In groups of four or five, identify in each of the above disasters the part of natural causes and the part of human causes. Compare your conclusions.
Cyclones—Natural causes: low-pressure systems over warm ocean waters, high wind speeds; Human causes: climate change intensifying cyclones due to global warming.
Floods—Natural causes: heavy monsoon rainfall, overflowing rivers, glacial lake bursts; Human causes: poor drainage systems, construction blocking waterways, deforestation, urban surfaces preventing water absorption.
Landslides—Natural causes: heavy rain, earthquakes, volcanic activity; Human causes: deforestation, unplanned construction, building infrastructure without approved methods, too many buildings blocking natural water flow.
Forest fires—Natural causes: dry climatic conditions, droughts, high winds; Human causes: carelessness, negligence, improper waste disposal.
Discussion should compare how human activities have increased the frequency and severity of these disasters.
Explanation
The chapter on Pages 14-18 describes each disaster and mentions both natural and human causes. For landslides, it specifically states that chances have increased due to human activities like cutting down forests and building infrastructure without proper methods. For forest fires, human carelessness is mentioned as a frequent cause. Climate change driven by human activities is intensifying extreme weather events.
Solution Steps
Cyclones: Natural causes include low-pressure systems over warm ocean waters and high wind speeds; human causes include climate change intensifying cyclones due to global warming.
Floods: Natural causes include heavy monsoon rainfall, overflowing rivers, and glacial lake bursts; human causes include poor drainage systems, construction blocking waterways, deforestation, and urban surfaces preventing water absorption.
Landslides: Natural causes include heavy rain, earthquakes, and volcanic activity; human causes include deforestation, unplanned construction, building infrastructure without approved methods, and buildings blocking natural water flow.
Forest fires: Natural causes include dry climatic conditions, droughts, and high winds; human causes include carelessness, negligence, and improper waste disposal.
Human activities have increased the frequency and severity of natural disasters.