Quiz 3

Question 1

Define the term climate change

Answer 1

Any changing climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity

What we should expect is changing over a long period of time

Question 2

Id the main human activity contributing to climate change

Answer 2

Current trend in climate change is manmade

Release of greenhouse gases into atmosphere - burning fossil fuels in cars, factories and electricity production
population of world has increases
growth of big cities
increased use of cars and other energy consumption

Question 3

Id future trends in health related to climate change

Answer 3

Increase in
Drought, Wildfires and Crop Failure
Heavy Precipitation: inland flooding and landslides
Typhoons: coastal storm surge and flooding
Sea level rise: coastal flooding, crop failure, population displacement

Question 4

List 3 factors that make small island developing states (SIDS) and coastal communities particularly vulnerable to climate change

Answer 4

1. Poor
2. Dependent on local sources of food
3. dependent on local sources of water

Large proportion of Pacific island populations fit this category

Question 5

Id expected impacts of climate change on small islands

Answer 5

Beach erosion and coral bleaching: decrease fishery yield and tourism.
Sea level rise: inundation, storm surge, beach erosion
Reduced fresh water resources - insufficient to meet demand during low rainfall by 2050
Invasion by non-native species

Trends in coastal systems: increased erosion of coastline. 30% loss of salt marshes, mangroves and coral reefs = more vulnerable to storms and tsunamis and flooding

Question 6

mitigation for climate change

Answer 6

Mitigate: lessen in force/intensity –> most important to lessen greenhouse gas emissions into the environment
Energy: improved fuel efficiency, not use fossil fuels, carbon capture storage, building codes
Agriculture and forestry: improved land management, improved manure management, improved cultivation techniques, decrease deforestation/reforestation
Waste management: improved landfills, controlled waste water treatment, recycling, air pollution abatement

Question 7

Define drought

Answer 7

a period of below-average rainfall sufficiently long and intense to result in serious environmental and socioeconomic stresses

Usually takes months or years to development

Question 8

Natural factors that contribute to occurrence of drought

Answer 8

Random changes in the weather: amount of precipitation, rainfall, snow or sleet in an area

El Nino Southern Oscillation: a weather pattern that occurs every 5-7 years that effects average rainfall in a region

Question 9

Human factors that contribute to occurrence of drought

Answer 9

Deforestation
poor agricultural practices
the way we build which allow rainwater to run off instead of being conserved
climate change

Question 10

Factors contributing to water shortages

Answer 10

Drying up of surface water
low yield of wells and springs
increased demand for water
growing population
increased food production
Water pollution
difficult access to water systems
poor water conservation/policies

Question 11

Threats to health from drought

Answer 11

Not enough safe water for drinking, cooking and washing
Famine is the most serious threat to health
Then infectious disease - due to lack of WASH
Unsafe water

Question 12

4 goals for public health during water emergencies

Answer 12

1. save lives and protect health –> provide adequate quantities of water and adequate quality
2. provide supplies and water for livestock and irrigation
3. restore or enhance water systems
4. develop alternative arrangements for water where necessary

Question 13

id criteria for choosing alternative sources of water

Answer 13

Speed with which it can be made
Amount of water it can produce
reliability of supply water purity/safety
simplicity of tech and ease of maintenance
Cost
Easy access for population
Transportation

Question 14

Id major public health consequences of drought

Answer 14

Deaths can be high in developing countries but not common in developed
Health problems as result of drought: worsening chronic illness, food scarcity, loss of clean water and routine hygiene
Major population movements may occur

Question 15

Id the 2 types of volcanic eruption

Answer 15

Explosive: strong violent type. Blast, heat, ash and gas. Harder to predict and happen quickly

Effusive: lava flows onto the ground without explosion. Associated with lava flow and classes but not explosions

Question 16

Describe the ring of fire

Answer 16

Ring around the Pacific tectonic plate - contains 75% of world’s active and dormant volcanoes
Area also prone to earthquakes

Question 17

Id hazards associated with volcanic eruptions

Answer 17

Lave flows: slow enough for evacuation
pycroclastic flows: very dense clouds of debris containing hot gases, fine pumice, ash and rocks - 900C flows travelling at 100mph
lahars and floods: Lahars = mudflow mix of water and debris- powerful and can move great quantities long distances in short time
blasts and projectiles: blast can travel over 6 miles.
earthquakes and tsunamis
tephra fallout: can contain tons of pumice and ask - can reach for many 100s of miles
acid rain
gas emissions

Question 18

Major PH consequences of volcanic eruptions

Answer 18

Air quality
water/food quality and security
transportation hazards
endemic diseases may be worsened
public utilities (power, water and sewer) may be damaged
Death and injuries from pyroclastic flows and lahars
Displacement of large number of people
Toxic exposures through air, food, soil and surface water
worsening chronic conditions for breathing and heart issues

Question 19

Id prevention and preparedness measures for volcanoes

Answer 19

Public awareness and education
hazard maps and risk assessment
early warning system
emergency operations plans
evacuation plans
disaster exercises
training in search and rescue and treatment
rapid needs assessment

Question 20

Lists secondary disasters that could result from volcanic eruption

Answer 20

earthquakes
tsunamis 
floods
landslides
fires

Question 21

Recognise 2 ways to categorise fire incidents and their sub-categories

Answer 21

By type of fire incident –> wildfires, structural fires

By cause of fire: natural v manmade

Question 22

Id factors the contribute to the severity of fires

Answer 22

Wood shingle/thatched roofs
high winds
hot or dry weather conditions
congested road for firefighter access
distance from water source
bad water distribution system
uncontrolled development
delay in discovery of fire or sounding the alarm
no smoke or fire alarms
inadequate public protection

Question 23

major PH consequences of fires

Answer 23

2/3 of victims die from breathing smoke from fire
Smoke and poison gas cause death and injury
Burns also cause death and injury
Worsening of chronic conditions
toxic exposures
loss of shelter and property
mental health

Wildfires typically cause few deaths but have potential to cause widespread worsening of chronic disease due to toxic exposure

Question 24

prevention measures for fires

Answer 24

Medical treatment has plateaued in reducing mortality and morbidity
widespread education
firefighters teaching prevention
building codes and fire safety inspections

Question 25

Define tornadoes

Answer 25

Violently rotating column of air, often (but not always) visible as a funnel-shaped cloud which is on contact with the ground and the cloud base

Question 26

Major PH consequences of tornadoes

Answer 26

severe injuries
loss of shelter
loss of personal goods
public concern for safety

Most likely cause of death is trauma, esp. head injuries

Clean up activities

Damage only what is n direct path - usually the whole community is not destroyed, limited effect

Question 27

Prevention and control measures for tornadoes

Answer 27

Forecasting
Early warning
Public education
Engineering and legal controls - better building codes
shelter
epidemiology
community and hospital based planning

Question 28

Tornado dimensions

Answer 28

Ground speed: average 40mph can reach 70mph
Length of path: average 4.4miles, max 219miles
Width of path: average 384ft, max 3miles