Earth and Space Science / Unit 4: Earthquakes and Volcanoes
4.7 Hazards and Safety
Notes
- Earthquake hazards: ground shaking, building collapse, landslides, liquefaction (wet soil acts like liquid) and tsunamis from sudden seafloor movement.
- Volcanic hazards: lava flows, ash fall, pyroclastic flows (fast, hot clouds of gas and ash), lahars (volcanic mudflows) and gases.
- Safety: during an earthquake, drop, cover and hold on. Buildings can use flexible designs.
- Tsunami: move to high ground when a coast shakes strongly or the sea suddenly draws back.
- Scientists can forecast volcanic eruptions with monitoring, but cannot predict exact earthquakes.
Practice
The best action during an earthquake indoors is to:
Protect yourself from falling objects.
A fast-moving cloud of hot ash and gas from a volcano is a:
Pyroclastic flows are among the deadliest volcanic hazards.
Liquefaction happens when:
Shaking makes wet sediment behave like a liquid.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 4 test.