Global Hazards

Question 1

What is a disaster?

Answer 1

A hazard becoming a reality in an event that causes deaths and damage to property.

Question 2

What is a hazard?

Answer 2

A natural event that potentially threatens human life.

Question 3

disaster risk equation?

Answer 3

R = H * V

CtC

Question 4

give the 4 reasons why people still expose themselves to hazard risks

Answer 4

• changing risks / prediction of earthquakes
• lack of alternatives/ poor people
• benefits v. costs
• risk perception/ optimism

Question 5

explain the enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 5

1. solar, short wave radiation reaches earth
2. usually most of outgoing long wave radiation would be reflected back into space
3. BUT, more GHG in atmosphere means less is reflected out and more is trapped within ozone

Question 6

name 3 Greenhouse gases

Answer 6

• carbon dioxide
• water vapour
• nitrous oxide

Question 7

how many parts per million of GHG were there in the 19th century, compared to 2007?

Answer 7

19th = 280ppm
2007 = 430ppm

Question 8

what is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Answer 8

increase in atmospheric GHG due to humans

Question 9

how will the enhanced greenhouse eventually affect the future climate negatively?

Answer 9

2 degrees increase

this is bad because global tipping point reached

Question 10

what is tipping point?

Answer 10

when a system has to switch from one state to another to reach a new equilibrium

Question 11

what 5 things will global warming cause?

Answer 11

• diseases, malaria
• increase ocean temps: more strong hurricanes & no coral reefs
• positive feedback mechanism: albedo of ice decrease
• PFM: methane released from melted arctic permafrost
• ocean thermal expansion = sea level rise

Question 12

how has global warming affected Kiribati?

Answer 12

• tebua gone
• 1m above sea level
• environmental refugees to Nz & Aussie
• 17000 locals applied for residency in Nz
• multiple hazards: sea level rise & tropical storms = flooding