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Hazardous environments- 3 Flashcards

1
Q

Define natural hazard

A

An extreme event or condition in the natural environment causing harm to people, properties or livelihoods.

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2
Q

Why do natural hazards lead to natural disasters?

A

Natural hazards only lead to natural disasters because people live in hazardous areas

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3
Q

What are the two types of natural hazards?

A

Tectonic and geological, climatic and meteorological

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4
Q

What are examples of tectonic and geological natural hazards?

A

Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, landslides

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5
Q

What are examples of climatic and meteorological natural hazards?

A

Tropical cyclones, drought, floods, tornadoes

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6
Q

What are the different characteristics of hazards and disasters?

A

Magnitude, frequency, regularity, areal extent, spatial concentration/dispersion, speed of onset, duration

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7
Q

Define magnitude

A

Size of event

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8
Q

Define frequency

A

How often the event of a certain size occurs

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9
Q

Define regularity

A

How regular or random the event is

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10
Q

Define areal extent

A

The size of the area covered by the hazard

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11
Q

Define spatial concentration/dispersion

A

The distribution of hazards over space

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12
Q

Define speed of onset

A

Speed of event which can vary from very rapid events to slow timescale events

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13
Q

Define duration

A

Length of time that the natural hazard exists

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14
Q

What is a hurricane?

A

An intense, low pressure system that brings heavy rainfall, strong winds and high waves, and can cause other hazards such as flooding and mudslides. They are large-scale features with a diameter of up to 800km and a calm central area called the eye. Most hurricanes take place in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

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15
Q

What is an earthquake?

A

A sudden violent shaking of the earth’s surface

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16
Q

Why do earthquakes occur?

A

They occur when a build up of pressure causes rocks and other materials to give way. Most of this pressure occurs at plate boundaries when one plate is moving against the other

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17
Q

Why do people continue to live in areas at risk from hazardous events?

A

People may think that the advantages of living in the area outweigh the risks and also poor people may have little choice in where they live, forcing them to live in unsafe areas such as steep slopes or floodplains.

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18
Q

Where are tropical storms found in the world?

A

Central and South America, western and central Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. (Close proximity to equator)

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19
Q

When in the year are tropical storms found in different parts of the world?

A

Late summer and autumn

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20
Q

What are the different factors that affect tropical storms?

A

Ocean temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind shear and Coriolis force

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21
Q

What must the ocean temperature be for a tropical storm?

A

Over 27 degrees

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22
Q

How deep should the ocean be for a tropical storm?

A

At least 70m

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23
Q

Where must the low pressure area be for a tropical storm?

A

It should be far enough away from the equator so that the Coriolis force creates rotation in the rising air mass

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24
Q

What is wind shear?

A

The lower and upper winds in the atmosphere blowing in the same direction

25
What is Coriolis force?
Force caused by the rotation of the earth
26
How are tropical storms measured?
Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale (1-5)
27
Why are some countries more physically vulnerable to tropical storms?
They may be in more tropical regions near the equator
28
Why might some countries more be economically vulnerable to tropical storms?
Poorer quality of buildings, limited access to technology, cannot afford insurance
29
Why might some countries be more socially vulnerable to tropical storms?
Education, gender (women taking care of children), population density, age
30
Short term impacts of typhoon haiyan
6300 people died, 30000 fishing boats were destroyed, 600000 people were displaced, 90% of city was destroyed, 400mm of rainfall, strong winds, heavy rain, public services damaged
31
Long term impacts of typhoon haiyan
14 million people affected, landslides, high mortality rate, flights and ferry’s disrupted, 6 million people lost jobs, power supplies cut off, looting and violence
32
What is a volcano?
An opening through the earths crust through which molten magma and ash are erupted onto land as lava, ash and cinders
33
Causes of volcanic hazards?
an increase in pressure in the lid of a volcano's magma chamber
34
What are hotspots?
Isolated, rising plumes of magma that lead to volcanic activity away from plate margins
35
What are conservative plate boundaries?
These are plate boundaries where two plate are either slipping past each other in opposite directions or at different rates in the same direction.
36
What hazards are found at conservative plate boundaries?
Earthquakes
37
What are constructive plate boundaries?
the plates are moving apart from one another
38
What hazards are found at constructive plate boundaries?
Earthquakes
39
What are deconstructive plate boundaries?
where the tectonic plates are moving towards each other
40
What hazards are found at deconstructive plate boundaries?
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and landslides
41
What are collision plate boundaries?
If two continental plates collide, neither can sink and so the land buckles upwards to form fold mountains.
42
What hazards are found at collision plate boundaries?
Earthquakes
43
How are earthquakes measured?
Richter scale
44
How are volcanoes measured?
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)
45
Where can tectonic hazards be found globally?
Around the Pacific Ocean.
46
How can countries reduce the impacts of earthquake hazards?
Constructing buildings to withstand the impact of earthquakes
47
How can countries prepare for earthquakes?
Warning and evacuation, remote sensing, GIS (hazard mapping), rebuilding programmes
48
Short term responses and relief in Haiti earthquake
Emergency aid, shelter, supplies
49
What was the long term planning put in place after the Haiti earthquake?
Risk assessment, hazard mapping and rebuilding programmes
50
Was there any preparation before the Haiti earthquake?
There wasn’t any preparation due to poverty, lack of infrastructure and limited resources
51
Short term impacts of the Haiti earthquake
2000 died, 12000 injured, hospitals schools and homes were destroyed
52
Long term impacts of Haiti earthquake
332 people went missing for 5 days, hundreds of landslides, heavy rainfall, 3m high tsunami
53
Why are Haitian population more vulnerable to natural hazards?
seismically active and hurricane-prone region, poverty, deforestation leading to increased risk of landslides and flooding, poor infrastructure
54
How were japan prepared for the earthquake?
advanced early warning systems, good infrastructure, GIS.
55
What were the short term responses following the japan earthquake?
Prime minister set up emergency aid, shelter and supplies
56
What long term planning have the Japanese put in place for earthquakes?
Risk assessment, hazard mapping, rebuilding programmes
57
Short term impacts of Icelandic volcano
Flight disruptions, global supply chain disruptions.
58
Long term impacts for icelandic volcano
improved volcanic monitoring, positive effects on Iceland's tourism

Geography (3 decks)

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