Natural Hazards and Human Response(s)

Question 1

hazard

Answer 1

(noun) A threat (whether natural or human) that has the potential to cause loss of life, injury, property damage, socio-economic disruption or environmental degradation.

Question 2

hazard event

Answer 2

(noun) The occurrence (realisation) of a hazard, the effects of which change demographic, economic and/or environmental change and/or environmental conditions.

Question 3

geophysics

Answer 3

(noun) the study of the rocks and other substances that make up the earth and the physical processes happening on, in, and above the earth

Question 4

natural hazard

Answer 4

(noun) An extreme geophysical process which can occur naturally in any part of the world and which has the potential to cause loss of life, damage to infrastructure and disruption to human activity.

Question 5

tectonic hazard

Answer 5

(noun) A natural hazard created when the Earth’s crust moves (e.g. tectonic plates collide into each other). This includes earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.

Question 6

geomorphological hazard

Answer 6

(noun) A natural hazard originated at or near Earth’s surface. This includes river and coastal flooding, landslides and avalanches.

Question 7

atmospheric hazard

Answer 7

(noun) A natural hazard associated with Earth’s atmosphere, such as tropical cyclones, severe storms, tornadoes, wildfires and drought.

Question 8

biological hazard

Answer 8

(noun) A natural hazard driven by biological processes. This includes various types of disease, including infectious diseases

Question 9

Subsidence

Answer 9

(noun) the process by which land or buildings sink to a lower level

Question 10

natural process

Answer 10

(noun) a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)

Question 11

natural disaster

Answer 11

(noun) A major hazard event that causes widespread disruption to a community or region, with significant demographic, economic and/or environmental losses, and which the affected community is unable to deal with adequately without outside help.

Question 12

unprecedented

Answer 12

(adjective) never before known or seen, without having happened previously

Question 13

inundation

Answer 13

(noun) a flood, or the fact of being flooded with water

Question 14

infrastructure

Answer 14

(noun) the fundamental structure and facilities that an area needs, such as roads, electricity, buildings

Question 15

magnitude

Answer 15

(noun) the size of a geophysical hazard event and is measured by the amount of energy or the amount of material produced by the event

Question 16

volcanologist

Answer 16

(noun) a scientist who studies volcanoes

Question 17

Saffir-Simpson Scale

Answer 17

(noun) A scale that classifies hurricanes according to wind speed, air pressure in the center, and potential for property damage.

Question 18

aftermath

Answer 18

(noun) the period that follows an unpleasant event or accident, and the effects that it causes

Question 19

frequency

Answer 19

(noun) the number of hazardous events of a certain magnitude that occur over a given period of time

Question 20

fluctuations

Answer 20

a change, or the process of changing, especially continuously between one level or thing and another

Question 21

fault

Answer 21

(noun) a crack in the earth’s surface where the rock has divided into two parts that move against each other:

Question 22

likelihood

Answer 22

(noun) probability, chance that something will happen

Question 23

human vulnerability

Answer 23

(noun) the degree to which people are susceptible to loss, damage, suffering and death, in the event of a disaster

Question 24

exposure

Answer 24

(noun, in the context of human vulnerability) the nature of the area in which people live - how hazardous it is

Question 25

sensitivity

Answer 25

(noun, in the context of human vulnerability) some groups of people are more at risk than others, for instance the elderly or infants

Question 26

resilience

Answer 26

(noun, in the context of human vulnerability) the ability of individuals and societies to cope with the sudden impact of disasters, and to restore as quickly as possible their ability to function

Question 27

coping capacity

Answer 27

(noun, in the context of human vulnerability) the resources available to individuals and societies to cope with a threat or resist the impact of a disaster

Question 28

GIS

Answer 28

Geographic Information System, A computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data.