Challenges of natural hazards- Natural hazards Flashcards
What is a hazard
an event which has the potential to cause harm to the environment, people or the economy
what is a natural hazard?
A naturally occuring event that holds a threat to the population (Basically a hazard but natural)
what is a natural disaster?
A (sudden) natural event which happens and causes damage.
what is a natural event?
Natural event is a naturall event
Are all natual events natural hazards?
No because an natural event can only be classified as a natural hazard when it holds a threat to the peopulation. Meaning that if it happens in a desserted area where no one lives, it is just a natural event but if it happens in a populated town, it is a natural hazard because it has the potential to harm the population
What are the 4 main tyoes of natural hazards?
Tectonic, Atmospheric, geomorphological and biological
Can you explain what each of the type of natural hazrad is and their examples
- Tectonic: something that occurs when the earths crust moves
eg. volcanoe and earthquake - atmospheric hazard is created in the atmosphere with the moveemnt of water and air
eg. hurricane, tornadoe - geomorphological is something taht occurs near the earths crust
eg. flooding and soil errosion - biological is when it involves biological substances which poses athreat ti living organisms
eg. forresst fire and diseases
what is hazard risk?
the chance or probability a population is going to be affected by a natural event
what are the factors that effect hazard risk?
- teh populations exposure to the event (frequency that hapens) because if they are exposed to it more, they have more experience and are more prepared
- Climate change: As the earth warms due to climate change, people are being exposed to more hazards and places that are not usually experiencing hazards are more frequently experiencing them. Similarly, climate change causes some part of the world to become wetter with more flooding and others becomming drier with drought (eg. sea level rise=more flodding and storms become more intense)
-Urbanisation: Urban areas which are more densly packed with higher population increase the number of people at risk, since there ae more buidings which means that it has more possibility of killing people. - population growth resulting in poverty: As the global population increases, the demand for houding increases and the housing rates increase which means that more people are being forced to live in cheeper and less well built housing. These housings are usually built around a city or in hazourdous areas such as on a slope (these land are at teh risk of flooding). Healthcare cost may also increase which means that less people are able to afford good healthcare.
Why do people live in these high risk areas?
- people weigh advantages and disadvantages such as the frequency of the hazard or what they get from the land such as farming.
- some poepl may not have the choice not to live there
- people may not have the knowledge that the place they are living is dangerous (lack of quality education)
how are some hazourdous land benificial?
- Floodplains (areas next to rivers) are very fertile.
-volcanic land are also very fertile
how do you calculate the hazard risk?
Risk= Hazard*Vulnerbility/capacity to cope.
