Causes of disasters

CAUSES OF DISASTERS

The various disasters and their causes are discussed below:

• Earthquakes: An Earthquake is caused by the sudden release of slowly accumulating strain energy along a fault in the Earth's crust. Areas of surface or underground that can experience Earthquakes are known as fault zones.
• Volcano: A volcano is caused due to sudden displacement of lava beneath the Earth's crust. Volcanoes are generally found where tectonic plates are converging or diverging. Volcanoes can also form where there is stretching and thinning of the Earth's crust. Volcanoes are classified as active volcano, dormant volcano and extinct volcano
• Cyclones: When water vapourises, it absorbs heat from the surroundings. Water vapour rises up and cools-down. The cooling water vapour releases heat and warms the atmosphere around it. The warm air rises and causes a drop in pressure. Air moves from surrounding high-pressure area to central low-pressure area. This cycle is repeated leading to the formation of a very low pressure system surrounded by very high-speed winds leading to the formation of a cyclone
• Floods: Flood is a natural occurrence where normally dry land is submerged in water. Floods may occur due to overflow of rivers, lakes, streams, oceans, dam breakage, clogged drains, excessive rain or melting of snow.
• Landslides: A landslide refers to downward movement of large masses of rock, soil, mud and organic debris. Landslides are caused due to the influence of gravity acting on weakened material that make-up sloping area of land. The triggering events for a landslide are Earthquakes or heavy rainfall. Excessive water or deforestation are the primary triggers for landslides
• Unrest / Conflicts / Wars: Wars have been a major source of disasters since the beginning of civilization. A few of the major reasons for war have been over natural resources, wealth, politically motivated or religious or social identity. In wars no party emerges victorious, the only end with destruction of natural resources
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