List of natural phenomena
A natural phenomenon is an observable event which is not man-made. Examples include: sunrise, weather, fog, thunder, tornadoes; biological processes, decomposition, germination; physical processes, wave propagation, erosion; tidal flow, and natural disasters such as electromagnetic pulses, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and earthquakes.[1][2]
History
[edit]Over many intervals of time, natural phenomena have been observed by a series of countless events as a feature created by nature.
Physical phenomena
[edit]The act of:
Gallery
[edit]-
Crystal in VCGS furnace -
Liquid hydrogen bubble chamber photograph of an anti-proton colliding with a proton -
Children notice an effect of static electricity
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Chemical phenomena
[edit]Biological phenomena
[edit]- Metabolism
- Catabolism
- Anabolism
- Decomposition – by which organic substances are broken down into a much simpler form of matter
- Fermentation – converts sugar to acids, gases and/or alcohol.
- Growth
- Birth
- Death
- Population decrease
Gallery
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Decomposition:a decaying peach over a period of six days. Each frame is approximately 12 hours apart, as the fruit shrivels and becomes covered with mold.
Astronomical phenomena
[edit]-
Supernova
Geological phenomena
[edit]- Mineralogic phenomena
- Lithologic phenomena
- Rock types
- Igneous rock
- Igneous formation processes
- Sedimentary rock
- Sedimentary formation processes (sedimentation)
- Quicksand
- Metamorphic rock
- Igneous rock
- Rock types
- Endogenic phenomena
- Plate tectonics
- Phenomena associated with igneous activity
- Earth's magnetic field
- Exogenic phenomena
- Slope phenomena
- Weathering phenomena
- Glacial and peri-glacial phenomena
- Atmospheric phenomena
- Impact phenomena
- Coupled endogenic-exogenic phenomena
Gallery
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Geology: parabola-shaped lava flow illustrates Galileo's law of falling bodies, as well as blackbody radiation. The temperature can be discerned from the color of the blackbody.
Meteorological phenomena
[edit]Violent meteorological phenomena are called storms. Regular, cyclical phenomena include seasons and atmospheric circulation. climate change is often semi-regular.
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A tornado on May 3, 1999 in central Oklahoma
Atmospheric optical phenomena
[edit]
Atmospheric optical phenomena include:
- Afterglow
- Airglow
- Alexander's band, the dark region between the two bows of a double rainbow.
- Alpenglow
- Anthelion
- Anticrepuscular rays
- Aurora (northern and southern lights, aurora borealis and aurora australis)
- Belt of Venus
- Brocken Spectre
- Circumhorizontal arc
- Circumzenithal arc
- Cloud iridescence
- Crepuscular rays
- Earth's shadow
- Earthquake lights
- Glories
- Green flash
- Halos, of Sun or Moon, including sun dogs
- Haze
- Heiligenschein or halo effect, partly caused by the opposition effect
- Ice blink
- Light pillar
- Lightning
- Mirages (including Fata Morgana)
- Monochrome Rainbow
- Moon dog
- Moonbow
- Nacreous cloud/Polar stratospheric cloud
- Rainbow
- Sprite (lightning)
- Subsun
- Sun dog
- Tangent arc
- Tyndall effect
- Upper-atmospheric lightning, including red sprites, Blue jets, and ELVES
- Water sky
A double rainbow at Minsi Lake, Pennsylvania
Atmospheric optical phenomenon
Oceanographic
[edit]- Oceanographic phenomena include tsunamis, ocean currents and breaking waves.
Gallery
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Tsunami by Hokusai 19th century -
Source: "Physiography for High Schools" by Albert L. Arey, Frank L. Bryant, William W. Clendenin, and William T. Morrey. 1911, USA. -
Shoreline wave-breaking (surf); Human riding surfboard.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Natural phenomena.
- ^ Missy Allen; Michel Peissel (1993). Dangerous Natural Phenomena. Chelsea House. ISBN 079101794X.
- ^ William R. Corliss (1977). Handbook of unusual natural phenomena. Sourcebook Project. ISBN 0915554011.
- ^ "Belt of Venus over Cerro Paranal". Picture of the Week. ESO. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
