500 disasters per year throughout the world.

Multiple choice geography traffic education traffic and road safety natural hazards : understanding of disaster, management in practice man-made disasters

Conditions for the delivery of concrete goods and services at a disaster site include all of the following except _________.

  1. Extreme climate; hot, cold, wet, etc.

  2. Crowded and cramped conditions for living and working

  3. Lack of privacy, threat to safety

  4. A clear demarcation of being on or off duty
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Conditions for the delivery of concrete goods and services at a disaster site include all of the following except a clear demarcation of being on or off duty.

Multiple choice geography traffic education traffic and road safety natural hazards : understanding of disaster, management in practice man-made disasters

Disasters frequently result in all of the following except __________.

  1. Damage to the ecological environment

  2. Displacement of populations

  3. Destruction of a population's homeland

  4. Sustained public attention during the recovery phase
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The natural and man-made disasters have adversely affected the flora(plants) and fauna(animals) of the Earth. These disasters have resulted in a massive loss of life and the environment.  The time and cost overrun in some cases have been enormous but their indirect impact on our economy is far-reaching. Disasters can be defined as a sudden, accidental event of great magnitude that causes considerable damage to life and property. 

For example leakage of toxic chemicals from the industries or nuclear attack or leakage from the nuclear reactors have resulted in both short-term and long-term effects on the environment and human health. 
The environmental effect being damage to the natural cycle, water and soil also remain polluted for a long time. Impact on human being health includes genetic imbalances in humans and its impact on a future generation. Moreover, the man-made disaster results in the destruction of property of the population and also displacement of population, as the affected population is compelled to leave their inhabited place.

Multiple choice geography traffic education traffic and road safety natural hazards : understanding of disaster, management in practice man-made disasters

Embankments or strengthening of the embankments is a ____________.

  1. Structural measure of mitigation

  2. Non-structural measure of mitigation

  3. Early warning system

  4. Recovery
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life and property is called a disaster. It can be natural like earth quakes, tsunami, floods etc and artificial disasters like terrorist attack etc. Structural measures are any physical construction to reduce or avoid possible impacts of hazards by the application of engineering techniques or technology. For example construction of dams and embankments to control floods.