Vulnerable Coastlines Flashcards
Define vulnerability
The potential to be harmed by a natural hazard.
Define magnitude
A quantitative measure of the size of a natural event.
Define capacity
The ability of a country or region to react to and recover from a natural hazard.
What physical factors increase vulnerability?
physical factor
Magnitude
Duration
Predictability
Regularity
How does magnitude increase vulnerability?
physical factor
Stronger the hazard, the more severe the impact.
How does duration increase vulnerability?
physical factor
Longer the hazard lasts, the more severe the impacts are likely to be.
How does predictability increase vulnerability?
physical factor
Hazards that hit without a warning will have more serious results.
How does regularity increase vulnerability?
physical factor
If hazards occur often + quickly, than severity likely to be greater. Communities don’t have capacity to recover before next storm hits.
What human factors increase vulnerability?
Wealth (economic factor) Education (social) Governments (social/economic) Age (social) Health (social) Population density (social) Time of day/day of week (social) Emergency services (social/economic)
How does wealth increase vulnerability?
human factor
Poor people less able to afford housing that can withstand extreme events.
Less likely to have money/insurance policies to help with recovery.
How does education decrease vulnerability?
human factor
When population literate, written messages can spread info (before event or issue warnings + give advice).
How can governments decrease vulnerability?
human factor
Support education + awareness, + build sea defences.
How does age increase vulnerability?
human factor
Children + elderly more vulnerable - have fewer financial resources + often depend on others for survival.
How does health decrease vulnerability?
human factor
Healthy person more able to escape dangers + recover after event.
How does population density increase vulnerability?
human factor
Greater the number of people who live in area, the more severe the impact.
How does the timer of day/day of week increase vulnerability?
(human factor)
Influences whether people at home, work or coastline.
How do emergency services decrease vulnerability?
human factor
Richer countries have well-trained + well-resourced response teams that can rescue + treat people following a disaster.
Define low-elevation coastal zones (LECZs)
Coastal areas that are less than 10m above sea level.
Define Storm surge
A rapid rise in sea level caused by storms forcing water into a narrowing sea area e.g. an estuary.
Define isostatic recovery
The weight of the ice acted like a see-saw and pushed down Scotland and raised the South East.
Now that the weight of the ice has gone Scotland is rebounding and the South East sinking back down.
How are sea levels likely to increase the risk of coastal communities?
Sea levels likely to rise by 50-100cm by 2100, which can increase coastal flooding.
How are warmer seas likely to increase the risk of coastal communities?
Warmer seas lead to increased frequency + strength of storms causing increased coastal erosion + storm surges.
How are storms likely to increase the risk of coastal communities?
More violent storms will give heavier rainfall + increased risk of flash flooding.
What are primary impacts?
Immediate consequences of an event.
People inside collapsing building during cliff collapse.
What are secondary impacts?
Result from primary event - may last many years.
Destroyed buildings = people homeless
Define delta
A landform created by the deposition of sediment carried by a river as the flow leaves its mouth and enter slower-moving or standing water (e.g. ocean, sea or lake).
Define salination
The process that increases the salt content of water or soil.
Define environmental refugees
People who have been forced to leave their traditional habitats because of a marked environmental disruption.
What factors make coastal communities in the UK vulnerable?
High number of elderly Tourists/visitors who stay for short time only Low employment levels Seasonality of work Poor transport links
What 3 factors does the size and energy of waves depend on?
Fetch
Strength of the wind
Length of time the wind has been blowing for
What is a concordant coastline?
Where the geology is parallel to the coastline - has one type of rock.
What is a discordant coastline?
Where the geology is at 90 degrees to the coastline - has different types of rock.
What storm surge did you study?
Boston, December 2013
Why is the south east coast of the UK more vulnerable to storm surges?
North sea
Funnel effect between UK and Europe
What causes a storm surge?
Low air pressure causes a bulge in the sea. Bulge is pushed forward by the wind.
What are two physical reasons why London is vulnerable to flooding?
Storm surges
Narrowing of the land (funnel effect)
What are two human reasons why London is vulnerable to flooding?
Large population
Lots of buildings along the Thames
How has London attempted to reduce the threat of flooding?
Thames Barrier
What are the 5 features of destructive waves?
Occur in storm conditions Have high energy Long fetch (travelled a long distance) Responsible for erosion Greater backwash than swash
What are the 5 features of constructive waves?
Occur in calm conditions Have low energy Transport material by Longshore drift Responsible for deposition Greater swash than backwash
