Tectonics EQ2

Question 1

What is a disaster

Answer 1

When a hazard has a significant impact on people i.e. consequence of hazard
If damage caused by hazard exceeds threshold level, disaster has happened

Question 2

Describe risk

Answer 2

The probability of a hazard happening and creating a loss of lives/livelihoods

Question 3

Describe vulnerability

Answer 3

Risk of exposure to hazards combined with an inability to cope with them

Question 4

Describe resilience

Answer 4

Degree to which a population or environment can absorb a hazardous event and stay organised and functioning i.e. population or environments ability to cope with stress and recover

Question 5

What is the risk equation

Answer 5

Risk = hazard x vulnerability/capacity to cope

Question 6

What features increase a populations ability to cope

Answer 6

Having emergency evacuation, rescue and relief systems in place
Helping each other reduce the numbers affected
Having a hazard-resistant design or land-use planning to reduce numbers at risk

Question 7

What does the PAR model show

Answer 7

Connections between the nature of a hazard and its wider context

Question 8

What are the main features of the PAR model

Answer 8

Says risk is a function of vulnerability and nature of hazard
Socio-economic context is important e.g. income levels, education levels and political system
Nature of hazard is key i.e. whether it’s a volcano, earthquake, storm or landslide
Everything is dynamic, so safety of people is difficult to manage

Question 9

What social impacts do hazards cause

Answer 9

Deaths, injury and wider health impacts including psychological ones

Question 10

What economic impacts do hazards cause

Answer 10

Loss of property, businesses, infrastructure and opportunities

Question 11

What environmental impacts do hazards cause

Answer 11

Damage or destruction of ecosystems

Question 12

How do hazard impacts vary between countries

Answer 12

Difficult to compare impact between countries because:
Physical nature of events is different
Socio-economic characteristics are different
Economic costs in developed countries can be very large but less costly in developing
Deaths in developed countries usually low but can be high in other countries
Impacts of volcanic eruptions tend to be smaller than impacts of earthquakes and tsunamis

Question 13

How is earthquake magnitude measured

Answer 13

Amount of energy released is measured by the Moment Magnitude Scale (MMS)
MMS goes from 1 to 10, greater number = greater magnitude
Scale is also logarithmic - increase of 1 unit of magnitude increases amount of shaking by 10 and amount of energy released by 30

Question 14

How is earthquake damage measured

Answer 14

Using the Mercalli scale

Measured the intensity of shaking on a scale of 1 to 12

Question 15

How is volcano magnitude measured

Answer 15

Using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)
VEI based on volume, duration and column height of eruptions
Explosivity is related to type of magma and type of plate boundary volcano is located on

Question 16

Give examples of VEI

Answer 16

Effusive eruption of basaltic lavas with low VEI (0 to 3) normally happen on constructive boundaries
Explosive eruptions with high VEI (4 to 7) happen on destructive boundaries

Question 17

What are hazard profiles used for

Answer 17

To compare the characteristics of tectonic hazards

Question 18

What do hazard profiles show

Answer 18

Summarise the physical processes shared by all hazards so most at risk areas can be determined
Show how different types of hazard vary in:
Magnitude
Speed of onset
Areal extent
Duration
Frequency
Spatial predictability

Question 19

Which events present the highest risk

Answer 19

High magnitudes
Low frequencies
Rapid speed of onset
Low spatial predictability
Large areal extents
These events happen mostly at subduction and collision zones

Question 20

What impact does HDI and vulnerability have on an area

Answer 20

Locations with low HDI (<0.55) have a high vulnerability because:
Many people lack basics things e.g. having enough water and food, even in normal times
Lot of housing is informally constructed with no hazard resilience
Poor access to healthcare, so disease and illness common
Education levels lower so hazard perception and risk awareness are low
After disaster, government may not be able to provide social security or free healthcare for low-income groups

Question 21

What impact does inequality of access have

Answer 21

Inequality of access to education, housing, healthcare and income are root causes of hazards because they influence vulnerability and resilience
Inequality seen in PAR model
HDI measures this inequality

Question 22

How can government preparedness be done to reduce disaster vulnerability

Answer 22

Land-use planning and zoning to prevent house construction in dangerous areas
Environmental management to prevent factors such as deforestation making area more naturally dangerous
Effective monitoring systems
Preparedness by providing education and community awareness programmes
Having insurance

Question 23

How does good governance reduce disaster vulnerability

Answer 23

If governance of country is good at meeting day to day needs of population, country = less vulnerable to disasters
Government should be meeting basic needs by providing sufficient food and water for its population
Should also be tackling corruption and making sure that aid money is not taken by officials

Question 24

How does population affect vulnerability to natural disasters

Answer 24

Highly populated areas may be hard to evacuate because there are so many people
Isolated populations in places that are difficult to access may take a long time to reach

Question 25

What methods are used to prepare

Answer 25

Effective monitoring systems
Land-use planning - prevent house construction in dangerous areas
Education/community awareness - preparedness by providing education and community awareness programmes
Having insurance
Environmental management - prevent factors e.g. deforestation to make area more naturally resilient