Four of the worst natural disasters in recent years: hurricane Mitch in 1998,flooding along the Yangtze River (China)in 1998,the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami,and hurricane Katrina in 2005 were exacerbated by
A) poor forecasting.
B) increasing population.
C) poverty.
D) poor land use practices.
E) global warming.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The choice of poor land use practices is the best explanation for exacerbating these natural disasters. Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras and Nicaragua, where deforestation and soil erosion had weakened the soil, leading to landslides and mudslides. The flooding along the Yangtze River was worsened by deforestation and dam construction. The Indian Ocean tsunami's impact was worsened by the lack of natural barriers such as mangrove forests, which had been cleared for shrimp farming and tourism. Hurricane Katrina's impact was worsened by the destruction of wetlands and levee systems that could have mitigated the storm's surge. All of these disasters were made worse by poor land use practices that either weakened the natural environment or removed natural barriers.

Four of the Worst Natural Disasters in Recent Years: Hurricane