Natural Disasters and Catastrophes

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Chapter 16

• Natural Disasters and Catastrophes

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Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes

• The Most Devastating Natural Hazards

-Tsunami -Wildfire -Tornado -Flood -Drought
-Earth Quake -Volcanic Eruption -Landslides -Hurri
cane -Heatwave
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Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes

• Natural Hazards
• Any natural process that is a potential threat to
  human life and property
• Disasters
• A hazardous event that occurs over a limited time
  span in a defined geographic area where the loss
  of human life and property is significant.
• Catastrophes
• A massive disaster requiring significant time and
  money for recovery.

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Disasters and Catastrophes Taking a Historic
Point of View

• Natural Hazards are Repetitive Events
• Study History to reduce hazards

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Fundamental Concepts

• Natural processes have service functions.
• Hazards are predictable
• Linkages exist between hazards
• Linkage exist between the physical and biological
  environment
• Hazards are producing more catastrophes than they
  were before.
• Risk from hazards can be estimated
• Adverse effects of hazards can be minimized

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Natural Processes Have Natural Service Functions

• Physical processes create a varied landscape.
• Periodic disturbance such as earthquake, volcanic
  eruption, and flooding create
• Fertile soil
• Available water
• Diverse land and life
• Aesthetic beauty

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Hazards Are Predictable

• Monitor areas where hazards have occurred in the
  past.
• Statistics can evaluate frequency of a particular
  event.
• Predict based on geography of where hazards are
  most likely to occur. Ex. Earthquakes most like
  near coastlines.
• Forecast events and issue warnings. Ex. Tsunami
  warning system in the Pacific Ocean.

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Tsunami Warning System
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Linkages Exist Between Hazards and the Environment

• Often one hazard can create another.
• Ex. Volcanic eruption can cause a landslide.
• Natural hazards are linked to earth materials.
• Ex. Weak soils can lead to landslides.
• Hazards can cause the disruption of ecosystems.

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• Volcanic eruptions can cause mudslides

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Hazards are Producing More Catastrophes

• Key Factor Human Population Growth
• Humans pushed into more hazardous areas
• 15 cities of over 10 million most vulnerable
• Land use transformation
• How we use land effects hazardous events
• Ex. Flooding of Yangtze River

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YIKES!
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Risk From Hazards can be Estimated

• Risk product of the probability of an event
  times the consequences
• Acceptable Risk Risks that individuals or
  society are willing to take

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Adverse Effects of Hazards can be Minimized

• Active vs. Reactive Response
• Need to be more active
• Land use planning
• Hazard-resistant construction
• Protection of ecosystems
• Evacuation plans

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Impact and Recovery from Disasters

• Direct vs. Indirect Effects
• Direct effects effect relatively few
• Indirect effects can effect all of society and
  can take years for recovery

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Perceiving, Avoiding, Adjusting to Hazards

• Regulations about what can be built in hazardous
  zones.
• Best adjustment is to avoid hazards.
• Common adjustments
• Land-use planning
• Control natural processes
• Insurance
• Evacuation
• Disaster preparedness
• Do nothing

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What Does the Future Hold?

• Major Disasters are increasing due to population
  pressure and poor land-use planning.
• Anticipating hazards
• will minimize
• suffering and
• economic losses

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Your Assignment

1. Work in the assigned groups of 3.
2. Create a two to three minute presentation
   explaining your topic.
3. Feel free to be creative.
4. Dont necessarily need to make a PPT.
5. Your topic must address each question.