Hazards BK 1 - Concepts Of Hazards Flashcards
what are the three types of hazards?
Atmospheric, geographical hydrological
what is a natural hazard?
Events that are a threat to the physical environment, built environment and people that take place naturally
what is a hazard?
Something that is a threat or danger to another thing
What is a disaster?
An event that has gone wrong causing negative consequences
What is an extreme natural process/natural phenomena?
non-human induced event, which doesn’t affect people or put people at risk
Where do tropical storms tend to affect?
Close to the equator
What is distribution?
The way things are given or spread out in an area
What are the three factors relating to risk?
Hazard, vulnerability and exposure
what is the risk equation?
Risk = Hazard x vulnerability
What are some factors that affect a hazards vulnerability to people
conflict and war, upland and lowland areas, inland and coastal areas, corruption, accessibility to services, Lack of resources, evacuation plans.
What is the UN definition of vulnerability?
The condition is determined by physical, social, economic and environmental factors, which increases susceptibility of an individual or community to the impact of hazards
what are some reasons for an increase in vulnerability in MEDC
More development means higher economic costs and jobs to replace, cultural places damaged, higher risk of damaging, bridges, roads, nuclear plants
how is vulnerability reduced in MEDC
better built infrastructure, more resources better emergency services, more research, better education of hazards
what are some reasons for increasing vulnerability in LEDC
Poorer built buildings, poorer emergency services and resources, corruption, more densely populated
what are some reasons that decrease vulnerability in LEDC
Likely to get humanitarian aid, damage is less expensive, places aren’t as built up
why is vulnerability high in urban areas
taller buildings are more likely to collapse, More people at risk, increase in congestion.
Why can vulnerability decrease in urban areas?
better access to healthcare, better infrastructure for evacuation, more investment into urban education
Why can vulnerability increase in rule areas?
More difficult to evacuate because of less developed roads less access to phone signal, little warning of hazards, more elderly people
Why can vulnerability decrease in rule areas?
Less people are easy to evacuate less pressure on roads, less chance of secondary hazards as there are less buildings
Why can’t vulnerability increase in inland areas?
higher population means a high risk of death, more urban built-up areas that are more prone to collapse, mountainous areas more prone to landslides
why can’t vulnerability decrease in inland areas?
Easy to leave, better access to emergency services
why does vulnerability increase in coastal areas?
More risk of hydrological hazards, hard to leave the area, possibly a mountainous area which is hard to leave
why does vulnerability decrease in coastal areas?
Fewer population near the coast means less people at risk, could evacuate by bought
why does vulnerability increase in upland areas?
Easier for secondary hazards happen , possibly more rainfall, Difficult to access road networks, settlements may be cut off
Why may vulnerability decrease in upland areas?
fewer people live there, less risk of tropical storms possibly, less risk from flooding
why does vulnerability increase in lowland areas?
More risk from flooding, usually higher population
Why does vulnerability decrease in Lowland areas?
Better infrastructure, so it’s easier to evacuate and for emergency services to arrive
what is the definition of a risk?
Something that poses as dangerous to someone or something
what is the definition of vulnerability
The characteristics of a place that makes it more susceptible to loss/damage
what are some factors that might affect the way people perceive natural hazards
The rate in which they happen, media representation, age, socio economic status, level of education, family status 
What are the three responses to natural hazards?
fatalism, fear and adaptation
what is fatalism?
People who accept that has, is it going to happen in the place so don’t leave
what is fear?
When people are too scared of a hazard that they can’t continue live in the
what is adaptation?
If the hazard can be predicted, people think they can prepare for it on, reduce the risk of them dying
In terms of natural hazards, what is meant by the term perception?
the way in which someone understands a hazard
what is the duration of a hazard?
The length of time that has a hazard lasts for
what does magnitude mean?
The strength of a hazard
what scale is magnitude measured on?
The Richter scale are all the volcanic explosively index
What is the frequency of hazards
The return interval of hazards of certain sizes
What is the speed of onset?
How quickly a hazard arrives
what is the spacial concentration of a hazard?
Where hazards are located or centred?
what is the aerial extent of a hazard?
If it has had covered is a large area or small area
What are the five stages of the integrated a risk management diagram?
Establishing the context, risk identification, risk analysis, risk, evaluation and risk treatment
What is an NGO?
Non-governmental organisation
What are the four factors of the hazard management cycle?
Preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation
what are some examples of how places can mitigate against a natural hazard?
Building codes, building zoning ,public education, and vulnerability analysis
What are the five stages of the park model?
modifying the cause and event
the event happening
search rescue and care
relief and rehabilitation
reconstruction
