Midterm 2 Flashcards
What is the difference between magma and lava?
Magma is molten material derived from the mantle, but still inside the earth.
Lava is molten material erupted onto the surface of the earth.
What determines explosivity of a volcanic eruption? Be able to explain the roles of silica and dissolved gases and the importance of viscosity and pressure. Explain the relationship between the chemical composition of magma and eruption style and strength?
- Chemical composition of the magma involved in the eruption determines explosivity
- high silica (felsic magma) = high viscosity
- high dissolved gas content in magma = high pressure
- high silica / viscosity and high dissolved gas / pressure = explosive eruptions
· Know the characteristics of Rhyolitic, Andesitic, and Basaltic magma
Rhyolitic: highest silica, highest gas, lowest eruption temp MOST EXPLOSIVE
Andesitic: medium silica, medium gas, medium temperature MEDIUM EXPLOSIVE
Basaltic: lowest silica, lowest gas, highest temperature LEAST EXPLOSIVE
What is the difference between Mafic and Felsic magma?
Felsic magma: lots of silicate chains, a high gas content, erupt at lower temperatures. create explosive eruptions
Mafic magma: low viscosity, lower silica content, lower gas, erupt at higher temperatures. create effusive eruptions.
· What are some of the most common volatiles found in magma? What three key factors determine the viscosity of magma? Why is the viscosity of magma important?
Common volatiles:
water, carbon dioxide
Three key factors determining the viscosity: temperature, silica content, presence of water
Viscosity determines how quickly lava will flow
Explain where volcanos occur, why they occur there, and where we find explosive versus effusive types of volcanos (ie why certain types of eruption are characteristically found in specific tectonic settings).
- Divergent Boundaries: basalts occur here (low explosivity, low silica),
-Intra-plate: ex. Hawaii, basaltic magma (low explosivity)
-Subduction Zone: most violent eruptions because magma is rich in silica and water
- Convergent boundaries: stratovolcanoes, felsic magma with high viscosity but lava flow is not hazardous
Describe the different causes of tsunami formation.
- Earthquakes: earthquakes along reverse or thrust fault subduction zones create tsunamis
- Volcanoes: energy released by volcano along with pyroclastic flow OR volcano eruption can cause a portion of a volcano’s slope to slide off into the ocean
-Landslides: submarine landslide can displace enough water to generate a tsunami
-Asteroid Impacts: asteroid striking ocean creating a tsunami
Be able to explain what distinguishes an active from a dormant volcano
Rest dormant – could erupt again – don’t see anything happen – but smth could
- Extinct – believe magma chambers are not active
Active Volcano:
Recent Eruption: An active volcano has erupted within historical times, typically within the last few thousand years.
Monitoring: Active volcanoes are usually monitored closely for signs of volcanic activity, such as seismic activity, ground deformation, and gas emissions.
Potential Hazard: They pose a potential hazard to nearby populations and infrastructure due to the likelihood of future eruptions.
Dormant Volcano:
A dormant volcano is currently not erupting and has not erupted for a long time, often thousands to millions of years.
Potential for Future Eruptions: While dormant, these volcanoes are not considered extinct and could erupt again in the future under the right conditions.
Monitoring: Dormant volcanoes may not be actively monitored, especially if they are in remote or less populated areas.
What geographical settings typically have the highest levels of fatalities associated with volcanic eruptions and why. Provide specific country examples.
toba – caldera system – indonesia – rhyolitic – high in silica high viscosity – so many volatiles – so much pressure and so much energy released
Yellowstone – caldera
Siberian traps – extreme global temp rise – from gases – temps leathally high - hard to photosynthesize Earths equator – became dead zone
Lahars – columbia Indonesia – pyroclastic flows, tsunamis, tephra, cone collapse
We can forecast eruptions through triangulating data from a number of different forecasting techniques. Briefly describe four forecasting techniques for volcanic eruptions (4 points).
Monitoring – remote sensing, ground deformation, gas emissions monitoring, seismic monitoring
Describe the different types of volcanic hazards, both their causal conditions and the threat they pose to people or property, drawing on real world examples to illustrate your answers. Make reference to the six key characteristics we use to assess physical hazards
- Tephra emissions
- small particles of volcanic rock emitted into the atmosphere
- risk: respiration problems, climate cooling and famine - Gas emissions
-risk: climate cooling and crop failure / famine, potential poisoning - Pyroclastic density current:
- very hot mixture of gases and volcanic tephra that flows down the side of volcano
-risk: destroys everything - Pyroclastic fall
- vertical fall of tephra in the area surrounding an eruption
-risk: thick tephra coverage of areas close to the eruption, collapsed roofs - Lahar
- a flow of mud and debris down volcano
-risk: destruction of anything within the channel - Debris avalanche
- failure of part of volcano
-risk: destruction in path of debris avalanche - Lava flow
-risk: people / infrastructure, but flow is slow
When it comes to natural hazards, the speed at which the hazard occurs often means the difference between property damage or human fatalities. What is the fastest moving volcanic hazard?
pyroclastic flows which can travel up to 200m per second
Define Climate
the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.
What is Albedo?
The percent of energy an object reflects is an object’s albedo
Understand the relationship between solar radiation, earth rotation, and air circulation in order to be able to explain how these give rise to the ITCZ, prevailing winds from the east just north and south of the equator, and the seasonal monsoon rains.
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ): The convergence of warm, moist air near the equator, combined with the Coriolis effect, results in the formation of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Here, the trade winds from both hemispheres converge, creating a belt of low pressure. As warm, moist air rises in this region, it cools, condenses, and forms clouds and precipitation.
Prevailing Winds: Near the equator, the Coriolis effect is relatively weak, so the trade winds blow almost directly from east to west. These are known as the northeasterly trade winds in the Northern Hemisphere and the southeasterly trade winds in the Southern Hemisphere. These winds converge at the ITCZ and rise, contributing to the formation of the low-pressure zone.
Seasonal Monsoon Rains: The seasonal shift in the position of the ITCZ is influenced by the tilt of the Earth’s axis as it orbits the Sun, resulting in the changing angle of solar radiation. During the Northern Hemisphere summer, the ITCZ shifts northward, bringing heavy rains to regions like Southeast Asia. Conversely, during the Northern Hemisphere winter, the ITCZ shifts southward, leading to dry conditions in these regions.
Know how topography affects wind and precipitation (orographic lift).
When air must rise over a mountain, the moisture within it cools and condenses to form clouds. One side of the mountain will be moist and cloudy, while the other side remains dry.
What causes low and high pressure at the surface of the earth? How does air move (ie wind) relative to a low and high pressure area at the earths surface? Which way do low and high pressure systems circulate in the a) northern hemisphere and b) southern hemisphere and why?
high pressure systems occur when there is more atmosphere over an area than usual (like from cooling)
low pressure systems are areas when there is atmospheric rising, due to warming and expansion.
air moves from higher to lower pressure
As winds flow from high to low pressure, it is deflected to the right (in the Northern Hemisphere) because of the earth’s rotation. It is in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection is nonexistent at the equator and progressively gets stronger towards the poles.
What are the four prerequisite conditions required for the formation of Tropical Cyclones (typhoons/hurricanes
- Very warm surface ocean water through an ocean depth of more than 60 m
- Rotation effection (coriolis) - must be at least 4 degrees of lat away from the equator
- low winder shear (vertical) - significant differences in wind speeds at low and high altitude
- warm and humid air in low (to mid) troposphere, cool air in high troposphere
Be able to graph and describe how wind strength, pressure, and wind direction change as a cyclone moves towards you, is centered on you, and then moves away. Assume we are in the Northern Hemisphere.
Graphical Representation:
Wind Strength Pressure
| /
| /
| /
Strength | /
↑ | /
| | / ← Pressure
| | /
| |/
|\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_|\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
↑ X-axis (Time/Distance)
↑
↑ Wind Direction (Arrows) Description of Changes: Approaching Cyclone: Wind strength gradually increases. Pressure drops rapidly. Wind direction shifts counterclockwise, becoming more southeasterly.
Cyclone Centered:
Wind strength peaks.
Pressure reaches its lowest point.
Wind direction is variable and may be calm or erratic as the cyclone’s eye passes over.
Cyclone Moving Away:
Wind strength gradually decreases.
Pressure begins to rise.
Wind direction shifts back to its original easterly direction, reversing the counterclockwise pattern observed during the approach.
Globally, where do we find tropical cyclones and why? Why do we not find them off the west coast of South America?
- primarily occur in the tropical regions of the world. They form over warm ocean waters typically between 5 and 30 degrees latitude, both north and south of the equator. The warm ocean waters provide the energy needed for the development and intensification of tropical cyclones
-No tropical cyclones in South America west coast because the presence of cold ocean currents. These cold ocean currents result in cooler sea surface temperatures, which are not conducive to the formation and sustenance of tropical cyclones.
What is the dangerous quadrant of a hurricane? Why is this important? Be able to identify the dangerous quadrant of a tropical cyclone in both the northern and southern hemisphere and relative to the direction of travel of the storm. If you could only move perpendicular to the storm direction, know which way you would have to go to avoid the dangerous quadrant.
- right front quadrant of a hurricane is most dangerous (south front in S. Hemisphere)
-This quadrant is considered the most dangerous because it typically experiences the strongest winds, highest storm surge, and heaviest rainfall associated with the storm.
-It’s important to identify the dangerous quadrant of a tropical cyclone because it helps determine the areas most at risk for severe impacts such as destructive winds, storm surge, and heavy rainfall. - to avoid you would need to move east in both scenarios (right in NH and left in SH)
What are the hazards associated with hurricanes? How do they differ at sea and over land?
- High wind
- Store surge (over coastal areas) or waves (at sea)
- Precipitation (flooding and mass movements)
- Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
What are the causes of storm surge? Where is storm surge the greatest?
What is a Rogue wave and what causes them?
What causes heat waves?
High pressure ridge traps warm moist layers next to ground
How are temperature and mean average mortality related?
Temperature and mean average mortality are positively correlated – more ppl die on extremely hot days – spike in mortality during heat waves – mostly affecting older/vulnerable ppl
Why is humidity important in assessing hazard to humans from heat waves?
- it affects the body’s ability to cool itself through the process of sweating and evaporation. When humidity levels are high, sweat evaporates more slowly, which diminishes the body’s natural cooling mechanism.
How is apparent temperature calculated?
Air temperature + (relative) humidity lvl (%)
Wind chill – temp + wind
Why are urban populations more exposed and vulnerable to heat waves?
Because the apparent temperatures are higher, heat is trapped in by buildings and people
How does age relate to vulnerability to heat waves, be specific?
heat disorders increase with age
- 20yr : heat cramps
-40yr: heat exhaustion
-60yr: heat stroke
How does poverty relate to vulnerability to heat waves?
more likely to have exposure and physical activity
What will change in frequency of heat waves be under global warming scenario of +2.0 degree rise in temperatures?
10 year heat waves will be 5x more frequent than pre-industrial area
50 year heat waves will be over 10x more frequent than pre-industrial era
What are the direct and indirect impacts of heat waves?
Direct impacts: agriculture loss, healthcare cost, utility cost
Indirect impacts: productivity loss, insurance higher, environmental damage like wildfires
How does social capital (trust) affect vulnerability to heat waves?
increase in social capital makes people less vulnerable because information will be more widespread, allowing for more people to know and seek help, and prepare for these events
What are the benefits of wildfires?
Humans: use of fire and related technologies has been key to societal development
Ecosystems: some ecosystems are adapted to and dependent upon fire disturbances (opens succession, limits infestations, recycles nutrients)
What is the fire triangle?
oxygen, fuel, heat
Where do we predominantly find wildfires and why?
Avail of fuel and precip —
- Need enough precip to make fuel
- Not too much precip to prevent the wildfire
Band – where were seeing – changing w season Growing and burning – convergence zone – in africa – so dry vs so wet
Australia – Arid winds – dry out vegetated area – storm comes – storm front – lightning – southern aus – wildfire front
What shapes wildfire behaviour?
- Fuel
- Precipitation
- Wind
- Topography
How does fuel type and availability affect wildfire behaviour?
Type: some materials ignite easier than others / materials burn at different temperatures and burn more embers
Availability: if there is a lot of a high burn type of material, burn will be high. but if availability is low then wildfire might not spread as wide
What are the three main types of wildfires?
Ground fires—which burn organic matter in the soil beneath surface litter and are sustained by glowing combustion. – move slowly along ground
Surface fires—which spread with a flaming front and burn leaf litter, fallen branches and other fuel at ground level. – moves like a wall
Crown fires—which burn through the top layer of foliage on a tree, called the canopy. Crown fires are the most intense type of fire and are often the most difficult to contain. They need strong winds, steep slopes and a heavy fuel load to continue burning. – spreads along tree tops
What is the importance of antecedent precipitation and humidity in controlling wildfires, be specific?
If there is a lot of antecedent precipitation then the fuel will be wet with canopy drip and it will be harder to ignite
If RH > 60% then moisture will be absorbed and fuel will be wet
How does wind influence wildfire behaviour and why?
Wind exacerbates impacts of wildfires because it feeds oxygen which drives flames, it also carries embers
How does topography influence wildfire behaviour and why?
Topography influences wildfire behaviour by determining where the wildfire spreads, like burns travel upwards and shapes wind and convection flow
How do wildfires spread spatially across a landscape?
Point of ignition – smth triggers ignition of fuel – starts to. Burn – progress out wards (no winds)
Generally – some winds – propagates in direction of wind
Get cone shape – spreads out to either side
Front edge – moving against prevailing winds
Greatest growth of fire at the front –head of line of fire – where r concentrating fire suppression
What are the key impacts associated with wildfires? Both human and non-human
Human:
- Mortality
- Particulate load– exacerbating respiratory illnesses – smoke and mortality
- Infra/resources lost
- Displacement of ppl
- Disruption of econ activities in affected regions
- Disruption of schooling
- Mental health
- Agriculture
- Tourism
- Other weather-dependent businesses
- Carbon emissions
Non-human:
- High mortality in animals
- Loss of habitat
- ecosystems ravaged by fire (hot)
What is meant by fire weather? Explain fire weather that leads to wildfires in Australia
Meteorological conditions that are ideal for producing large wildfires (ex. prolonged heat, strong winds, low antecedent precipitation and humidity
fire weather conditions in Australia are characterized by a combination of high temperatures, low humidity, strong winds, drought conditions, and the presence of flammable vegetation types
Ex. Black saturday bushfires and ash wednesday bushfires
What does the Canadian Forest Fire Index look at to assess fire risk
Consecutive daily observations of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and 24-hour rainfall
What are the two main projected global wildfire trends under climate change. What might this mean for wildfire management?
- Fire-prone conditions are on the rise globally
- length of fire weather season will lengthen
Management: will need more financial support to mitigate risks
Why do natural causes account for a minority of actual wildfires but are responsible for the majority of area burned by wildfires?
The fires may be in remote areas so they burn more before people realize they are occurring
What were the different levels of government, key agencies, and key individuals at each level that were needed to be involved in the coordination of an emergency evacuation and response to the hurricane?
Federal government: (6)
1. President Bush
- Secretary of state - Dr. Condoleezza Rice
- FEMA – Michael Brown
- Homeland security - Michael Chertoff
- US coastguard
- US military
State government:
1. Governor of Louisiana – Kathleen Blanco
Local government:
1. Mayor of New Orleans – Clarence Raymond Joseph Nagin Jr.
2 .State police and city police - ex. Eddie Compass, Jefferson Parish police
3. Airport in New Orleans
What were the key problems raised in the film with respect to the political response to the emergency that exacerbated the impacts of the flood and why did they occur?
- Non-existent and slow political response to flooding — No aid for days – food, shelter, sanitation, rescue, transportation
- Led to looting –> Led to rumours about violent looters Ppl shored up in their houses – protecting themselves from rumoured violence – racially charged – manifested real violence
–> Led to militarized response from gov
- Internally displaced ppl - separated from families as result of evacuation
The documentary suggests that it was known that the levies would fail should a hurricane of this magnitude hit New Orleans. Why did they fail to adequately prepare for such an event.
Systemic defunding and neglect of infrastructure of low income black community – Levees left unfinished and neglected for 40 years
Findings from study ignored – transport probs
Briefly describe two scenarios presented in the film where social capital (trust and social cohesion - ie people banding together) served to help mitigate the impacts of flooding in New Orleans.
- People rescuing people from the water right after the storm hit
- Singing in superdome – finding joy in hard times together
Briefly describe two scenarios presented in the film where a breakdown in social capital served to exacerbate the impacts of flooding in New Orleans
Looting and chaos – rumours–> Lack of trust – looters racially profiled – shooting – env of fear looming
- Militarized response– law enforcement – will shoot and kill
How did the previous experience of Hurricane Betsy influence some of the city’s residents’ decisions to evacuate or no?
Some Ppl who survived Betsy thought they could weather the storm
What happened when the survivors of the Hurricane gave up waiting for buses to come and evacuate them, and decided instead to walk out of the city over the interstate bridge?
Met with armed men who told them to turn back at gunpoint – citizenship and racialized, classist Where they are and arent welcome
After watching this documentary, whose fault (a single agency, multiple people, anyone?) do you think it was that over a thousand people died unnecessarily in the wake of Hurricane Katrina? Do you think that there were any systemic discrimination or bias that may have led to these deaths? If so, what kind of systemic bias?
Fed gov – flooding turned into nat disaster bc of political failures – not deploying resources
Fed gov – conditional support – declaring emergency – but not actually following through once it hit NO
Past gov – left levees unfinished - systemic defunding of mitigation infra – inevitable breach of levees
racial bias –
militarized response
What is the hazard profile of droughts and why does this make droughts particularly challenging for people and governments to prepare for and respond to?
Hazard profile:
1. slow onset
2. prolonged duration
3. widespread (regional)
Governments don’t necessarily recognize when a drought has started immediately and therefore makes it challenging to respond to.
What is the Aridity Index? In what type of environment, according to the aridity index, do we find droughts? In what type of environment are droughts most likely to be hazardous and why?
Aridity Index = P / PET
P = precipitation
PET = potential evapotranspiration
What is the difference between meteorological drought, soil moisture drought, agricultural drought, and hydrological drought and how are they linked.
Meteorological drought – natural climate variability – lack of precip over a large area AND for an extensive period of time Deficit – gives rise to diff types of droughts – COMBINED w high evap –> soil moisture drought devs Soil moisture drought –> plant water stress, reduced biomass and yield Agricultural drought – soil moisture insufficient to support crops Hydrological drought – groundwater recharge and streamflow reduced
Why was defining what constitutes a famine highly political in the past? How are famines defined today? The way famines are defined make it famine a relative concept, what is the implication of this?
Political – defining famines – implies we need to mobilize resources – ppl need to step in – international community needs to step in – international obligations– declaration of famine as crisis is political Who defines event as famine – q of pwr relations within and btwn countries
Need to meet criteria in order to declare a famine – RELATIVE CONCEPT – measure of intensity not magnitude (country w bigger pop would have to have many more deaths than less populated one to declare famine) Food consumption: 1/5 households – face extreme lack of food Nutritional status: >30% suffering from “wasting” (2 standard deviations below the median weight for a given height Mortality (due to inadequate food consumption): 2/10,000 and 4 children under 5/10,000 are dying/day
Since famines are defined as a relative concept, counntries with bigger pops will need sm more deaths to declare a famine – Sm ppl on edge of famine – but no famine declared – no mobilization – not meeting intensity measures
Defining famine – important – has implications – threshold has to be met before triggers deployment of aid – not ideal way to avoid famine – need to provide aid, predict, and forecast better
Are root causes of famines due more to institutions or to climate? Why or in what ways?
Climate triggers disruption of food, but is not a cause, as causes are often conflict, poverty, access to markets, healthcare systems, and political institutions, Food prices too expensive “Famine is mainly a prob of food distribution and food insecurity due to widespread poverty” Ppl starve bc they aren’t entitled to resources – don’t have control over necessary resources for livelihood – bc of power, politics – is institutional
What is the relationship between population growth and hunger/famine?
Famine deaths have decreased with population growth Population growth is high where hunger is high – doesn’t mean that pop growth makes hunger inevitable Hunger has fallen fastest in countries with high pop growth
What are the regional trends in terms of where we see famines occurring over time?
Asia (biggest and most famines) Europe – 1910-1950 Africa – smaller famines – more recent famines Geographically – see famines disappear from world – global periphery still experiencing famines today
According to historical data, what is the relationship between type of political regime and famine when it comes to colonies, autocracies, and democracies.
Democracy – responsive to ppl – put institutions that will address issues Doesn’t care, not respond to ppl sneeds – more likely to
Colonies – still exporting food while in a famine (ex. India, ireland, condo, sudan, niger) Ethiopia – Country in Debt - had to export grains to pay off debt during famine – inable to deviate money
Autocracy – china, USSR, khymer rouge
What is the relationship/dynamic between poverty and vulnerability to famines?
If you are poor, you have less to fall back on (ex. Low wages, unsecure or seasonal employment, no savings, few assets, debt) –> no savings to buy food
Poverty – doesn’t cause famine – but makes ppl vulnerable to the other things that cause famine
Describe how dynamics of food price and wages/employment can give rise to famines? Provide examples to illustrate
If people do not have a source of income to pay for food (often when food prices are higher – doubled, tripled, etc.)
Ex. Ireland – potato famine
Rural peasants - moved to cities – factories of industrial rev – used to work – wages to buy food – food – employment main driver of food security
Dependence of low income wage labour class – depended on potatoes Starch – skins – sm nutrients – imp source of food for lower income classes – grew well in peaty soild of Ireland – working classes depended on potatoes Late blight – ravaged potatoes – main source of food disappeared – only potatoes – all other crops not impacted – just potatoes – one class of ppl within country – impacted by loss of potatoes – starving in amidst of plenty Just one crop – for poorest of poor
Didn’t send any aid to ireland – ireland failed to put in place any measure of relief for poorest ppl – emigration last solution to ppl
Ex. Bangladesh
Massive unemployment due to flooding – high food prices brought on by hoarding and the fear of food shortages – ppl starved to death bc they couldn’t afford to buy food
How does gender inequality affect women’s vulnerability to famine?
Less control over access to resources needed to survive – getting less food within household
Also hit hardest by 2ndary impacts – violence and insecurity – might impact their movement – where they can go, what they can access more so than men
Erosion of local institutions and the imposition of new or outside institutions can change peoples access and entitlement to resources needed for survival. Illustrate how this can occur with reference to the livelihood framework discussed in class.
The erosion of local. (enclosure of the commons – erosion of social capital) Institutions (like that in Sudan) where a fam could spear the cow of a wealthy neighbour, and later repay them when times were better – was eroded (famine 1998 – conflict – enclosure of the commons – migration and erosion of social capital – during crisis – cattel were fenced in & starving neighbours were fenced out Erosion of social capital – ppl left, new ppl came in – fence off land – wary – cattle fenced in – starving neighbours fenced out – result – famine – changing inst configs – cant access resources they used to – starved in amidst of plenty Changes ppls entitlements – exposing community to new vulnerabilities
According to Davis (origins of 3rd world), the 1876-1879 famine in India was foreseeable and avoidable, and was primarily the result of what?
Revenue generation and laissez-faire famine policy by British gov in India
How did Davis (origins of 3rd world) characterize the European, Japanese, and US response to the global famines of the 1870s?
These nations mercilessly took advantage of the opportunities raised by famine to seize land, resources, and labour
Davis (origins of 3rd world) argues that there were three key ways in which the integration of different developing regions into early global capitalism (dominated by colonial powers) increased the vulnerability of rural populations. What are the three ways? Explain.
- The forcible incorporation of smallholder production into commodity and financial circuits controlled from overseas – undermine traditional food security
- Turned to cash crop production
- Land tenure, brokerage, speculation, and usury (loan shark)
- Peasants didn’t profit from exchange – their conditions deteriorated as a result of being forced into this market - The integration of millions of tropical cultivators into the world market – accompanied by a dramatic deterioration in their terms of trade
- Tropical crops valued diff from those of temperate farming - British imperialism stopped countries from being able to respond to famine and prevent it
———– eroded local fiscal autonomy and impeded state dev responses that might have reduced vulnerability to climate shocks———-
- Eroded capacity of states and local authorities to implement policies that respond to local conditions
- Tariffs determined in the House of Lords – no local input
Describe the idea of Ecological Poverty.
Depletion or loss of entitlement to nat resources
Makes ppl more vulnerable – don’t have access or entitlement to land bc of depletion, tenure, etc.
Drawing on what you learned in this article, describe what you understand to be the relationship (or role) of markets, states, and climate in the shaping of vulnerability and risk when it comes to famines.
Imperial trade relations
Destabilizing civil wars
Imperial budgets – prioritized military spending > famine relief
Climate – Drought triggering instability and famine – make ppl and state vulnerable
- Disasters taken advantage of by land and labour hungry imperialist powers India and china – integrated into world trade w forcibly imposed trade deficits
- Unable to dev economically bc of trade deficits and lack of econ autonomy
States –
- Choosing not to provide life-saving support (ex. Imperial budgets prioritized military spending > famine relief)
- Malthusian thinking – some ppl have to die — Don’t want ppl to feel entitled to support if its provided now
Imperialism – stopped countries from being able to respond to famine and prevent it
Markets –
- Overcollection of revenues during droughts was the problem – not population Integration into markets – forced ppl to turn to cash crops for survival – sell their exports to pay for food and taxes Food prices soared during famine Peasants – no bargaining power within internationsal cash crop market – no way to reap benefits from their crops while being increasingly reliant on these far-away markets for their survival
Climate – variability/ drought –> triggers instability – ppl and state vulnerable – disaster taken advantage of by land and labour hungry imperialist pwrs – vulnerable ppl/country forcibly integrated into world trade w forcibly imposed trade deficits – state unable to dev economically – british imperialism – eroded state autonomy – overcollection of revenues during droughts led to famine – not overpopulation – peasants had no bargaining power within international cash crop marktet – increasingly reliant on (often, failing) crops and far-away markets for their survival – food prices soared during famine
