3.2 Evaluation

Question 1

Physical factors that affect a countries vulnerability to the impacts of natural hazards.

Answer 1

Physical factors:
- Countries that are situated on plate boundaries are much more likely to experience tectonic events at a higher intensity and frequency than countries who aren’t.
- If a country has recently been impacted by a natural hazard and are still recovering, they will be less resilient to natural hazard that strikes them.
- Countries situated in coastal areas that are near to the equator will be more susceptible to TRS since this is where they form and can have the most power due to it being hottest there and also due to the Coriolis effect.
- Countries made up of smaller Islands are also more vulnerable to TRS since when they make landfall they still have oceans around them to fuel the storm so they maintain their power and can even get stronger.

Question 2

Social factors that affect a countries vulnerability to the impacts of natural hazards.

Answer 2

Social factors:
- If there is a high population density in the area where a natural hazard occurs there will be a worse impact since there are more people in the area and also the urban environment can make it difficult for people to evacuate from and from aid to get people.
- If people are not educated on the practises that should be carried out in the event of a natural hazard then they will be more vulnerable to them since they are they are not informed on how to stay safe and they a left to themselves.

Question 3

Economic factors that affect a countries vulnerability to the impacts of natural hazards.

Answer 3

Economic factors:
- Wealthier people may be less at risk due to the fact that they likely have access to vehicles and roads which enables them to evacuate from their area in the event of a natural hazard.
- Ability to buy expensive house insurance - often in hazardous areas insurance is too expensive for many people on middle or low income. Also medical insurance.
- Many of those living in the area are often lower income and depend on farming which if their crops are destroyed will affect their - income those on higher incomes are less likely to be dependant on agriculture even if living in a volcanic hazard zone so will not be as severely impacted.
- Rich are more likely to have flexibility in working e.g. work from home so could continue to earn even when not able to live at home.
- Poorer countries are less likely to be able to afford infrastructure such early warning systems for earthquakes and also infrastructure that could be implemented into buildings to mitigate the impacts of an earthquake.

Question 4

Why do some people continue to live in areas at risk from hazard events?

Answer 4

• Price of land is often lowest around areas at risk of natural hazards therefore less wealthy people will live there since they can afford a safer place.
• People may have been brought up there and cannot afford to leave.
• People may have family roots there and may not want to leave even if they can afford to.
• The area surrounding volcanoes is often very fertile and excellent for farming therefore people think that this outweighs the risk of a hazard.
• Also the landscape is stunning and people do not want to leave the beautiful environments.