Environmental Science Natural Disasters and Environmental Hazards 3

Question 1

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale classifies hurricanes into categories based primarily on which factor?

Accepted Answer

Sustained wind speed

Answer

Storm diameter and geographic size

Answer

Storm surge height

Answer

Total rainfall accumulation

Question 2

What is the primary mechanism by which volcanic eruptions can cause short-term global cooling?

Accepted Answer

Sulfur dioxide emissions form sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere that reflect sunlight

Answer

The heat released by lava flows warms the upper atmosphere, causing circulation changes

Answer

Ash particles trap outgoing infrared radiation, causing a greenhouse effect

Answer

Carbon dioxide from eruptions acidifies clouds, reducing their reflectivity

Question 3

Which U.S. federal agency is primarily responsible for monitoring and providing warnings for severe weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes?

Accepted Answer

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Answer

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Answer

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Answer

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Question 4

An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale releases approximately how many times more energy than a 6.0 earthquake?

Accepted Answer

32 times more

Answer

2 times more

Answer

10 times more

Answer

100 times more

Question 5

Which land use practice significantly increases a region's vulnerability to landslides and debris flows?

Accepted Answer

Clear-cutting forests on steep hillsides

Answer

Planting deep-rooted native vegetation on slopes

Answer

Maintaining natural riparian buffer zones

Answer

Installing permeable pavement in urban areas

Question 6

What is 'disaster risk reduction' (DRR) in the context of environmental hazard management?

Accepted Answer

Systematic efforts to analyze and reduce risk factors that lead to disasters

Answer

The process of relocating entire communities away from hazard zones permanently

Answer

Emergency response coordination immediately after a hazard event

Answer

Insurance programs that compensate communities after a disaster occurs

Question 7

Which phenomenon describes the tendency for disadvantaged communities to be disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards such as industrial pollution sites, flood zones, and contaminated land?

Accepted Answer

Environmental justice disparity

Answer

Hazard concentration effect

Answer

Spatial risk clustering

Answer

Socioeconomic exposure bias