natural phenomena

Ecologa

2022

We explain what natural phenomena are, their causes, classification and examples. Also, what are natural disasters.

Penguin migrations are natural biological phenomena.

What are natural phenomena?

A natural phenomenon is an event of change that occurs in the nature, in whose origin the human being it has little or nothing to do with it. This can range from a recurring, everyday event to a fortuitous, surprising or catastrophic one. In the latter case, the term can also be used natural disaster.

Natural phenomena are due to laws, elements and processes that govern the natural world, independent of the human being. However, the latter affects them through their manipulation and adulteration of the environment (pollution).

For this reason, in a certain way the line between completely natural phenomena and phenomena in which the human being has part of responsibility it is not always easy to trace. In addition, natural phenomena can have positive or negative impacts on the life human.

Classification of natural phenomena

Electrical storms are natural atmospheric phenomena.

Generally, natural phenomena are classified according to the specific scope of the nature in which they occur, as follows:

  • Astronomical phenomena. Those that occur in the outer space of the planet, like the rains of stars and the eclipses (either solar eclipses or lunar eclipses).
  • Atmospheric phenomena. Those that take place in the layer of gases that covers the surface of the planet, either in the layers closest to it (such as the wind) or in the upper layers (such as the ozone layer).
  • Geological phenomena. Those that have to do with him movement of the tectonic plates, volcanic activity and other internal processes on the planet's surface. An example of this are the earthquakes.
  • Hydrological phenomena. Those who relate to him Water in its different places, facets and routes, from simple rain to tides oceanic.
  • Biological phenomena. Also called ecological, they are those that concern the others species from living beings, excluding the human being, whether animals, vegetable or otherwise. Extinctions, migrations, are possible examples of this.

Examples of natural phenomena

The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that can be observed near the North Pole.

Examples of natural phenomena abound. The rain, the winds, the seasons, the blossoming of the plants, storm seasons, ocean tides or meteorites are perfect examples of natural phenomena that occur daily on our planet and that often go unnoticed.

In other cases, however, they tend to arouse our interest or our fascination, as in the case of Aurora borealis, or the mating migrations of penguins.

Natural disasters

Hurricanes can cause human and material losses.

Natural disasters, as we said before, are dramatic natural phenomena that have a violent and negative impact on human life, and can cause human and material losses. Some are more predictable than others and some are easier to resist, but in general they can be very varied in nature.

Some examples of natural disasters are earthquakes, Volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tropical storms, floods or droughts, and the impacts of meteorites, like the one that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs millions of years ago.

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