OTHER

GEOLOGICAL
HAZARDS
1.) BOLIDE IMPACT
i. BOLIDE IMPACT

Compared to the other natural disasters, bolide impact

events apparently happen less frequently and seem to be the
least likely to occur. However, these may pose one of the
largest, if not the greatest, threats to the existence of the
human race.
In most places, many generations have not been able to
witness an impact. Because of its rarity, it seems to be an
out-of-this-world phenomenon.

Geological speaking, that the Earth had a long history of

being hit by asteroids, comets or meteorites and will
continue to be a big target for a long time.

While impacts may not be as frequent as volcanic eruptions,

earthquakes or hydro meteorological events, it is
important to become aware of their related hazards and
appreciate that there is continuing need to do research on
this phenomenon.
WHAT ON EARTH
ARE IMPACT
EVENTS?
 When an asteroid, a
comet, or a meteoroid
hits the Earths surface,
the portion of the ground
which is hit becomes
severely compressed and
deformed.
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF A LARGE
IMPACT EVENTS?

An impact of a bolide greater than 1 km. In average diameter may be

accompanied by a very strong earthquakes reaching up to magnitude
13 (Richter Scale) and aftershocks of gradually decreasing magnitude.

Drastic changes in climate conditions

Wildfires
Tsunamis
Acid Rain
 Drastic changes in climatic conditions

The prolonged suspension of dust in the atmosphere coming from

the disturbed rock may prevent isolation and cause an impact winter. Thus,
water vapor may accumulate in large amounts in the atmosphere if an impact
happened in the ocean can cause a global increase in temperature.
 Wildfires

Happen via radiation of the intense heat generated as the bolide

travels through the atmosphere. The smoke from such wildfires could also
add to the dust which are already preventing the isolation.
 Tsunamis

Happen when a large impact takes place in the ocean. (1 to 3 km.

high tsunamis) more than enough to flood a significant portion of landmasses
on earth are projected for bolides with a10 km. (average diameter).
 Acid rain

Could result from the contamination of water vapor in the clouds by

nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere are combined during
the shock created by the impact.
Past Impact Events
 Cretaceous- Pateogene or K- Pg extinction event
(formerly known as the Cetaceous- Tertiary or K-T extinction)
Chelyabinsk Meteorite, Russia 2013
Tunguska Event, Siberia
HOW TO PREPARE
FOR AN IMPACT?
NASA is continuously identifying and
tracking all Near- Earth Objects (NEOs)
which are comets and asteroids that
pose a great threat of possible impact.

A program called Near- Earth Object

Human Space Flight Accessible Target
Study (NHATS) are started also by
NASA in 2010 to identify NEOs that
could potentially be accessed by future
human space flight missions.
The objective of tracking these NEOs is to be able to have enough lead time for preparations.

Preparations can be either of the two:

1) Initiating a space mission to intercept an NEO either by deflecting or destroying it.

2) Preparing suppies necessary for survival of the population that could potentially be affected
or evaluating the entire area expected to be affected by the impact.
2.) GROUND SUBSIDENCE
 GROUND SUBSIDENCE
Relative lowering of the earths
surface usually to the main sea
level. It can be a result of any of
the following:

Dissolution and collapse of

limestone
Excessive groundwater
withdrawal
Mining
Oil and gas extraction
Earthquakes
Change of season
CAUSES OF GROUND SUBSIDENCE
Carbonate Dissolution and Collapse
Excessive Groundwater Withdrawal
Extraction of Oil and Natural Gas
Earthquakes
Underground Mining Methods
Isostatic Rebound
Change In Season
 Carbonate Dissolution and Collapse
The subsurface usually
becomes extremely
weakened due to the
creation of voids and
reaches a point that is no
longer able to support the
volume of rock on top of it.
As a result, the ground
surface either lowers
slowly or collapses rapidly
and swallows cars, houses
and other property. The
depression is called a
sinkhole.
 Excessive Groundwater Withdrawal

The pressure of the

fluids filling up voids in
permeable
sedimentary rocks
supports the overlying
rock layers and the
ground surface. But
when fluids are
withdrawn in an area.
 Extraction of Oil and Natural Gas

The withdrawal
of these fluids is
mainly
anthropogenic but
can also be caused
by natural
processes such as
by outflow through
springs.
 Earthquakes
Aside from the relative
subsidence measured on
the hanging wall of a
normal fault or reverse
fault. Another situation in
which ground subsidence
may occur is during
liquefaction, which takes
place in areas with fine-
gained sediments or areas
that were reclaimed.
 Underground Mining Methods

Causes the collapse

of the surface in which
the appearance,
amount and areas
dimensions can be
predicted. The areas
that subsides is usually
only the ground surface
directly about the
mined area.
 Isostatic Rebound

The Earths crust which is

floating on the atmosphere,
reacts to the addition or
removal of load on its
surface. If a large mass is
removed, through
weathering and erosion or
melting of large ice sheets
glaciers, uplift takes place.
 Change in season

Has an effects on clays

which are types of
minerals that are
absoptive property.
During wet season,
clays in the soil tend
to expand. But, during
the dry season these
shrink again.
Effects of Ground
Subsidence
 Ground Subsidence may not have
the terrifying effect than the natural
disasters like volcanic eruptions and
earthquakes. But,its effects may last for
a long period of time. Sudden ground
collapse events can be catastrophic but
are usually isolated and very limited.
Slow subsidence can proceed almost
unnoticeably but may still cause serious,
widespread damage to property.
 Mitigating Subsidence-Related Hazards

A pragmatic approach to avoid subsidence

related disaster is to:

Map out the areas which are subsidence prone

and to either avoid development in the area or
adapt by modifying the strengthening structures.

Areas which experiences subsidence are prone

to severe, extensive, and prolonged flooding on
structures and roads, for instance could be
elevated.

Dikes and pumping or drainage systems can also

be constructed.
3) Coastal Erosion
 What is Coastal Erosion?
Is a natural process which
shapes shorelines by the
wearing away of coastal land
or beaches, mainly by the
impact of waves along the
shoreline
Rock fragments can be
dislodged by high- energy
waves invading the spaces in a
fractured or cracked narrow
strip of land projecting out
into the sea(headland).
Sand Particles and rock
fragments carried but the
waves crashing into headlands
accelerate the process.
Causes of Coastal Erosion
The natural process erosion not only involves waves, The sediment
redistribution process that moves water, sand, and bigger rock fragments
also involves current, tides, wind- driven water , ice, rainwater, and
groundwater .
 DO YOU KNOW WHY WIND IS
ALSO AN AGENT OF COASTAL
EROSION?
Factors such as the length of
fetch,wind direction and speed, wave
length, height, and nearshore water depth,
tidal influence, and overall strength and
duration of storm events can significantly
influence the intensity of coastal erosion.
The strength of coastal erosion ia
ampified,for ex. By very large waves,rip
currents,storm surges,
flooding,astronomical tides, increased
water levels,surface runoff, heavy rainfall,
and strong winds.with climate change,the
warmer temperatures cause extreme
weather conditions such as stronger
storms and higher sea levels.
 Here is a list of the ways by which humans accelerate coastal erosion
process.

1. Removal of vegetation cover exposing sediment to wind and water

action.
2. Concentration of drainage water flow into the sea causing erosion of
the part of the coast.
3. Construction of structures including coastal erosion control structures
that interfere with the natural flow of coastal materials, causing materials,
causing erosion in adjacent areas of the shore.
4. Building activities that damage natural protective features.
5. Activities which destroy natural protective features such as dunes and
vegetation cover.
6. Shipping and boating activities producing extra wave action.
 EFFECTS OF COASTAL EROSION
coastal erosion creates and continuously modifies the
different landforms of the transitional sedimentary
environment.
threat to the safety of humans and infrastructure.
could modify the landscape and possibly cause damage .
impacts humanity and the environment in various ways.
 MANAGING COASTAL EROSION
Here are some of the more specific measures that can be taken to prevent and reduce coastal
erosion:

1. Preservation of and restriction of activities and development in natural

protective features (eg. Dunes and beaches).

2. Regulating coastal erosion protection structures to ensure that natural protective

features are not damaged.

3. Prohibiting construction in areas of active coastal erosion and in areas within

reach of coastal storms.

4. Restricting development of public utilities in areas prone to coastal erosion to

discourage new development in these areas.

5. Building coastal protection structures only when and where necessary(to prevent
loss of lives and property.)
Thank You!

Em2x and Leonie