The Concept Of Hazards In A Geographical Context Flashcards
Define natural hazard
A threat that has the potential to cause loss of life, injury, property damage, socio-economic disruption and/or environmental degradation.
What can a hazard be caused by?
Either natural processes or human activity
What are the 3 types of hazard?
Geophysical
Atmospheric
Hydrological
What are geophysical hazards?
Hazards caused by the movement of the earth.
Can geophysical hazards be predicted?
They are difficult to predict because they occur with minimum warning.
Can geophysical hazards be stopped?
No
What are atmospheric hazards?
These are hazards that are weather related.
Can atmospheric hazards be predicted?
There is usually some advanced warning but weather is often unpredictable.
Can atmospheric hazards be stopped?
No
What are hydrological hazards?
Water related hazards
What are hydrological hazards usually a consequence of?
Extreme weather events or natural disasters
List 6 other ways of categorising hazards.
Magnitude Frequency Duration Spatial concentration Speed of onset
List 7 common characteristics of natural hazards.
Distinctive effects
Clear origins
Short warning times
Involuntary risk exposure
Loss of life and property damage is short term
Effects can be felt in communities for a long time
Scale and intensity of event requires emergency response
When does a hazard become a disaster?
When it causes destruction
What is the UN criteria for a natural hazard?
10 or more people are killed
100 or more people are affected
A state of emergency is declared by the relevant government
A request from the government for international assistance
How many of the UN criteria need to be met in order for an event to be classed as a hazard?
One or more
Give 3 examples of geophysical hazards
Volcanic eruption
Earthquake
Tsunami
Give 3 examples of atmospheric hazards.
Tropical storm
Drought
Sand storm
Electrical storm
Give two examples of hydrological hazards.
Flooding
Tsunami
What is risk?
The exposure of people to a hazardous event, presenting a potential threat to themselves, their possessions and the built environment in which they live.
Why do people put themselves at risk? (5 key ideas)
Unpredictable nature of events Lack of alternatives Changing level of risk Costs and benefits Perception
Define hazard perception
The way in which someone understands or interprets a hazard
List 6 factors that can influence hazard perception
Socio-economic status Employment Education Values, personality and expectations Past experience Religion and culture
What are the 3 ways in which a person may perceive natural hazards?
Fatalism
Adaptation
Fear
What is fatalism?
Acceptance of the hazard and potential losses as people remain where they are.
What is adaptation?
People see that they can prepare for, and survive the event through prediction, protection and prevention.
What does adaptation depend upon?
The economic and technological circumstances of the area.
What is fear (perception)?
People feel so vulnerable to an event that they are no longer able to face living in that area, they may move away to regions that are unaffected by hazards.
Define primary impacts
The effects of a hazard event that result directly from that event.
Give 2 primary impacts of volcanic eruptions.
Lava
Pyroclastic flows
Give 2 primary impacts of earthquakes.
Ground shaking
Rupturing
Define secondary impacts
The effects that result from the primary effects of the hazard.
Give a secondary effect of a volcanic eruption
Flooding
Give 2 secondary impacts of earthquakes
Tsunamis
Fires
Where can responses to natural hazards come from?
Individuals Local community Government International agencies NGO's
How can people respond to natural hazards?
By seeking ways to reduce the risks that they pose.
Define resilience
The sustained ability of individuals or a community to be able to utilise the available resources to respond to, withstand and recover from the effects of natural hazard events.
What are communities that are resilient able to do?
Minimise the effects of the event, enabling them to return to normal life as soon as possible.
What is integrated risk management?
The process of considering the social, economic and political factors involved in risk analysis.
What does integrated risk management aim to do?
It aims to make the best use of the money available through careful analysis and deliberate planning.
How can people predict hazards?
By using land, sea and air based recordings from satellites.
What is the main advantage of prediction?
It allows time for action to be taken.
