Natural Disasters - Unit 1

We study to

Understand, mitigate, and explore the dynamic nature of Earth

Anthropogenic

Caused by human actions

Hazard

A thing or process with the potential to harm humans/society

Natural Disaster

Causes a significant number of human casualties, extensive destruction of property, and economic loss

Primary Disasters

Casualties and destruction caused by the natural hazard itself

Secondary Disasters

Hazardous events triggered by a primary disaster

Tertiary Disaster

Long-term societal disruptions following a disaster

Fast-Onset

1 minute or less

Slow-onset

In the order of days

Stealthy

Decades or longer

Recurrence Interval

The average time between events of the same size

Inverse Relationship

The smaller the disaster, the more often it happens

Annual probability

A disaster of a specific size will happen in a given year (AP=1/RI)

Risk

The chance that harm to humans will occur due to a natural hazard

Risk=

hazard x exposure x vulnerability

Exposure

Potential for casualties, economic losses, social disruption

Vulnerability

Potential for the ability to minimize damage and the ability to recover

Mitigation

The action of reducing the severity or damage provided by a natural hazard