Test 1: Introduction to Natural Hazards Flashcards
What are the criteria for a natural disaster?
Criteria for a natural disaster are (1) 10 or more people are killed, (2) 100 or more people are affected, (3) a state of emergency is declared, and (4) international assistance is requested. If any one of these applies, an event is considered a natural disaster.
Hazard:
Any natural process that threatens human life or property. (Funnel cloud)
Disaster:
Events that cause serious injury, loss of life, property damage over a limited time and over a specific geographic location. (British Columbia fires) (Red River, Mississippi River Flooding)
Catastrophe:
Have consequences far beyond the area, require huge expenditures, time, and money for recovery. Goes over years (Hati)
Risk:
Probability of event occurring multiplied by the impact on people and property.
Cause people to lose money, possessions
Economically well-developed countries
Cause people to lose their lives
After effects: medical, shelter, etc.
Economically less-developed countries
Which natural distaster causes the largest finacial lost?
Tsunamis
Which natural disaster is the most common in Canada/the USA?
Tornados
Disaster (Canada): death of more than 10 people or cause property damage above countries threshold
Earthquakes Floods Hail Icebergs, sea ice, and fog Landslides and snow Avalanches Tornadoes Tsunamis and Storm surges Volcanic eruptions Winter storms
Were the Wildfires: British Columbia (2018) a disaster, hazard, or catastrophe?
Disaster
Was the Flooding: U. S. Mississippi River, Red River - Canada (2011)
Disaster
Is a Funnel Cloud a disaster, hazard, or catastrophe?
Hazard
What kind of history of an area gives clues to potential hazards?
Maps, historical accounts, climate, and weather data.
Rock types, faults, folds, soil composition.
They are a result of natural forces.
Natural Hazards
They become hazardous when they interfere with human activity.
Natural Hazards
These processes are NOT within our control.
Natural Hazards
What is the best solution to a natural hazard?
The best solution is preparation.
Prediction
The specific date, time, and magnitude of the event (Tzunami)
Some hazards can be predicted, most can be forecasted.
Forecast
Range of probability for the event (Hurricanes and Tornados)
Some hazards can be predicted, most can be forecasted.
How to reduce hazards based on location?
History of an area
Hazard Maps
Detailed local mapping
How to measure the probability of occurrence of a natural hazard?
Development of statistical models to estimate the likelihood of an event occurring
100-year flood (Over 100 years, the water level being 5m above sea level has been the highest so it’s only a 1% chance of it happening)
What are Precursor events?
Small events leading up to a larger event
Example of Precursor event?
Volcanos are precursor events since they give you signs that they might explode. (Example: Volcano swells, discharge of gasses, more magma.)
Determine when an event will arrive at a particular location
More useful with hazards such as flooding and hurricanes
Forecasting
Alerting the public once an event has been forecast or predicted
What if predictions are unreliable or warnings can’t get out?
Make people in government think about what to do
Warning
Risk =
Risk = (Probability of event) x (consequences)
True or False, Hazards are linked to each other.
Some events may cause others.
Example: earthquakes cause landslides, storms cause tornados, etc
The physical environment is linked to hazards. Give an example
Example: some rock types are prone to subsidence
Disasters Now Becoming Catastrophes?
Concentration of population creates a greater loss of life in a disaster.
Human population growth puts greater demand on Earth’s resources
Land use affects the magnitude and frequency of events
Direct effects of Hazards
Includes death, injuries, displacement damages
Indirect effects of Hazards
Includes crop failures, starvation, emotional distress, economic losses
Examples of anticipatory response (Planning):
Avoiding and adjusting to hazards Land-use planning (Put houses on stilts) Building codes Insurance Evacuation Disaster preparedness Artificial control (Make barriers)
Examples of Reactive Responses:
Recovery and restoration
Examples of benefits to hazards
Examples:
Flooding (also volcanic ash) provides nutrients for the soil.
Landslides form dams to create lakes
Volcanoes create new land
May alter the incidence of some types of processes (example: storms, coastal erosion, landslides)
May increase the severity and frequency of thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes
Climate Change and Hazards
Consequences:
Consequences: damages to people, property, economics, etc.
Acceptable risk:
Acceptable risk: is the amount of risk that an individual or society is willing to take.
(Example, living near the ocean)
