Hazards - Hazards / disasters Flashcards
(38 cards)
What is a natural hazard?
an event that can cause potential threat to human life or property/the built environment
What are the 3 types of hazards?
- geophysical
- atmospheric
- hydrological
What is a geophysical hazard?
caused by earth/land processes
Examples of a geophysical hazard:
- earthquake
- volcanic eruptions
- landslides
What is an atmospheric hazard?
caused by processes in the atmosphere
Examples of an atmospheric hazard:
- hurricanes
- tropical storms
- lightning
What is a hydrological hazard?
caused by movements of bodies of water
Examples of a hydrological hazard:
- coastal flooding
- drought
- storm surges
What is a disaster?
a hazardous event that causes large/unacceptable numbers of fatalities/damage
What does the Dregg’s model show?
the point at which a hazard becomes a disaster –> hazardous event meets a vulnerable population
What are the UN criterias for when a hazard becomes a disaster?
- 10+ people killed
- 100+ people effected
- declaration of a state emergency by the government
- a request for international assistance
What is hazard perception?
the different viewpoints of how dangerous hazards are and what risk they pose
What is hazard perception dependent upon?
- wealth
- experience
- education
- religion and beliefs
- mobility
What can human responses be to hazards? (2 categories)
active or passive
What is fatalism?
the belief that the hazard is uncontrollable, so any losses should be accepted as there is nothing to do/ to stop them - passive
What is prediction?
scientific research and past events to know when a hazard will take place - active
What is adaption?
living/adjusting to the hazard - active
What is mitigation?
reducing/stopping the effects of the hazard - active
What is management?
coordinated strategies to reduce the effect of a hazard - active
What is risk-sharing?
when the community shares the risk of the imposed hazard - active
What is the equation for calculation the risk of a hazard?
risk = frequency/magnitude (H) x vulnerability (V) / capacity to cope/adapt (C)
What is incidence?
the frequency of the hazard
What is distribution?
where hazards occur geographically
What is intensity?
the power of the hazard
