- [Instructor] Before I go to a new place,
I try to do some thorough research about it.
What do I want to do there?
What's the weather forecast?
What's the chance that it might erupt?
I learned this hard way recently.
While preparing for a trip to Mount Rainier National Park,
I somehow missed that the mountain itself
is actually a volcano.
Though it hasn't erupted in over a century,
it has the potential to do so again,
something that it would have been nice to know
more than a week before I left for my vacation.
Volcanoes are one of the most dramatic examples
of a natural hazard,
a naturally occurring phenomenon that can pose risks
to humans and society.
Natural hazards can be very dangerous
for our communities.
But scientists can help people better understand the risks
that may occur where they live
so everyone can work together to prepare safety guidelines.
Different places experience different natural hazards
due to local geographic or atmospheric conditions.
For example, a storm on open plains could spawn a tornado.
Similarly, a storm over the ocean
could grow into a hurricane or a cyclone
by the time it reaches the coast.
These coastal rainstorms,
along with their colder counterparts, blizzards,
are the main natural hazards that I may run into
where I live in the mid-Atlantic.
Too much rain or snow can be dangerous, of course,
but scientists have gotten pretty good
at predicting weather conditions.
Meteorologists use all kinds of technologies
to map where and when a storm may form.
Orbiting satellites can take pictures
of cloud patterns from above.
Weather stations back on the surface
can use electromagnetic wave fields
measured through Doppler radar
to determine how heavy rain is falling
or how strong the wind is blowing in those same clouds.
They feed all of this and other data into computer models
that can help them predict if the storm is severe enough
to become a natural hazard.
For example, this map from the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Prediction Center
shows where people can expect rainstorms,
where others can expect snowstorms,
and where those storms may become powerful enough
to pose risks.
Despite great advances in our ability
to predict natural hazards,
there are some phenomena that are less predictable,
which can make them harder to prepare for.
You see, the outer part of Earth is made up
of large moving pieces called tectonic plates.
These plates can grind or slip against each other,
releasing energy in the form of seismic waves.
Most of the time,
we don't even notice these tectonic movements.
But especially along boundaries
or fault lines in the plates,
people may experience
the ground-shaking tremors of earthquakes.
Earthquakes can be especially dangerous
in highly populated areas
where they damage buildings, roads,
and other forms of human infrastructure.
Earthquakes are often associated with volcanic activity,
since volcanoes are often found near boundaries
and fault lines of the tectonic plates.
As the plates move and magma swells up to the surface,
volcanic eruptions can release everything
from clouds of gas or ash to rivers of molten lava.
An earthquake in one location may even agitate
large bodies of water enough to generate a tsunami,
a huge and powerful wave,
along the coastline in another.
Tsunamis can affect the local region
as well as regions far away.
Scientists can't predict an intense earthquake,
volcanic eruption, or tsunami as effectively
as they can a severe weather event.
But they are working to better understand
Earth's seismic activity and when it poses a risk.
For example, they use tools like seismographs
to determine when an earthquake is happening
and its strength or magnitude.
Data from both minor and major tremors
may help scientists figure out the signs
that an earthquake is coming,
giving communities along fault lines an early warning
to evacuate or brace themselves,
rather than simply reacting to the aftermath.
Engineers can even use the data they've recorded
from past earthquakes to design buildings
and other structures to withstand the effects
of future ones.
Communicating what they've learned may help places
that experience seismic natural hazards
to prepare far in advance,
further reducing the risks that they face.
Natural hazards can cause a lot of harm.
But scientists are learning more every day
about why they occur
and how communities can remain resilient.
For my trip, I studied up on visiting a volcano zone
and was relieved to find that there's been no signs
that Mount Rainier's erupting any time soon.
The whole experience really reinforced the importance
of being prepared.
Even if natural hazards aren't common
where you live or travel,
having a preparedness plan can help you stay safe
in a scary situation.
These are just some examples
of how scientific research benefits society.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I'll be setting up an emergency kit
for the next time I lose power during a storm.