Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction – Review (Earthquakes and Hazards)

A set of QUESTION_AND_ANSWER flashcards covering disaster concepts, hazard classifications, seismic science, fault types, and earthquake classification and measurement.

What is a disaster as defined in disaster readiness notes?

A serious and tragic event that causes loss of lives, human suffering, and great damage to properties.

What is a hazard?

Tangible things that are not meant to hurt people but can be harmful due to misuse or irresponsibility.

What is risk?

The chance, opportunity, or probability of getting hurt because of hazards.

What does ISDR stand for?

International Strategy on Disaster Reduction.

What are the two types of risk discussed?

Acceptable (tolerable) risk and residual risk.

What is Acceptable Risk (Tolerable Risk)?

The level of disaster risk deemed acceptable or tolerable given social, economic, political, cultural, technical and environmental conditions.

What is Residual Risk?

The disaster risk that remains even when effective disaster risk reduction measures are in place; emergency response and recovery capacities must be maintained.

What is a Natural Hazard?

Environmental phenomena with the potential to impact societies and the human environment.

Name the three types of Natural Hazard.

Biological, Geological, and Hydrometeorological.

What is a Man-made Hazard type mentioned?

Human-Induced.

List the 'Other Concepts in Disaster Risk' mentioned.

Exposure, Sensitivity, Adaptive Capacity, and Vulnerability.

What is Seismology?

The scientific discipline concerned with the study of earthquakes.

What is a Seismogram?

Recordings of the movement of the earth.

What is a Seismograph?

An instrument used to record the movement of the earth.

Who are Seismologists?

Experts who study seismology.

What is an Earthquake?

The event that occurs when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one another.

What are Seismic Waves?

Vibrations or energy waves that travel through the Earth during an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or explosion; the shaking felt by people.

What are the two main types of seismic waves?

Surface waves and Body waves.

What are Surface Waves and their types?

Surface waves travel along the Earth's surface and cause most ground movement; types are Love and Rayleigh.

What are Body Waves and their types?

Body waves travel through the Earth's interior; types are P-waves (primary) and S-waves (secondary).

What are Faults?

Cracks or fractures in the Earth's crust where rocks have moved.

Name the three types of faults.

Dip-Slip, Strike-Slip, and Oblique-Slip.

What is a Fault Line?

The visible trace on the Earth's surface showing where the fault lies below.

What is the Pacific Ring of Fire?

A region with the most volcanic and earthquake-prone places on Earth; also called the Pacific Rim, where tectonic plates come together.

Which magnitude of earthquakes is commonly hosted by the Ring of Fire and how often?

Earthquakes up to magnitude 6.9 occur around every 2.5 days.

Name the International Faults mentioned.

San Andreas Fault (Southern California), New Madrid Fault (Central US), Caribbean Plate.

Name the Local Faults identified by PHIVOLCS.

Marikina Valley Fault System; Western Philippine Fault Lines; Eastern Philippine Fault Lines; Southern Mindanao Fault Lines; Central Philippine Fault Zone.

What are the three classifications of earthquakes?

Tectonic earthquake, Plutonic earthquake, and Volcanic earthquake.

What is a tectonic earthquake?

An earthquake caused by abrupt movement of the earth along faults.

What is a plutonic earthquake?

A deep-focus earthquake with disturbance depth roughly 300 to 800 km.

What is a volcanic earthquake?

An earthquake caused by a volcanic eruption; its intensity and magnitude depend on eruption power.

What does Magnitude measure?

The energy released by an earthquake, measured by the seismograph.

What does Intensity refer to in earthquake terminology?

The actual effects and damages caused by an earthquake; classified on the 12-point Mercalli scale.

Why is the Mercalli scale important?

Important for engineers and city planners.

What is the Mercalli scale?

A 12-point scale used to classify earthquake intensity based on observed effects.