1 - intro

This set covers the fundamental definitions, processes, and risk assessment concepts related to natural hazards as discussed in Lesson 1-1.

Hazard

A process that poses a potential threat to people or the environment.

Risk

The probability of an event occurring multiplied by the impact on people or the environment.

Disaster

A brief event that causes great property damage or loss of life.

Catastrophe

A massive disaster.

Internal forces

Forces driven by the internal energy of the Earth, such as plate tectonics.

External forces

Forces on Earth’s surface driven by the Sun’s energy, such as atmospheric effects.

Gravitational attraction

A force driven by gravity that causes downslope movement.

Magnitude

The amount of energy released by a hazard.

Frequency

The rate at which a specific hazard event occurs.

Magnitude-Frequency Concept

The inverse relationship stating that more severe events, such as $\text{Magnitude } 8$ earthquakes, are less likely to occur than less severe events, such as $\text{Magnitude } 2$ earthquakes.

Crater

A geological feature that provides a clue of a meteorite impact.

Fault

A geological feature that provides a clue of an earthquake.

Valley

A geological feature that provides a clue of a former river or glacier.

Disaster (Etymology)

A term dating to the $1500\text{s}$ where the prefix "dis" means "bad" and the suffix "aster" refers to astronomy.

Wait Coast Hazards

Regional hazardous processes including earthquakes and landslides.

East Coast Hazards

Regional hazardous processes specifically including hurricanes.

Mid-continent Hazards

Regional hazardous processes including tornadoes and blizzards.

Great Lakes region

An area that has a relatively low risk of weather and climate related disasters compared to other areas.