Enquiry Question 3: How successful is the management of tectonic hazards and disasters?

Question 1

Accuracy of data

Answer 1

The closeness of a quantity to the quantity’s actual value. It relies on the quality of the equipment and skilled persons to operate the equipment. Inaccurate data may result in the wrong decisions being made about planning/response/evacuation.

Question 2

Reliability of data

Answer 2

The consistency/reproducibility of a measurement.

Question 3

Mega-disasters

Answer 3

Large scale disasters (areal scale or economic/human impact), difficult to manage effectively to minimise impact (long and short term), and scale of impact may require international support. They can affect more than one country (directly or indirectly) - e.g. Japanese earthquake and tsunami, and Eyjafjallajokull eruption.

Question 4

Multiple hazard zone

Answer 4

An area that is at risk from multiple natural hazards - e.g. hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods etc

Question 5

Hydrometeorological hazard

Answer 5

Natural hazards caused by climate processes (e.g. droughts, floods, hurricanes and storms)

Question 6

Prediction

Answer 6

Attempting to estimate the location, time, magnitude and intensity of an event. It is impossible to say precisely when an event will occur, however monitoring certain factors (e.g. gas output such as radon or sulphur, seismic activity, geological changes and rock stress) can give an indication that an event is imminent.

Question 7

Hazard management cycle

Answer 7

The process by which governments and other organisations work to avoid/reduce loss of life or property, help those affected, and ensure rapid/effective recovery.

Question 8

Response

Answer 8

Coping with the disaster - save lives, protect property, reduce economic loss (e.g. search and rescue, evacuation, restoring infrastructure)

Question 9

Recovery

Answer 9

Rebuilding homes and services, restoring power and water supplies, reopening businesses and schools, repairing infrastructure.

Question 10

Mitigation

Answer 10

Prevention of events or minimising effects - e.g. land-use planning and zoning, building codes, protective structures

Question 11

Preparedness

Answer 11

Developing emergency plans and early warning systems, educating communities about hazards and conducting drills, creating evacuation routes.

Question 12

Park’s Model

Answer 12

Model to illustrate how an area might respond after a hazard event. It can be used to compare events/areas.

Question 13

Modifying the event

Answer 13

Strategies to avoid, delay or prevent hazard events. Also known as hazard mitigation. This includes land use zoning, hazard-resistant design, engineering defences, diversion of lava flows

Question 14

Modifying vulnerability and resilience

Answer 14

Strategies designed to reduce the impacts of hazard event. Also known as hazard adaptation. This includes hi-tech monitoring, prediction, education, community preparedness.

Question 15

Modifying Loss

Answer 15

Strategies used to reduce loss including emergency, short and long term aid, insurance and the actions of affected communities themselves.

Question 16

GIS mapping

Answer 16

Digital mapping and layering techniques to plan mitigation, adaptation and response strategies. e.g. can be used to map potential lava flows, and consequently which areas/communities may need to be evacuated.

Question 17

Emergency aid

Answer 17

Support and resources in the immediate aftermath of an event.

Question 18

Short-term aid

Answer 18

Support and resources in the days and weeks after the event.

Question 19

Long-term aid

Answer 19

Support and resources in the months and years after the event

Question 20

Sustainable strategies

Answer 20

Means to modify the event, vulnerability, resilience or loss that will not hinder future generations