Lecture 1 - Introduction Flashcards
Hazard?
Probability that a specific damaging event will happen within a particular period of time
Risk?
A function of the hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and coping capacity (CHEV)
Disaster?
Hazardous event that occurs over a limited time in a defined area
Catastrophe?
Massive disaster that requires significant amount of money or time to recover (aka worse disaster)
Is there an increase in natural disasters?
Hard to say - we can say yes due to climate change, however there is also more world wide news coverage
What is the cause of the most deaths in Canada?
Tonadoes/Windstorms/Lightening
Impact?
Function of magnitude and frequency?
Magnitude frequency concept?
inverse relationship between magnitude and frequency: the bigger the event the less often it happens
What are the subcycles of the geological cyle?
- Hydrologic cycle
- Tectonic cycle
- Biogeochemical cycle
- Rock cycle
Rock cycle?
The cycling of three major rock types
- Igneous
- Sedimentary
- Metamorphic
Igneous rock?
Form from crystalization of magma
Sedimentary rock?
Rocks are weathered into sediment by wind/water, converted to rock through lithification
Metamorphic rock?
CHanged though extreme heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids
Hydrologic cycle?
Solor energy drives movement of water between atmosphere, oceans, and continents
Residence time?
The estimated average time that a drop of water spends in any compartment
Biogeochemical cycles?
The transfer or cycling of an element through the atmosphere
- carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus
Prediction?
Specific date, time, and magnitude of the event
Forecast?
Less precise than a prediction, has a range of probability for the event
What is the risk equation?
Risk = (probability of an event)(consequences)
- where consequences = death/injuries, damge, economic effects, etc. (hard to numerically define)
Acceptable risk?
The amount of risk that an individual/society is willing to take
Direct/Primary Effects?
People killed, building damages, etc. (happened directly due to the event)
Indirect/Secondary Effects?
Crop failures, starvation, emotional distress (aka after effects)
Natural Service Function?
Benefits that the hazard provides
