1 Natural disasters Use the following words in the definitions below: forest fire hurricane tornado earthquake flood drought volcano tidal wave 1. ... a long period with little or no rain 2. a sudden violent movement of the surface of the earth, caused by the shifting of the earth's tectonic plates 3... when huge areas of woodland are alight, often caused by someone carelessly throwing a cigarette from a car 4. . when an area of land which is usually dry becomes covered in water, often forcing people to leave their homes 5. ... very strong circular winds which suck things up into them 6. a huge wave which builds up in the sea over thousands of miles 7. .. a very powerful storm, often at sea 8... a large mountain which erupts from time to time and sends rocks up into the air and molten rock pours down the side