Chapter 2 Flashcards
Water is important because (5):
- It expands by 9% when it freezes.
- It is a polar molecule. While it does not have an electrical charge, it behaves as if it does.
- It is a universal solvent. Given enough time, it will dissolve anything.
- It is common on Earth in all three states - liquid, solid and gas.
- It is essential for all life on Earth.
The biggest problem with water is (arguably) that…
it is not evenly distributed.
Uniformitarianism
The Earth formed and continues to form as the result of slow, consistent processes.
This principle also implies that the Earth is very old.
Catastrophism
The Earth formed and continues to form a the result of short catastrophic events.
This principle also implies that the Earth is not that old.
Actualism
The Earth formed and continues to form a the result of slow, consistent processes that are periodically interrupted by catastrophic events.
Hazard
something that can cause problems or harm.
Natural Hazard
Some natural place, event or process that can cause problems/harm.
Catastrophe
A place, event or process that has caused problems/harm.
A significant catastrophe may be called a disaster.
Hazard in British Columbia (steep mountainous terrain)
Steep mountainous terrain (avalanches/landslides)
Earthquakes (fault line locus)
A disaster/catastrophe happens when an avalanche occurs.
Exposure
Refers to the proximity someone or something has to a hazard.
Sensitivity
A measure of how someone or something may be affected by a particular hazard.
Vulnerability
A combination of exposure and sensitivity. It takes into account a person’s or thing’s proximity to a hazard and their ability to deal with it to determine what will happen when catastrophic event takes place.
British Columbia vs. El Salvador.
Hazard: mass wasting
For both these places mass wasting in the form of avalanches and flows is a significant hazard.
So both locations have a high degree of exposure. Sensitivity, however, is different. It is less in BC because we are aware of the hazard and can avoid it.
Sensitivity is higher in El Salvador because, despite awareness, steep terrain is harder to avoid. In El Salvador, there is less land - it is a small country - and land that is safer is often owned and/or controlled by others.
What to do about risk?
- Avoid it
- Accept it
- Transfer it (insurance for example - you pay someone else to assume the risk)
Probability
The ability to predict something.