Tectonics- Hazard Profiles, trends, case studies and management/coping

Question 1

Case study: Asian tsunami

Answer 1

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, resulting in a tsunami given various names but most commonly known as the Boxing Day tsunami. Killed over 230,000 people in fourteen countries. Waves were up to 39ft high.

Question 2

Earthquake comparison

Answer 2

Japan vs Haiti

Question 3

What’s a multiple hazard zone

Answer 3

An area that’s at risk to multiple hazards, and is vulnerable.

Important to identify them as it helps decision makers to understand a regions hazards, to set priorities for action, and to decide how to assign resources.

Question 4

Hydrometeorological hazards

Answer 4

Natural hazards caused by climate processes (including droughts, floods, hurricanes and storms).

Question 5

What’s retrofitting

Answer 5

Adding something to a building after it was build to help it withstand tectonic events.

Question 6

Coping mechanisms

Answer 6

Community management
Insurance
Role of NGOs
Aid
Education
Monitoring techniques

Question 7

What’s forecasting

Answer 7

In the prediction of floods, hurricanes, and other weather related phenomena the word forecast refers to short-term prediction in terms of the magnitude, location, date and time of the event.

Question 8

Hazard management cycle and the stages within it

Answer 8

1. Response - a re-active measure of how a country or community reacts to events
2. Recovery - another re-active post event measure in terms of the time it takes for recovery and action plans to be put in place
3. Mitigation - pro-active strategies put in place before an event occurs to prevent a hazard from occurring
4. Preparedness - another pro-active method to help increase resilience to a disaster

Question 9

Park’s hazard response model

Answer 9

This model shows the different impacts of different events, shown by the speed of drop in quality of life, duration of the decline and speed and nature of recovery.

Level of development and governance are key factors that affect the level of impact from hazard events.

Question 10

Tsunami modification

Answer 10

Modify event: Coastal defences and engineering

Modify human vulnerability: warning and prediction systems, coastal zone management and land use planning, provision of emergency kits

Modify loss: this involves immediate recuse efforts, followed by relief efforts, which focus on food, shelter, water and sanitation. Insurance can help recovery. Long term reconstruction is needed.

Question 11

Earthquake modification

Answer 11

Modify event: not possible

Modify human vulnerability: ground shaking and liquefaction risk mapping, aseismic building, earthquake education and drills, prediction not possible but forecasting is possible.

Modify loss: this involves immediate recuse efforts, followed by relief efforts, which focus on food, shelter, water and sanitation. Insurance can help recovery. Long term reconstruction is needed.

Question 12

Volcano modification

Answer 12

Modify event: lava diversion

Modify human vulnerability: monitoring, prediction warning and evacuation systems, hazard mapping, education, shelters

Modify loss: this involves immediate recuse efforts, followed by relief efforts, which focus on food, shelter, water and sanitation. Insurance can help recovery. Long term reconstruction is needed.

Question 13

Perception and response links

Answer 13

P: acceptance
R: do nothing, accept loses.

P: dominance
R: the technological fix-building dams, forecasting technology, earthquake proofing, etc.

P: adaption
R: at traditional level lifestyle may be adapted to environmental risks. Modern level means changing human behaviour as well as trying to control environment.