CHAPTER 3: BASIC CONCEPTS OF HAZARDS Flashcards
is a process, phenomenon or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation.
Hazard
are naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset events which can be geophysical (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and volcanic activity), hydrological (avalanches and floods), climatological (extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires), meteorological (cyclones and storms/wave surges) or biological (disease epidemics and insect/animal plagues).
Natural Hazards
(complex emergencies/conflicts, famine, displaced populations, industrial accidents and transport accidents) are events that are caused by humans and occur in or close to human settlements. This can include environmental degradation, pollution and accidents.
Technological or man-made hazards
Process or phenomenon of organic origin or conveyed by biological vectors/ agents, including exposure to pathogenic micro- organisms, toxins and bioactive substances. EX. Ebola Virus, flu virus, rabies
Biological Hazard
Geological process or phenomenon. EX. Ballistic projectiles (Rocks from an erupting volcano), ground shaking, landslide, lava flow, liquefaction, tsunami)
Geological Hazard
Process or phenomenon of atmospheric, hydrological or oceanographic nature. EX. Tornado, flood, typhoon, forest fire, tsunami
Hydrometeorological hazard
Originate from technological or industrial conditions, dangerous procedures, infrastructure failures or specific human activities.
Also may arise directly as a result of the impacts of a natural hazard event.
EX. Oil and chemical spill, forest fire, industrial pollution, nuclear radiation, toxic wastes, dam failures, transport accidents, factory explosions, fires and chemical spills.
Technological Hazard
Characteristics of hazards
Natural hazard events can be characterized by their magnitude or intensity, speed of onset, duration, and the area they cover.
Scientists talk about the occurrence of hazards of different intensities in terms of probabilities or return periods (also known as
recurrence intervals
the longer the return period…
the greater the intensity of the hazard.
contains a compilation of all possible “impact scenarios” for a specific hazard and geographical area.
A probabilistic risk model
Effective EWS include four components:
(1) detection, monitoring and forecasting of the hazards; (2) analysis of the risks involved; (3) dissemination of timely and authoritative warnings; and (4) activation of emergency preparedness and response plans.
The ___________________ is a characteristic of hazard that tells how predictable and how how much lead time is allowed by it.
speed of onset
This refers to the degree or severity of the impacts of hazard.
intensity
