GHC Ch 1: Natural Disasters and Human Population

Question 1

What are the two deadliest events?

Answer 1

tropical storms (hurricanes) and earthquakes

Question 2

Is a greater magnitude disaster more or less likely to happen than a lesser magnitude disaster?

Answer 2

Less likely

Question 3

At what rate is the population increasing?

Answer 3

1.2% per year

Question 4

carrying capacity

Answer 4

The maximum population size that can be supported under a given set of environmental conditions.

Question 5

CE

Answer 5

Common era. Same as AD.

Question 6

cyclone

Answer 6

A region of low atmospheric pressure and converging air that rotates counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 7

demographic transition

Answer 7

The change from a human population with high birth rates and high death rates to one with low birth rates and low death rates.

Question 8

earthquake

Answer 8

The shaking of Earth by seismic waves radiating away from a disturbance, most commonly a fault movement.

Question 9

energy

Answer 9

Capacity for performing work

Question 10

epidemic

Answer 10

An outbreak of desease

Question 11

exponential growth

Answer 11

Growth in a compound fashion that, given time, leads to incredible numbers.

Question 12

fertility

Answer 12

The ability to produce offspring; the proportion of births to population.

Question 13

frequency

Answer 13

Number of events in a given time interval. For earthquakes, it is the number of cycles of seismic waves that pass in a second; frequency=1/period

Question 14

great natural disaster

Answer 14

A disaster so overwhelming that outside assistance is needed to handle the rescue and recovery for the region.

Question 15

hurricane

Answer 15

A large, tropical cyclonic storm with wind speeds exceeding 119 and 19 km/h; called a typhoon in the Western Pacific Ocean and a cyclone in the Indian Ocean.

Question 16

influenza

Answer 16

Highly contagious virus caused diseases. The word is commonly shortened to flu.

Question 17

magnitude

Answer 17

An assessment of the size of an event. Magnitude scales exist for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and tornadoes. For earthquakes, different magnitudes are calculated for the same earthquake when different types of seismic waves are used.

Question 18

mitigation

Answer 18

Actions taken by humans to minimize the possible effects of a natural hazard.

Question 19

mortality

Answer 19

Death rate; the proportion of deaths to population

Question 20

natural disaster

Answer 20

An event or process that destroys life and/or property.

Question 21

natural hazard

Answer 21

A source of danger to life, property, and the environment. The probability that a dangerous event will occur.

Question 22

pandemic

Answer 22

A disease occurring over a wide area and affecting many people.

Question 23

return period

Answer 23

Amount of time between an event of a given size.

Question 24

tornado

Answer 24

Spending funnels of wind whose rotating windspeeds can exceed 480 km/h.

Question 25

tsunami

Answer 25

Giant, long period sea waves caused by oceanic disturbances, such as fault movements, volcanic eruptions, meteorite impacts, and landslides.

Question 26

typhoon

Answer 26

A large, tropical cyclonic storm with wind speeds exceeding 119 km/h; called a hurricane in the Western Hemisphere

Question 27

virus

Answer 27

Submicroscopic agents of many infectious diseases. Viruses replicate inside living cells of organisms.

Question 28

volcano

Answer 28

An opening of the Earth’s surface where magma has poured or blown forth, typically creating hills or mountains.

Question 29

Where in the world are deaths from natural disasters highest?

Answer 29

in a belt through Asia, along the Indian Ocean

Question 30

Where in the world are insurance losses from natural disasters highest?

Answer 30

in U.S., Europe and Japan

Question 31

Why has the population suddenly boomed?

Answer 31

Scientific medical revolution and public health care, better shelter, food, and water supplies

Question 32

What is the current world population?

Answer 32

7 billion

Question 33

What is the population doubling time?

Answer 33

58 years

Question 34

How many people were killed by natural disasters in 2011?

Answer 34

Nearly 29,000

Question 35

What is the number of fatalities proportional to?

Answer 35

population density

Question 36

What are death totals are often related to?

Answer 36

economic, educational, and political factors

Question 37

altruism

Answer 37

the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.

Question 38

Increase in economic losses over time is result of what?

Answer 38

Increase in human population and urbanization

Question 39

Vulnerability equation

Answer 39

= risk amplification measures – the risk mitigation measures +/- risk perception factors

Question 40

structural mitigation

Answer 40

Design features, overdesign, structural safeguards, and failsafe design meant to minimize the possible effects of a natural hazard.

Question 41

non-structural mitigation

Answer 41

Emergency plans, evacuation plans, prediction of impact, and warning processes meant to minimize the possible effects of a natural hazard.

Question 42

What kind of graph would describe the population growth?

Answer 42

exponential

Question 43

Doubling time formula?

Answer 43

70/

% growth rate/year

Question 44

Formula for growth rate?

Answer 44

fertility (birth) rate – mortality (death) rate

Question 45

Human population grows by about how many people per year?

Answer 45

80 million

Question 46

Demographic transition theory

Answer 46

Mortality and fertility rates decline from high to low levels because of economic and social development

Question 47

What are some examples of carrying capacity?

Answer 47

IRELAND- in the 1840s introduction of potatoes in 1500s led to population increase. Potato blight in mid 1840s led to malnourishment. Population fell dramatically as over one million people died and one and a half million people emigrated.

RAPA NUI (Easter Island)- Isolated Pacific island with poor soil and little water
Settled by 25-50 Polynesians in 5th century. Survived easily on chickens and yams, plenty of free time. Reached by a Dutch ship in 1722. Carrying capacity had been drastically lowered by society’s actions: transportation of Moai had required cutting down trees, erosion of soil made yams scarce, and lack of canoes made fishing difficult and escape impossible.