Tectonics Lesson 9: Hazards and Vulnerability

Question 1

Define hazard

Answer 1

A perceived natural or geophysical event that has the potential to threaten both life and property

Question 2

Define diasater

Answer 2

The realisation of a hazard when it causes a significant impact on a vulnerable population

Question 3

When does a hazard become a disaster?

Answer 3

10 or more people are killed

100 or more are affected

Question 4

What is Degg’s model?

Answer 4

Shows the correlation between a hazard and a vulnerable population, and how this can cause a disaster

Question 5

What is the hazard risk formula?

Answer 5

Risk = (Hazard x Vulnerability) / Capacity to Cope

Question 6

What does the level of risk depend on?

Answer 6

Some factors link directly to the hazard itself e.g. magnitude, duration and time of day
Human factors which determine vulnerability and capacity to cope

Question 7

Define resilience

Answer 7

The ability to protect lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure from destruction, and to restore areas after a natural hazard has occurred

Question 8

Social human factors affecting vulnerability

Answer 8

People without access to education 
Poor quality housing 
Age of population
Quality of power supplies 
Quality of communication

Question 9

Economic human factors affecting vulnerability

Answer 9

Level of wealth

Question 10

Environmental human factors affecting vulnerability

Answer 10

Rapid urbanisation creates a need for more housing
Accessibility to an area
Areas with high population density tend to have poorer quality housing

Question 11

Political human factors affecting vulnerability

Answer 11

Existence and enforcement of building codes and regulations
Efficiency of emergency services and response teams
Existence of public education and practised hazard responses e.g. earthquake drills
Quality of communication system
Level of corruption of government officials an businesses
Existence of disaster preparedness
Quality of transport

Question 12

How can a failure of development create a more vulnerable population?

Answer 12

Have other, more pressing problems like poverty and disease which means less money is spent on disaster preparation

Question 13

% of people that are aged over 60 and live in less developed regions

Answer 13

66%

Question 14

% over 60 by 2050

Answer 14

79%

Question 15

% aged of 60 in Japan during the 2011 tsunami

Answer 15

23% over 60

Of the number of people affected during the tsunami 56% were 60+ even though only 23% of the population were 60+