1.7 Tectonic Disaster Trends and Patterns

Question 1

1.7a tectonic disaster trend since 1960

disaster

Answer 1

Disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society involving human, material, economic and environmental losses which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources

Question 2

1.7a tectonic disaster trend since 1960

number of deaths
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Answer 2

The number of deaths due to geophysical disasters since 1960 fluctuates greatly . The greatest peaks on the graph are associated with particular disasters, such as the 1976 China earthquake, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Overall, the number of people being killed by disasters globally is falling. Better early warning systems, improved building codes and disaster preparedness have helped to reduce death toll.

The number of deaths in low income countries (developing) is significantly greater than high income countries (emerging and developed)

Question 3

1.7a tectonic disaster trend since 1960

number affected
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Answer 3

Similar to the graph above, the number of people affected by different geophysical disasters since 1960 has generally risen. The greatest peaks on the graph are associated with particular disasters, such as the 1988 Armenia earthquake, 2001 Japan earthquake, 2009 China earthquake.

Question 4

1.7a tectonic disaster trend since 1960

level of economic damage
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Answer 4

the level of economic damage caused by different geophysical disasters since 1960 has grown significantly and the greatest peaks are associated with particular disasters such as the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.

As disaster-prone areas become more valuable and the population in these areas grows, the economic damage increases.

In the 1990s, the economic cost of natural disasters averaged US$20 billion per year. This increased to about US$100 billion per year between 2000 and 2010.

Question 5

1.7a tectonic disaster trend since 1960

overall disaster trends
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Answer 5

geophysical disasters (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, avalanches and tsunamis) have remained relatively low numbers of disasters. This has fluctuated very little and increased at relatively low levels since 1960.

Question 6

1.7a tectonic disaster trend since 1960

reliability and accuracy
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Answer 6

Improvements in monitoring and recording events may be contributing to the rising trend in reported events

Improvements in communications technology- that would not even have been thought of in 1960- now allow more news events (disasters included) to be reported.

The global population in 1960 was less than 3 billion, whereas in 2016 it had reached 7.3 billion and was still rising more rapidly. Therefore, more people now occupy more hazardous space (particularly near rivers and coasts), and are aware of more storm or flood events taking place

The increase in occupied living space also means that more of the world is now covered with concrete and other impermeable building materials (often on or close to flood plains). Therefore, the flood risk has increased as part of the effects of climate change.

Question 7

1.7b tectonic mega-disasters

tectonic mega-disasters

CASE STUDIES ON THESE

Answer 7

These are characterised by impacts extending beyond the country immediately affected.

The 2011 tsunami in Japan showed how the globalised, inter-dependence world economy could be affected by the economic and human impacts of disasters.

Question 8

1.7c multiple-hazard zones

basic

Answer 8

multiple-hazard zone is an area at risk from multiple natural hazards and is vulnerable

Question 9

1.7c multiple-hazard zones

challenges of multiple hazard zones

Answer 9

One hazard can cause or increase other hazards, for example an earthquake can trigger landslides and tsunamis.