Final answer:
Thunderstorms are commonly associated with loud noises due to thunder caused by the rapid expansion of air from lightning. The loudness of sound is described by intensity level or decibels. Sonic booms also depend on the speed of the source, and earthquakes can generate loud sounds from the disturbance of tectonic plates.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering natural phenomena associated with loud noises, the best match from the provided options would be a) Thunderstorms. The loud noise that we associate with a thunderstorm is known as thunder, which is caused by the rapid expansion of the air surrounding a lightning bolt. This expansion produces a sound wave that we perceive as thunder.
The loudness of a sound is typically described using terms like intensity level or decibel, rather than frequency or oscillation, timbre, or pitch. Sound interference and resonance are phenomena that support our understanding that sound is a wave. The occurrence of a sonic boom, which is a type of loud noise, depends on the speed of the source when it is moving faster than the speed of sound, causing a rapid increase in pressure and thus a sonic boom.
The destructive potential of natural phenomena, such as earthquakes, can also produce loud noises. During an earthquake, the disturbance in the Earth's surface resulting from the movement of tectonic plates can generate strong sound waves that contribute to the overall noise experienced during such events.