Mudslides

Gravity and water play a role in causing mudslides. Hurricanes and other severe rain storms produce a lot of water in a short period of time. Soil on a steep slope becomes so wet that it is too heavy to stick to the underlying rock or soil. Gravity pulls the mud down the hill. The saturated soil flows much faster and farther than an ordinary landslide. The debris flow ranges from watery mud to thick, rocky mud that can carry large boulders and trees. Mudslides happen in places that are hilly or steep. Coastal areas with cliffs weakened by erosion can have mudslides when there is intense rainfall. Droughts, wildfires, and deforestation can destroy vegetation. There is a strong chance that these areas will also have mudslides during and after heavy rainfall. 

Mudslides can have devastating effects on people and landscapes. They bury houses, vehicles, crops, animals, and people. On average, mudslides cause 25 to 50 deaths each year. The tides of mud, trees, and boulders can sweep through villages and towns, destroying the vegetation along the way. When the flows reach flatter ground, the debris spreads over a wide area, sometimes collecting in thick deposits. The mud will stifle any plant and animal life beneath it. Places hit by mudslides are often declared disaster areas. Nothing will live there for a long time. A mudslide can leave a deep scar on a mountainside or hillside. This acts as a reminder of potential danger to those who live nearby. 

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Tsunami

A tsunami is a fast-moving ocean wave or a series of waves. In the deep ocean, a tsunami is usually no more than one metre tall. When a tsunami reaches shallow water, it can grow as high as 30 metres.

An underwater earthquake, a volcanic eruption, or a landslide can trigger a tsunami. For example, when an earthquake happens, the sea floor shifts. This sudden movement creates a sea bulge that sends out a series of ripple-like waves. In the deep ocean, these ripples are very wide and low, and travel fast. They cannot be felt aboard ships, nor can they be seen from the air in the open ocean. 

A chain of tsunami waves can be very destructive. The pounding water can strip away sand from beaches and tear up trees and other vegetation. A tsunami can destroy coastal towns and villages. People can be swept away and drowned.

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