List of natural phenomena
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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
- Liquid hydrogen bubble chamber photograph of an anti-proton colliding with a proton
- Children notice an effect of static electricity
Chemical phenomena
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
Geological phenomena
- Mineralogic 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 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.
- Lightning strikes during the eruption of the Galunggung volcano in 1982
- 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
- 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.