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the world book web site offers an encyclopedia

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and curriculum guides. world book is publisher of the world book encyclopedia.

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The World Book web site offers an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. World Book is publisher of the World Book Encyclopedia.

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A comprehensive suite of e-learning resources designed for all ages and abilities with articles, videos, educator tools, eBooks, research guides and more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
the world book web site offers an encyclopedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
and curriculum guides. world book is publisher of the world book encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The World Book web site offers an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. World Book is publisher of the World Book Encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
the world book web site offers an encyclopedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
and curriculum guides. world book is publisher of the world book encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The World Book web site offers an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. World Book is publisher of the World Book Encyclopedia.

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Pakistan is no stranger to earthquakes. Situated in an earthquake-prone region in the foothills of the Himalayas, the country has been periodically affected by frequent geological disturbances.

On Tuesday afternoon, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude on the Richter scale, rocked the country's Baluchistan province in the south-west of the country. The temblor killed over 350 people and wounded hundreds, while flattening many homes. Relief and rescue efforts are ongoing as the army and the government are struggling to send supplies and relief to the affected people.

The quake was so powerful that it was felt as far away as Delhi in the east and Dubai in the west. Fortunately for the country, Baluchistan is sparsely populated. However, people in that region live in mud homes that tend to collapse easily. Given the intensity of the quake, it is feared that many more could be trapped under the rubble.

Geologists believe that the Himalayas formed as a result of continental drift - a continuous drift of land mass across the oceans that caused the Indian sub-continent to collide with Eurasia millions of years ago. The Himalayan region has several fault lines running through it that make it prone to seismic activity. The Indian plate continues to grind into the Eurasian plate causing the Himalayas to grow taller -- at a very small rate.

A New Island Appears...

Curiously, after the quake, an island appeared off the coast near the port of Gwadar. The newly minted landmass measures 200m long, 100m wide and 20m high. Earthquakes sometimes trigger the appearance of small islands or cause previously submerged ocean features to surface from time to time. The new island could have emerged on account of a phenomenon known as "liquefaction".

Soil liquefaction is a process where large volumes of previously stable sands and muds get shaken by a quake and ooze up through the rock. Liquefaction can disturb building foundations, causing serious damage. The mounds produced like the one seen at Gwadar do not usually stick around for long. They erode rapidly due to wind and water activity.

More permanent landmass gets created when huge uplift of sea-floor along coasts occur such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. On that occasion, the shoreline that had been pulled downwards in the build-up to the quake suddenly thrust back up, lifting corals clear of the water.

Gas Fissures

Immediate concern for authorities is that the new island seems to be emitting gas. It is possible that the island is sitting on a fissure of escaping gas. Since the Baluchistan area is known for natural gas deposits, it is possible that the island could be host to a natural gas deposit. Alternatively it is possible that the energy released by the seismic movement of fault lines could have activated flammable gases in the seabed.

Certainly the sudden formation of an island has been an astounding and rare phenomenon. It has drawn a lot of local, national and international observers.

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Pakistan is no stranger to earthquakes. Situated in an earthquake-prone region in the foothills of the Himalayas, the country has been periodically affected by frequent geological disturbances. On Tuesday afternoon, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude on the Richter scale, rocked the country's Baluchistan province in the south-west of the country.

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Last week, even as North and South Carolina were evacuating people in preparation for Hurricane Florence, a sinister Category 5 Typhoon Mangkhut was barreling its way towards East Asia.

Mangkhut has become one of the most powerful storms of 2018 causing devastation and landslides in the northern Philippines and killing 81 people with its Category 5 winds. It then crossed the South China Sea and hit Hong Kong and the Guangdong Province of China with winds of 100 mph. More than 2.45 million people have been evacuated from their homes and relocated to a safe shelter. Additionally, water levels have risen to almost 3.5 m (12 ft), which even led to fish washing up on to the streets.

Meanwhile, Florence was downgraded to a Category 1 storm as it made landfall. However, it has caused flooding and devastation in the Carolinas and killed 32 people. More than 15,000 people are living in emergency shelters scattered across the two states, and thousands are without electricity. Florence is gradually drifting west and whipping up winds of 35 miles per hour. It is expected to move up the East Coast, hitting Maine and New Jersey before it leaves the U.S by the end of this week.

We had written last week about how tropical storms form. This week, we look at what words such as categories, landfall, storm surges, floodplains and waffle index mean.
Storm Categories
The categories of a storm are measured on the Saffir-Simpson Wind scale, which goes from one to five. This scale was invented in the 1970s by engineer Herbert Saffir and Robert Simpson in Miami.

This scale doesn't predict every little detail about a storm but gives a sense of how much destruction it is likely to cause. In a category one storm, winds go from 74 to 94 mph and will cause some damage. The highest category on the scale, a Category five, has a minimum wind speed of 157 mph. A storm of this magnitude will cause catastrophic damage to property and lives, and disrupt electricity and water supplies. Learn more about storm categories here.
Landfall
A tropical storm consists of a center (called the eye of the storm) where winds are the calmest. It appears as a hole in the middle of swirling clouds in pictures. The eyewall refers to cumulonimbus clouds that swirl around the eye and are considered the most dangerous part of the hurricane, capable of producing 150 mph winds and heavy rainfall. The eyewall is surrounded by rainbands that bring intense showers and thunderstorms.

A storm is said to have made landfall when its eye crosses the shoreline. We know that the strongest part of a storm isn't the direct center. The strongest winds of a storm can still occur even if landfall hasn't occurred yet. Conversely, it's possible for landfall to occur, but the strongest winds may still be on the water.
Floodplains and Storm Surges
Winds from a tropical storm cause water in the ocean to circulate vertically. When the storm hits the coast where ocean floors are not deep, the water is forced up on to the land -- and this is referred to as a storm surge.

On the other hand, floodplains are the low lying areas of lands that are prone to flooding. Meteorologists create floodplain maps so they can plan evacuations ahead of time. A 50-year-old floodplain rating means that the area has about a one-in-50 chance of flooding. These maps also play a huge role in how much a homeowner pays for insurance or where a company can build.
Waffle House Index
Waffle House Index is a term used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) to show which areas have been hit hardest by a disaster. The term Waffle House Index is named after the Waffle House chain of restaurants that are open 24-hours. According to Craig Fugate "If a Waffle House is closed because there's a disaster, it's bad. We call it red. If they're open but have a limited menu, that's yellow," he explained to NPR, America's public radio network. Fully functioning restaurants mean that the Waffle House Index is shining green.

Waffle House has developed a crisis management process and a manual on how to open after a disaster. Waffle House even has a "Storm Center" which assesses a storm's path and its impact on their restaurants!
Finally, Those Storm Names...
Each year, meteorologists create a list of approved names right before storm season. Storms are named alphabetically, for example, the first storm of the season would be named Abby, and then Bruce, and so on. When the practice of naming storms began in 1950, only make names were used. But by 1979, both male and female names are chosen. Tropical storms are given names when wind speeds reach 39 mph (63 kph) and if a storm causes extreme devastation, its name is retired and never used again.

Now that you know what these terms mean, you can understand better when people around you use them!
Sources: NY Times, CNN, Time, Earth Sky, The Weather Channel, Economist, Reuters

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Last week, even as North and South Carolina were evacuating people in preparation for Hurricane Florence, a sinister Category 5 Typhoon Mangkhut was barreling its way towards East Asia. Mangkhut has become one of the most powerful storms of 2018 causing devastation and landslides in the northern Philippines and killing 81 people with its Category 5 winds.

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The Puna region of Hawaii is under alert because of lava flow from the Kilauea volcano. Kilauea is a hyperactive shield volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

On June 27 this year, lava from the volcano began to flow after several new fissures opened on the northeast flank of a crater in the volcano.

However, instead of flowing south in its usual path towards the ocean - a direction where no one lives, the fissures forced the lava to flow in a northeasterly direction towards the village of Pahoa. So far, the lava has destroyed a storage shed in the village, and is 100 yards away from two homes. Local officials are moving power lines and evacuating 40-50 homes.
A Geologic Hotspot
Did you know that the Hawaiian islands are constantly growing and have been doing so for millennia? These islands are formed from underground volcanoes that have reached the surface of the ocean.

As you may know, our Earth's crust is made up plates that move around like jigsaw puzzle pieces. The floating segments meet each other at plate boundaries. Occasionally, volcano or lava flow occurs when molten lava comes to the Earth's surface at plate boundaries -- known as a hotspot. Sometimes, hotspots may occur at weak points in the middle of a tectonic plate.

When lava emerges under the ocean, it immediately cools and forms a crust - known as "pillow lava". Oceanic activity usually erodes away the newly formed land (or crust). However, when volcanic activity and buildup is faster than the force of erosion, islands actually get created and survive.
The Hawaiian Chain
What gives the Hawaiian islands its distinct shape? Geologists have an explanation.

Under the present day Big Island lies a giant hotspot that releases hot magma from within the Earth. The hotspot does not move, but the Pacific plate (on which the islands rest) is moving ever so slightly in the north-west direction. When the continually moving plate eventually carries the island beyond the hotspot, it cuts it off from the magma source. As one island moves away, the next one develops over the hotspot and the cycle is repeated.

In the map, you may notice that the islands north of Kauai don't exist anymore. As volcano activity ceases, these islands erode away and eventually become extinct. Even more amazing is that the Hawaiian Islands have an unborn sister! On the south east end of Big Island is a volcanic hotspot known as Loihi. Presently 3000 ft below the sea level, the island began forming some 400,000 years ago. The new land is expected to emerge from the ocean in about 10,000 to 100,000 years or so, as more lava build up takes place.

Source: USGS, CNN

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The Puna region of Hawaii is under alert because of lava flow from the Kilauea volcano. Kilauea is a hyperactive shield volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. On June 27 this year, lava from the volcano began to flow after several new fissures opened on the northeast flank of a crater in the volcano.

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A wildfire that began on May 1 in Alberta, Canada has consumed nearly 700 square miles of area. More than 88,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes and thousands of homes have been destroyed.

The cause of the fire is unknown; however global warming is blamed. The unusually warm weather and low snowpack in Canada meant dry ground conditions and plenty of fuel for the fires to spread quickly.

The city of Fort McMurray is worst affected. It may be months before the fires are brought under control.
How Do Wildfires Occur?
"Wildfire" is any unwanted, unplanned, and damaging fire occurring in a forest, shrubs or grasslands. Wildfires are started by lightning or by people.

To burn, wildfires require the right conditions - the fire triangle of fuel, oxygen, and heat. In recent years, there has been more incidence of wildfire because of increasingly dry, hot weather, and changing weather patterns due to global warming.

In many parts of the world natural fires (mostly due to lightning) have shaped much of the landscape. There has also been a long tradition of fires started intentionally by people for clearing land, logging, or clearing natural vegetation for agriculture. Then, there are visitors to national parks and smokers who accidentally set fires and arsonists who do so intentionally.

Uncontrolled wildfires can generate large amounts of smoke pollution, release greenhouse gases, and affect the ecosystems. It can lead to loss of lives, property and valuable forest lands. When fires burn down trees, soil erosion can occur, especially when heavy rains follow, causing landslides, ash flows, and flash flooding.
Impact Of Canada's Wildfire
The raging wildfires are damaging the boreal forests of Canada. Boreal forests are huge carbon stores, and as they burn, the carbon is released into the atmosphere. This can in turn cause temperature increase, further worsening global warming. The ground too is rich in peat, another carbon storehouse. The smoldering fires on the ground are hard to put out and can pose a risk again - sometimes the smolders can linger throughout winter and emerge again in spring.

Besides property loss, the fires have forced the shutdown of Canada's oil sands industry. Alberta's oil sands have the third largest oil reserves after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. With oil prices already at a historic low, this will impact Canada's economy.

The damages from the wildfire are mounting and estimated at $9 billion. Homes and businesses need to be rebuilt, power lines repaired, and water sources made safe and drinkable again. Until then, the people who were displaced will not have jobs to go back to.

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A wildfire that began on May 1 in Alberta, Canada has consumed nearly 700 square miles of area. More than 88,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes and thousands of homes have been destroyed. The cause of the fire is unknown; however global warming is blamed.

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Learn the science behind how earthquakes happen—and how you can stay safe if one hits.

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Interested in extreme weather events? Then a hurricane-a swirling mass of wind, rain, thunder, and chaos-will intrigue you. Hurricanes begin over tropical and subtropical ocean water. They start when warm water, moist air, and strong winds collide and create a rotating bundle of thunderstorms and clouds. A hurricane might last a few hours or several days.

How Hurricanes Form

Some hurricanes roar onto land bringing punishing wind, torrential rain, walls of water, even tornados. The wind, rain, and water surge wreak havoc on the coastline and damage hundreds of miles inland.

Violent winds flip cars, sink boats, and rip houses apart. Hurricane winds range from 74 miles an hour to 150 ​miles an hour​ or more. Wind creates high waves and pushes the water onto shore. The water surge can be 30 feet high. That's as high as a 3-story building. Storm surges cause most of the fatalities and damage.

In addition to the storm surge, hurricanes bring rain. Lots of rain. In 2009, a storm hammered Taiwan with 114 inches of rain in only three days. Hurricane rains cause landslides, flash floods, and long-term floods.

Because meteorologists can predict and track hurricanes, people living in a hurricane's path can stay safe by advance preparation, including an evacuation plan, creating an emergency kit with food, water, and other supplies (don't forget your pets), and most importantly by listening to local authorities on the best ways to stay safe.

Eye: The eye can be 20-40 miles wide. In the eye, rather than dark clouds and rain, one might see blue sky or a starry night. It's known as the calm center of the storm.

Eyewall: The clouds that swirl around the eyehave the most intense rain and winds, sometimes as fast as 200 miles an hour.

Rain bands: The rain and wind come in heavy bursts in this region and spiral in toward the eyewall. Rain bands are the outside areas of a storm and can be found as far as a few hundred miles from the eye.

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Interested in extreme weather events? Then a hurricane-a swirling mass of wind, rain, thunder, and chaos-will intrigue you. Hurricanes begin over tropical and subtropical ocean water. They start when warm water, moist air, and strong winds collide and create a rotating bundle of thunderstorms and clouds.

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How Volcanoes Form

In 1980 in Washington, after 123 years of hibernation, Mount St. Helens erupted. The blast destroyed and scorched 230 square miles (370 square kilometers) of forest within minutes. The eruption released an avalanche of hot ash, gas, steam, and rocks that mowed down giant trees up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) away.

When magma finds a way to escape from beneath the earth's surface, it creates a volcano.

Volcanoes erupt in different ways. Some, like Mount St. Helens, explode. Explosive eruptions are so powerful, they can shoot particles 20 miles up (32 kilometers), hurl 8-ton boulders more than a half mile (0.8 kilometers) away, and cause massive landslides. Explosive eruptions also create an avalanche of hot volcanic debris, ash, and gas that bulldozes everything in its path. Explosive volcanoes cause most of the volcano-related fatalities.

Volcanoes, like Mauna Loa in Hawaii, are effusive. Rather than a violent explosion, lava pours or flows out. Fatalities from effusive volcanoes are rare because people can usually outrun the lava. However, some people get too close or become trapped with no escape. The flowing lava burns, melts, and destroys everything it touches including farms, houses, and roads.

A volcanic eruption forever changes the landscape. Though volcanoes destroy, they also create mountains, islands, and, eventually, incredibly fertile land.

Carpet of Ash

Volcanic eruptions can cause damage hundreds of miles away. Volcanic ash causes airplane engines to fail, destroys crops, contaminates water, and damages electronics and machinery. The ash carpets the ground, burying everything, sometimes even causing buildings to collapse. Mount St. Helens produced more than 490 tons of ash that fell over a 22,000 square mile (56,980 square kilometer) area and caused problems in cities 370 miles (600 kilometers) away.

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In 1980 in Washington, after 123 years of hibernation, Mount St. Helens erupted. The blast destroyed and scorched 230 square miles (370 square kilometers) of forest within minutes. The eruption released an avalanche of hot ash, gas, steam, and rocks that mowed down giant trees up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) away.

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Learn about and see pictures of auroras, snow rollers, rogue waves, ball lightning, and other freaky forces of nature!

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2011 Christchurch earthquake Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com

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The 2011 Christchurch earthquake was a 6.3 magnitude earthquake which struck the South Island of New Zealand at 12:51 pm on 22 February 2011 NZT. (This is 23:51 21 February UTC). It was about 5 km underground. It struck the Canterbury region of the island and caused a lot of damage and many deaths in Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city.

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Hurricane Wilma Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com

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Hurricane Wilma was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. It destroyed parts of the Yucatán Peninsula and southern Florida during October in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Wilma broke several records for both strength and seasonal activity.

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Kilauea is an active volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. It is a shield volcano. The volcano is 1,277 meters high. Kilauea is a large lake of lava. The crater of Kilauea is named Pu'u'O'o. The first eruption of Kilauea is estimated as 300 to 600 thousand years ago.

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California wildfires of October 2007 Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com

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The California wildfires of October 2007 are more than 20 wildfires until November 9, 2007 burning in Southern California, making over 1,000,000 people have to leave their homes, breaking at least 1,500 homes and buildings and moving in on at least 56,000 more.