Intro to hazards Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are natural hazards
A environmental event or process that threatens to cause damage and destruction to people, their property and settlements
What is a hazard
An event or process that threatens to cause damage and destruction to people, their property and settlements
What is disaster
When a hazard causes serious damage or destruction. To be classified as a disaster there must be: 10 or more human deaths, 100 people or more affected, injured, homeless, a country declares a state of emergency or makes an appeal for international assistance
What are two geological hazards
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
What are two climactic hazards
Floods, drought
What are two biological hazards
Pests, disease
What are two technological hazards
Transport accident, nuclear explosion
Define exposure
The state of a population being in the firing line for a given hazard for example being in a geographical location which increases the chances of being affected. As population density increases so does exposure
Define vulnerability
The state of a population being at risk of sever impacts for a given hazard for example being poor prepared with weak infrastructure to withstand hazard. As economic development increases vulnerability decreases
Define risk
The likelihood of a hazardous even occurring multiplied by the severity of its damage
Define risk assessment
Judgement of the degree of damage and destruction that an area might experience as a result of a natural event
Define mitigation
The reduction of the risk posed by a hazard through action taken to adjust and cope with a situation
Why are some places more hazardous than others
-some places are better able to cope with the damaging impacts of natural hazards
-in some places hazards are more destructive than others
-some places experience more then one type of hazard
-some places experience natural hazards more frequently than others
