TOPIC 1 TECTONIC PROCESSES AND HAZARDS Lesson 14

TOPIC 1: TECTONIC PROCESSES AND HAZARDS (Lesson 14)

Recap: The topic is divided into three enquiry questions…. • 1. Why are some locations more at risk from tectonic hazards? • 2. Why do some tectonic hazards develop into disasters? • 3. How successful is the management of tectonic hazards and disasters?

ENQUIRY QUESTION 2: • Why do some tectonic hazards develop into disasters?

SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENT • 1. 4 ‘Disaster occurrence can be explained by the relationship between hazards, vulnerability, resilience and disaster. ’ • a) Definition of a natural hazard and a disaster, the importance of vulnerability and a community’s threshold for resilience, the hazard risk equation.

Lesson objectives: • To know the difference between a hazard and a disaster • To understand the concepts of vulnerability, resilience and risk • To have knowledge of Degg’s Model • To understand the ‘hazard risk equation’ • To understand the ‘Disaster Risk and Age Index’.

PAIRED WORK: WHITEBOARDS OUT! • What do you think the difference is between a hazard and a disaster? Can you make up definitions for each? 3 mins

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=n 73 qt. Eoj. P_Y • A hazard is a perceived natural/ geophysical event ( such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption or tsunami) that has the potential to threaten both life and property’ • Whereas…. . • A disaster is the realisation of the hazard, when it ‘causes a significant impact on a vulnerable population. ’ (Degg)

Example: Volcanic eruptions- hazards or disasters? ( Compare Mt Etna Sicily – constantly erupting ( e. g 2015)but well managed and not always disastrous with Nevada del Ruiz Columbia 1985 - a major volcanic disaster…)

Additional information on disasters…. . • The UN ( United Nations) records a hazard as a disaster if one or more of these criteria are met…. . • • . 10 or more people killed 100 or more people affected Declaration of a state of Emergency Request by the national government for international assistance

Example – Stromboli, North of Sicily, Italy 2001 A group of tourists hit by ash and lava bombs but only one person killed based on the UN criteria was a hazard but not a disaster.

Example : Haiti, Caribbean. Jan 10 th 2010 Earthquake Declared as a state of emergency -claimed more than 230, 000 lives and 3 million people affected was a DISASTER, not a hazard….

Alternative interpretations of disaster. . • Some large insurers define it as • ‘ economic losses of over $1. 5 mill. ’

WHITEBOARDS- PAIRED WORK • What do you think the term ‘MEGA DISASTER’ means? • Can you think of examples in the world where this happened in the past?

Mega disaster( catastrophe) • • • The United Nations(UN) suggests the following conditions : Over 2000 deaths OR. . Over 200, 000 made homeless OR… The GDP of a country is reduced by at least 5% OR. . . Dependence on aid from abroad for a year or more after the event. • E. g. Tohoku, Japan 2011 earthquake and tsunami was a mega disaster because there were over 20, 000 deaths (though only a 3. 5% fall in GDP)

WHITEBOARDS- PAIRED WORK • What does vulnerability mean? • What factors do you think make people more/ less VULNERABLE? . . . • 3 mins

Vulnerability? . . • Vulnerability means ‘potential loss. ’ • It is the degree to which a population has the ability to anticipate, cope with , resist and recover from a natural hazard. • • • Factors which affect different levels of vulnerability include : 1. Geographical location of population in relation to the hazard 2. Level of economic development of country concerned 3. Knowledge and understanding ( education)of the people 4. The ability to react, level of community preparedness, community adaptation and level of resilience

Who are the most vulnerable? . . .

Haiti ( Jan 2010) versus New Zealand Christchurch earthquake(Feb 2011) • Who was more vulnerable? . .

See Degg’s Model (Fig 2. 1 P. 15 Hodder) • A model is a simplification of a real situation. It can be used to help explain complex situations that exist in our world. • Degg’s model shows the interaction between hazards, disaster and human vulnerability. • Clearly, a disaster may ONLY OCCUR when a vulnerable population is exposed to a hazard.

WHITEBOARDS/PAIRED WORK • What do you think ‘resilience’ means? • What kind of factors can make some people more resilient than others? • 3 mins. .

Resilience/ ‘Capacity to Cope’ • In the context of hazards and disasters, resilience is about the ability of a community or population to ‘ spring back’ from a hazard event or disaster shock. • This is determined by the degree to which the community has the necessary resources and is capable of organising itself both prior to and during times of need ( a/c to UNISDR-United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction) In Haiti: Boys wear food ration bags as makeshift boots

Resilience/capacity to cope cont. . • So in the context of hazards, resilience ( capacity to cope)can be thought of as the ability of a system, community or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb and recover from the effects of a hazard. Haiti- Men carrying food aid

WHITEBOARDS/PAIRED WORK • What is meant by the term ‘ RISK’? • Can you think of reasons why different groups of PEOPLE may be more AT RISK from hazards than others? • 3 mins…

Risk • Risk is the exposure of people to a hazardous event – presenting a potential threat to themselves, their possessions and the built environment in which they live. • Some people consciously put themselves at risk – Why do you think they do this ?

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=l. NGw. GGOjif Y Risk can also be understood through the concept of PERCEPTION…

What factors influence perception of a natural hazard? ……. . What is mean by perception? • Perception is the way in which an individual or group views the threat of an event – This ultimately determines the course of action take by individuals or the response by governments and other organisations. • People react to the threat of hazards in different ways because of the way in which individuals receive and process the information.