Meg,+Angie+and+Natasha!!!

Tsunami Safe House Presented to you by M.A.N Productions media type="custom" key="9815945" media type="custom" key="10059321"

** EARTHQUAKES! **    By Meg Waring The ground shakes, building crumble, roads crack, it can only mean one thing, an earthquake.

An earthquake is where the earth shakes violently. An earthquake occurs along fault lines in the earth’s crust. They happen when parts of rock move suddenly, this makes shock waves travel. These shockwaves are what we know as an earthquake.
 * What is an earthquake? **

Scientists estimate that over 1,500,000 earthquakes occur on earth each year. 100,000 of these can be felt and only 150 earthquakes per year cause any damage. Most earthquakes occur on the edge of tectonic plates.
 * How many? **

Most earthquakes are caused by the movements of tectonic plates. The movement of the plates cause really big pressure, and the earthquakes occur when that pressure is released. A plate movement of 20cm can be enough to trigger a major earthquake. Did you know that earthquakes can cause tsunamis? Earthquakes underwater cause the tsunami. When an earthquake under the sea pushes the water up, it creates a wave. The wave (tsunami) crashes into the shore at a very high speed and the force from the wave is enough to knock down things like buildings.
 * What causes an earthquake? **

The earth’s surface is made up of large plates called tectonic plates. They fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. But they are unstable and constantly moving. The movement of the plates cause most earthquakes and volcanoes.
 * What are tectonic plates? **

Earthquakes can cause death and have lots of effect on people’s lives. Earthquakes can also cause4 buildings to fall down and some even collapse on people. When and earthquake strikes lots of lives are lost and people are left homeless. Earthquakes kill thousands of people every year, and have caused an estimated 13 million deaths in the last 4 years.
 * What effect do they have? **

After shocks are smaller quakes occurring in the same area as the earthquake just struck. Major earthquakes always have aftershocks. As the rocks where the earthquake struck, continue to move, they cause aftershocks. For example in Japan, when they had a big earthquake there where thousands of aftershocks.
 * What are aftershocks? **

If you would like to help the sad and poor victims of earthquakes or even any other natural disaster you can start by donating to the Red Cross appeal. If you would like to know more about them then go to their website at [|www.redcross.com.au]
 * How you can help? **

=Tropical Cyclones=

By Angie Sexton A tropical Cyclone, otherwise known as hurricane, or Typhoon, is the most deadly type of storm on earth. Tropical Cyclones are very destructive and kill many people. They are formed over the sea and can happen in many tropical places. Tropical Cyclones are deadly strong.

What is a Tropical Cyclone? A Tropical Cyclone consists of winds and extremely strong, forceful rain. It is a huge circular storm, and the winds swirl around a central eye. The eye of a Tropical Cyclone is still and Peaceful. The winds of a Tropical Cyclone can become as fast as 300 kilometres per hour, and are very powerful. The diameter of the storm is usually around 200-500 kilometres, but can grow to a massive scale. Cyclones are divided into 5 categories, 5 being the worst, most destructive cyclone, 1 being the least destructive. This year, 2011, Cyclone Yasi was predicted to be a category 5 cyclone, the worst ever cyclone to hit Queensland, but turned out only to be a category 3.

How are Cyclones formed? Tropical Cyclones are always formed over the sea. The ocean water has to be up to, or over 26.6 degrees Celsius for a Tropical Cyclone to form. When the cold wind and the rising moisture from the sea combine, a Tropical Cyclone could form. The energy that leads a Tropical Cyclone comes from the sun. A tropical Cyclone basically ends when it reaches land because there is no more moisture from the sea for the air to combine with.

Where is it most likely to have a Tropical Cyclone? Tropical Cyclones are most likely to form in Tropical areas and Coastal Regions, usually in warm and humid areas by the sea. MostTropical Cyclones stay out at sea, but sometimes, they can come on land.

What impact do Tropical Cyclones have on humans? Cyclone Yasi, as mentioned fore, came this year, and ripped through North Queensland. It caused great devastation and many lives were lost. Buildings fell and houses were wrecked. Some parts of Queensland are still partly recovering. Cyclones can also cause massive flooding and always ruin many crops.

TROPICAL CYCLONES ARE THE MOST POWERFUL STORMS ON EARTH!!!