List of natural phenomena

An aurora is a natural phenomenon.

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, and earthquakes.^[1][2]

Exposure to forces of nature resulted in about 214,000 deaths in 2010, up from 31,000 in 1990.^[3]

Types of natural phenomena include, but are not limited to, the following.

Biological

• Decomposition – by which organic substances are broken down into a much simpler form of matter
• Metabolism
  • Catabolism
  • Anabolism
  • Fermentation – converts sugar to acids, gases and/or alcohol.
• Growth
• Population growth
  • Overpopulation growth beyond

Chemical

Crystal in VCGS furnace

• Crystal growth
• Oxidation
  • Fire
  • Rusting

Geological

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.

Geological processes include erosion, sedimentation, and volcanic activities such as geysers and earthquakes.

Meteorological

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

A double rainbow at Minsi Lake, Pennsylvania

A sun pillar in Finistère, Brittany

Atmospheric optical phenomenon

Aurora Crepuscular rays Green flash Haze Ice blink Light pillar Moonbow

Moon dog Rainbow Subsun Sun dog Sunbow Water sky Monochrome Rainbow not to be confused with the single "monochrome rainbow"

Nuclear and Electrical

• Elementary particle interactions
• Supernova

• 
  Liquid hydrogen bubble chamber photograph of an anti-proton colliding with a proton
• 
  Children notice an effect of static electricity
• 
  Supernova

Oceanographic

Gulfstream

• Oceanographic phenomena include tsunamis, ocean currents and breaking waves.

Physical

• Gravity

See also

• Act of God
• Electrical phenomena
• Life timeline
• Materialism
• Midnight sun
• Natural environment
• Nature
• Nature timeline
• Transient lunar phenomenon

References

1. Missy Allen; Michel Peissel (1993). Dangerous natural phenomena. Chelsea House. ISBN 079101794X.
2. William R. Corliss (1977). Handbook of unusual natural phenomena. Sourcebook Project. ISBN 0915554011.
3. Rafael Lozano; et al. (December 15, 2012). "Global and regional mortality from 235 causes of death for 20 age groups in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010". Lancet. 380 (9859): 2095–128. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61728-0. PMID 23245604.