key terms for hazards Flashcards
Adaptation
Attempts by people or communities to live with hazard events which lead to a reduction in vulnerability.
Fatalism
The belief that nothing can be done to affect the outcome of a hazard and thus little mitigation is put in place.
Natural hazards
Events perceived to be a threat to people, the built environment and natural environment.
Perception
The way in which an individual or a group view the threat of a hazard, which determines the influences.
Frequency
The distribution of a hazard through time.
Integrated risk management
Considering social, economic and political factors involved in risk analysis.
Magnitude
The assessment of the size of the impact of a hazard event.
Prediction
The ability to give warnings to reduce the impact of hazard events.
Primary effects
The effects of a hazard event resulting directly from the event.
Resilience
The ability of individuals and communities to use resources to respond to, withstand and recover from natural hazard events.
Secondary effects
The effects of a hazard event resulting from primary impacts of the event.
Lahars
Form when volcanic ash mixes with water and flows downhill.
Lava
Molten rock flowing onto the surface.
Lithosphere
The layer of the Earth consisting of the crust and the upper mantle.
Pyroclastic flows
Formed when hot gas mixes with tephra. Flow down the sides of a mountain at speeds of over 700km/h.
Nuées ardentes
Pyroclastic flows formed only from hot gas.
Tephra
Any solid matter ejected by a volcano into the air.
Earthquake
The release of pressure built out over a period of time at a plate boundary causing intense shaking.
Retrofitting
Making buildings earthquake proof by fitting them with modern devices. - JAPAN
Tsunami
Giant sea waves generated by shallow-focus underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or landslides.
Mitigation
Strategies designed to reduce or eliminate risks to people and property from natural hazards.
Storm surge
A rapid rise in sea level caused by a tropical storm when waves pile up water against a coastline.
Hazard
Event that poses a potential threat to human life or property
Natural Hazard
Event caused by a natural process, would occur w/o presence of humans
Disaster
When a hazard seriously affects humans
Risk
The likelihood that humans will be seriously affected by a hazard
Vulnerability
How susceptible a population is to the damage caused by a hazard
