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California Natural Hazards

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Quizzes in California Natural Hazards

Geography of the United States

When does earthquake hazard become major economic risk?

  • Only when faults are in uninhabited areas
  • When active faults intersect dense populations and valuable infrastructure.
  • When no buildings are exposed
  • When there is no economic activity
Correct answer(s):
  • When active faults intersect dense populations and valuable infrastructure.
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Geography of the United States

What determines the size of wildfire losses besides fire intensity?

  • The amount and type of development exposed to fire.
  • Only coastline length
  • Only annual GDP
  • Only state population totals
Correct answer(s):
  • The amount and type of development exposed to fire.
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Geography of the United States

Why is drought considered a slow-onset hazard?

  • It cannot influence water supplies.
  • It occurs instantly like an earthquake.
  • It affects only one afternoon.
  • Its effects build gradually across water, agriculture, ecosystems, and energy.
Correct answer(s):
  • Its effects build gradually across water, agriculture, ecosystems, and energy.
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Geography of the United States

Why does drought-prone California still need flood management?

  • Flooding occurs only outside the United States.
  • Drought means floods are impossible.
  • Precipitation varies greatly, and intense wet periods can still cause flooding.
  • California receives no rain.
Correct answer(s):
  • Precipitation varies greatly, and intense wet periods can still cause flooding.
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Geography of the United States

Which combination best explains wildfire risk in California?

  • Population alone
  • Rainfall alone
  • Climate, vegetation, wind, settlement patterns, and ignition sources
  • Earthquakes alone
Correct answer(s):
  • Climate, vegetation, wind, settlement patterns, and ignition sources
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Geography of the United States

Why is an earthquake hazard not automatically the same as earthquake risk?

  • Earthquake risk exists only in empty areas.
  • Risk depends only on rainfall.
  • Hazard and risk always mean exactly the same thing.
  • Risk also depends on people, buildings, and infrastructure exposed to the hazard.
Correct answer(s):
  • Risk also depends on people, buildings, and infrastructure exposed to the hazard.
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Geography of the United States

Which is an economic cost of major wildfires?

  • Lower emergency costs
  • Property loss and infrastructure damage
  • Guaranteed higher crop yields
  • Permanent elimination of smoke
Correct answer(s):
  • Property loss and infrastructure damage
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Geography of the United States

Movement between which tectonic plates is central to California’s earthquake risk?

  • Nazca and South American plates
  • Pacific and North American plates
  • Eurasian and Indian plates
  • African and Antarctic plates
Correct answer(s):
  • Pacific and North American plates
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Geography of the United States

Why are earthquake-resistant planning and building practices important in California?

  • Earthquake risk comes only from hurricanes.
  • Active faults cross densely settled areas.
  • Earthquakes occur only in empty deserts.
  • California has no fault systems.
Correct answer(s):
  • Active faults cross densely settled areas.
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Geography of the United States

Why do natural-hazard risks differ across California?

  • California has only one type of hazard.
  • Every region has identical geography.
  • Regions have different climates, terrain, vegetation, and settlement patterns.
  • Hazards occur only in Sacramento.
Correct answer(s):
  • Regions have different climates, terrain, vegetation, and settlement patterns.
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Geography of the United States

Why does California have significant earthquake risk?

  • It has too many rivers.
  • Its deserts create earthquakes.
  • Earthquakes come from ocean tides alone.
  • It lies near a boundary between major tectonic plates.
Correct answer(s):
  • It lies near a boundary between major tectonic plates.
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Geography of the United States

Which factors can increase wildfire risk in California?

  • Cold rain throughout summer
  • Deep ocean currents only
  • Dry vegetation, heat, wind, and drought
  • Heavy snow in every city
Correct answer(s):
  • Dry vegetation, heat, wind, and drought
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Geography of the United States

Which list contains other natural hazards California faces besides earthquakes and wildfires?

  • Only hurricanes and ice storms
  • No other natural hazards
  • Only tornadoes and blizzards
  • Droughts, floods, landslides, and extreme heat
Correct answer(s):
  • Droughts, floods, landslides, and extreme heat
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Geography of the United States

Which natural hazard is California especially known for because of active faults?

  • Avalanches in every city
  • Tornadoes only
  • Volcanic ash every day
  • Earthquakes
Correct answer(s):
  • Earthquakes
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Geography of the United States

Which hazard can spread rapidly through dry vegetation in California?

  • Hurricanes in the Sierra Nevada
  • Tsunamis in the Central Valley
  • Blizzards in Los Angeles every summer
  • Wildfires
Correct answer(s):
  • Wildfires
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