What forces drive internal and external earth processes?
Internal - Geological
External - Solar, Atmospheric, Spatial
Which natural hazards are likely to be more deadly, more
likely to cause property damage, and more likely to
become catastrophes?
Most deadly - tornadoes and windstorms
Most property damage - expansive soils
Catastrophes - Floords, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.
Landslides and drought = lower chance of catastrophe
Why is history so important in understanding natural
hazards?
...
What kinds of information must be assembled to make
hazard predictions?
...
Describe the components and interactions involved in
the geologic cycle.
The Tectonic Cycle - creation movement, destruction of tectonic plates. Creates and distributes minerals
The Rock Cycle - biggest of the cycles.
The Hydrologic Cycle
The Biogeochemical Cycles - the transfer or cycling of a chemical element or elements through the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. EX: breathe in, out of carbon
Explain the scientific method as it is applied to natural
hazards
...
Explain why calling something a "natural" hazard may act
as a philosophical barrier to dealing with it.
Calling something natural implies it is unable to be prevented or messed with
Explain why two 10-year floods might occur in the same
year.
...
What is a precursor event? Give some examples.
An event that happens before a hazard happens. The surface of the ground may creep prior to a landslide, Volcanoes sometimes swell or bulge before an eruption, etc.
Explain the magnitude-frequency concept.
The magnitude-frequency concept is generally an inverse relationship between magnitude and frequency. Examples include the larger the flood, the less frequent they are
How do risk and acceptable risk differ?
Risk = the product of the probability of that event occurring times the consequences should it occur.
Acceptable risk = The risk society or individuals are willing to take.
Explain how population growth increases the number of
disasters and catastrophes.
More people, more urbanization = more risk
Describe the differences between direct and indirect
effects of disasters
Direct effect = people killed, injured, dislocated, or otherwise damaged by an event
Indirect effect = responses to the disaster; emotional distress, money, etc.
What are the stages of disaster recovery? How do they
differ?
1. Emergency work
2. Restoration of services and communication lines
3. Reconstruction
Describe four common adjustments to natural hazards.
Land use planning
Insurance
Evacuation
Disaster preparedness
What are natural service functions?
Sometimes hazards also provide us with important benefits, like the flooding of a river providing nutrients to the floodplain