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.
History
Over many intervals of time, natural phenomena have been observed by a series of countless events as a feature created by nature.
Physical phenomena
The act of:
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Crystal in VCGS furnace -
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Liquid hydrogen bubble chamber photograph of an anti-proton colliding with a proton -
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Children notice an effect of static electricity
Chemical phenomena
- Oxidation
- Fire
- Rusting
Biological phenomena
- 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
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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
- Supernova
- Gamma ray bursts
- Quasars
- Blazars
- Pulsars
- Cosmic microwave background radiation.
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Supernova
Geological phenomena
- 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
- Continental drift
- Earthquake
- Oceanic trench
- Phenomena associated with igneous activity
- Geysers and hot springs
- Bradyseism
- Volcanic eruption
- Earth's magnetic field
- Plate tectonics
- Exogenic phenomena
- Slope phenomena
- Slump
- Landslide
- Weathering phenomena
- Erosion
- Glacial and peri-glacial phenomena
- Glaciation
- Moraines
- Hanging valleys
- Atmospheric phenomena
- Impact phenomena
- Impact crater
- Slope phenomena
- Coupled endogenic-exogenic phenomena
- Orogeny
- Drainage development
- Stream capture
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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
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
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
Oceanographic
- Oceanographic phenomena include tsunamis, ocean currents and breaking waves.
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Tsunami by Hokusai 19th century -
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Source: "Physiography for High Schools" by Albert L. Arey, Frank L. Bryant, William W. Clendenin, and William T. Morrey. 1911, USA. -
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Shoreline wave-breaking (surf); Human riding surfboard.
See also
- Act of God
- Electrical phenomena
- Materialism
- Midnight Sun
- Black Holes
- Natural Environment
- Nature
- Transient lunar phenomenon
References
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 An aurora is a natural phenomenon HistoryOver many intervals of time natural phenomena have been observed by a series of countless events as a feature created by nature Physical phenomenaThe act of Freezing Boiling Gravity MagnetismGallery Crystal in VCGS furnace Liquid hydrogen bubble chamber photograph of an anti proton colliding with a proton Children notice an effect of static electricityChemical phenomenaOxidation Fire RustingBiological phenomenaMetabolism 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 decreaseGallery 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 phenomenaSupernova Gamma ray bursts Quasars Blazars Pulsars Cosmic microwave background radiation SupernovaGeological phenomenaMineralogic phenomena Lithologic phenomena Rock types Igneous rock Igneous formation processes Sedimentary rock Sedimentary formation processes sedimentation Quicksand Metamorphic rock Endogenic phenomena Plate tectonics Continental drift Earthquake Oceanic trench Phenomena associated with igneous activity Geysers and hot springs Bradyseism Volcanic eruption Earth s magnetic field Exogenic phenomena Slope phenomena Slump Landslide Weathering phenomena Erosion Glacial and peri glacial phenomena Glaciation Moraines Hanging valleys Atmospheric phenomena Impact phenomena Impact crater Coupled endogenic exogenic phenomena Orogeny Drainage development Stream captureGallery 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 phenomenaViolent meteorological phenomena are called storms Regular cyclical phenomena include seasons and atmospheric circulation climate change is often semi regular Lightning strikes during the eruption of the Galunggung volcano in 1982 A tornado on May 3 1999 in central OklahomaAtmospheric optical phenomena This section is an excerpt from List of atmospheric optical phenomena edit A circumzenithal arc over Grand Forks North DakotaThe Belt of Venus over Paranal Observatory atop Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert northern ChileCrepuscular rays at sunrise in Malibu California 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 skyA double rainbow at Minsi Lake PennsylvaniaA sun pillar in Finistere BrittanyAtmospheric optical phenomenon Oceanographic Oceanographic phenomena include tsunamis ocean currents and breaking waves Gallery 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 alsoAct of God Electrical phenomena Materialism Midnight Sun Black Holes Natural Environment Nature Transient lunar phenomenonReferencesWikimedia 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 Portals EcologyEnvironmentScience
