Natural Hazards Paper 1 A Flashcards
What are natural hazards?
A natural hazard is a naturally occurring event that is a threat to a population. Natural hazards negatively affect a population by causing loss of life, injuries, and damage to important infrastructure that people rely on.
Give a case study of a natural hazard?
An example of a natural hazard is the severe earthquake that hit Nepal in April 2015. This earthquake killed nearly 9000 people, injured thousands and destroyed many homes. This natural event had a huge negative social impact, meaning it is classed as a natural hazard.
What is the difference between a event and a hazard?
A natural event can only be classed as a natural hazard when there is a threat to people. For example, if there was a volcano or an earthquake on a desert island with no people on it, it would not be classed as a natural hazard as there is no threat to human life or property
What are the 3 types of natural hazards?
There are many different types of natural hazards, but in general they can be divided into 3 main groups:
Give an example of a natural hazard
Geological hazards: Hazards caused by processes on the land. eg volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides an muflows
Give another type of natural hazard with example
Hydrological hazards: Hazards caused by the movement of water on the land. eg flooing
Give another type of natural hazards with an example?
Atmospheric hazards: Hazards caused by the weather. eg tropical storm, tornaoes, roughts
What is a hazard risk?
Hazard risk is the probability (i.e. the likelihood or the chance) that a natural hazard will actually affect a population. The risk a hazard poses is dependent on a population’s exposure to the hazard as well as the population’s vulnerability to the hazard . If a population is more exposed to a hazard, then the hazard risk is higher . For example, if someone lives next to an active volcano, they are at higher risk than someone who lives 100 miles away from the active volcano. If a population is more vulnerable to the hazard (meaning they lack the resources to deal with the effects of a hazard) the risk is also higher. For example, if a population has poor access to healthcare or rescue services, they are at a higher risk of the hazard affecting the population.
What are the hazard risk affected different social, environments and economic factor
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Give me and introduction to Nepal earthquake 2015
On the 25th April 2015, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal, caused by the subduction of the Indo-Australian plate beneath the Eurasian plate (destructive plate margin). The earthquake’s epicentre was around 80km away from Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu
What did the earthquake caused
The earthquake originated only 15km below the surface , which meant it was felt very strongly on the surface. Huge avalanches and landslides were triggered in the The Himalayas which run through Nepal. Damage from the earthquake extended hundreds of kilometres into Pakistan, Tibet and India, and severe aftershocks occurred afterwards.
Give me some primary examples
9,000 killed and 20,000 injured. ● 8 million people affected (⅓ of Nepal’s population) ● 3 million people left homeless after homes were destroyed. ● 7,000 schools destroyed, and 50% of all shops destroyed, leading to food and supply shortages. (Source: ReSurge International) ● Power, water and communications were severely affected. ● 1.4 million people were urgently in need of food, water and shelter. ● The cost of damage was estimated at around USD$5 billion. ● Many historical sites and landmarks were damaged or destroyed
Give an example of secondary effects
Landslides and avalanches triggered by the ground shaking, causing widespread damage to infrastructure, blocking roads and trapping people under snow and rubble. ● The avalanches on Mount Everest killed at least 19 people, and avalanches elsewhere left hundreds missing. ● Landslides blocked rivers. For example, the Kali Gandaki River was blocked by a landslide, and many people had to be evacuated incase of flooding.
Give some examples of intermediate responses
- International aid quickly arrived from the UK, India and China. They brought search and rescue teams, medical support and essential supplies. Over £87 million was raised in aid by donations. Helicopters were used for search, rescue and supply distribution. Those left stranded by avalanches were rescued by helicopter, and communities cut off by severe landslides were given vital supplies. Half a million tents were provided after the earthquake, many from UNICEF. These tents provided shelter for the homeless, and were also used as temporary classrooms and healthcare facilities as the strong aftershocks prevented people from using buildings.
give me some examples of long term responses?
In 2019, three-quarters of homes that were destroyed from the earthquake were either fully rebuilt or under repair. Over 7000 schools needed to be rebuilt or repaired. Landslides were cleared and roads were repaired. Temporary lakes formed by landslides that blocked rivers had to be carefully drained, such as in the Kali Gandaki river. In September 2015, Nepal suffered severe shortages of fuel, medicines and earthquake relief materials after India imposed a blockade at the Nepal-India border, stopping goods from entering Nepal.
