Volcanic Eruptions: Positive and Negative Effects

Positive and negative effects of volcanic eruptions written in yellow box on image on black erupting volcano with orange lava and grey smoke

Volcanic eruptions are spectacular natural phenomena. They produce mesmerizing fire fountains, explosive cloud ashes, and splendid lava flows. These hot bursts typically reflect what is happening inside the Earth. Our oceans and atmosphere today are basically a product of volcanic eruptions. Yet, at the Read More

Effects of Droughts: Positive, Negative, Examples

positive and negative effects of droughts written in black box on picture of cut down trees

Effects of droughts can be both positive and negative. Of all the natural hazards that occurred in the 20th century, droughts had the worst effects on human populations. Droughts affect around 55 million people globally every year while water scarcity affects 40% of the Read More

Droughts Explained: Types, Causes and Examples

droughts explained: types, causes and examples written in black box on image of blackened dried bushes in brown soil

Droughts are episodes of beyond normal dry seasons. They can occur due to natural reasons like a lack of rainfall or because of human activities like damming rivers. As it is, archaeologists declare that Pharaohs’ rule in Ancient Egypt came to an end due Read More

Plastic Pollution Explained: Causes, Effects, Solutions

Brown sand covered with plastic litter, Plastic pollution explained: causes, effects and solutions

Plastic pollution has become a ubiquitous issue all around the world in the last decade. We find plastic everywhere: on the land, in rivers and oceans. If this trend continues, there might be more plastic in our oceans than fish by 2050! What is Read More

Effects of Snow Avalanches: Positive, Negative, Examples

Positive and negative effects of snow avalanches written in black box on picture of white snow sliding down grey rocky valley

Effects of snow avalanches can be both positive and negative. Snow avalanches occur when snow, sometimes together with debris, rush downhill. It is a natural phenomenon in snow-covered mountainous regions around the world. But sometimes, human activities like off-piste skiing can also trigger them. Read More

Snow Avalanches Explained: Types, Causes and Examples

Snow avalanches explained: Types, causes and examples written on photo of white snow falling down black rocky mountain

Snow avalanches are natural hazards that typically take place on snow-covered mountains. They generally occur at any time of the year, but December to April is the most risky period. Snow avalanches can be due to natural reasons like weather or because of humans Read More

Effects of wildfires: Positive, Negative, Examples

Positive and negative effects of wildfires written in black box on image of black hill burning with orange flame on rim

Effects of wildfires can be both positive and negative. Wildfires are natural events that have shaped our natural environment. In the past, fire regimes occurred every 5-30 years creating a mosaic of vegetated land. This cycle is in fact so ancient that some plants Read More

Wildfires Explained: Types, Causes and Examples

black trees in forest with orange flames at the ground in yellow and bluish flames; wildfires explained types, natural causes and human causes and examples written in orange box

Wildfires are unique among the natural hazards that affect human communities and ecosystems. In fact, they are one of nature’s oldest phenomena. They date back more than 350 million years when trees evolved and spread across the land. Then, as grass emerged some 20 Read More

Effects of flooding: Positive, Negative, Examples

shot of people's legs wearing different coloured shoe cover yellow and orange in foreground walking in brown flood water with words positive and negative effects of flooding written in yellow lined box on picture; flooding

Effects of flooding can be both positive and negative. For millennia, people have settled near rivers and lakes because water is easily accessible and the soil is fertile. Back in the days though, people constructed on higher grounds allowing riverine floods to enrich the Read More

Flooding Explained: Types, Causes and Examples

flooded road with grey water and red and white sign post depicting flood prone region with words flooding explained: types, causes and examples written in blue box

Flooding is the most common natural hazard that occurs in the world. Researchers estimate that sediments and soils from floods cover some 72% of the surface of the Earth. Perhaps the Yellow River in China has caused the worst floods in history. According to Read More