Detailed Global Hazard notes - AS

 

Global Hazards

Something that has the potential to damage to environment and/or people

 

·      Natural processes

 

-       Geophysical - formed by tectonic/geological processes

(internal processes of tectonic origin) 

 

- Hydrometerological - formed by hydrological (floods) and atmospheric (storms etc.)

·      Natural-technological disasters – hazards triggering natural disasters

·      Technological accidents – Chernobyl nuclear plant exploding

·      Chronic – global scale influenced by humans e.g. Global warming

·      Super – global scale, nature e.g. super volcanoes

 

Dregg’s model of defining disaster

 

 

 

The disaster is larger when vulnerable population or hazards are larger – causing larger overlap

 

Swiss Re Definition – 20 people

                                    $16 million

                                    = DISASTER

 

 

Risk = Hazards x vulnerability

Capacity to cope

 

World is becoming riskier place?

FOR
Population increasing leading to

More crime

Hazards affecting more people

More man made risks

AGAINST

Medical care is improving

Technology is improving

 

WHY PEOPLE CONTINUE LIVING IN HAZARDOUS AREAS

 

Why is it too simplistic to say that there is a rising trend in Natural Hazards?

·      Man-made ones are becoming more frequent whereas natural ones are monitored and prevented

·      Different areas are affected and protected differently

·      Massive topic so no set trend with potential fluctuations

·      Technology improved so more recorded now than in past

·      People living in high concentrated slums, resulting in more deaths

·      New technology meaning different measurements, therefore not valid to compare

·      Definition of ‘hazard’ can vary

·      Remote areas aren’t always recorded

 

BOXING DAY TSUNAMI 2004

·      Estimated between 9.0 to 9.3 on the Richter scale

·      Thrust heaved the floor of the Indian ocean towards Indonesia by about 15b meters

·      Shock waves were sent throughout the oceans and hit land

·      These shallow and long shock waves hit Sri Lanka at almost 17m high

Sri Lanka

·      2^nd most effected country

·      30 000 dead

·      5700 missing

·      860 000 displaced

·      Tsunami destroyed economy due to fishing and tourism almost wiped out

·      Most deaths occurred in Ampara due to vulnerable population – 56% of deaths were children

 

Many areas in countries who were economically benefitting from rapidly growing tourism – mangroves removed to place tourist attractions

Damage was drastically reduced in areas that maintained their natural flood barriers

 

AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES

(How formed page 20)

·      Average of 84 homes destroyed a year

·      Fewer deaths now – averaging at 5 a year

Two methods have been used to reduce deaths and increase safety

·      Controlled burning

Regular burning of leaf litter to reduce the…