Natural phenomena are ordinary, sometimes even supernatural climatic and meteorological events that occur naturally in all corners of the planet. It can be snow or rain familiar from childhood, or it can be incredible destructive or earthquakes. If such events take place away from the person and do not cause him material damage, they are considered not important. No one will focus on this. Otherwise, dangerous natural phenomena are considered by mankind as natural disasters.

Research and observation

People began to study the characteristic natural phenomena in ancient times. However, it was possible to systematize these observations only in the 17th century; even a separate branch of science (natural sciences) was formed that studies these events. However, despite many scientific discoveries, to this day, some natural phenomena and processes remain poorly understood. Most often, we see the consequence of a particular event, and we can only guess and build various theories about the root causes. Researchers in many countries are working on forecasting the occurrence, and most importantly, of preventing their possible occurrence or at least reducing the damage caused by natural phenomena. Nevertheless, despite all the destructive power of such processes, a person always remains a person and seeks to find something beautiful, sublime in it. Which natural phenomenon is most mesmerizing? They can be listed for a long time, but, probably, it should be noted such as volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, tsunamis - all of them are beautiful, despite the destruction and chaos that remain after them.

Weather phenomena

Natural phenomena characterize the weather with its seasonal changes. Each season is distinguished by its own set of events. So, for example, in spring the following snowmelt, flood, thunderstorms, clouds, wind, rains are observed. In the summer, the sun gives the planet an abundance of heat, natural processes at this time are most favorable: clouds, warm wind, rain and, of course, rainbow; but can be severe: thunderstorms, hail. In the autumn they change, the temperature drops, the days become cloudy, with rains. During this period, the following phenomena prevail: fogs, leaf fall, hoarfrost, and the first snow. In winter, the plant world falls asleep, some animals go into hibernation. The most frequent natural phenomena are: freezing, blizzard, blizzard, snow, appear on the windows

All these events are commonplace for us, we have not paid attention to them for a long time. Now let's look at processes that remind humanity that it is not the crown of everything, and the planet Earth has only sheltered it for some time.

Natural hazards

These are extreme and severe climatic and meteorological processes that occur in all parts of the world, however, some regions are considered more vulnerable to a certain kind of events compared to others. Hazardous natural phenomena become disasters when infrastructure is destroyed and people die. These losses are the main obstacles to the development of mankind. It is practically impossible to prevent such cataclysms, only timely forecasting of events remains with the aim of avoiding victims and material damage.

However, the difficulty lies in the fact that dangerous natural phenomena can occur at different scales and at different times. In fact, each of them is unique in its own way, and therefore it is very difficult to predict it. For example, flash floods and tornadoes are destructive, but short-lived phenomena affecting relatively small areas. Other dangerous disasters, such as droughts, can develop very slowly, but affect entire continents and the entire population. Such disasters last for several months, and sometimes years. In order to control and predict these events, some national hydrological and meteorological services and special specialized centers have been assigned the task of studying dangerous geophysical phenomena. This includes volcanic eruptions, ash transport through the air, tsunamis, radioactive, biological, chemical pollution, etc.

Now let us consider in more detail some natural phenomena.

Drought

The main reason for this disaster is the lack of rainfall. Drought is very different from other natural disasters in its slow development, often its beginning is hidden by various factors. In world history, even cases have been recorded when this disaster lasted for many years. Drought often has dire consequences: first, water sources (streams, rivers, lakes, springs) dry up, many crops cease to grow, then animals die, and widespread realities become poor health and malnutrition.

Tropical cyclones

These natural phenomena are areas of very low atmospheric pressure over subtropical and tropical waters, forming a colossal rotating system of thunderstorms and winds the size of hundreds (sometimes thousands) of kilometers across. The speed of surface winds in the tropical cyclone zone can reach two hundred kilometers per hour and even more. The interaction of low pressure and wind-induced waves often leads to a coastal storm surge - this is a huge amount of water being washed ashore with tremendous force and high speed, which wash away everything in its path.

Air pollution

These natural phenomena occur as a result of the accumulation of harmful gases or particles of substances in the air resulting from cataclysms (volcanic eruptions, fires) and human activities (industrial enterprises, vehicles, etc.). Darkness and smoke appear as a result of fires on undeveloped lands and forests, as well as the burning of crop residues and logging; in addition, due to the formation of volcanic ash. These air polluting elements have very serious consequences for the human body. As a result of such disasters, visibility decreases, interruptions in the operation of road and air transport occur.

Desert locust

Such natural phenomena cause serious damage in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the southern part of the European continent. When environmental and weather conditions favor the reproduction of these insects, they usually focus on small areas. However, with an increase in the number of locusts, it ceases to be an individual being and turns into a single living organism. Huge flocks are formed from small groups, moving in search of food. The length of such a jamb can reach tens of kilometers. In a day, he can cover distances of up to two hundred kilometers, sweeping away all the vegetation in its path. So, one ton of locusts (this is a small part of the flock) can eat as much food per day as ten elephants or 2500 people eat. These insects pose a threat to millions of pastoralists and farmers living in vulnerable environments.

Short-term flash floods and floods

Data can occur anywhere after heavy rainfall. Any river floodplains are vulnerable to flooding, and severe storms cause flash floods. In addition, short-term floods are sometimes even observed after periods of drought, when very heavy rains fall on a hard and dry surface through which a water stream cannot seep into the ground. These natural events are characterized by a wide variety of species: from rapid small floods to a thick layer of water that covers vast territories. They can be caused by tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, monsoons, extratropical and tropical cyclones (their strength can be increased as a result of exposure to the warm El Niño Current), melting snow and ice jams. In coastal areas, tsunamis, cyclones or rising water levels in rivers, due to unusually high tides, storm surges often lead to flooding. The flooding of vast territories below the barrage dams is often caused by floods in rivers caused by melting snow.

Other natural hazards

1. Mudflow (mud) stream or landslide.

5. Lightning.

6. Extreme temperatures.

7. Tornado.

10. Fires on undeveloped lands or forests.

11. Heavy snow and rain.

12. Strong winds.

Grishin Denis

Natural disasters have threatened the inhabitants of our planet since the beginning of civilization. Somewhere to a greater extent, elsewhere less. One hundred percent security does not exist anywhere. Natural disasters can do tremendous damage. In recent years, the number of earthquakes, floods, landslides and other natural disasters is constantly growing. In my essay, I want to consider dangerous natural processes in Russia.

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ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY OF Nizhny Novgorod

Municipal budgetary educational institution

secondary school number 148

Scientific Society of Students

Natural hazards in Russia

Completed by: Grishin Denis,

grade 6a student

Head:

Sinyagina Marina Evgenievna,

geography teacher

nizhny Novgorod

27.12.2011

PLAN

Page

Introduction

Chapter 1. Hazardous natural phenomena (natural emergencies).

1.1. The concept of emergency.

1.2. Natural disasters of a geographical nature.

1.3. Natural disasters of a meteorological nature.

1.4. Natural disasters of a hydrological nature.

1.5. Natural fires.

Chapter 2. Natural disasters in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Chapter 3 Disaster Management Measures.

Conclusion

Literature

Applications

Introduction

In my essay, I want to consider dangerous natural processes.

Natural disasters have threatened the inhabitants of our planet since the beginning of civilization. Somewhere to a greater extent, elsewhere less. One hundred percent security does not exist anywhere. Natural disasters can do tremendous damage.

Natural emergencies (natural disasters) in recent years have a tendency to increase. The actions of volcanoes are intensified (Kamchatka), cases of earthquakes (Kamchatka, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, Transbaikalia, the North Caucasus) are becoming more frequent, and their destructive power is increasing. Floods became almost regular (the Far East, the Caspian lowland, the South Urals, Siberia), landslides along rivers and willows in mountainous regions are not uncommon. Ice, snowdrifts, storms, hurricanes and tornadoes visit Russia annually.

Unfortunately, in the zones of periodic flooding, the construction of multi-story buildings continues, which increases the concentration of the population, underground utilities are being laid, and hazardous industries are operating. All this leads to the fact that ordinarythese floods cause more and more disastrous consequences.

In recent years, the number of earthquakes, floods, landslides and other natural disasters is constantly growing.

The purpose of my essay is to study natural emergencies.

The objective of my work is to study dangerous natural processes (natural emergencies) and measures of protection against natural disasters.

1. The concept of natural emergency

1.1.Natural emergency situations -the situation in a certain territory or water area as a result of the occurrence of a source of natural emergencies, which may entail or entail human casualties, damage to human health or the environment, significant losses and violation of human living conditions.

Natural emergencies are distinguished by the nature of the source and scale.

Natural emergency situations themselves are very diverse. Therefore, based on the causes (conditions) of occurrence, they are divided into groups:

1) hazardous geophysical phenomena;

2) hazardous geological phenomena;

3) hazardous meteorological phenomena;

4) marine hazardous hydrometeorological phenomena;

5) hazardous hydrological phenomena;

6) natural fires.

Below I want to take a closer look at these types of natural emergencies.

1.2. Natural disasters of a geophysical nature

Natural disasters associated with natural geological phenomena are divided into disasters caused by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

EARTHQUAKES - These are tremors and vibrations of the earth's surface, caused mainly by geophysical reasons.

Complex processes constantly occur in the bowels of the earth. Under the influence of deep tectonic forces, stresses arise, layers of the earth's rocks are deformed, compressed into folds and, with the onset of critical overloads, are displaced and torn, forming faults in the earth's crust. The gap is made by an instant push or a series of pushes having the character of a blow. An earthquake discharges energy accumulated in the bowels. The energy released at a depth is transmitted through elastic waves in the thickness of the earth's crust and reaches the surface of the Earth, where destruction occurs.

Two main seismic zones are known: the Mediterranean-Asian and the Pacific.

The main parameters characterizing the earthquake are their intensity and the depth of the focus. The intensity of the manifestation of an earthquake on the Earth's surface is estimated in points (seeTable 1 in the Appendices).

Earthquakes are also classified because of their occurrence. They can arise as a result of tectonic and volcanic manifestations, landslides (mountain impacts, landslides) and, finally, as a result of human activity (filling reservoirs, pumping water into wells).

Of great interest is the classification of earthquakes, not only in terms of scores, but also in numbers (frequency of occurrence) during the year on our planet.

Volcanic activity

arises as a result of constant active processes occurring in the depths of the Earth. After all, the inner part is constantly in a heated state. During tectonic processes, cracks form in the earth's crust. Magma rushes through them to the surface. The process is accompanied by the release of water vapor and gases, which create tremendous pressure, eliminating obstacles in its path. Upon reaching the surface, part of the magma turns into slag, and the other part is poured in the form of lava. From the vapors and gases released into the atmosphere, volcanic rocks called tephra are deposited on the ground.

According to the degree of activity, volcanoes are classified into active, dormant and extinct. Actors include those that erupted in historical time. Extinct, on the contrary, did not erupt. Dormant ones are characterized by the fact that they periodically manifest themselves, but it does not reach the eruption.

The most dangerous phenomena accompanying volcanic eruptions are lava flows, tephra precipitation, volcanic mud flows, volcanic floods, scorching volcanic cloud and volcanic gases.

Lava flows   - This is molten rocks with a temperature of 900 - 1000 °. The flow rate depends on the slope of the cone of the volcano, the degree of viscosity of the lava and its quantity. The speed range is quite wide: from a few centimeters to several kilometers per hour. In some and most dangerous cases, it reaches 100 km, but more often it exceeds 1 km / h.

Tephra consists of fragments of frozen lava. The largest are called volcanic bombs, those that are smaller - volcanic sand, and the smallest - ashes.

Mud flow   - These are powerful layers of ash on the slopes of the volcano, which are in an unstable position. When new portions of ash fall on them, they slide down the slope.

Volcanic floods. When glaciers melt during eruptions, a huge amount of water can form very quickly, which leads to flooding.

A scorching volcanic cloud is a mixture of hot gases and tephra. Its amazing effect is due to the occurrence of a shock wave (strong wind), propagating at a speed of up to 40 km / h, and a shaft of heat with a temperature of up to 1000 °.

Volcanic gases. The eruption is always accompanied by the release of gases in a mixture with water vapor - a mixture of sulfur and sulfur oxides, hydrogen sulfide, hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids in a gaseous state, as well as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in high concentrations, deadly to humans.

Volcano Classification   produced according to the conditions of their occurrence and the nature of the activity. According to the first sign, four types are distinguished.

1) Volcanoes in subduction zones or sub-zone zones of the oceanic plate under the mainland. Due to thermal concentration in the bowels.

2) Volcanoes in rift zones. They arise in connection with the weakening of the earth's crust and bulging of the boundary between the crust and the mantle of the Earth. The formation of volcanoes here is associated with tectonic phenomena.

3) Volcanoes in areas of large faults. In many places of the earth's crust there are gaps (faults). There is a slow accumulation of tectonic forces, which can turn into a sudden seismic explosion with volcanic manifestations.

4) Volcanoes of zones of "hot spots". In certain areas under the ocean floor in the earth's crust "hot spots" are formed, where a particularly high thermal energy is concentrated. In these places, the rocks melt and in the form of basaltic lava come to the surface.

By the nature of their activity, volcanoes are divided into five types (seeTable 2)

1.3. Geological disasters

Natural disasters of a geological nature include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, landslides, subsidence of the earth's surface as a result of karst phenomena.

Landslides - This is a sliding displacement of rock masses down the slope under the influence of gravity. They are formed in various rocks as a result of a violation of their balance or weakening of strength. Caused by both natural and artificial (man-made) causes. The natural ones include: an increase in the steepness of the slopes, washing away their bases with sea and river waters, and seismic shocks. The artificial destruction of the slopes by road excavations, excessive removal of soil, deforestation, unreasonable farming on the slopes. According to international statistics, up to 80% of modern landslides are associated with human activities. they are at any time of the year, but most of them in the spring-summer period.

Landslides are classifiedon the scale of the phenomenon, speed of movement and activity, the mechanism of the process, power and place of formation.

On the scale, landslides are classified into large, medium, and small-scale ones.

Large ones are caused, as a rule, by natural causes and are formed along the slopes for hundreds of meters. Their thickness reaches 10 - 20 and more meters. A landslide body often retains its solidity.

Medium and small-scale are smaller and characteristic of anthropogenic processes.

The scale is often characterized by the area involved in the process. The speed of movement is very diverse.

By activity, landslides are divided into active and inactive. The main factors here are the rocks of the slopes and the presence of moisture. Depending on the amount of moisture, they are divided into dry, slightly moist, moist and very humid.

The mechanism of the process is divided into: landslides of shear, extrusion, viscoplastic, hydrodynamic removal, sudden liquefaction. Often have signs of a combined mechanism.

At the place of formation, they are divided into mountain, underwater, adjacent and artificial earth structures (pits, canals, dumps of rocks).

Sel (mudflow)

Stormy mud or mud-stone stream, consisting of a mixture of water and rock fragments, suddenly occurring in the basins of small mountain rivers. It is characterized by a sharp rise in water level, wave motion, short duration of action (on average from one to three hours), a significant erosion-accumulative destructive effect.

The immediate causes of the generation of gray hairs are heavy rains, intense melting of snow, breakthrough of water bodies, less often earthquakes, volcanic eruptions.

All villages according to the mechanism of nucleation are divided into three types: erosion, breakthrough and landslide-landslide.

With erosion, the water flow is first saturated with debris due to flushing and erosion of the adjacent soil, and then a mudflow is formed.

When landslide-landslide occurs, the mass breaks down to saturated rocks (including snow and ice). The saturation of the flow in this case is close to maximum.

In recent years, technogenic factors have been added to the natural causes of mudflow formation: violation of the rules and standards of mining enterprises, explosions during the construction of roads and the construction of other structures, deforestation, improper agricultural operations and violation of soil and vegetation cover.

When moving, the mudflow is a continuous stream of dirt, stones and water. On the basis of the main factors of occurrence, mudflows are classified as follows;

Zone manifestation. The main factor of formation are climatic conditions (precipitation). They are zonal in nature. The descent occurs systematically. The paths of movement are relatively constant;

Regional manifestation. The main factor of formation is geological processes. The descent occurs sporadically, and the paths of movement are inconsistent;

Anthropogenic. This is the result of human activities. Occur where the greatest load on the mountain landscape. New mudflow pools form. The gathering is episodic.

Snow avalanches - snow masses dropping from the slopes of the mountains under the influence of gravity.

Snow accumulating on the slopes of the mountains, under the influence of gravity and weakening of structural bonds within the snow mass, slides or crumbles from the slope. Starting his movement, he quickly picks up speed, capturing all the new snow masses, stones and other objects along the way. The movement continues to more gently sloping sections or to the bottom of the valley, where it slows down and stops.

The formation of avalanches occurs within the avalanche center. An avalanche center is a section of a slope and its foot, within which an avalanche moves. Each source consists of 3 zones: nucleation (avalanche collection), transit (tray), avalanche stop (removal cone).

The avalanche-forming factors include: the height of the old snow, the state of the underlying surface, the growth of freshly fallen snow, the density of snow, the intensity of snowfall, the subsidence of the snow cover, snowstorm redistribution of snow cover, air temperature and snow cover.

The ejection range is important for assessing the possibility of destruction of objects located in avalanche hazardous areas. Distinguish the maximum ejection range and the most probable, or long-term average. The most probable emission range is determined directly on the ground. It is evaluated if it is necessary to place structures in the avalanche area for a long period. It coincides with the boundary of the cone of removal of the avalanche focus.

The frequency of avalanches is an important temporal characteristic of avalanche activity. Distinguish between long-term average and intra-annual repeatability. The density of avalanche snow is one of the most important physical parameters, which determines the impact force of the snow mass, the labor required to clear it, or the ability to move along it.

How are they classified?

According to the nature of the movement and depending on the structure of the avalanche source, the following three types are distinguished: pan-shaped (moves along a specific drain channel or avalanche channel), axes (snow landslide, does not have a specific drain channel and glides along the entire width of the site), jumping (arises from the channel where there are steep walls or sections with sharply increasing steepness in the drain channel).

According to the degree of repeatability, they are divided into two classes - systematic and sparodic. Systematic go every year or once every 2-3 years. Sparodic - 1-2 times in 100 years. It is quite difficult to determine their place in advance.

1.4. Meteorological natural disasters

All of them are divided into disasters caused by:

By the wind   including a storm, a hurricane, a tornado (at a speed of 25 m / s and more, for the Arctic and Far Eastern seas - 30 m / s and more);

Heavy rain   (with a rainfall of 50 mm or more for 12 hours or less, and in mountainous, mudflow and rain hazardous areas - 30 mm or more for 12 hours or less);

Large hail   (with a hail diameter of 20 mm or more);

Heavy snowfall (with rainfall of 20 mm or more in 12 hours or less);

- strong snowstorms (wind speed 15 m / s or more);

Dust storms;

Frost   (with a decrease in air temperature during the growing season on the soil surface below 0 ° C);

- severe frosts or intense heat.

These natural phenomena, except for tornadoes, hail and squalls, lead to natural disasters, as a rule, in three cases: when they occur in one third of the territory of a region (territory, republic), they cover several administrative areas and last at least 6 hours.

Hurricanes and storms

In the narrow sense of the word, a hurricane is defined as a wind of great destructive force and considerable duration, the speed of which is approximately 32 m / s or more (12 points on the Beaufort scale).

A storm is a wind whose speed is less than the speed of a hurricane. Losses and destruction from storms are significantly less than from hurricanes. Sometimes a violent storm is called a storm.

The most important characteristic of a hurricane is wind speed.

The average duration of a hurricane is 9 to 12 days.

A storm is characterized by a lower wind speed than a hurricane (15 -31 m / s). Storm duration- from several hours to several days, width - from tens to several hundred kilometers. Both those and others are often accompanied by a rather significant rainfall.

Hurricanes and stormy winds in winter conditions often lead to snowstorms, when huge masses of snow move with great speed from one place to another. Their duration can be from several hours to several days. Especially dangerous are snowstorms that occur simultaneously with snowfall, at low temperatures or during sudden changes.

Classification of hurricanes and storms.Hurricanes are usually divided into tropical and extratropical. In addition, tropical hurricanes are often divided into hurricanes that arise over the Atlantic Ocean and over the Pacific. The latter are commonly called typhoons.

There is no generally accepted, established classification of storms. Most often they are divided into two groups: vortex and flow. Vortexes are complex vortex formations due to cyclonic activity and spread over large areas. Streaming - these are local phenomena of small distribution.

Vortex storms are divided into dusty, snowy and heavy. In winter, they turn into snow. In Russia, such storms are often called snowstorm, snowstorm, snowstorm.

Tornado - This is an ascending vortex, consisting of extremely rapidly rotating air mixed with particles of moisture, sand, dust and other suspensions. It is a rapidly rotating air funnel hanging from a cloud and falling to the ground in the form of a trunk.

They arise both over the water surface and over land. Most often - during hot weather and high humidity, when air instability especially sharply appears in the lower atmosphere.

The funnel is the main component of the tornado. It is a spiral vortex. Its internal cavity across - from tens to hundreds of meters.

It is extremely difficult to predict the place and time the tornado appeared.Classification of tornadoes.

Most often, they are divided according to their structure: dense (sharply limited) and vague (unclearly limited). In addition, tornadoes are divided into 4 groups: dust vortices, small short-acting, small long-acting, hurricane vortices.

Small tornadoes of short action have a path length of not more than a kilometer, but have significant destructive power. They are relatively rare. The length of the path of small tornadoes of long duration is several kilometers. Hurricane vortices are larger tornadoes and travel tens of kilometers during their movement.

Dust (sand) stormsaccompanied by the transfer of a large number of particles of soil and sand. They arise in desert, semi-desert and plowed steppes and are capable of transferring millions of tons of dust to hundreds or even thousands of kilometers, filling a territory of several hundred thousand square kilometers.

Dustless storms. They are characterized by the absence of dust involvement in the air and the relatively smaller scale of destruction and damage. However, with further movement, they can turn into a dust or snow storm, depending on the composition and condition of the earth's surface and the presence of snow cover.

Snow storms characterized by significant wind speeds, which contributes to the winter movement of huge masses of snow through the air. Their duration ranges from several hours to several days. They have a relatively narrow range (up to several tens of kilometers).

1.5. Hydrological natural disasters and marine hazardous hydrometeorological phenomena

These natural phenomena are divided into disasters caused by:

High water levels - flooding, during which flooding of the lower parts of cities and other settlements, crops, damage to industrial and transport facilities;

Low water levels when shipping, water supply to cities and national economic facilities, irrigation systems are disrupted;

Mudflows (when breaking through blockage and moraine lakes that threaten settlements, road and other structures);

Snow avalanches (in case of a threat to settlements, roads and railways, power lines, industrial and agricultural facilities);

Early ice formation and the appearance of ice in navigable water bodies.

To marine hydrological phenomena: tsunamis, strong waves on the seas and oceans, tropical cyclones (typhoons), pressure of ice and their intensive drift.

Floods   - this is flooding with water adjacent to a river, lake or reservoir, which causes material damage, damages the health of the population or leads to death of people. If flooding is not accompanied by damage, this is a spill of a river, lake, reservoir.

Especially dangerous floods are observed on rivers of rain and glacial supply or when these two factors are combined.

High water is a significant and rather long-term rise in water level in the river that is repeated annually in the same season. Typically, floods are caused by spring snowmelt on the plains or rainfall.

High water is an intense, relatively short-term rise in water level. Formed by heavy rains, sometimes melting snow during winter thaws.

The most important basic characteristics are the maximum level and maximum water flow during the flood.FROM the maximum level is related to the area, layer and duration of flooding. One of the main characteristics is the rate of rise of the water level.

For large river basins, one or another combination of flood waves of individual tributaries is an important factor.

For flood events, factors affecting the values \u200b\u200bof the main characteristics include: amount of precipitation, its intensity, duration, coverage area preceding precipitation, pool moisture, soil permeability, basin topography, river slope values, permafrost depth and depth.

Ice congestion and ice on rivers

Congestion   - This is an accumulation of ice in the channel, limiting the course of the river. As a result, water rises and spills.

Congestion usually forms at the end of winter and in the spring during the opening of rivers during the destruction of the ice cover. It consists of large and small ice floes.

Litter - a phenomenon similar to ice jam. However, firstly, the jam consists of an accumulation of loose ice (sludge, small ice floes), while the congestion is an accumulation of large and to a lesser extent small ice. Secondly, ice blockage is observed at the beginning of winter, while congestion - at the end of winter and spring.

The main reason for the formation of congestion is the delay in the opening of ice on those rivers where the edge of the ice sheet in the spring moves upstream. At the same time, crushed ice moving from above meets on its way the ice cover that has not yet been broken. The sequence of opening the river from the top downstream is a necessary but insufficient condition for the occurrence of congestion. The main condition is created only when the surface velocity of the water flow during opening is quite significant.

Gaps are formed on the rivers during the formation of the ice sheet. A necessary condition for the formation is the occurrence of intra-sea ice in the channel and its involvement under the edge of the ice sheet. Crucial in this case is the surface flow velocity, as well as the air temperature during freezing

Surge - This is a rise in water level caused by the effect of wind on the water surface. Such phenomena occur in the estuaries of large rivers, as well as on large lakes and reservoirs.

The main condition for the occurrence is a strong and continuous wind, which is characteristic of deep cyclones.

Tsunami - These are long waves resulting from underwater earthquakes, as well as volcanic eruptions or landslides on the seabed.

Their source is at the bottom of the ocean,

In 90% of cases, tsunamis occur due to underwater earthquakes.

Often, before the tsunami begins, the water recedes far from the coast, exposing the seabed. Then the approaching one becomes visible. At the same time, thundering sounds are heard, created by an air wave, which the water mass carries in front of itself.

Possible scales of consequences are classified by a rating:

1 point - the tsunami is very weak (the wave is recorded only by instruments);

2 points - weak (it can flood a flat coast. Only specialists notice it);

3 points - average (marked by everyone. The flat coast is flooded. Light vessels may be washed ashore. Port facilities may receive slight damage);

4 points - strong (the coast is flooded. Coastal structures are damaged. Large sailing and small motorized vessels can be washed ashore, and then washed back to sea. There may be human casualties);

5 points - very strong (coastal territories are flooded. Breakwaters and jetties are badly damaged, Large vessels are washed ashore. There are human casualties. Material damage is great).

1.6. Natural fires

This concept includes forest fires, fires of steppe and grain massifs, peat and underground fires of combustible minerals. We will focus only on forest fires, as the most common phenomenon, causing tremendous losses and sometimes leading to human casualties.

Forest fires - This is an uncontrolled burning of vegetation, spontaneously spreading through the forest territory.

In hot weather, if it does not rain for 15 to 18 days, the forest becomes so dry that any careless handling of fire causes a fire that quickly spreads through the forest area. From lightning discharges and spontaneous combustion of peat crumb, a negligible amount of ignition occurs. The possibility of forest fires is determined by the degree of fire hazard. For this, a “Scale for assessing forest sites by the degree of danger of fires in them” was developed (seeTable 3)

Forest Fire Classification

Depending on the nature of the fire and the composition of the forest, fires are divided into lower, upper, and soil fires. Almost all of them at the beginning of their development are of a grassroots nature and, if certain conditions are created, pass to high or soil.

The most important characteristics are the speed of propagation of bottom and top fires, the depth of burnt underground. Therefore, they are divided into weak, medium and strong. According to the speed of spread of fire, the lower and upper are divided into stable and fluent. The intensity of combustion depends on the condition and supply of combustible materials, the incline of the area, the time of day, and especially the strength of the wind.

2. Natural emergencies in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

The territory of the region has a fairly wide variety of climatic, landscape and geological conditions, which leads to the emergence of various natural phenomena. The most dangerous of them are those that can cause significant material damage and lead to death.

- hazardous meteorological processes: squally and hurricane winds, heavy rain and snow, showers, large hail, severe blizzard, severe frost, icy-frosty deposits on wires, intense heat (high fire hazard due to weather conditions);agrometeorologicalsuch as frost, drought;

- hazardous hydrological processes   such as floods (in the spring, the region’s rivers are characterized by high water levels, coastal ice can rip off, congestion), rain flood, low water levels (in summer, autumn and winter, water levels are likely to drop to unfavorable and dangerous levels);hydrometeorological(separation of coastal ice with people);

- natural fires(forest, peat, steppe and wetland fires);

- hazardous geological phenomena and processes:(landslides, karsts, subsidence of loess rocks, erosion and abrasion processes, slope runoffs).

Over the past thirteen years, of all recorded natural phenomena that had a negative impact on the livelihoods of the population and the operation of economic facilities, the share of meteorological (agrometeorological) hazards amounted to 54%, exogenous-geological - 18%, hydrometeorological - 5%, hydrological - 3%, large forest fires - 20%.

The frequency of occurrence and the area of \u200b\u200bdistribution of the above natural phenomena in the region are not the same. The actual data of 1998-2010 allow meteorological phenomena to be attributed (damaging squally amplified winds, the passage of thunderstorm fronts with hail, icy-hoarfrost deposits on wires) to the most common and often observed - annually on average 10 - 12 cases are recorded.

At the end of winter and the spring period of each year, measures are taken to save people from torn off coastal ice.

Natural fires occur annually and water levels rise during floods. Adverse effects of forest fires and high water levels are rarely recorded, due to pre-planned preparation for floods and fire hazard periods.

Spring flood

The passage of floods in the region is observed from the end of March to May. According to the degree of danger, the flood in the region refers to a moderately hazardous type, when the maximum levels of water rise are 0.8 - 1.5 m higher than the levels of the beginning of flooding, flooding of coastal territories (emergency situations at the municipal level). The floodplain area of \u200b\u200bthe river floodplain is 40-60%. Settlements are, as a rule, partially flooded. The frequency of excess of the water level above the critical level is every 10 to 20 years. Exceeding critical levels on most rivers of the region were recorded in 1994, 2005. To one degree or another, 38 regions of the region are affected by hydrological processes during the spring flood. The results of the processes are flooding and flooding of residential buildings, livestock and agricultural complexes, the destruction of sections of roads, bridges, dams, dams, damage to power lines, the activation of landslides. According to recent years, the areas most prone to flood events were Arzamassky, Bolsheboldinsky, Buturlinsky, Vorotynsky, Gaginsky, Kstovsky, Perevozsky, Pavlovsky, Pochinkovsky, Pilninsky, Semenovsky, Sosnovsky, Urensky and Shatkovsky.

Increased ice thickness can cause river congestion during the opening period. The number of ice jams on the rivers of the region averages 3–4 per year. The flooding (flooding) caused by them is most likely in settlements located along river banks flowing from south to north, the opening of which occurs in the direction from source to mouth.

Forest fires

In total, there are 304 settlements in 2 urban districts and 39 municipal districts, which may be exposed to the negative effects of forest peat fires.

The danger of natural fires is associated with the occurrence of large natural fires. Fires, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich reaches 50 ha, make up 14% of the total number of large forest fires, fires from 50 to 100 ha occupy 6% of the total, fires from 100 to 500 ha - 13%; the share of large forest fires exceeding 500 ha is small - 3%. This ratio changed significantly in 2010, when the bulk (42%) of large forest fires reached an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 500 hectares.

The number and area of \u200b\u200bnatural fires vary significantly from year to year, because they directly depend on weather conditions and anthropogenic factors (forest attendance, preparation for the fire hazard season, etc.).

It should be noted that almost throughout Russia in the period up to 2015. in summertime, an increase in the number of days with high air temperatures should be expected. In this case, the probability of extremely long periods with critical values \u200b\u200bof air temperature will increase significantly. In this regard, by 2015. Compared with current values, an increase in the number of days with a fire hazard is projected.

1. DISASTER PROTECTION MEASURES.

Over many centuries, mankind has developed a fairly coherent system of measures to protect against natural disasters, the implementation of which in various parts of the world could significantly reduce the number of human casualties and the amount of material damage. But to this day, we, unfortunately, can only talk about individual examples of successful opposition to the elements. Nevertheless, it is advisable once again to list the main principles of protection against natural disasters and compensation for their consequences. A clear and timely forecasting of the time, place and intensity of the natural disaster is necessary. This makes it possible to timely notify the population of the expected impact of the elements. A correctly understood warning allows people to prepare for a dangerous event by either temporary evacuation, or the construction of protective engineering structures, or the strengthening of their own houses, livestock premises, etc. The experience of the past should be taken into account, and its hard lessons should be brought to the attention of the population with the explanation that such a disaster could happen again. In some countries, the state buys land in areas of potential natural disasters and organizes subsidized transfers from hazardous areas. Insurance is essential for reducing disaster loss.

An important role in preventing damage from natural disasters belongs to the engineering and geographical zoning of areas of a possible natural disaster, as well as the development of building codes that strictly regulate the type and nature of construction.

In various countries, quite flexible legislation has been developed on economic activities in natural disaster areas. If a natural disaster occurred in a populated area and the population was not evacuated in advance, emergency rescue operations are carried out, followed by repair and restoration.

Conclusion

So, I studied natural emergencies.

I came to the conclusion that there is a wide variety of natural disasters of a natural nature. These are dangerous geophysical phenomena; hazardous geological phenomena; hazardous meteorological phenomena; marine hazardous hydrometeorological phenomena; dangerous hydrological phenomena; natural fires. There are 6 types and 31 species in total.

Natural emergencies can result in human sacrifice, damage to human health or the environment, significant losses and violation of human living conditions.

From the point of view of the possibility of conducting preventive measures, hazardous natural processes, as a source of emergency situations, can be predicted with very little lead time.

In recent years, the number of earthquakes, floods, landslides and other natural disasters is constantly growing. This cannot go unnoticed.

List of references

1. V.Yu. Mikryukov "Ensuring life safety" Moscow - 2000.

2. Hwan T.A., Hwan P.A. Life safety. - Rostov n / a: “Phoenix”, 2003. - 416 p.

3. Reference data on emergencies of technogenic, natural and environmental origin: At 3 o’clock - M .: GO USSR, 1990.

4. Emergencies: Brief description and classification: Textbook. allowance / Auth. allowances A.P. Zaitsev. - 2nd ed., Rev. and add. - M.: Journal of Military Knowledge, 2000.

Dangerous natural phenomena include all those that deviate the state of the natural environment from the range that is optimal for human life and for the economy that it conducts. They represent catastrophic processes of endogenous and exogenous origin: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, avalanches and mudflows, as well as landslides and subsidence of soils.

In terms of the size of the one-time damage, the effects of natural hazards vary from minor to natural disasters.

A natural disaster is any inevitable formidably destructive natural phenomenon that causes economic damage and threatens the health and life of people. When it comes to measuring losses, the term emergency is used. In emergency situations, absolute losses are primarily measured - for a quick response, for deciding on the necessary external assistance to the affected area, etc.

Catastrophic earthquakes (9 points or more) cover the areas of Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands, Transcaucasia and several other mountainous regions. In such areas, engineering construction, as a rule, is not conducted.

Strong (from 7 to 9 points) earthquakes occur in the territory extending a wide strip from Kamchatka to, including the Baikal region, etc. Only earthquake-resistant construction should be carried out here.

Most of the territory of Russia belongs to the zone in which earthquakes of small magnitude are extremely rare. So, in 1977 in Moscow tremors were registered with a force of 4 points, although the epicenter of the earthquake itself was in the Carpathians.

Despite the great work done by scientists to predict seismic hazard, earthquake prediction is a very complex problem. To solve it, they build special maps, mathematical models, organize a system of regular observations using seismic instruments, compile a description of past earthquakes based on a study of a complex of factors, including the behavior of living organisms, analyzing their geographical distribution.

The most effective ways to deal with floods are overflow regulation, as well as the construction of protective dams and dams. So, the length of dams and dams is more than 1800 miles. Without this protection, 2/3 of its territory would be flooded by the tide every day. To protect against floods, a dam has been constructed. The peculiarity of this completed project is that it requires high-quality wastewater treatment in the city and the normal functioning of the culverts in the dam itself, which was not provided for in the dam project to the proper extent. The construction and operation of such engineering facilities also require the determination of an assessment of possible environmental consequences.

Floods - an annually repeated seasonal long-term and significant increase in river water content, which are accompanied by an increase in the water level in the channel and flooding of the floodplain - is one of the main causes of floods.

Large floodplains floods during floods are observed in most of the CIS, in and Eastern Europe.

Sat down — mud or mud-stone flows that suddenly occur in the channels of mountain rivers and are characterized by a sharp short-term (1 - 3 hours) rise in the water level in rivers, wave-like movement and lack of full periodicity. Mud can occur during heavy rainfall, intense melting of snow and ice, less often as a result of volcanic eruptions, breakthroughs of mountain lakes and also as a result of human activities (blasting, etc.). The prerequisites for the formation are: a cover of slope deposits, significant slopes of mountain slopes, increased soil moisture. The composition distinguishes mud-stone, water-stone, mud and water-mudflow mudflows in which the content of solid material varies from 10-15 to 75%. Separate fragments carried by mudflows weigh more than 100-200 tons. The mudflow speed reaches 10 m / s, and the volumes are hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions cubic meters. Having a large mass and speed of movement, mudflows often bring destruction, acquiring the character of a natural disaster in the most catastrophic cases. So, in 1921, a catastrophic mudflow destroyed Alma-Ata, while about 500 people died. Currently, this city is reliably protected by a mudflow dam and a complex of special engineering structures. The main measures to combat mudflows are associated with the consolidation of the vegetation cover on the mountain slopes, with the preventive launch of threatening mountain breakthroughs, with the construction of dams and various mud shelter structures.

Avalanches — masses of snow falling down steep mountain slopes. Especially often avalanches go off in those cases when snow masses form shafts or snow cornices hanging over the underlying slope. Avalanches occur when snow stability is disturbed on a slope under the influence of heavy snowfalls, intense snowmelt, rain, non-crystallization of the snow mass with the formation of a loosely connected deep horizon. Depending on the nature of the movement of snow along the slopes, they distinguish: axial - snow landslides sliding over the entire surface of the slope; channel avalanches - moving along hollows, ravines and erosive furrows, jumping from ledges. Upon descent from dry snow, a destructive air wave propagates ahead. The avalanches themselves also have great destructive power, since their volume can reach 2 million m 3, and the impact force - 60-100 t / m2. Typically, avalanches, although with varying degrees of constancy, are confined year after year to the same places - foci of different sizes and configurations.

To combat avalanches, protection systems have been developed and are being created that include the placement of snow shields, the prohibition of deforestation and forest planting on avalanche slopes, the shelling of dangerous slopes from artillery guns, the construction of avalanche ramparts and ditches. Avalanche control is very complex and requires a lot of material costs.

In addition to the catastrophic processes described above, there are also such as collapsing, creeping, slipping, subsidence, coastal destruction, etc. All these processes lead to the movement of matter, often on a large scale. The fight against these phenomena should be aimed at weakening and preventing (where possible) processes that cause a negative impact on the stability of engineering structures that endanger the lives of people.

The Earth is fraught with many unusual and sometimes inexplicable phenomena, and from time to time all sorts of phenomena and even cataclysms occur throughout the globe, most of which can hardly be called ordinary and familiar to humans. Some cases have understandable reasons, but there are those that for many decades in a row can not be interpreted even by experienced scientists. True, such natural disasters do not happen often, only several times during the year, but, nevertheless, humanity’s fear of them does not disappear, but rather grows.

The most dangerous natural phenomena

These include the following types of disasters:

Earthquakes

This is a dangerous natural phenomenon in the ranking of the most dangerous natural anomalies. Tremors of the earth’s surface, occurring in the places of breaks in the earth’s crust, provoke oscillations that turn into seismic waves of significant power. They are transmitted over considerable distances, but become the strongest near the immediate focus of shocks and provoke large-scale destruction of houses and buildings. Since there are a lot of buildings on the planet, the bill of victims goes to millions. For all the time, much more people in the world suffered from earthquakes than from other disasters. Over the past ten years alone, over seven hundred thousand people have died from them in different countries of the world. Sometimes the tremors reached such strength that in a flash entire settlements collapsed.

Tsunami waves

Tsunamis are natural disasters that cause a lot of destruction and death. Of tremendous height and strength, waves arising in the ocean, or in another way, tsunamis, are the result of earthquakes. These gigantic waves usually occur in areas where seismic activity is significantly increased. The tsunami moves very quickly, but when she gets aground, she begins to grow rapidly in length. As soon as this huge fast wave reaches the shore, in a few minutes it is able to tear everything in its path. The devastation caused by the tsunami is usually widespread, and people who were taken aback by the cataclysm often do not have time to escape.

Ball lightning

Lightning and thunder are familiar things, but a type such as ball lightning belongs to the most terrible natural phenomena. Ball lightning is a powerful electric current discharge, and it can take absolutely any shape. Usually this type of lightning looks like glowing balls, most often reddish or yellow. It is curious that these lightnings completely ignore all the laws of mechanics, arising from nowhere usually before a thunderstorm, inside houses, on the street or even in the cockpit of an airplane that makes a flight. Spherical lightning soars in the air, and does it very unpredictably: for a few moments, then it becomes smaller, and then completely disappears. Touching ball lightning is strictly prohibited, moving when meeting with it is also undesirable.

Tornadoes

This natural anomaly also belongs to the most terrible natural phenomena. Usually a tornado is an air stream that swirls into a kind of funnel. Outwardly, it looks like a columnar cloud of conical shape, inside of which air moves in a circle. All objects that fall into the tornado zone also begin to move. The air flow rate inside this funnel is so huge that it can easily lift very heavy objects weighing several tons into the air and even at home.

Sand storms

This type of storm occurs in deserts due to strong winds. Dust and sand, and sometimes particles of soil that the wind carries, can reach several meters in height, and in the zone where the storm broke out, there will be a sharp deterioration in visibility. Travelers, caught in such a storm, risk dying, because sand enters the lungs and eyes.

Bloody rains

This unusual natural phenomenon owes its menacing name to a strong tornado, which sucked out particles of red algae spores from the water in ponds. When they mix with the water masses of a tornado, the rain takes on a terrible red hue, very reminiscent of blood. This anomaly was observed by the inhabitants of India for several weeks in a row, the rain of the color of human blood caused fear and panic in people.

Fire tornado

Natural phenomena and natural disasters are most often unpredictable. One of the worst is one of them - a fiery tornado. This kind of tornado is already dangerous, but , if it occurs in a fire zone, it should be feared even more. Near several fires, when a strong wind occurs, the air above the fires begins to warm up, its density becomes lower, and it begins to rise up along with the fire. At the same time, the air flows are twisted into a kind of spiral, and the air pressure acquires tremendous speed.

That the most terrible natural phenomena are poorly predicted. Often they come suddenly, taking by surprise people and authorities. Scientists are working to create advanced technologies that can predict upcoming events. Today, the only guaranteed way to avoid the “vagaries" of the weather is only to move to areas where such phenomena are noted as rarely as possible or were not recorded earlier.

Classification of natural includes the main types of emergency events of natural origin.

An analysis of the development of natural catastrophic phenomena on Earth shows that, despite scientific and technological progress, the protection of people and the technosphere from natural hazards does not increase. The number of victims in the world from destructive natural phenomena in recent years has been increasing annually by 4.3%, and victims - by 8.6%. Economic losses are growing at an average rate of 6% per year. At present, there is an understanding in the world that natural disasters are a global problem that is a source of profound humanitarian upheaval and is one of the most important factors determining the sustainable development of the economy. The main reasons for the conservation and aggravation of natural hazards may be an increase in anthropogenic impact on the environment; irrational placement of economic facilities; resettlement of people in areas of potential natural hazard; lack of effectiveness and underdevelopment of environmental monitoring systems; weakening of state systems for monitoring natural processes and phenomena; the absence or poor condition of hydraulic engineering, landslide, anti-mudflow and other protective engineering structures, as well as protective afforestation; insufficient volumes and low rates of earthquake-resistant construction, strengthening of buildings and structures in earthquake-prone areas; absence or insufficiency of cadastres of potentially hazardous areas (regularly flooded, especially seismic hazardous, mudflow hazardous, avalanche hazardous, landslide, tsunami hazardous, etc.).

On the territory of Russia there are more than 30 dangerous natural phenomena and processes, among which the most destructive are floods, storm winds, showers, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, forest fires, landslides, mudflows, snow avalanches. Most of the social and economic losses are associated with the destruction of buildings and structures due to insufficient reliability and protection from dangerous natural influences. The most frequent natural catastrophic phenomena in Russia - storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, squalls (28%), followed by earthquakes (24%) and floods (19%). Hazardous geological processes such as landslides and landslides account for 4%. The remaining natural disasters, among which forest fires have the highest frequency, total 25%. The total annual economic damage from the development of 19 of the most dangerous processes in urban areas in Russia is 10-12 billion rubles. in year.

Of the geophysical emergency events, earthquakes are one of the most powerful, terrible and destructive natural phenomena. They arise suddenly, to predict the time and place of their appearance and, moreover, to prevent their development is extremely difficult, and most often impossible. In Russia, zones of increased seismic hazard occupy about 40% of the total area, including 9% of the territory belonging to 8-9-point zones. More than 20 million people live in seismically active zones (14% of the country's population).

Within the seismically dangerous regions of Russia, 330 settlements are located, including 103 cities (Vladikavkaz, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, etc.). The most dangerous consequences of earthquakes are the destruction of buildings and structures; fires; emissions of radioactive and accidentally chemically hazardous substances due to the destruction (damage) of radiation and chemically hazardous objects; transport accidents and disasters; defeat and death of people.

A vivid example of the socio-economic consequences of strong seismic events is the Spitak earthquake in Northern Armenia on December 7, 1988. In this earthquake (magnitude 7.0) 21 cities and 342 villages were affected; 277 schools and 250 healthcare facilities were destroyed or in emergency condition; More than 170 industrial enterprises ceased to function; about 25 thousand people died, 19 thousand received varying degrees of injuries and injuries. Total economic losses amounted to $ 14 billion.

Of the geological emergency events, a great danger due to the massive nature of the spread is landslides and mudflows. The development of landslides is associated with displacements of large masses of rocks along the slopes under the influence of gravitational forces. Precipitation and earthquakes contribute to the formation of landslides. In the Russian Federation, from 6 to 15 emergencies are annually created related to the development of landslides. Landslides are widespread in the Volga region, Transbaikalia, the Caucasus and Ciscaucasia, Sakhalin and other regions. Urban areas are particularly affected: 725 cities in Russia are subject to landslide effects. Mudflows are powerful streams, saturated with solid materials, descending through the mountain valleys with great speed. The formation of mudflows is accompanied by rainfall in the mountains, intense melting of snow and glaciers, as well as a breakthrough of flood lakes. Mudflows occur in 8% of the territory of Russia and develop in the mountainous regions of the North Caucasus, Kamchatka, the Northern Urals and the Kola Peninsula. There are 13 cities under the direct threat of mudflows in Russia and 42 more cities are located in potentially mudflow-hazardous areas. The unexpected nature of the development of landslides and mudflows often leads to the complete destruction of buildings and structures, accompanied by casualties and heavy material losses. Of hydrological emergency events, floods can be one of the most common and dangerous natural phenomena. In Russia, floods take first place among natural disasters in frequency, area of \u200b\u200bdistribution, material damage and second place after earthquakes in the number of victims and specific material damage (damage per unit of affected area). One severe flood covers the area of \u200b\u200bthe river basin of about 200 thousand km2. On average, up to 20 cities are flooded every year and up to 1 million residents are affected, and over the course of 20 years, almost the entire territory of the country is covered by severe floods.

In Russia, from 40 to 68 crisis floods occur annually. Flood threat exists for 700 cities and tens of thousands of settlements, a large number of economic facilities.

Significant material losses are associated with floods each year. In recent years, two major floods occurred in Yakutia on the river. Lena. In 1998, 172 settlements were flooded here, 160 bridges, 133 dams, 760 km of roads were destroyed. The total damage amounted to 1.3 billion rubles.

The flood in 2001 was even more destructive. During this flood, water in the river. Lena climbed 17 m and flooded 10 administrative districts of Yakutia. Lensk was completely flooded. About 10,000 houses turned out to be under water, about 700 agricultural and more than 4,000 industrial facilities were affected, and 43,000 people were resettled. The total economic damage amounted to 5.9 billion rubles.

A significant role in increasing the frequency and destructive power of floods is played by deforestation, unsustainable agriculture and economic development of floodplains. The formation of floods can lead to improper implementation of flood protection measures, leading to a breakthrough of dams; destruction of artificial dams; emergency discharges of reservoirs. The aggravation of the problem of floods in Russia is also associated with the progressive aging of fixed assets of the water economy, and the placement of economic facilities and housing in flood hazardous areas. In this regard, the urgent task may be the development and implementation of effective flood prevention and protection measures.

Among the atmospheric hazardous processes occurring in Russia, the most destructive are hurricanes, cyclones, hail, tornadoes, heavy rains, snowfalls.

Traditional in Russia is such a disaster as a forest fire. Annually, from 10 to 30 thousand forest fires occur on the territory of the country on an area of \u200b\u200b0.5 to 2 million hectares.

Preliminary forecast of the main dangers and threats to Russia at the beginning of the XXI century. indicates that before 2010 devastating earthquakes can occur in three seismological regions: Kamchatka - the Kuril Islands, Baikal and the North Caucasus. In each of these regions, one destructive earthquake can occur. Without taking preventive measures, tens of thousands of lives and losses of about 10 billion US dollars are possible. Today it is impossible to exclude the occurrence of 3-5 man-made earthquakes, one devastating tsunami on the Pacific coast, one or two catastrophic floods, as well as an increase in the number of forest and peat fires.