EARTHSC 2GG3- Natural Disasters

Whats a hazard

natural process or event that can potentially harm people or cause damage

Disaster

an event involving a significant number of people and/or significant economic damage

• the event exceeds ability of the community to cope using their own resources

• distrupts the function of a community or society

Examples of geophysical hazards

• Earthquakes

• Tsunamis

• Volcanic eruptions

• Asteroid/comet impacts 

• Landslides

Example of Hydrometeorological Hazards:

• Floods

• Droughts

• Wildland fires

• Storms

• Landslides

Difference between geophysical hazards and hydrometeorological hazards

geophysical hazards are from processes in the solid Earth (rocky part of Earth—the crust and deeper rock layers—not the atmosphere or oceans)

Hydrometeorological hazards come from weather, climate, and water-related processes

Trend for # of people affected by natural disasters

• increasing trend even when the actual hazard itself has not become more frequent.

• This is due to population size and global warming

# of deaths from natural disasters trend

• decreasing trend

• This is due to more tech advances and response times have improved

Whats exposure

• Basically who/what is in the way of that natural hazard

• The harm done can include casualties, economic loses, and social disruptions

Whats vulnerability

• how ready people are for the physical hazard

• in regards to resources available to rebuild, community preparation, and structures that can resist damage

Mitigation

taking action to physically reduce exposure to the hazard.

Adaptation

• accepting that the hazard will occur regardless → trying to reduce/minimize its effects on the community

Affect the cause

mitigating by reducing the likelihood that hazard will occur
Example: wildfire education so people are less likely to accidentally start fires.

Modify the hazard

mitigating by constructing engineering solutions or relocating people, buildings and communities

 Modify the loss potential