Karnataka SSLC Social Science Geography India – Natural Disasters Question Answers Solution
Board |
KSEEB (Karnataka Board) |
Exam |
SSLC (Class 10) |
Subject |
Geography |
Chapter |
29 |
Chapter Name |
India – Natural Disasters |
Topic and Notes |
Solution of Question Answer/ Study Material |
Answer the following questions:
(1) What are natural disasters?
Ans: Naturally-occurring destructive incidents resulting in loss of human life and property are called natural disasters. Such as; earthquakes, floods, droughts, cyclones, landslides, coasts erosion etc.
(2) What are the effects of a cyclone?
Ans: Among all the natural disasters occuring on the surface of the Earth cyclonic winds are the most dangerous and destructive. These winds are called cyclones. Effects of cyclone:
- Cyclones are very destructive. Sometimes, the life of the people of cyclone-hit areas gets totally changed.
- They cause large scale deaths.
- Ocean tides inundate the inland water-bodies and make them salty. ● Crops get totally destroyed.
- Transport links, electricity supply and the daily life of the of people get affected badly.
- Cyclone-hit areas suffer from infectious diseases, leading to huge casualties.
(3) What are floods?
Ans: When there is heavy rainfall and excessive melting of ice, the volume of water increases in the river leading to it overflowing. This is called “floods”. The river water, not being able to flow in the river course, overflows and occupies low-lying areas on either side. Sometimes, due to more rainfall in a particular area, the rivers swell.
(4) What is Landslide?
Ans: Land mass sliding down the slopes from mountains or hills are called landslides. Among the things that come down along with the sliding land mass, stones, mud and debris are important. Landslides occurring in the steep mountainous regions are more destructive.
(5) What are Earthquakes?
Ans: Earthquakes are one of the most important natural calamities occurring on the land surface. Vibration or movement of the upper layers of the earth due to the pressure created inside is called Earthquake.
(6) What are the causes of floods? Describe flood-prone areas.
Ans: When there is heavy rainfall and excessive melting of ice, the volume of water increases in the river leading to it overflowing. This is called “floods”.
✓ Causes of floods:
- The uncertainty of monsoon rainfall sometimes makes heavy rainfall causes floods.
- Accumulation of silt in the rivers lead to overflowing of water on either side of the river, causing floods.
- Breach of dams or retention walls leads to sudden release of large quantity of water resulting in floods.
- Rivers changing their course can also cause floods.
- Heavy rainfall during cyclones can also lead to floods.
- Earthquakes in the sea also cause floods.
- Apart from the natural causes mentioned above, man-made causes like deforestation, improperly built dams, weak retention walls, illegal encroachment of land are also important causes.
✓ Flood-prone regions are found all over the country.
- The Ganges and its tributaries Yamuna, Gandak, Kosi and Ghagra rivers cause floods in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
- Damodar and Suvarnarekha rivers cause floods in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal states.
- Brahmaputra and its tributaries Dibang, Dihang, Subansiri and Luhit rivers cause floods in Assam.
- Cloudburst often causes abrupt floods in the Himalayas.
- Narmada, Tapti, Sabarmati and Mahi rivers cause floods for some days in a year in the state of Gujarat.
- Krishna, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Dhoni, Bennehalla etc. cause floods during the rainy season in Karnataka.
(7) What is Coastal Erosion? Mention its management.
Ans: Sea waves continuously hit the coast. Because of this, the coastal land is eroded. The erosion of land by the waves in the coastal areas is called coastal erosion. Management of coastal erosion:
- Prohibiting sand mining in coastal areas.
- Constructing retention walls along the length of coast wherever waves are strong.
- Stocking of large rocky boulders along the coast to reduce the impact.
- The most effective method of preventing coastal erosion is by growing mangrove forests along the coast.
(8) Write about the effects of the earthquake and precautions to be taken.
Ans: Earthquakes are one of the most important natural calamities occurring on the land surface. Vibration or movement of the upper layers of the earth due to the pressure created inside is called Earthquake.
✓ Effects of Earthquakes:
- A) The loss of life and destruction of property,
- B) Obstruction to transport,
- C) Spread of infectious diseases,
- D) Increased tidal activity,
- E) Tsunamis.
- F) Change in the river’s direction.
✓ Precautions to be taken:
- Restricting construction of multi-storied buildings in earthquake prone areas.
- Using very light material for construction of houses in these areas.
- Constructing houses to ensure stability.
- Providing basic amenities to the quake-affected areas.
- Disconnecting power supply in the event of an earthquake.