6. Risks and Hazards Flashcards
What did Majed Akhter pointed out in the “Great Floods”
As geographer Majed
Akhter points out, the labyrinth of dikes and canals constructed in the Indus system slowly raised the elevation of its canal-beds, making the system as a whole more vulnerable to large-scale flooding (Akhter, 2012). The effort to reduce short-term risk for crops actually increased the long-term risk of catastrophic flooding.
Building dikes and canals in the Indus system initially reduced flood risks for crops but gradually raised canal beds, increasing vulnerability to large-scale flooding over time.
What happened to the Mississippi River Commision?
The Mississippi River Commission tried to control the river using only levees, ignoring natural floodplains and outlets. Mark Twain criticized this approach, warning that the river could not be fully controlled. His prediction came true when major floods in 1927 and 1993 broke the levees, despite claims they would hold forever.
What is a hazard
An object (UV radiataion), condition (periodic flooding), or process (nitrification of water)
that threatens individuals and society in terms of production (making a living) or reproduction (being alive).
A hazard is anything—such as an object, condition, or process—that poses a threat to individuals or society by disrupting production or reproduction.
What is a Risk
The known (or estimated)
probability that a hazard-related
decision will have a negative
consequence
- Risk refers to the probability, either known or estimated, that a decision involving a hazard will result in harmful or negative consequences.
A set of three clarifying concepts help us sort out problems in the world:
Hazard, Risk & Uncertainty
The geographer ___ pioneered the effort to manage risk in floodplain management.
Gilbert F. White
What did Gilbert White stated..
Gilbert F. White, a geographer, introduced a new approach to managing flood risks. While studying the Mississippi River after the 1927 flood, he concluded that relying only on engineered solutions, like levees, was ineffective. Instead, he advocated for “multiple adjustments”—a flexible, localized approach that considered social factors, such as insurance policies, flood information, evacuation plans, and zoning regulations.
White believed that since flooding is inevitable, the focus should be on helping people adapt rationally rather than trying to control the river entirely. His 1945 dissertation, Human Adjustment to Floods, became a key work in environment-society research.
However, White’s recommendations have not been fully applied. Disasters like Hurricane Katrina (2005) and flooding in the UK (2003) revealed poor risk assessments and insufficient investment in flood prevention. The passage suggests that better flood management requires considering both the frequency and severity of hazards when making decisions.
What is Uncertainty
The degree to which the outcomes of a decision or situation are unknown
What is Risk Perception
A phenomenon, and related field of study, describing the tendency of people to evaluate the hazardousness of a situation or decision in not-always-rational terms, depending on individual biases, culture, or human
tendencies
- Risk perception is the way people judge how dangerous a situation or decision is, often influenced by personal biases, culture, or human tendencies, rather than purely logical thinking.
Explain the Voluntary/Involuntary–Common/Catastrophic: A matrix for explaining what people think is risky and why.
The matrix shows how people perceive risks differently. Involuntary, uncontrollable, and rare but catastrophic risks (like nuclear power) are seen as more frightening, while voluntary, controllable, and common risks (like swimming) feel less threatening, even if they may be dangerous. This reveals that people often fear dramatic, uncommon events more than everyday risks.
What is “Affect?”
Emotions and unconscious responses to the world that influence decision-making
What is Cultural Theory
A theoretical framework associated with anthropologist Mary Douglas that stresses the way individual perceptions (of risk, for example) are reinforced by group social dynamics, leading to a few paradigmatic, typical, and discrete ways of seeing and addressing problems
- Cultural theory, linked to anthropologist Mary Douglas, explains how people’s views, such as their perception of risk, are shaped by group social dynamics, leading to common and distinct ways of thinking and solving problems.
Mary Douglas argued that…
Mary Douglas’s cultural theory of risk argues that human perceptions of nature and environmental risk are shaped by social and cultural contexts, rather than being universal or entirely individual. In Risk and Culture (1983), she explains that people’s views on risk are closely tied to their beliefs about the role of individuals in society. For instance, those with egalitarian values may see environmental risks as more serious and advocate for stricter regulations, while individualists might downplay the same risks, favoring personal freedom over intervention. This theory highlights that risk assessment is influenced not only by scientific facts but also by cultural biases and social norms.
Risk Perception is..
not a universal brain function, but is instead located in culture, can be embedded in institutions (like environmental organizations or government agencies), and they are tied to competing priorities of environmental management. Risk perception therefore is, by implication, profoundly political.
What did Michael Watts asserted on his essay “On the Poverty of Theory”…
The historical transformation of social and economic structures made it nearly impossible for people in a drought-affected region to cope with the crisis.
- Changes in social and economic systems greatly limited the options and resources farmers had during the drought, leading to widespread starvation in a region that had previously adapted well to such conditions for centuries.
How is risk perception political?
not a universal brain function, but is instead located in culture, can be embedded in institutions (like environmental organizations or government agencies). It is political because it is influenced by power, ideologies, and competing interests. Governments, industries, and social groups may emphasize or downplay risks to support their agendas. As a result, public attitudes toward risks often reflect partisan beliefs and political priorities.
Risk vs Uncertainty
Risk refers to situations where the outcomes are unknown but the probabilities are measurable, allowing for some level of prediction. In contrast, uncertainty involves situations where the outcomes and their probabilities are unknown or unknowable, making it impossible to accurately assess the likelihood of events. While risk can be managed through data and statistical analysis, uncertainty is harder to control due to its unpredictable nature.
