thumb|275px|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, 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:
- Freezing
- Boiling
- Gravity
- Magnetism
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File:Crystal in VCGS furnace.jpg|Crystal in VCGS furnace
File:Liquid hydrogen bubble chamber photograph of an anti-proton colliding with a proton.jpg|Liquid hydrogen bubble chamber photograph of an anti-proton colliding with a proton
File:Static on the playground (48616367).jpg|Children notice an effect of static electricity
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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
Gallery
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Image:DecayingPeachSmall.gif|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.
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Astronomical phenomena
- Supernova
- Gamma ray bursts
- Quasars
- Blazars
- Pulsars
- Cosmic microwave background radiation
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File:STScl-2005-15.png|Supernova
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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
Gallery
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File:Pahoeoe fountain edit2.jpg|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.
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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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File:Galunggung.jpg|Lightning strikes during the eruption of the Galunggung volcano in 1982
File:A tornado near Anadarko, Oklahoma, on May 3, 1999.jpg|A tornado on May 3, 1999 in central Oklahoma
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Atmospheric optical phenomena
Oceanographic
- Oceanographic phenomena include tsunamis, ocean currents and breaking waves.
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File:Tsunami by hokusai 19th century.jpg|Tsunami by Hokusai 19th century
File:Ocean currents 1911.jpg|Source: "Physiography for High Schools" by Albert L. Arey, Frank L. Bryant, William W. Clendenin, and William T. Morrey. 1911, USA.
File:Big wave breaking in Santa Cruz.jpg|Shoreline wave-breaking (surf); Human riding surfboard.
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See also
- Act of God
- Electrical phenomena
- Materialism
- Midnight sun
- Black holes
- Natural environment
- Nature
- Transient lunar phenomenon