Lecture 2: Natural Hazard Concepts

Question 1

Natural disaster

Answer 1

An extreme event triggered by destructive forces occurring in nature that causes significant disruption to society
Rapid process, limited areal extent
People are unprepared
Includes EQ, forest fires, droughts

Question 2

Natural catastrophe

Answer 2

Has more global implications, go across national borders, countries and oceans are effected
2004 Indonesian Tsunami

Question 3

Natural hazard

Answer 3

Any natural process that threatens human life or property
Not directly anthropogenic (shouldn’t have started by an individual)
Process itself is not a hazard, only if threatening

Question 4

Types of hazards (2)

Answer 4

1. Catastrophic hazard

2. Hazardous conditions

Question 5

Catastrophic hazard

Answer 5

Sudden onset
Occur without much warning
Loss of life, damage to property

Question 6

Hazardous conditions

Answer 6

Occur slowly
Not necessarily with loss of life
Property damage and long-term health issues (ie. asbestos, radon)

Question 7

Vulnerable

Answer 7

Exposure to being harmed or damaged

Question 8

Risk

Answer 8

Product of the probability of a hazardous process and its possible consequences (death, injury, damage)
risk = vulnerability x hazard probability

Question 9

Acceptable risk

Answer 9

Level of risk that can be tolerated before action is needed to reduce exposure to the process

Question 10

Hazard assessment

Answer 10

Evaluation of the possibility and/or probability that a threatening process can or will occur
Numerical and physical models
Does not attempt to quantify risk

Question 11

Risk analysis

Answer 11

Evaluation of the probability of a hazardous process and its possible consequences (the vulnerabilities: death, injury, $ damage)

Question 12

Geological hazards

Answer 12

Volcanoes, geomagnetism, seismicity, tsunamis, , floods, landslides

Question 13

Climatological hazards

Answer 13

Hurricanes, tornadoes and blizzards, snow avalanches

Question 14

Multiple condition hazards

Answer 14

Floods, landslides

Question 15

Extraterrestrial hazards

Answer 15

Impacts

Question 16

Top three global deadliest disasters

Answer 16

1. Flooding
2. Storm
3. Drought, wildfire, heatwave

Question 17

Top three deadliest disasters in history

Answer 17

1. Cyclone in Bangladesh, 300 000, 1970
2. Earthquake in China, 255 000, 1976
3. Earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, 245 000, 2004

Question 18

Yellow River Flood

Answer 18

In China

1887: 2M lives
1931: 4M
1938: 0.9M

Question 19

Exaggeration of total damage/fatalities

Answer 19

Accelerates the rate of aid
Increase the amount of money (insurance)
OR underestimates, for political reasons

Question 20

Top 5 Canada-US deadliest hazards

Answer 20

1. Severe weather (heat, freezing rain)
2. Tornado
3. Lightning
4. Flood
5. Hurricane

Question 21

Top 3 most deadly natural disasters in Canada

Answer 21

1. Newfoundland Hurricane of 1775
2. 1700 Cascadia EQ
3. Tseax Cone eruption

Question 22

Top 3 global most costly disasters

Answer 22

1. Hurricane Katrina
2. Earthquake, tsunami, Japan
3. Hurricane Sandy

Question 23

Top 3 more costly disasters in Canada

Answer 23

1. Fire, Alberta, 2016, 3.58B
2. Ice Storm, St Bruno Quebec, 1998, 2.18B
3. Wind, thunderstorm in Southern Alberta, 1.88B

Question 24

What factors control damage?

Answer 24

Population, population density, infrastructure, building codes, magnitude of hazard, intensity of hazard, style of hazard

Question 25

Summary of deaths a costs

Answer 25

1. More deaths in densely populated regions
2. More costs in developed regions
3. Globally, floods, EQ and hurricanes are most deadly (but not for NA)
4. Increasing trend in number of deaths and amount of damage