AVALANCHE
A fall or slide of snow or rock down a mountainside.
What causes an avalanche?
An avalanche can be caused by both natural and un-natural circumstances. The main affect is new heavy snow falling on old snow which causes the old snow to dislodge and tumble. The place that avalanches are most likely to occur is on a deep slope such as a mountain side. Vibrations such as earthquakes may also cause such a disaster. Another way to cause an avalanche is for snow to fall and then freeze. When the next day produces snow (it might not this is just an example) the new fresh snow will fall on the frozen snow and will slip causing an avalanche. Human activity may also trigger a snow slide (nickname for an avalanche). Vibrations from activities such as skiing could initiate the snow movement of an avalanche. |
How does the earth change during an avalanche?
The falling snow has an impact on the earth by traveling at extreme speed which causes it to trample everything in its path. Forests, crops, farms and evan towns have been known to be destroyed by avalanches. What are the immediate effects of an avalanche to local people and the environment? Any living thing in the way of an avalanche will instantly be killed or buried under meters of snow. Habitats and manmade structures such as roads, houses etc. will be destroyed leaving people and animals without homes. What are the long term effects? While avalanches have few real long term effects they do have many medium term effects. Examples are transport problems, electricity outages and homelessness. |