Intro to Geological Catastrophes

catastrophe

event that causes great and often sudden damage and suffering, including widespread destruction or harm to beings and the built environment (aka disaster)

natural hazard

potentially harmful event that occurs as a result of natural processes at various time intervals

difference of catastrophes/hazards

magnitude, time, occurrence

magnitude

great vs variable (hazards can be small, catastrophes big)

time

sudden vs various time intervals (catastrophes fast, hazards can be slow)

occurrence

have happened vs potential

where would you expect the greatest damages/economic losses from catastrophes?

industrial nations (expensive infrastructure that could be damaged)

where would you expect the highest amount of deaths from catastrophes?

poorest nations (low standard of living, limited infrastructure to protect them)

gutenberg-richter relation

math model for catastrophes, describes occurrence of events

math model magnitude

frequency relation, bigger event = higher magnitude

math model frequency

how often events happen (high frequency = often & short return period, low frequency = rare & long return period)

relationship between math model magnitude and frequency

inverse relationship (negative slope)

drivers of catastrophes on earth

plate tectonics and climate

plate tectonics

aka geophysical, motions of the solid earth (earthquakes, volcanos, tsunami)

climate

changes in earth’s climate (flooding, wildfires)

climate change (Hockey Stick Curve graph)

CO2 concentration rapid increase since Industrial Revolution (caused by fossil fuel burning that traps heat) aka GREENHOUSE EFFECT