What is a hazard?
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What is a hazard?
A hazard is an event that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, people or the economy.
True or False?
A natural hazard is an event which is the result of either human or environmental processes.
False.
A natural hazard is an event caused by environmental processes that would occur without the presence of humans.
Define the term geophysical hazard.
A geophysical hazard is caused by land processes. Examples of geophysical hazards include:
Earthquakes.
Volcanic activity.
Mass movements like landslides and mudflows.
True or False?
A natural hazard always results in a disaster.
False.
A natural hazard has the potential to cause harm, but a disaster only occurs when actual harm happens.
Give one example of an atmospheric hazard.
Examples of atmospheric hazards include:
Tropical storms.
Wildfires.
Which type of hazard is caused by the movement and distribution of water?
A hydrological hazard is caused by the movement and distribution of water, such as floods.
What factors affect people's perception of hazards?
People's perceptions of hazards are influenced by economic and cultural factors.
Name one economic factor which affects hazard perception.
Economic factors which affect people's perception of hazards include:
Quality of housing and infrastructure.
Spending on preparation and prediction.
Investment in education.
What is a disaster?
A disaster is when harm occurs to the environment, people or the economy.
Name one cultural factor which affects hazard perception.
Cultural factors affecting hazard perception include:
Cultural values and beliefs.
Trust in scientists and government officials.
Previous experiences with hazards.
What is fatalism in the context of hazard response?
Fatalism is when people believe that hazards cannot be avoided and so must be accepted, often leading to inaction.
What is adjustment/adaptation in the context of a hazard response?
Adjustment/adaptation is changing behaviour to reduce potential losses, such as improving awareness of hazards and practising earthquake drills.
Define the term mitigation.
Mitigation is working to reduce or prevent the occurrence of hazards, for example, by building sea walls to prevent flooding.
What is integrated risk management?
Integrated risk management involves analysing potential risks and implementing a coordinated approach to manage and reduce them.
True or False?
Intensity and magnitude are the same thing for hazards.
False.
Intensity and magnitude are similar but not the same.
Magnitude measures the amount of energy released.
Intensity measures the degree of shaking in a particular location.
Define risk sharing.
Risk sharing is working together to reduce the risk and sharing the costs of hazard response, for example, buying home insurance.
What is distribution in relation to hazards?
Distribution refers to where hazards occur.
How does the level of development affect hazard response?
More developed countries are more likely to have mitigation and adaptation strategies in place. They are usually better prepared to respond to hazards effectively.
How does distribution affect hazard response?
Distribution affects hazard response because in more hazardous locations, people are more prepared for hazard events as they invest significant time and money to protect themselves.
What is the hazard management cycle?
The hazard management cycle is a model that shows how the events of one hazard event inform planning and preparation for the next hazard event.
Define response in the context of hazard events.
Response is the stage of the hazard management cycle involving search and rescue and provision of emergency medical assistance and aid.
True or False?
The time taken for each stage of the hazard management cycle is always the same.
False.
The time taken for each stage of the hazard management cycle will vary due to factors such as level of development, magnitude of the hazard, quality of governance, and aid available.
Which human response model outlines how people react to hazard events and how hazards affect people's quality of life?
The Park model of human response describes how people react to hazard events and how hazards affect people's quality of life.
True or False?
In the Park model, LDE countries tend to recover more quickly than HDE countries.
False.
In the Park model, LDE countries tend to recover less quickly than HDE countries.
What factors affect the steepness of the downward curve in the Park model?
The steepness of the downward curve in the Park model varies depending on the nature and magnitude of the hazard.
A high-magnitude event that happens very suddenly will have a steeper and deeper curve than a slow-onset, low-magnitude event.
Define the term recovery in the context of hazard events.
Recovery is the stage of the hazard management cycle involving restoring services and reconstructing damaged buildings.
Name the three phases in the Park model.
The three phases in the Park model are:
Relief.
Rehabilitation.
Reconstruction.
What is the preparedness stage of the hazard response cycle?
The preparedness stage includes activities such as earthquake drills and public awareness campaigns.
True or False?
Less developed countries are more likely to have mitigation and adaptation strategies in place.
False.
More developed countries are more likely to have mitigation and adaptation strategies in place and will be better prepared to respond to hazards effectively.