natural hazards Flashcards

1
Q

What are catastrophes?

A

Any situation in which the damages to people, property, or society in general are so severe that recovery or rehabilitation becomes a long, involved process

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2
Q

What causes catastrophes?

A

Natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc

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3
Q

How can climate change and land-use change alter risks of natural hazards?

A

Increasing their frequency, intensity, and geographic distribution

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4
Q

What are the links between magnitude and frequency of disturbances?

A

There is an inverse relationship
When a disturbance event has a high magnitude, it tends to occur less frequently, and vice versa

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5
Q

How can we better manage risks from flooding and climate change?

A
  • Build flood barriers to protect infrastructure
  • Build infrastructure
  • Relocate facilities to higher elevations
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6
Q

How is risk determined?

A

Multiplying the likelihood of an event happening by the potential consequences if it occurs

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7
Q

What is forecasting, prediction, and risk?

A

Forecast: includes ranges of certainty
Prediction: specifying date, time, and size
Risk: probability of an event multiplied by consequences

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8
Q

What is the relationship between population growth and risks from natural hazards?

A
  • Population increase leads to greater loss due to natural hazards
  • Puts a greater number of people at risk
  • Forces people to move to disaster-prone areas
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9
Q

What specifically caused the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe?

A
  • There was no second-tier protection to flood control
  • Exceeded the design criteria of the flood protection structure
  • Regional subsidence was faster than appreciated
  • Height of floodwalls wasn’t adjusted to accommodate land subsidence
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