Announcer Dr. Letterman is here to talk us about natural disasters and environmental emergencies. Good evening doctor, what are the first things to know?
Dr. Letterman I´d like to start with definitions.
Natural disasters are major events brought by Mother Nature over which we have no control. They can result in serious consequences. That threaten life as we know it. These consequences are environmental emergencies.
Announcer That’s an important distinction. Can you mention some natural disasters?
Dr. Letterman Sure, for example, a tsunami refers to waves of great height that smash into the seashore. A landslide, or mudslide, is the movement of masses of rock and earth down a slope. A flood is the acummulation of water in places that are normally dry. There are also earthquakes, or unexpected movements of the earth surface.
Announcer What about environmental emergencies?
Dr. Letterman All the natural disasters I mentioned can be dangerous and impact the environment negatively, but human activity can also cause environmental emergencies. Consider an oil spill, which is accidental release of petroleum-based products in water, or a chemical spill which is the accidental release of dangerous substances into the air, water or soil. Wildfires can be caused by natural events such as lightning, but also by human error. A wildfire is a fire that spreads over an ecosystem, damaging or destroying it.
Announcer Are there any other natural disaters that can cause environmental emergencies?
Dr. Letterman Sure. Let me think. There is extreme weather, which refers to severe conditions like heatwaves or extreme cold that endanger life. We can also have droughts which are unusually long periods without rain that cause water to be scarce and lastly, I can mention hurricanes, or severe tropical storms thta bring heavy rain, strong winds, and big waves.
Announcer We will continue our talk with Dr. Letterman after these messages.
