5. Impact of Geographical Phenomena Flashcards
Hazards are
Anything that has potential to do damage and it is considered a disaster when that potential is realised
types of hazards
- Geological
- Meteorological
- Man-made vs Natural
eg of Geological hazards
Volcanoes and Earthquakes
eg of Meteorological hazards
Hurricanes, Droughts, Floods
eg of Man-made vs Natural hazards
some floods
What determines impact of a disaster
- Size of the hazard
- population density
- Experience with the hazard
how Size of the hazard can impact a disaster
eg. hurricanes based on categories. more damage expected from a 5 than a 4. Not always however
how population density can impact a disaster
potential for significant loss of life greater
how Experience with the hazard can impact a disaster
Will persons be prepared to cope with problems which come as a result of the disaster
Eg. Hurricanes: Will there be enough food, water, protecting windows, doors, building in way to resist a hurricane
Plate tectonics refer to
a theory which explains formation of features like mountains, volcanoes etc
earth is made up of
plates which move in 3 basic directions resulting in various hazards and features
Divergent
Convergent
Transform
divergent plates cause
volcanoes
convergent plates cause
earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains (found in East of Caribbean)
transform plates cause
earthquakes (found in Northern Caribbean)
A volcano is
an opening or rupture in earth’s surface or crust where magma comes onto the surface and makes various landforms
Positive impact of volcanoes on society
land creation where can lead to increase of land mass,
eg. Monseratt
soil fertility- which is good for farming
tourist interest
eg- sulphur springs - said to be good for certain ailments (in Dominica and St. Lucia
Geothermal energy
Creation of artworks since volcanoes can be inspirational
geothermal energy is
clean, non-polluting energy that reduces need to import petroleum to generate electricity
negative impact of volcanoes on society
Loss of life and human potential
Can lead to cultural erasure
Social displacement
Destruction of plants and animals
Can lead to destruction of infrastructure
Result in respiratory illnesses with gasses like sulphur, ash plumes/clouds
how Loss of life and human potential is a negative impact of volcanoes on society
loss of workforce - those who are economically active in society
loss of consumers
loss of taxpayers
In Eastern Caribbean, volcanoes have had most significant impact in loss of life. 30,000 people over last 300 years.
In Martinique in 1904 30,000 people died in the explosion of Mt. Pele
how cultural erasure is a negative impact of volcanoes on society
persons who may be knowledgeable of the island’s history may lose their lives and not pass along their knowledge through socialisation
how Social displacement is a negative impact of volcanoes on society
persons must be relocated from their home environments
can be traumatic
In Monseratt many people had to leave the island due to prolonged volcanic activity
how Destruction of plants and animals is a negative impact of volcanoes on society
Especially those used for economic activity
crops
those used for export
how destruction of infrastructure is a negative impact of volcanoes on society
buildings communications transport - airports, roads can lead to unplanned spending by governments catastrophic to economies
measures used to mitigate the impact of volcanic activity
1)public education
teaching about nature of volcanoes
signs for volcanoes and volcanic activity
2) formation of exclusion zones around a volcano
3) technology
thermal imaging - heat changes
chemical sensors - increases in gasses like sulphur
seismographic instruments - shaking within earth
early warning system