Question

Which of the following is not a geological disaster?
A. Avalanches
B. Floods
C. Earthquakes
D. Sinkholes

Answer 1

Hint: Geological disasters are those natural disasters which are caused by geological processes. One example of a geological disaster is volcanic eruption.

Complete Answer:Among the given options floods will not be counted as a geological disaster.

When an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry it is called a flood. In hydrology floods are an area of study and they are a significant concern to civil engineering, agriculture and public health.

Option A - Avalanches - It occurs when a huge slab of snow which is lying over a weaker layer of snow fractures and starts to slide down a steep slope.

Option C - Earthquakes - When sudden release of energy in the earth’s lithosphere leads to the shaking of the surface of the earth it is known as an earthquake. Earthquakes occur due to seismic waves which are generated from the point of the fault.

Option D - Sinkholes - Sinkhole has many names like - swallow hole, cenote, doline, etc. a depression or a hole in the ground which is caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer is called a sinkhole.

The most common reason for a sinkhole is the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks. Sinkholes are not region specific and can be found worldwide and they may form gradually or suddenly. Surface drainage from running or standing water is captured by the sinkholes.

Therefore the correct answer is option B.

Note: There are many reasons for the occurrence of a geological disaster. These can be rapid snowmelt, heavy rainstorm, raisins groundwater, human induced vibrations in the earth, etc.