1. Natural Disruptive
Events
Test Review
(Unit 5)
2014-2015

2. Lightning is formed when excited
electrons in the clouds are attracted to
positive charges within a cloud,
between clouds, or on the ground.
What type of energy is released when
this happens?
light and
sound

3. Hurricanes are formed when
ocean temperatures exceed
80°F. What type of energy is
this?
Thermal
(heat)

4. Tornado warnings are issued when
tornadoes have been sighted in an area.
When do you think tornado watches are
issued?
When conditions are
right for tornadoes to
form.

5. What effects does a
volcanic eruption have
on the local
environment?
• Ash and dust in the air can affect
plants and animals in the area
• Lava flow can kill trees and other
vegetation
• Coral reefs can be destroyed by lava
flow into the ocean

6. Explain why hurricane
season in the Atlantic
Ocean is from June to
November.
The ocean temperatures
must be warmer than 80°F.
The summer months have
the warmest temperatures.

7. Name at least 1
condition that
upgrades a
thunderstorm to
“severe”.
1. Hail that is ¾” or bigger
2. Wind gusts greater than 58
mph
3. Tornado formation

8. Name at least 1 condition that must
be present for a hurricane to form.
• Ocean temperature greater than 80°F
• Winds of similar speed blowing in the
same direction
• Drop in atmospheric temperature as winds
move upwards
• Location: just north of the equator over the
ocean
• Dry winds blowing off the African coast

9. When a tropical storm reaches the
criteria to be classified as a
hurricane, it is given a name. How
are hurricanes named?
Alphabetically

10. Tropical storms are classified
as hurricanes when wind
speeds reach …
74 mph

11. The center of many
tropical weather patterns
is called …
the
eye.

12. Which describes a drought?
A.A very long period of heavy rain
B.High temperatures for an
extended period of time
C.A large wave generated by an
earthquake
D.An extended period of very dry
conditions
D

13. What structure in Galveston
was built to protect the island
from storm surges?
A.The Hotel Galvez
B.The Seawall
C.UTMB
D.Moody Gardens
E.Schlitterbahn Water Park
B

14. Tornadoes are measured
on the _____ scale.
A.Seismic
B.Fujita (EF)
C.Richter
D.Doppler
E.Metric
F. Category
B

15. Hurricanes are ranked
according to wind speed.
How many categories are
there for ranking hurricanes?
5

16. Hurricanes are called by
another name when they
occur in the Southern Pacific
Ocean, the Indian Ocean,
and near Australia. What is
that name?
cyclone

17. Of all the natural disruptive
events we have learned
about, which has the most
widespread negative effect
on Texas ecosystems?
hurrican
es

18. Name at least 1 vehicle or
tool scientists use to monitor
hurricane activity.
Ships
Satellites
Airplane
s

19. Which part of volcanic
eruptions is responsible for
affecting Earth’s weather and
climate?
Dust and ash
ejected into the
atmosphere upon
eruption

20. Cyclone: a tropical storm that forms in the
Southern Pacific or Indian Ocean
Typhoon: a storm that forms in the
Northwest Pacific (near Japan)
Hurricane: severe tropical storm that forms
over the North Atlantic Ocean
What do all these storms have in common?
They all
form over
an ocean.

21. Earth’s atmosphere is found
_____________.
surroundin
g the
planet

22. As severe storms come
ashore, they push large
volumes of water onto the
land, threatening lives, and
causing flooding and property
damage. What is this flood
called?
Storm surge

23. Blizzards dump enormous
amounts of snow on land.
What is an effect that might
follow a blizzard?
flooding

24. Tornado Alley
stretches from
Nebraska to Texas.
Why is this region
prone to tornado
activity?
Conditions in tornado alley are favorable for tornado formation.
During the summer, the plains of Middle America get very hot
(creating updrafts) and there are many thunderstorms. Tornadoes
form during thunderstorms, when unstable hot air near the ground
rises and meets the cooler air above in the thunder clouds.
Tornadoes can form at any time of the year, but most of them form
from March to August (in the Northern Hemisphere). The flatter
landscape allows storms to travel without mountains or other
landforms to block them.

25. Which storms have
overall stronger
winds: hurricanes or
tornadoes?
tornadoes

26. Where can
droughts
occur?
In any area and climate
where there is a lack of
precipitation over a long
period of time.

27. What are the 2
most destructive
parts of a
hurricane?
wind and water

28. Most tornadoes
occur in the
late afternoon.
Why?
The ground is hotter
because it has had
more time to absorb