Tectonics - EQ2

Question 1

For a disaster to be entered into the database of the UN’s InternationalStrategy for Disaster Reduction, at least one specific criteria must be met. Do you know any?

Answer 1

Any of the following:
- A report of 10 or more people killed
- A report of 100 people affected
- A declaration of a state of emergency by the relevant government
- A request by the national government for international assistance

Question 2

What is the definition of ‘Risk’?

Answer 2

The probability of a hazard event occurring and creating loss of life.

Question 3

What is the definition of ‘Vulnerability’?

Answer 3

A high risk combined with an inability of individuals and communities to cope.

Question 4

What is the definition of ‘Capacity to Cope’?

Answer 4

The ability of affected communities to cope with a given hazard.

Question 5

The Hazard Risk Formula/Equation measures the level of risk in an area. What components do you think make up this?

Answer 5

Question 6

When - if any, could you be confident there would be ‘no disaster’?

Answer 6

When Human activity and physical processes DO NOT interact, so there is no disaster
(e.g. a volcanic eruption on a remote unpopulated island)

Question 7

What characteristics can influence tectonic hazards?

Answer 7

• Magnitude
• Speed
• Duration
• Frequency
• Areal extent (The area over which damage occurs or a hazard is felt)
• Spatial predictability (The extent to which the location of a hazard can be known in advance; this is generally easy for a volcano but less so along fault lines/earthquakes)
• (Not an exhaustive list)

Question 8

What makes an individual or community more vulnerable?

Answer 8

• Wealth
• Location
• Access to services
• Infrastructure
• Emergency services/response
  Age/gender/ethnicity
• Urbanisation
• (Not an exhaustive list)

Question 9

What does the Deggs Model show?

Answer 9

A natural disaster only occurs if a vulnerable population is exposed to a hazard.

Question 10

What should you NOT do with Case Studies in Exam answers?

Answer 10

Just writing long, monologues of case studies - the points must be linked to the question.

Question 11

What is the structure of a 12 mark paragraph?

Answer 11

P - point
E - Explain
E - Example
L - Link (back to the question - at the end of each paragraph)

Question 12

Why do people remain exposed to hazard risks?

Answer 12

There are multiple reasons, but some main reasons include:
- Changing risks
- Lack of alternatives
- Cost–benefit analysis
- Risk perception
These reasons also mean vulnerable populations cannot just move away (including ‘Russian Roulette’ - (turn a blind eye, are confronted with statistics which make chances look better).

Question 13

What does AO1 include?

Answer 13

Knowledge and understanding.

Question 14

What does AO2 include?

Answer 14

Requires you to apply your knowledge to make judgements and comment on significance of different factors.

Question 15

What does AO3 include?

Answer 15

Requires you to use Geographical Skills to interpret information (e.g. calculations, graphs, charts and maps)

Question 16

What is the definition of ‘resilience’? (in tectonics terms)

Answer 16

The ability of a community to rehabilitate and reconstruct after a disaster to return to high quality living standards.

Question 17

What is meant by root causes (in PAR Model)?

Answer 17

The fundamental reasons (such as wealth distribution and political stability, e.g. poor governance in Haiti and communities in poverty).

Question 18

What does ‘PAR’ model stand for?

Answer 18

The Pressure and Release Model

Question 19

Can you draw the PAR model - or know what it must include?

Answer 19

Question 20

What is meant by Dynamic Pressures (in PAR Model)?

Answer 20

Root causes can lead to dynamic pressures (e.g. lack of building regulations).

Question 21

What is meant by Unsafe Conditions (in the PAR Model)?

Answer 21

The result of the root causes and dynamic pressures (e.g. unsafe buildings in Port-au-Prince).

Question 22

What are the benefits of using hazard profiles to compare natural disasters?