EQ3 Tectonics Flashcards
how have natural events changed over the years?
generally increased from 38 in1980 to 98 in 2010- especially meteorological and hydrological
geophysical events not changing much
why are we recording more natural events?
better monitoring and recording of events
global popn increase so more people effected and living in risk areas
what was the population in 1975 compared to now?
1975- 4 Bn
now- 8.2 billion people
how has number of deaths changed since 1975
120,000 in 1975
85000 in 2023
why is the number of deaths attributed to natural disasters decreasing
better warning systems
improved buildings
why are disaster statistics hard to use?
depends on whether primary AND secondary deaths are included
regional events in remote places often under-recorded
declaration of deaths could be subject to political bias
hard to analyse time trends from historical data
what is a megadisaster
an unexpected natural or manmade catastrophe of exceptional magnitude or causing unusually severe or unprecedented damage on a regional or global scale
key characteristics of megadisasters
large scale (aerial/ spatial or economic and human impact)
scale causes serious problems for effective management to minimise impact
require international support - on a regional or global level
affect more than one country directly or indirectly
What is a multiple hazard zone
Places where a number of physical hazards combine and create an increased level of risk for the country and its population
Often made worse by a vulnerable population or suffers repeated events
What is a disaster hotspot
A place where a vulnerable population suffers repeated events
What is a hydrometeorological hazard
Natural hazards caused by climate processes eg droughts, floods, hurricanes, storms
Which 3 countries have highest risk of mortality from multiple hazards
Taiwan
El Salvador
Costa rica
Which 3 countries have highest risk of economic loss
Taiwan
Dominican Republic
Jamaica
Where are disaster hotspots most likely to be
Where plate boundaries intersect with major storm belts in high areas of human concentration in LICs
What priorities might countries have before risk management of multiple hazards?
Poverty
Fighting HIV/AIDS
Not able to afford tech to cope with multiple hazards
What is earthquake risk forecast based on
Statistical likelihood based on :
Seismic monitoring networks
Historical records
What are the challenges of predicting earthquakes
Not possible to make accurate predictions of when and where
Forecasting only reliable in the long term instead of short term
Why is forecasting of earthquakes important
Not possible to predict accurately
Encourages government to enforce better building regulations or improved evacuate procedures
How many volcanoes since 1980 have caused more than 1000 deaths
2
How are volcanoes monitored and predicted
Ground deformation measured
Ground vibrations
Cameras observe physical changes
Thermal imaging
Monitoring airborne gas changes
What physical factors impact response to a hazard
Accessibility of region
Type and scale of hazard
Topography of region - mountains
Climate - rain can cause access problems
What human factors can affect response
Population density
Degree of community preparedness
Technical engineering and resources
Education and training
Economic wealth of a country
Social and political framework
Government competence and resources
What is the hazard management cycle
Hazard > emergency > recovery > reconstruction > disaster free period
Repeat
What are some examples of mitigation for a hazard
Zoning and land use planning
Developing and enforcing building code
Building protective structures (tsunami sea wall defence)
Examples of preparedness for a hazard
Developing plans and early warning systems
Creating evacuation routes
Stockpiling aid equipment and supplies
Raising public awareness
Examples of response to natural hazards
Search and rescue
Evacuation
Restoring critical infrastructure
Ensuring critical services continue
Examples of short term recovery from a hazard
Providing essential health and safety services
Restoring permenant power and water supplies
Re establishing transport routes
Providing food and temp shelter
Organisations financial assistance
Examples of long term recovery from hazards
Rebuilding homes and other structures
Repairing and rebuilding infrastructure
Reopening businesses and schools
What are the stages in the park model and how long do they take
Pre disaster
(Disaster)
Relief (hours to days)
Rehabilitation (days to weeks)
Reconstruction (weeks to years)
What is involved in the pre disaster stage of the disaster response curve ?
Normal quality of life
Preparing and preventing methods being put in place
What is involved in the relief stage of the disaster response curve ?
Hazard has occurred
Priority is search and rescue, medical attention and emergency services
What is involved in the rehabilitation stage of the disaster response curve ?
Groups (gov) try to return the state of things back to normal,
Food, water and shelter provided for those who don’t have basic needs
What is involved in the reconstruction stage of the disaster response curve
Longer term- investment in infrastructure, property and crops
Organisations use preparation and presentation to improve from mistakes of this disaster
What is the park model
Focuses on how a country or region may respond after a hazard event
How does the park model vary between events
Impacts of a hazard vary over time, depending on size and amount of aid received
All hazards have different impacts so different curves
Wealthier countries recover much faster
For larger regional hazards, each country has its own curve
What is forecasting of a tectonic event
The statistical likelihood of an event happening
What is prediction of a tectonic event
Knowing when, where and the magnitude of an event
What is the Swiss cheese model of incident causation (tectonics)
Human systems like slices of Swiss cheese stacked side by side
Risk of threat becoming reality mitigated by the different types of defence which are layered behind one another
Lapses in one defence don’t allow a risk to materialise unless all layers down
What are some key players in manageing loss from tectonic disasters
Aid donors
NGOs
Governments
Scientists
Insurance companies
Individuals and communities
What three ways can you reduce the impact of hazards
Modifying event - most desirable but not always possible
Modifying vulnerability
Modifying loss - least desirable
How can we modify tectonic events
Occurs long before the hazard strikes
Mitigate impacts of hazard by reducing its aerial extent and effective magnitude
How can we modify vulnerability to tectonic events
Short term before hazards strike
Get People out of the way or help the, cope with its impacts by building resilience
How can we modify loss of a tectonic event
After the hazard strikes
Reduce the short and long term losses by acting to aid recovery and reconstruction
What are some examples of modifying the event
Land use zoning
Diverting lava flows
Hazard resistant design and engineering defence
Examples of modifying vulnerability
Monitoring
Education
Prediction
Community preparedness and adaptation
Examples of modifying loss
Emergency and long term aid
Insurance
Communities working together
What factrs determine the height and destructiveness of a tsunami
Scale of earthquake
Volume of displaced water
Topography of sea floor
Whether there are any natural obstacles to absorb some energy and dampen the shock
