GEOG215 intro + hydrological hazards

What is the definition of a hazard?

A process, phenomenon or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury, property damage, social disruption, or environmental degradation.

What defines a disaster?

A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability, and capacity.

What does 'exposure' refer to in the context of hazards?

The spatial overlap between hazards and human communities.

How is 'vulnerability' defined in relation to hazards?

The susceptibility of a human community to damage from a hazard.

What are the three main types of hazards?

Environmental, anthropogenic, and socioenvironmental.

Give an example of an environmental hazard.

Tsunamis, earthquakes, or volcanoes.

What characterizes anthropogenic hazards?

Hazards induced predominantly or entirely by human activities or choices, such as war or industrial accidents.

What are socioenvironmental hazards?

Hazards that arise from a combination of environmental and anthropogenic factors, including climate change and environmental degradation.

What global trend is observed regarding disaster events?

The number of disaster events is rising, and disaster losses are increasing.

What role do insurance companies play in disaster management?

They monitor global disaster data, and uninsured losses have been rising globally since 1970.

What is the significance of the Natural Hazards Commission in New Zealand?

It ensures that approximately 90% of housing and building stock is insured.

What factors contribute to the increase in global disaster events?

Climate change, human expansion, rapid development of exposed land, and increasing vulnerability due to failing infrastructure.

What does hazard severity depend on?

Factors such as duration, magnitude, predictability, speed of onset, frequency, spatial concentration, and number.

What is meant by 'moral hazard' in disaster management?

The complacency that arises from the belief that hazards have been prevented, leading to rushed development and increased risk.

What is the Hikurangi subduction zone known for?

It is a highly active fault along New Zealand's North Island east coast, causing many recent tsunamis.

How has cyclone death toll changed in recent years?

Deaths have reduced due to better disaster management practices.

What is the Southern Annular Mode (SAM)?

A weather pattern around Antarctica that affects the circulation of the subtropical front based on temperature changes.

What is a significant challenge in predicting earthquakes?

Earthquakes are not predictable, despite many non-scientific theories gaining media attention.

What is the impact of climate change on disaster frequency?

The number of recorded floods and extreme weather events is increasing, while non-climate related events are not.

Why is the term 'natural disasters' considered misleading?

Because it implies that disasters occur without human involvement, ignoring the interaction of human and environmental factors.

What is the relationship between rapid population growth and disaster risk?

Rapid population growth increases exposure and vulnerability to hazards, especially in newly developed areas.

What does spatial concentration refer to in hazard analysis?

The clustering of hazards like earthquakes and tsunamis along plate boundaries.

What is the significance of the Richter scale?

It measures the magnitude of earthquakes, helping to assess their severity.

What is the role of risk management in disaster preparedness?

It involves planning and actions taken before a disaster to minimize its impact.

What does emergency management entail?

Actions taken during a disaster to respond effectively and mitigate its effects.

What is a common misconception about flooding prevention?

That flooding can be completely prevented, rather than managed.

How does the frequency of disasters affect insurance availability?

Frequent disasters can lead to insurers being unwilling to provide coverage due to increased risk.

What is the impact of failing infrastructure on disaster vulnerability?

It increases vulnerability, especially in communities with limited capacity to respond to hazards.

What is a hazard?

A process, phenomenon, or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury, property damage, or environmental degradation.

Define disaster.

A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society due to hazardous events, leading to human, material, economic, and environmental losses.

What does exposure refer to in disaster risk?

The situation of people and assets located in hazard-prone areas.

What is vulnerability in the context of disaster risk?

Conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors that increase susceptibility to hazard impacts.

Define capacity in disaster management.

The strengths, attributes, and resources available to manage and reduce disaster risks and strengthen resilience.

What is the formula for disaster risk?

Disaster risk = intensity/likelihood x exposure x vulnerability x capacity.

How does climate change influence disaster risk?

It increases exposure and vulnerability while reducing capacity to cope with hazards.

What role does poverty play in disaster risk?

Poverty increases social vulnerability, making communities more susceptible to disaster impacts.

What is the UNDRR definition of disaster risk?

The potential loss of life, injury, or damage to assets that could occur in a specific period, determined by hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and capacity.

What factors influence post-disaster community recovery trajectories?

Resources, community size and diversity, connectedness, duration and intensity of the hazard, actions of external agencies, and community attitudes.

What is resilience in disaster management?

The ability of a system or community to absorb, adapt to, and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely manner.

How do steep roofs contribute to disaster capacity?

They allow snow to slide off, reducing the risk of roof collapse during heavy snowfall.

What is a key critical service for managing snowfall in communities?

Regular snowplowing services.

What is the impact of social vulnerability on disaster outcomes?

Elderly and disabled individuals are disproportionately affected during disasters, especially in powerless situations.

What are underlying disaster risk drivers?

Processes or conditions that increase exposure and vulnerability or reduce capacity, such as poverty, climate change, and unplanned urbanization.

What is the significance of social networks in disaster resilience?

They contribute to collective problem-solving and adaptability during and after disruptions.

Who is Thomas Kuhn and what is his contribution to scientific paradigms?

A physicist who proposed that scientific paradigms consist of recognized achievements that guide research practices and can shift during crises.

What are the four key components of disaster risk?

Hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and capacity.

How does urbanization affect disaster risk?

Rapid urbanization can increase exposure and vulnerability while complicating disaster management efforts.

What is the relationship between disaster risk and climate variability?

Climate variability can exacerbate hazards, increasing the likelihood and severity of disasters.

What is the role of external agencies in disaster recovery?

They provide resources and support that can significantly influence the recovery process of affected communities.

How can community attitudes affect disaster resilience?

Optimistic attitudes can enhance recovery efforts, while pessimism may hinder effective responses.

What is the importance of assessing disaster risk?

It helps in understanding potential impacts and preparing effective mitigation strategies.

What does the term 'disaster resilience' encompass?

It includes the social processes and networks that help communities cope with and adapt to hazards.

How do demographic variables affect disaster impact?

Factors like class, occupation, and health status can influence the severity of disaster impacts on individuals.

What is the impact of unplanned urbanization on disaster risk?

It can lead to increased exposure and vulnerability, complicating disaster response efforts.

What is a paradigm shift in scientific contexts?

A change in focus and analytical frameworks that can inform and respond to broader societal issues.

How does the geosynclinal theory relate to tectonic plate theory?

The geosynclinal theory was replaced as the dominant paradigm by tectonic plate theory, illustrating a paradigm shift.

What is the current dominant paradigm in Disaster Risk Management (DRM)?

The current emphasis is on complex adaptive systems and systems-based approaches.

What are the main types of flooding?

Pluvial, fluvial/riverine, flash/rapid-onset, lowland/slow-rise, coastal, and non-natural floods.

What is fluvial/riverine flooding?

Flooding that occurs due to rivers overflowing their banks, which can be categorized into flash/rapid-onset and lowland/slow-rise types.

What is flash flooding?

Rapid-onset, short-duration flooding mainly caused by intensive rainfall.

What defines pluvial flooding?

Flooding caused by surface runoff from heavy rainfall.

Why is the 2011 Brisbane flood significant?

Many residents discovered their insurance policies only covered pluvial flooding, not fluvial flooding.

What are the main causes of fluvial/riverine flooding?

Widespread precipitation and melting snow.

How does the geography of Ireland affect its flooding?

Ireland has stable rivers despite many rainy days, preventing significant flooding.

What is the impact of monsoonal climates on flooding?

They lead to seasonal heavy rainfall, causing rivers to flood during the wet season.

What happens to Lake Eyre during flooding?

It experiences a 'eruption' of life as invertebrate larvae hatch and birds arrive.

What is the significance of cyclone Gabrielle?

It was significantly larger than previous storms, highlighting the increasing severity of flooding events.

What are the consequences of flooding in China and India?

China has the most people affected by floods, while India has the most deaths, primarily due to riverine flooding.

What is the average global impact of flooding?

160 events, 79 million affected, 7500 injured, 5500 deaths, and $33.5 billion in damage.

How has Bangladesh improved its disaster management?

Despite being very poor, Bangladesh has significantly improved its emergency management systems, reducing cyclone-related deaths.

What role did ancient Egyptian floods play in agriculture?

Seasonal floods from the Nile provided fertile soil for farming, making Egypt the breadbasket of the world.

What can flood water carry that poses risks?

Mud, debris, sewage, and pollutants such as oil and garbage.

What is the relationship between flood depth and flow velocity?

Both factors combine to produce high destructive potential during floods.

What is the definition of flooding?

Temporary inundation of normally dry land by water from rivers, surface runoff, or tidal/coastal waters.

What is the significance of atmospheric rivers in flooding?

They can bring extreme rainfall, overwhelming river systems not designed for such volumes.

What is the difference between flash flooding and riverine flooding?

Flash flooding occurs rapidly in steep catchments, while riverine flooding happens more slowly in flat areas.

What is the impact of drainage pathways on flash flooding?

Flash flooding is associated with drainage pathways that can quickly channel water.

How does topography influence flooding?

Steep topography can lead to rapid water flow, increasing the risk of flash flooding.

What is the role of catchment conditions in flooding?

Conditions such as geology and topography affect how quickly water flows and accumulates during floods.

What is the cumulative nature of paradigm shifts?

Paradigm shifts build upon previous paradigms rather than completely replacing them.

What are the implications of insurance policies in flood-prone areas?

Default policies may not cover all types of flooding, leading to financial losses for homeowners.

What are some health implications of flooding?

Risk of water-borne diseases (e.g., cholera, leptospirosis) and psychological impacts.

What are the categories of flood impacts?

Tangible/ intangible and direct/ indirect.

What is the formula for risk in risk management?

Risk = (the likelihood of a hazard occurring) x (the consequences of that hazard occurrence).

What is risk avoidance?

A strategy to avoid risk, such as buying a house above the floodplain, but it may also mean avoiding potential rewards.

What is risk reduction?

Methods to reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a loss, such as creating reserve areas to absorb floodwaters.

What is risk retention?

Holding the risk yourself and accepting loss when it occurs, often through self-insurance.

What is risk transfer?

Causing another party, usually an insurance company, to accept the risk in exchange for a premium.

What are the causes of lowland river flooding?

Long-duration rainfall, springtime snowmelt, and monsoonal rains.

What are floodplains?

Areas beside rivers that flood when the flow exceeds the river's normal level.

Why are floodplains historically advantageous for human settlements?

They have fertile soils, proximity to water supply, and flat topography for building.

What is an example of a major river system affected by flooding in the USA?

The Mississippi River.

What engineering solution has been implemented on the Mississippi River?

Large stopbanks built by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

What are the characteristics of flash floods?

They occur suddenly, are difficult to predict, and can cause severe damage.

What are non-climatic causes of flash flooding?

Geomorphology, land surface permeability, and insufficient drainage systems.

How does urbanization contribute to flooding?

Urban areas have impermeable surfaces, leading to increased runoff and flooding.

What happens to the capacity of soil to absorb water after recent rainfall?

It decreases, making the area more likely to flood during subsequent rainstorms.

What is the impact of reduced drainage system efficiency?

It can lead to increased flooding due to inadequate management of water runoff.

What is the significance of the 2011 Mississippi flooding?

It highlighted the risks of engineered flood defenses and the need for floodplain management.

What is the trade-off of building stopbanks on rivers?

They can reduce flooding but may worsen floods if water exceeds the banks.