Test 1: Introduction to Natural Hazards

Question 1

What are the criteria for a natural disaster?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Hazard:

Answer 2

Any natural process that threatens human life or property. (Funnel cloud)

Question 3

Disaster:

Answer 3

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)

Question 4

Catastrophe:

Answer 4

Have consequences far beyond the area, require huge expenditures, time, and money for recovery. Goes over years (Hati)

Question 5

Risk:

Answer 5

Probability of event occurring multiplied by the impact on people and property.

Question 6

Cause people to lose money, possessions

Answer 6

Economically well-developed countries

Question 7

Cause people to lose their lives

After effects: medical, shelter, etc.

Answer 7

Economically less-developed countries

Question 8

Which natural distaster causes the largest finacial lost?

Answer 8

Tsunamis

Question 9

Which natural disaster is the most common in Canada/the USA?

Answer 9

Tornados

Question 10

Disaster (Canada): death of more than 10 people or cause property damage above countries threshold

Answer 10

Earthquakes 
Floods 
Hail
Icebergs, sea ice, and fog 
Landslides and snow Avalanches 
Tornadoes 
Tsunamis and Storm surges 
Volcanic eruptions 
Winter storms

Question 11

Were the Wildfires: British Columbia (2018) a disaster, hazard, or catastrophe?

Answer 11

Disaster

Question 12

Was the Flooding: U. S. Mississippi River, Red River - Canada (2011)

Answer 12

Disaster

Question 13

Is a Funnel Cloud a disaster, hazard, or catastrophe?

Answer 13

Hazard

Question 14

What kind of history of an area gives clues to potential hazards?

Answer 14

Maps, historical accounts, climate, and weather data.

Rock types, faults, folds, soil composition.

Question 15

They are a result of natural forces.

Answer 15

Natural Hazards

Question 16

They become hazardous when they interfere with human activity.

Answer 16

Natural Hazards

Question 17

These processes are NOT within our control.

Answer 17

Natural Hazards

Question 18

What is the best solution to a natural hazard?

Answer 18

The best solution is preparation.

Question 19

Prediction

Answer 19

The specific date, time, and magnitude of the event (Tzunami)

Some hazards can be predicted, most can be forecasted.

Question 20

Forecast

Answer 20

Range of probability for the event (Hurricanes and Tornados)

Some hazards can be predicted, most can be forecasted.

Question 21

How to reduce hazards based on location?

Answer 21

History of an area
Hazard Maps
Detailed local mapping

Question 22

How to measure the probability of occurrence of a natural hazard?

Answer 22

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)

Question 23

What are Precursor events?

Answer 23

Small events leading up to a larger event

Question 24

Example of Precursor event?

Answer 24

Volcanos are precursor events since they give you signs that they might explode. (Example: Volcano swells, discharge of gasses, more magma.)

Question 25

Determine when an event will arrive at a particular location

More useful with hazards such as flooding and hurricanes

Answer 25

Forecasting

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Warning

Question 27

Risk =

Answer 27

Risk = (Probability of event) x (consequences)

Question 28

True or False, Hazards are linked to each other.

Answer 28

Some events may cause others.

Example: earthquakes cause landslides, storms cause tornados, etc

Question 29

The physical environment is linked to hazards. Give an example

Answer 29

Example: some rock types are prone to subsidence

Question 30

Disasters Now Becoming Catastrophes?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Direct effects of Hazards

Answer 31

Includes death, injuries, displacement damages

Question 32

Indirect effects of Hazards

Answer 32

Includes crop failures, starvation, emotional distress, economic losses

Question 33

Examples of anticipatory response (Planning):

Answer 33

Avoiding and adjusting to hazards
Land-use planning (Put houses on stilts)
Building codes
Insurance
Evacuation 
Disaster preparedness
Artificial control (Make barriers)

Question 34

Examples of Reactive Responses:

Answer 34

Recovery and restoration

Question 35

Examples of benefits to hazards

Answer 35

Examples:
Flooding (also volcanic ash) provides nutrients for the soil.
Landslides form dams to create lakes
Volcanoes create new land

Question 36

May alter the incidence of some types of processes (example: storms, coastal erosion, landslides)

May increase the severity and frequency of thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes

Answer 36

Climate Change and Hazards

Question 37

Consequences:

Answer 37

Consequences: damages to people, property, economics, etc.

Question 38

Acceptable risk:

Answer 38

Acceptable risk: is the amount of risk that an individual or society is willing to take.
(Example, living near the ocean)