Natural phenomena. Natural and dangerous natural phenomena
What are natural phenomena? What are they? You will find answers to these questions in this article. The material can be useful both for preparing for a lesson on the world around us and for general development.
Everything that surrounds us and is not created by human hands is nature.
All changes that occur in nature are called natural phenomena or natural phenomena. The rotation of the Earth, its movement in orbit, the change of day and night, the change of seasons are examples of natural phenomena.
Seasons are also called seasons. Therefore, natural phenomena associated with the changing seasons are called seasonal phenomena.
Nature, as you know, can be inanimate and living.
Inanimate nature includes: the Sun, stars, celestial bodies, air, water, clouds, stones, minerals, soil, precipitation, mountains.
Living nature includes plants (trees), mushrooms, animals (animals, fish, birds, insects), microbes, bacteria, and humans.
In this article we will look at winter, spring, summer and autumn natural phenomena in animate and inanimate nature.
Winter natural phenomena
Examples of winter phenomena in inanimate nature | Examples of winter phenomena in wildlife |
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Spring natural phenomena
Names of spring phenomena in inanimate nature | Names of spring phenomena in wildlife |
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Summer natural phenomena
Summer natural phenomena in inanimate nature | Summer natural phenomena in wildlife |
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Autumn natural phenomena
Autumn phenomena in inanimate nature | Autumn phenomena in wildlife |
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Unusual natural phenomena
What natural phenomena still exist? In addition to the seasonal natural phenomena described above, there are several more that are not associated with any time of year.
- Flood called a short-term sudden rise in water level in a river. This sharp rise may be a consequence of heavy rains, the melting of large amounts of snow, the release of an impressive volume of water from the reservoir, or the collapse of glaciers.
- Northern lights- glow of the upper layers of the atmospheres of planets with a magnetosphere due to their interaction with charged particles of the solar wind.
- Ball lightning- a rare natural phenomenon that looks like a luminous formation floating in the air.
- Mirage- an optical phenomenon in the atmosphere: refraction of light streams at the boundary between layers of air that are sharply different in density and temperature.
- « Falling star" - an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere
- Hurricane- extremely fast and strong air movement, often of great destructive power and considerable duration
- Tornado- an ascending vortex of extremely quickly rotating air in the form of a funnel of enormous destructive power, in which moisture, sand and other suspended matter are present.
- Ebbs and flows- These are changes in the water level of the sea elements and the World Ocean.
- Tsunami- long and high waves generated by a powerful impact on the entire thickness of water in the ocean or other body of water.
- Earthquake- represent tremors and vibrations of the earth's surface. The most dangerous of them arise due to tectonic displacements and ruptures in the earth's crust or upper part of the earth's mantle
- Tornado- an atmospheric vortex that arises in a cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) cloud and spreads down, often to the very surface of the earth, in the form of a cloud arm or trunk with a diameter of tens and hundreds of meters
- Eruption- the process of a volcano throwing hot debris, ash onto the earth's surface, an outpouring of magma, which, pouring onto the surface, becomes lava.
- Floods- flooding of land with water, which is a natural disaster.
Despite the fact that people have long described and found a rational explanation for why certain natural processes and phenomena occur, the most unusual and rare of them still surprise, delight and amaze, in particular fire-breathing mountains spewing lava that sweeps away everything on his way; breathtaking whirlwinds rushing at great speed and lifting stones, logs, cars and even entire houses into the sky; incredible fountains of boiling water rising tens of meters into the air from the depths of our planet.
What is a natural phenomenon
Natural phenomena are ordinary, and in some cases supernatural, meteorological and climatic processes as a result of which nature naturally changes. At the same time, they can be quite harmless and cause absolutely no surprise in people and are perceived as something taken for granted, for example, when it snows or rains, or they can represent real natural disasters, spreading death and destruction around them.
Classification of natural phenomena
Scientists began to study the extraordinary manifestations of the natural world from ancient times, and recently, when science began to move forward by leaps and bounds, its secrets gradually began to be revealed more and more quickly, for example, already in the 17th century. Gilbert proved that our planet is a huge magnet with poles, and a century later Franklin discovered atmospheric electricity.
Since there are a great many natural phenomena on our planet, quite little is still known about them. Therefore, it is not surprising that scientists have described, systematized and classified them. Thanks to this, it became possible not only to study the types of natural processes by category, but also to predict and even prevent the possible occurrence of dangerous natural phenomena, but the amazing manifestations of the natural world are so unpredictable that it is not always possible to do this even with the latest equipment.
The following classification is rather arbitrary, since the same phenomenon of the natural world quite often corresponds to several points at once. Thus, natural phenomena are distinguished:
By the nature of the impact– some types of natural processes or phenomena can have several characteristics at once, for example, a strong flood can be destructive in a city, paralyze traffic on the roads and deplete the soil, making it unsuitable for a good harvest.
- Natural disasters of a destructive nature - hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, even the invasion of insect pests (locusts);
- Paralyzing natural phenomena stop traffic completely or for a long time (snowfall, ice, fog);
- Phenomena with depleting effects, due to which crop yields and soil fertility decrease, groundwater is depleted and the supply of other natural resources decreases;
By origin:
- Natural phenomena that cause man-made accidents - lightning, ice, biochemical corrosion.
- Climatic - these types are the most common. Examples of these include a typhoon, blizzard or rain;
- Geological and geomorphological are such natural natural phenomena as a tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption;
- Biogeochemical - hazardous natural phenomena of this type are mainly emissions of harmful gases from lakes, swamps and other bodies of water;
- Biological - their appearance is often caused by objects of living nature: increased reproduction of agricultural pests, as well as blood-sucking insects, predatory and poisonous animals, epidemics, diseases of plants and livestock.
- Space - first of all, excessive activity of the sun is dangerous for our world; space weather also affects our world. For example, flares and emissions of charged solar particles and their interaction with the atmosphere and magnetic fields of our planet often lead to emergency situations.
By duration:
- Instantaneous - do not last long (within a few seconds or minutes) and are the most dangerous (for example, earthquakes);
- Short-term natural phenomena last from several hours to several days (squall, flood, rain, heat and, interestingly, the full moon);
- Long-term (their period of action is longer and often lasts months, and in some cases years) - this type of phenomena includes natural processes that last months and even years (for example, volcanic eruptions, the occurrence of ozone holes, drying out of reservoirs);
- Centuries-old - last for several decades and can last for centuries (global warming).
By frequency of action:
- Daily - for example, sunset and sunrise;
- Seasonal - leaves fall in autumn, buds appear on trees and bushes in spring.
By scale of distribution:
- Global
- Local
- Regional
The influence of nature on humans
Scientists have long noticed that nature actively influences not only the life of our planet, but also the health and well-being of a person and even his life expectancy. An important role in this case is given to such factors as the quality of water, land, air purity, and climatic conditions.
For example, if people live in an area that is unfavorable for living (temperatures are too cold in winter and high in summer, high humidity, extremely strong winds), then it will be difficult for the human body to withstand, it will quickly break down and become unusable.
A person absolutely does not notice the influence of such natural conditions on his body, but pays attention only to the most unusual (for example, rainbows, northern lights, pillars of light), mysterious (the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle has been haunting people for a long time) or dangerous natural phenomena that can lead to serious man-made accidents or human death.
site about the most interesting phenomena
On our website you will find information about the most unusual and amazing natural phenomena and their impact on the world around us. For example, you might be interested to know that a rainbow can be not only sunny, but also lunar, foggy, fiery, or inverted. You will also find out why people see mirages, aurora or halos.
Here you will read about dangerous natural phenomena that amaze with their beauty and power - tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes and other manifestations of the natural world.
As children, we are all amazed by the blue sky, white clouds and bright stars. With age, this goes away for many, and we stop noticing nature. Look through this list of unusual natural phenomena; it will probably make you once again surprised by the complex organization of our world, and natural phenomena in particular.
20. Lunar rainbow.
A lunar rainbow (also known as a night rainbow) is a rainbow created by the moon. A lunar rainbow is comparatively paler than a normal rainbow. A lunar rainbow is best seen when the moon is full, or at a phase of the moon close to full, since at this time the moon is at its brightest. For moonbows to appear, other than those caused by a waterfall, the moon must be low in the sky (less than 42 degrees and preferably lower) and the sky must be dark. And of course it must rain opposite the moon. A lunar rainbow is a much rarer phenomenon than a rainbow that is visible in daylight. The moonbow phenomenon is observed in only a few places in the world. Waterfalls in Cumberland Falls, near Williamsburg, Kentucky, USA; Waimea, Hawaii; Trans-Ili Alatau in the foothills of Almaty; Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe are widely known as the site of frequent sightings of lunar rainbows. Yosemite National Park in the United States is home to a large number of waterfalls. As a result, lunar rainbows are also observed in the park, especially when the water level rises from melting snow in the spring. Lunar rainbows are also observed on the Yamal Peninsula in conditions of heavy fog. Probably, with sufficiently heavy fog and fairly clear weather, a lunar rainbow can be observed at any latitude.
19. Mirages
Despite their prevalence, mirages always evoke an almost mystical sense of wonder. An optical phenomenon in the atmosphere: the reflection of light by a boundary between layers of air that are sharply different in density. For an observer, such a reflection means that together with a distant object (or part of the sky), its virtual image is visible, shifted relative to the object. Mirages are divided into lower ones, visible under the object, upper ones, above the object, and side ones.
18. Halo
Usually, halos occur when there is high humidity or severe frost - previously, a halo was considered a phenomenon from above, and people expected something unusual. This is an optical phenomenon, a luminous ring around an object - a light source. A halo usually appears around the Sun or Moon, sometimes around other powerful light sources. There are many types of halos, but they are caused primarily by ice crystals in cirrus clouds at altitudes of 5-10 km in the upper troposphere. Sometimes in frosty weather, a halo is formed by crystals very close to the earth's surface. In this case, the crystals resemble shining gemstones.
17. Belt of Venus
An interesting optical phenomenon that occurs when the atmosphere is dusty is an unusual “belt” between the sky and the horizon. It appears as a stripe of pink to orange color between the dark night sky below and the blue sky above, appearing before sunrise or after sunset parallel to the altitude of 10°-20° to the horizon in a place opposite the Sun. In the belt of Venus, the atmosphere scatters light from the setting (or rising) Sun, which appears redder, hence the color pink rather than blue.
16. Pearl clouds
Unusually high clouds (about 10-12 km), becoming visible at sunset.
15. Northern Lights
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, also known as Aurora Borealis, is truly a stunning sight. This natural phenomenon can most often be observed in late autumn, winter or early spring.
14. Colored Moon
When the atmosphere is dusty, high humidity, or for other reasons, the Moon sometimes appears colored. The red Moon is especially unusual.
13. Lenticular clouds
An extremely rare phenomenon, appearing mainly before a hurricane. Opened just 30 years ago. Also called Mammatus clouds. clouds, round and shaped like a biconvex lens - in the past they were sometimes confused with UFOs.
12. St. Elmo's Fire.
A fairly common phenomenon caused by increased electric field strength before a thunderstorm, during a thunderstorm and immediately after. A discharge in the form of luminous beams or brushes (or a corona discharge) that occurs at the sharp ends of tall objects (towers, masts, lonely trees, sharp peaks of rocks, etc.) The first witnesses of this phenomenon were sailors who observed the lights of St. Elmo on the masts and other vertical pointed objects.
11. Fire whirlwinds
A fire whirlwind is also known as a fire devil or fire tornado. This is a rare phenomenon in which the fire, under certain conditions, depending on temperature and air flows, acquires vertical vorticity. Fire whirls often appear when bushes are burning. Vertically rotating pillars can reach from 10 to 65 meters in height, but only for the last few minutes of their existence. And in certain winds they can be even higher.
10. Mushroom clouds.
Mushroom clouds are clouds of smoke in the shape of a mushroom, formed as a result of the combination of tiny particles of water and earth, or as a result of a powerful explosion.
9. Light pillars.
One of the most common types of halo, a visual phenomenon, an optical effect that represents a vertical strip of light extending from the sun during sunset or sunrise.
8. Diamond dust.
Frozen water droplets scattering the light of the Sun.
7. Fish, frog and other rains.
One of the hypotheses explaining the appearance of such rains is a tornado that sucks out nearby bodies of water and carries their contents over long distances.
6. Virga.
Rain that evaporates before reaching the ground. Observed as a noticeable deposition band emerging from the cloud. In North America, it is usually seen in the southern United States and the Canadian prairies.
5. Bora.
Hurricane winds have many names. Strong (up to 40-60 m/s) cold wind in some coastal areas where low mountain ranges border the warm sea (for example, on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, on the Black Sea coast in the Novorossiysk region). Directed down slopes, usually observed in winter.
4. Fire rainbow.
Occurs when sunlight passes through high clouds. Unlike an ordinary rainbow, which can be observed almost anywhere on the globe, a “fire rainbow” is visible only at certain latitudes. In Russia, the visibility zone runs through the extreme south.
3. Green beam.
An extremely rare optical phenomenon, a flash of green light as the sun's disk disappears below the (usually sea) horizon or appears above the horizon.
2. Ball lightning.
A rare natural phenomenon, a unified physical theory of the occurrence and course of which has not been presented to date. There are about 200 theories explaining the phenomenon, but none of them have received absolute recognition in the academic environment. It is widely believed that ball lightning is a phenomenon of electrical origin, of natural nature, that is, it is a special type of lightning that exists for a long time in the form of a ball, capable of moving along an unpredictable, sometimes very surprising trajectory for eyewitnesses.
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The world around us is in constant motion and changes all the time: after winter spring comes, after rain a rainbow appears, with the onset of cold weather birds fly south, etc. All these changes that are familiar to us, which we perceive as the most ordinary and natural, are called natural phenomena. Let's consider the phenomena of inanimate and living nature depending on the season of the year, and also get acquainted with some amazing phenomena that happen quite rarely.
Natural phenomena in autumn
Inanimate nature
The following changes occur in inanimate nature at this time of year: after the summer heat, coolness comes, and towards the end of autumn, frosts begin, and the first snow often falls. Daylight hours are becoming noticeably shorter, and cloudy and rainy weather is becoming more common.
Live nature
Representatives of wildlife perceive autumn as a time to prepare for winter. Trees change the color of their foliage and then completely shed it. Some animals are looking for shelter where they can survive the winter cold, many of them are actively preparing food supplies for future use. flock together and go to warmer climes. Many animals, including hares, foxes and squirrels, molt and exchange their skins for warmer ones.
Natural phenomena in winter
Inanimate nature
With the arrival of the coldest time of the year, the phenomena of inanimate nature make themselves felt very noticeably. The air temperature drops significantly, and the number of frosty days increases. Snow covers the ground and continues to fall throughout the season. Snow storms, blizzards and blizzards often occur. A continuous ice cover is established on reservoirs. Ice and icy conditions are becoming more common, and dangerous icicles are forming on many buildings. Frost appears on the ground, trees and various outdoor objects, and unusual patterns can be seen on windows.
Live nature
The living world also changes during winter. Plants go into a dormant state, resting to gain strength for the next growing season. In shrubs and trees, metabolism slows down and visible growth stops. Some animals hibernate, for example, bears and hedgehogs, while others continue to lead an active lifestyle, but it becomes more and more difficult for them to get food. Many who do not fly away to warm countries for the winter temporarily move to cities in search of food, among them magpies, bullfinches and tits.
Natural phenomena in spring
Inanimate nature
With the arrival of spring, everything changes, even the inanimate world. The day is becoming much longer, the sun is getting hotter. The long-awaited warming is coming, the atmospheric temperature is rising to positive values. This phenomenon is called a thaw. The snow begins to actively melt, becomes loose, and by the end of spring not a trace remains of it. Ice drift begins on the rivers, causing floods. In some settlements located on the banks of rivers, a strong increase in water levels can lead to floods. Also in the spring it starts to rain and the first thunderstorms appear.
Live nature
The phenomena of living nature that occur in the spring can be characterized in one word - revival. Everything around begins to wake up and fill with life. In trees and shrubs, the movement of juices resumes, the buds swell, a little later active flowering occurs and the first leaves appear. Coltsfoot is blooming everywhere, and other perennial herbaceous plants are blooming in the forests. Flying insects appear, birds return, and those who hibernated are awakened. Furry animals shed again, changing their winter fur to summer. Many animals give birth to offspring at this time of year.
Natural phenomena in summer
Inanimate nature
Inanimate nature at this time of year enjoys hot, dry weather. The sun is heating up strongly, the air temperature rises to maximum values. Rain and thunderstorms also occur, sometimes causing hail. After precipitation, you can often see a rainbow in the sky. Towards the morning, in calm weather, dew forms on the ground, plants and various objects located outside.
Live nature
Changes also occur in wildlife in the summer. The plants begin to actively flower and bear fruit. At the end of summer, the time for mushrooms and berries comes, and nuts ripen in the forests. Animals at this time of year raise their offspring, teach their cubs to get food for themselves and defend themselves in case of danger. Insects are very active in summer, some of them (mosquitoes, flies, midges and others) begin to annoy people. Dangerous arachnids, including poisonous spiders and encephalitis mites, are also activated.
Other amazing natural phenomena
Unusual and sometimes mysterious natural phenomena sometimes occur in the world. Let's give examples of some of them.
Ball lightning
According to eyewitnesses, this rare phenomenon is a kind of luminous ball moving in the air along an unpredictable trajectory. In the scientific world there is still no consensus on what ball lightning is and how it occurs.
Northern lights
This phenomenon is characteristic not only of the Earth; it also occurs on other planets of the solar system that have a magnetosphere. People perceive it as a rapidly changing multi-colored glow in the sky at night. It is formed as a result of the interaction of the upper layers of the atmosphere with charged particles of the solar wind.
Snow storm
This unusual phenomenon occurs during the cold season. It is more often observed near the sea coast or over a large lake, and occasionally occurs in the city. It is characterized by precipitation in the form of heavy snow or freezing rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Tornado
This destructive natural phenomenon occurs in a thundercloud. A column of air, making vortex movements and forming a funnel, descends to the ground. Its diameter can be tens and even hundreds of meters. At the bottom of a tornado there is always a cloud of dust, dirt and objects raised from the ground, or water splashes if the tornado formed over water.
Blooming Atacama Desert in Chile
This place is considered one of the driest on Earth. But once every few years, heavy rains fall on this territory, thanks to which the desert is covered with flowering grasses. Scientists have counted about 200 plant species here, many of which are endemic. During the period of rapid flowering of the desert, active reproduction of lizards, birds and insects is also observed.
Everything that surrounds us and that is not created by human hands is called nature. All changes that we can observe in the world around us are natural phenomena. Let's consider what natural phenomena there are depending on the time of year.
Phenomena of living nature
As you know, nature can be living and non-living. Let's get acquainted with examples of living nature phenomena.
All living beings inhabiting our planet - humans, animals, birds, insects, fish, all types of plants, bacteria and various microbes - belong to the world of living nature.
In winter, nature seems to fall into sleep, and all living things prepare for this state:
- Trees and bushes shed their leaves .
- This is because winter is very cold and there is little light, and normal leaves cannot grow in such conditions. But coniferous trees have leaves in the form of thin needles, which are not afraid of any frost. They fall off gradually, and new needles grow in their place. . For this reason, some animals - bears, hedgehogs, chipmunks, badgers - hibernate to survive the inclement winter times. They dig themselves warm, cozy holes and sleep there until spring comes. Those animals that continue to live an active life in winter acquire a thick coat that prevents them from freezing.
Rice. 1. Bear in a den
- With the onset of the first cold weather, many birds go to warmer climes to spend the winter there with greater comfort. Only those species of birds that have learned to eat different foods remain in their homeland.
In winter, even those birds that live in the city have a very hard time. There are almost no insects, berries and grains too. To help your feathered friends wait for the gentle spring sun, you can make feeders and feed them during the cold season.
In spring, nature awakens, and plants are the first to react: buds bloom on the trees, new leaves appear, and young green grass sprouts.
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Rice. 2. Spring forest
The animals are very happy about the long-awaited warmth. Now you can leave your dens and minks and return to an active life. Animals and birds have offspring in the spring, and their worries increase.
In summer and early autumn, nature pleases with warm weather, an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and berries. Animals raise their babies, teach them how to get food for themselves and how to defend themselves from enemies. In the fall, many animals make provisions for the winter, preparing for the upcoming cold weather.
Phenomena of inanimate nature
Inanimate nature includes all celestial bodies, water, air, soil, minerals, and stones.
In winter, natural phenomena are very harsh. It's good when the snow falls softly and the world around you turns into a winter fairy tale. It is much worse when there is a fierce snowstorm, blizzard or blizzard outside.
In a steppe, open area, a blizzard is terrible in its strength - a strong blizzard, which makes it difficult to see anything even close up. Finding themselves in the center of a snowstorm, many travelers lost their bearings in space and froze.
Rice. 3. Blizzard
In spring, nature throws off its snowy shackles:
- Ice drift begins on the rivers - melting and movement of ice downstream.
- The snow is melting, the first thawed patches appear - small areas of thawed snow.
- Warm winds begin to blow, winter precipitation changes to rain and spring showers.
- Daylight hours are becoming longer and nights are becoming shorter.
All summer phenomena of inanimate nature are directly related to warming. Dry, hot weather sets in, with variable precipitation. Rains may begin suddenly, with thunder and lightning. But within half an hour after heavy rain, the sun will shine brightly in the sky again.
And only in summer you can admire such a wonderful natural phenomenon as a rainbow!
With the onset of autumn, the daylight hours shorten again, the air temperature drops, and it often rains for a long time. In the morning, at the first frost, a thin layer of ice - frost - may appear on the surface of the earth and objects.
What have we learned?
In 2nd grade, the world around us studies such an interesting topic as “Natural Phenomena.” We learned that nature can be living and non-living, and its phenomena largely depend on the time of year.
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