Hazards Flashcards
Define a hazard
Something that is a potential threat to human life or property
What are the 3 types of natural hazards
Geophysical
Atmospheric
Hydrological
Define vulnerability
How susceptible a population is to the damage caused by a hazard
Define Magnitude/Intensity
How powerful the hazard is
What does the park model show
The different phases of response to a hazard
What is the asthenosphere
The upper mantle layer of the earth
Semi molten
What is ash
Fine particles and dust ejected during an eruption
what is continental crust
Crust that forms the continents of the lithosphere
Describe continental drift
Movement of tectonic plates due to varying weights of crust caused by slab pull
What is the epicentre
The point on the surface, directly above the earthquake
Define fatalism
The belief that hazards are uncontrollable, so losses should be accepted and mitigation is unnecessary
What is the focus
The place in the crust where the energy is released
What is a hotspot
Volcanoes found away from plate boundaries due to magma plumes close to the surface
What is a lahar
A flow of mud and debris
What is the lithosphere
The upper crust of the earth
Outline the process of liquification (4)
Sediment loses strength and stiffness as a response to a stress
Solid material behaves like a liquid
Requires a degree of saturation to occur
Can cause damage to infrastructure and cause buildings to collapse
Outline the concept of hazard management cycle
A continuous loop which explains the approach to managing a hazard
Preparedness is concerned with using evidence and data from previous events to plan for hazards
Good preparation minimises impacts from a hazard
Response ensures providing medical aid and services to save and help people
Outline the factors which lead to the formation of mudflows (4)
Rapid melting of ice and snow following a volcanic eruption
Can be caused by tropical storms following an eruption
Typically flow down a valley side and occupy river channels
Speed of the mudflow can be affected by steepness of slope/gravity
Outline the concept of mitigation in relation to the management of hazards
Mitigation is action to reduce the potential effects of a hazard
HMC includes mitigation as part of the pre-event action
This includes hazard mapping
Shows areas which are most vulnerable to a hazard
What are love waves
A surface wave with horizontal displacement
What are the four phases in the hazard management cycle
Mitigation
Preparedness
Response
Recovery
What are the 4 phases in the hazard management cycle for?
Mitigation - aims to minimise the effect of future hazards
Preparedness - planning how to respond to a hazard
Response - how people/services react to a hazard
Recovery - Aims to get the affected area back to normal
What are geophysical hazards
Caused by land processes such as earthquakes and volcanoes
What are atmospheric hazards
Caused by climatic processes such as tropical storms and droughts