Natural Hazards Flashcards
What are Natural hazards?
A natural hazard is a natural process which could cause death, injury or disruption to humans, or destroy property and possessions.
What are the two types of natural hazards?
Geological hazards which are caused by land and tectonic processes, like volcanoes and earthquakes.
Meteorological Hazards which are caused by weather and climate, like tropical storms and heat waves.
What are the 3 factors that affect the risk of a Natural hazard?
Vulnerability - if there are more people in an area exposed to a natural hazard, the greater the probability they will be affected. For example an area with a high population density on a flood plain, the higher the risk.
Capacity to cope - the better a population can cope with an extreme event, the lower the risk of them being affected. High income counties are better able to cope as they can afford defense systems.
Nature of Natural hazards - the risk from some hazards are greater than others. If natural hazards occur more often, they may carry a higher risk, and magnitude can be higher having higher risks.
What are primary effects?
primary effects of natural disasters are the immediate impacts caused by the hazard itself.
What are some primary effects of natural hazards?
buildings and roads destroyed, people injured and killed, crops and water supplies contaminated and electricity cables, gas pipes and communication networks damaged.
What are secondary effects?
Happen later on, often as a result of primary effects.
What are some secondary effects of natural hazards?
initial hazard can trigger other hazards like earthquakes can trigger tsunamis. Aid and emergency vehicles unable to pass because of blocked roads and bridges, causing many deaths. Shortage of clean water and sanitation. Food shortages if crops are damaged, countries economy weakened, as unemployment in damaged businesses.
What are immediate responses?
Responses having to be dealt with immediately after the natural disaster to stop further loss of life, injuries or damage to property.
What are some immediate responses?
evacuate people, treat injured and rescue anyone trapped, recover dead bodies to prevent diseases, provide temporary supplies of electricity and gas, provide food, water and shelter, and gather aid from neighboring countries.
What are long term responses?
responses dealt with in the longer term.
What are some long term responses?
repair homes or rehouse people, repair buildings, roads, railways, reconnect broken electricity, water and gas communication connections, improve forecasting, monitoring and evacuation plans, improve building regulations, boost economic recovery.
