Hurricanes, Floods, and Blizzards

• What are Catastrophic Events?

  Natural or man-made events where destruction occurs. They bring harm, suffering, and loss to a large area. 
• Hurricanes - What ecosystems do Hurricanes affect most?


  • Hurricanes affect marine and coastal ecosystems the most. 
• Hurricanes - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Plants and animals get killed by winds and flooding rains.
• Hurricanes - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Water gets contaminated with toxins and debris.
• Hurricanes - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?


  • Aquatic & coastal organism’s habitats get destroyed.
• Hurricanes - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Energy flow in food webs are disrupted because of plants and animals getting killed or moving and becoming displaced.
• Hurricanes - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?


  • Freshwaters and salt waters mix, causing many aquatic animals & fish deaths.
• Hurricanes - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?


  • Water becomes very dirty  and murky, blocking  sunlight 

  and clogging fish gills.
• Hurricanes - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Burrowing and ground organisms often drown.
• Hurricanes - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?


  • Ground gets oversaturated and vegetation dies.
• Hurricanes - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?


  • Many animals & birds try to move away or migrate from winds, rains, and surge waters, so they get displaced for some time. 
• Hurricanes - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?


  
Mosquitos, insect, pest populations increase due to so much standing water for sometime after. 
• Hurricanes - What are the Positive Effects on Ecosystems?




  • Refill aquifers and help areas overcome drought.
• Floods - What ecosystems do floods affect most?


  • Floods can affect any ecosystem at any time, sometimes without any warning. 
• Floods - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Trees/plants can be uprooted or die from too much water.
• Floods - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Debris can cover and block plants from getting sunlight to grow.
• Floods - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Soil can be washed away, altering the landscape.
• Floods - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • There will be an increase of toxins and fertilizers into the waterways such as streams and rivers caused by runoff. 
• Floods - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Fish can be displaced from their ecosystem and their nests destroyed.
• Floods - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?


  • Flooding can cause wildlife to drown.
• Floods - What are the Positive Effects on Ecosystems


  • Recharges groundwater.
• Floods - What are the Positive Effects on Ecosystems

  • Helps the soil become more fertile.
• Blizzards - What are blizzards?

  • A blizzard is a long-lasting snowstorm with very strong  winds and intense snow. You need three things to have a blizzard; cold surface air, moisture, and warm air lifting over the cold air.
• Blizzards - What ecosystems do blizzards affect most?


  • Blizzards can affect all ecosystems but are most common in the upper Midwest and the Great Plains.
• Blizzards - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Plant life is lost due to extreme snow and wind.
• Blizzards - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Extra snow melt may cause flooding once  melted.
• Blizzards - What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Animals that don’t hibernate or migrate often die.
• Blizzards -What are the Negative Effects on Ecosystems?

  • Animals that do hibernate may lose their shelter due to trees collapsing. 
• Blizzards - What are the Positive Effects on Ecosystems

  • Melting snow provides plants with moisture.
• Blizzards - What are the Positive Effects on Ecosystems


  • Snow replenishes the water systems.