Natural Hazards

Question 1

What is a hazard

Answer 1

Natural hazards are events that are perceived to be a threat to people, the built environment and the natural environment

Question 2

3 categories of hazards

Answer 2

Geophysical - caused by land processes
Atmospheric - caused by climatic processes
Hydrological - caused by water movement

Question 3

Define disaster, risk and vulnerability

Answer 3

Disaster - when a hazard seriously affects humans
Risk - the likelihood that humans will be seriously affected by the hazard
Vulnerability - how susceptible a population is to the damage caused by the hazard

Question 4

What is hazard perception

Answer 4

The way in which someone understands or interprets a hazard. People tend to respond to hazards depending on their understanding and interpretation.

Question 5

3 general approaches to hazard perception

Answer 5

Fatalism - accepting approach where people accept hazards are part of life
Domination - suggests hazards are predictable and can be better understood by scientific research
Adaptation - the view that hazards can be influenced by humans so changing our lifestyles can reduce the impacts

Question 6

How is risk measured

Answer 6

(Hazard x Vulnerability) divided by Capacity

Question 7

What affects peoples perception of hazard

Answer 7

Wealth
Religion
Education
Past experience
Personality

Question 8

The Park Model

Answer 8

Shows the different phases of response to a hazard
1 - pre disaster - before the event the situation is normal
2 - disruption - during and directly after the hazard event occurs there is destruction to property, loss of life before response
3 - relief - aftermath rescue efforts focus on saving lives and preventing further damage
4 - rehabilitation- immediate impacts are under control so long term problems are resolved
5 - reconstruction - rebuilding permanent homes infrastructure to the same or a higher standard

Question 9

Four stages of the Hazard Management Cycle

Answer 9

Mitigation - aims to minimise the impacts of future disasters eg building flood defences . This can happen before a hazard occurs or after when a place is recovering
Preparedness - this is about planning how to respond to to a making sure warning systems are in place
Response - this is how people react when a disaster occurs eg emergency services
Recovery - getting the affected area back to normal eg repairing or rebuilding houses

It is a cycle because hazardous events keep happening so effors to prepare for them or mitigate effects are ongoing