Section A- The Challenge Of Natural Hazards Flashcards
What is the definition of natural hazard?
an extreme event that occurs naturally and causes harm to humans
name some natural hazards
heat waves
earthquake
hurricaines
heavy snow
how does geographical location affect hazard risk?
position of countries means more are at bigger risk than others
e.g phillipines is prone to natural hazards
how does population density and distribution affect hazard risk?
fewer people living in an area means lower death rate
how does time affect hazard risk?
if you are asleep less likely to hear a warning or know about it
how does natural factors affect hazard risk?
e.g low lying areas are more likely to flood
how does frequency affect hazard risk?
people will be more prepared if they are occur more often
how does magnitude affect hazard risk?
larger events have more potential for injury and death
how does education affect hazard risk?
don’t know how to deal with the hazard as well
how does wealth affect hazard risk?
richer countries more economically developed have better resources to predict prepare and protect
define plate tectonics
a theory in geology that the lithosphere of the earth is divided into plates which travel independently over the mantle
seismic activity occurs at the boundaries of these plates.
What is a destructive plate margin?
when an oceanic and continental plate move together
oceanic plate moves under continental
ocean trenches found here + himalayas
what is a constructive plate margin?
plates move apart
volcanoes are formed
mid atlantic ridge
what happens at a conservative plate margin?
plates slide past each other
create an earthquake
e.g= The San Andreas Fault
what happens at a collision zone?
two continental plates collide
form fold mountains- himalayas
primary effects of Christchurch earthquake
185 dead 2,000 injured water and sewage pipes damaged 50% of city buildings severely damaged 80% of the city without electricity liqueafaction (ground saturated and loses strength)
secondary effects of Christchurch earthquake
Business out of action-loss of jobs+income
schools shared classrooms
mentally effected
road damage hard for services to move around
couldn’t host rugby
short term responses of Christchurch earthquake
ensuring people were away from buildings chemical toilets provided for 30,000 areas were zoned to classify cost repairs international aid $6.7 mill aid workers
Long term responses of Christchurch earthquake
$898 mill building claims
temporary housing- ensured all damaged houses were water tight
water and sewage restored
80% of roads and 50% of footpaths repaired
when was the Christchurch earthquake?
22nd Feb 2011
primary effects of Nepal earthquake
8,000 dead
14,500 injured
buildings collapsed
dharahara tower demolished
why do people still live in areas of hazard risk?
volcanoes: minrals attract tourists fertile soil geothermal energy storms;(the coast) good climate fishing
how can monitoring a natural hazard reduce its risk?
You can see how much prep you need to do and what action may have to be taken
How can predicting a natural hazard reduce its risk?
people are aware and can prepare
how can preparing for a natural hazard reduce its risk?
move away from dangerous areas no injuries
collect valuables
how can protecting for a natural hazard reduce its risk?
double glazing
foundation sunk into the ground so building doesn’t fall over
rubber shock absorbers to absorb earth tremors
what is global circulation?
The global circulation can be described as the world-wide system of winds by which the necessary transport of heat from tropical to polar latitudes is accomplished.
when does high pressure occur?
when air is sinking
when does low pressure occur?
when air is rising
describe the global distribution of tropical storms
uneven
all located close to or around the equator
typhoons and cyclones pacific and indian ocean
hurricaines atlantic ocean
how do tropical storms form?
1) air draws water vapour from warm ocean surface
2) evap air cools as rises and condenses forming clouds
3) condensing air releases energy- powers storm and draws up water
4) small storms combine to form a big one
5) storm carried across ocean gaining strenght
6) slows down as hits land-friction
how does the formation of tropical storms explain their location?
they need warm water to develop. war, water is located near equator so makes sense countries around equator are affected
describe the structure of a tropical storm
outflow cirrus shield at top warm rising air one side cool falling air on the other rain bands eye wall- eye in middle symmetrical shape
how does climate change affect tropical storms
warmer water in more parts of world mean they happen in more places and more frequently
strength of storm would increase
Primary effects to Typhoon Haiyan
6500 killed 90% Tacloban was destroyed 600,000 displaced 40,000 homes destroyed 30,000 fishing boats destroyed power lines bought down
secondary effects of typhoon haiyan
14 mill affected 6 mill lost source of income flooding caused landslides no electricity over a month jobs lost shortages of food,water,shelter
immediate responses to typhoon haiyan
aid agencies gave food,water, temporary shelter
us aircraft took part in search mission
uk government sent shelter kit
long term responses to typhoon haiyan
oxfam supported the replacement of fishing boats
people paid to help clear debris from tacloban
and rebuild it
what weather hazards are expeirenced in the uk?
thunderstorms heavy snow fall strong winds prolonged rainfall drought
give an example of a recent extreme weather hazard in the uk
britains blizzard 2011
what is the observational evidence for climate change?
weather records
indirectly show different conditions from past
date back to 1861
what is the physical evidence for climate change
ice cores
drill into masses of ice to extract cores- size of them
sea level change
what is the biological evidence for climate change?
tree rings
when tree grow they form a new ring
rings indicate age and climate
thicker the ring warmer and wetter conditions
how is orbital change a physical cause of climate change?
when earth orbits sun distance between varies
when earth closer to sun climate becomes warmer
how is solar output a physical cause of climate change?
suns output is not constant
sun spot activity varies resulting in cooler periods and warmer periods
how is volcanic activity a physical cause of climate change?
long period of volcanic activity results in global cooling due to dust particles and gases being released
how are fossil fuels a human cause of climate change
produces 21.3 billion tonnes of CO2 a year atmospheric concentration gone up by 13%
car exhausts release a range of pollutants as well as greenhouse gases
how is agriculture a human cause of climate change?
artificial fertilisers generate greenhouse gases
rice paddy fields release large amounts of methane
how is deforestation a human cause of climate change?
forest vegetation contains trapped greenhosue gas
forests up to 100x more effective at absorbing CO2
forests are burnt releasing trapped gas
economic effects of climate change
lower crop yeilds
damage to infrastructure
social effects of climate change
heat-related illness and disease
environmental impacts of climate change
wildlife at risk as ecosystems change
rising sea levels
what is carbon capture?
capturing and burning CO2 to avoid it entering atmosphere
how does carbon capture reduce climate changes
the CO2 captured gets pumped into rocks underground how not very effective
what are the types of alternative energy?
nuckear power
tidal power
hydro electric
solar
how does alternative energy help reduce climate change?
releases no CO2 during energy production
What is Afforestation?
planting trees
how does afforestation reduce climate change?
absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere and store it within their organic matter
how do international agreements reduce climate change?
get strict emission targets
when was the Nepal earthquake?
25th April 2015
secondary effects of the Nepal earthquake
2.8 mill homeless landslides 1.1 mill children deprived of a childhood lack of sanitation no education or transport
short term responses to Nepal earthquake
90% Napalese army sent out
15,000 temporary learning centres built
international aid agencies evacuating critically injured
long term responses to Nepal earthquake
unicef distibuted tents and purification tablets
building codes implemented
katmandu earthquake risk management set up to educate people
what caused the blizzard in the uk in 2011?
southerly jet stream- cold air came fro, russia and sweden in late november
give some details about Britians Blizzard
started on 25th of november
easterly winds bring snow
ne england + scotland up to 50cm snow
quietened down early december picked back up again late december. more heavy snow
In Britains blizzard which area was most badly effected
edingburgh 35cm
what were the social effects of britains blizzard
lack of drinking water schools shut injuries airports closed most time spent cleaning roads
what were the economic effects of britains blizzard?
businesses no water traffic stand still emergency service deal wi injuries trains stopped cant get to work loss of money need extra siupplies
what were the environmental impacts of britains blizzaed?
grit effected roads
pollution-stand still cars
shortage food for animals
plants/trees destroyed
what was the response of the locals to britains blizzard?
cleared snow an grit the roads
what was the response of farmers and builders to britains blizzard?
diggers and tractors cleared roads
