Severity of Hazards Flashcards
The severity of a Hazard event is based off of 5 measurements. What are these?
- Magnitude
- Frequency
- Duration
- Probability
- Scale of Spatial Impact
Describe Magnitude:
The measurement of the strength or intensity of a hazard. The higher the magnitude, the more severe the hazard impact on natural and cultural environments.
Describe Frequency:
The number of times an area experiences a hazard will contribute to the community‘s level of risk. Places that experience regular hazards will be more prepared than those that do not.
Describe Duration:
The length of time that a hazard event lasts. The duration of a hazard affects the severity of its’ effects.
Describe Probability:
The likelihood of a hazard event occurring in a particular location within a given time scale. These estimates are based on past events.
Describe Scale of Spatial Impact:
Also known as the extent, this describes how much of the surrounding region is affected by the hazard event. For example, an earthquake is very centralised, while a drought may cover a whole region.
What is Risk?
Risk is the probability of a hazard event causing harmful consequences to people, property and the environment.
State 4 reasons people may put themselves at risk:
- Hazards are unpredictable
- Dynamic Hazards - threat increases or decreases with time
- Lack of alternatives - economically or socially
- Cost verses benefit - Benefits outweigh the risks
- Adaption - Preperation and damage mitigation
- Fatalism - ‘Fate is already decided, we have no control over our lives’
State 4 factors that affect vulnerability:
- Wealth/Affluence
- Educational awareness of hazard protections
- Local and National government preparednesses and relief efforts
- Technical ability to construct preventative measures or predict impacts
- Health and Age of population
- Availability of emergency infrastructure
- Early Warning Systems
- Habitation of Hazard-prone areas
- Human actions which increase the severity or frequency of hazards
