Hazards - ANSWER Hazards affect millions of people around the world each
year. Within North America, every location is at risk from at least one hazard
process. Some hazards pose a risk to both humans and the environment.
Examples; Nuclear meltdowns, Toxic gas release, Oil spills, Ozone depletion,
Acid rain, Infrastructure failure, Shipwrecks, Airplane crash
Geographical hazard examples - ANSWER 1. West coast: earthquakes,
landslides
2. East coast: hurricanes, tropical storms
3. Mid-continent: tornadoes, blizzards
4. All areas: drought
Natural hazards can arise from 3 main processes - ANSWER 1. Internal forces
within the Earth (crust, mantle). Driven by the internal energy of the earth. Ex;
plate tectonics
2. External forces on Earth's surface. Driven by the sun's energy. Ex;
atmospheric effects
3. Gravitational attraction. Driven by the force of gravity. Ex; downslope
movement
Hazard definition - ANSWER A process that possesses a potential threat to
people or the environment
Risk definition - ANSWER The probability of an event occurring multiplied
by the impact on people or the environment
Disaster definition - ANSWER A brief event that causes great property
damage or loss of life
Catastrophe definition - ANSWER A massive disaster
,Examples of recent catastrophes - ANSWER 1. Hurricane Katrina 2005
2. Indian ocean tsunami (Thailand 2004)
3. Japan earthquake which caused a nuclear meltdown and a tsunami in 2011
4. Earthquake in Haiti in 2010
5. Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico in 2010
Hazards as potential catastrophes - ANSWER 1. More likely to be
catastrophic: tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, floods
2. Less likely to be catastrophic: landslides, tornadoes, avalanches, wildfires
Magnitude and frequency - ANSWER The impact of a hazard is a function of
both its magnitude (i.e. energy released) and frequency. It can also be affected
by other factors (geology, land use, population density etc)
Magnitude frequency concept - ANSWER There is an inverse relationship
between magnitude and frequency; as one variable goes up, the other goes down
The geologic cycle - ANSWER 1. Tectonic cycle
2. Rock cycle
3. Water cycle (hydrologic)
Tectonic cycle - ANSWER This cycle involves the creation, movement, and
destruction of tectonic plates. The process is driven by Earth's internal energy
Tectonic plates - ANSWER Large blocks of the earth's crust that form its outer
shell; there are 14 plates (7 big ones and 7 small ones). New land is formed at
mid-ocean ridges and land is destroyed at subduction zones
Earth's internal structure - ANSWER 1. Lithosphere; thin brittle crust
2. Asthenosphere; (upper mantle) is composed of hot magma with some flow
Plate tectonics - ANSWER The crust forms the upper part of the lithosphere
and is broken into fragments (plates). Movement of the plates is caused by
convection currents within the mantle.
Oceanic vs Continental plates - ANSWER If the continental plate and oceanic
plate collided, which one would sink? The answer is the oceanic plate would
,sink because it is more dense. When the plate sinks, the rock is melting and the
currents are carrying the melted rock up through the continental crust which can
cause volcanoes. Vancouver is prone to earthquakes and volcanoes because
these plates are colliding
1. Oceanic: dense, thin (averages 7 km thickness)
2. Continental: relatively buoyant, thick (averages 30km thickness)
Plate boundaries - ANSWER Plate boundaries do not tend to match up with
the boundaries of continents or oceans. The movement of plates causes dynamic
events on earth's surface, especially at plate boundaries
Types of plate boundaries - ANSWER 1. Divergent
2. Convergent
3. Transform
Pangaea and plate tectonics - ANSWER The continents of today were
clustered into the supercontinent of Pangaea 250 million years ago. Evidence
for this includes current mountain ranges
Divergent plate boundaries - ANSWER At these boundaries, plates move
away from each other. New land is created at these locations. Divergence results
in seafloor spreading and causes oceanic ridges to form (ex; mid-atlantic ridge).
The Atlantic Ocean is getting wider by a few cm every year
Convergent plate boundaries - ANSWER At these boundaries, plates move
toward each other. Subduction zones and collision boundaries
Subduction zones - ANSWER Collisions involving oceanic and continental
crust result in this. Dence ocean plates sink and melt (oceanic plate). The melted
magma rises to form volcanoes
Collision boundaries - ANSWER Collisions involving two continental plates
result in this. Neither plate sinks. Tall mountains tend to form (ex; Himalayas).
Ex; India and Continental Asia (mount Everest)
Transform boundaries - ANSWER At these boundaries, plates slide
horizontally past each other. The zone along which the movement occurs is
, called a transform fault. Most of these faults are located beneath oceans, but
some occur on continents. Ex: San Andreas
Hot spots - ANSWER These areas are found away from plate boundaries.
They are spots where magma rises up from the mantle. Magma erupting at the
surface results in the formation of volcanoes. Strings of islands are usually
indicative of a hot spot. Ex: Hawaiian islands
The rock cycle - ANSWER A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals.
The rock cycle refers to a group of interrelated processes that produce the three
different rock types: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic. In a given location,
the types of rock gives clues to geological events of the past
The hydrologic cycle - ANSWER The movement and exchange of water
among the land, atmosphere and oceans by changes in state. It is also referred to
as the water cycle. Solar energy drives the movement of water among the
atmosphere, oceans, and continents.
Residence time - ANSWER The residence time of a water molecule ranges
from days (in the atmosphere) to thousands of years (in the ocean)
Major course themes - ANSWER 1. Hazards can be understood through
scientific investigation and analysis.
2. An understanding of hazardous processes is needed to evaluate risk.
3. Hazards are linked to each other and the environment
4. Population growth and socio-economic changes are increasing the risk from
hazards.
5. The consequences of hazards can be reduced
Hazards can be understood - ANSWER Scientists observe a hazardous event
and form a possible explanation for the cause. From this explanation, a
hypothesis is formed. Data is then collected to test the hypothesis. Knowing the
cause allows for the identification of where hazards may occur. Knowledge of
past events aids in predicting future events
Many hazards are natural processes - ANSWER These events are natural
forces; they only become hazardous when they disrupt human activity or the
environment. These process are not within our control; we cannot prevent them,
year. Within North America, every location is at risk from at least one hazard
process. Some hazards pose a risk to both humans and the environment.
Examples; Nuclear meltdowns, Toxic gas release, Oil spills, Ozone depletion,
Acid rain, Infrastructure failure, Shipwrecks, Airplane crash
Geographical hazard examples - ANSWER 1. West coast: earthquakes,
landslides
2. East coast: hurricanes, tropical storms
3. Mid-continent: tornadoes, blizzards
4. All areas: drought
Natural hazards can arise from 3 main processes - ANSWER 1. Internal forces
within the Earth (crust, mantle). Driven by the internal energy of the earth. Ex;
plate tectonics
2. External forces on Earth's surface. Driven by the sun's energy. Ex;
atmospheric effects
3. Gravitational attraction. Driven by the force of gravity. Ex; downslope
movement
Hazard definition - ANSWER A process that possesses a potential threat to
people or the environment
Risk definition - ANSWER The probability of an event occurring multiplied
by the impact on people or the environment
Disaster definition - ANSWER A brief event that causes great property
damage or loss of life
Catastrophe definition - ANSWER A massive disaster
,Examples of recent catastrophes - ANSWER 1. Hurricane Katrina 2005
2. Indian ocean tsunami (Thailand 2004)
3. Japan earthquake which caused a nuclear meltdown and a tsunami in 2011
4. Earthquake in Haiti in 2010
5. Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico in 2010
Hazards as potential catastrophes - ANSWER 1. More likely to be
catastrophic: tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, floods
2. Less likely to be catastrophic: landslides, tornadoes, avalanches, wildfires
Magnitude and frequency - ANSWER The impact of a hazard is a function of
both its magnitude (i.e. energy released) and frequency. It can also be affected
by other factors (geology, land use, population density etc)
Magnitude frequency concept - ANSWER There is an inverse relationship
between magnitude and frequency; as one variable goes up, the other goes down
The geologic cycle - ANSWER 1. Tectonic cycle
2. Rock cycle
3. Water cycle (hydrologic)
Tectonic cycle - ANSWER This cycle involves the creation, movement, and
destruction of tectonic plates. The process is driven by Earth's internal energy
Tectonic plates - ANSWER Large blocks of the earth's crust that form its outer
shell; there are 14 plates (7 big ones and 7 small ones). New land is formed at
mid-ocean ridges and land is destroyed at subduction zones
Earth's internal structure - ANSWER 1. Lithosphere; thin brittle crust
2. Asthenosphere; (upper mantle) is composed of hot magma with some flow
Plate tectonics - ANSWER The crust forms the upper part of the lithosphere
and is broken into fragments (plates). Movement of the plates is caused by
convection currents within the mantle.
Oceanic vs Continental plates - ANSWER If the continental plate and oceanic
plate collided, which one would sink? The answer is the oceanic plate would
,sink because it is more dense. When the plate sinks, the rock is melting and the
currents are carrying the melted rock up through the continental crust which can
cause volcanoes. Vancouver is prone to earthquakes and volcanoes because
these plates are colliding
1. Oceanic: dense, thin (averages 7 km thickness)
2. Continental: relatively buoyant, thick (averages 30km thickness)
Plate boundaries - ANSWER Plate boundaries do not tend to match up with
the boundaries of continents or oceans. The movement of plates causes dynamic
events on earth's surface, especially at plate boundaries
Types of plate boundaries - ANSWER 1. Divergent
2. Convergent
3. Transform
Pangaea and plate tectonics - ANSWER The continents of today were
clustered into the supercontinent of Pangaea 250 million years ago. Evidence
for this includes current mountain ranges
Divergent plate boundaries - ANSWER At these boundaries, plates move
away from each other. New land is created at these locations. Divergence results
in seafloor spreading and causes oceanic ridges to form (ex; mid-atlantic ridge).
The Atlantic Ocean is getting wider by a few cm every year
Convergent plate boundaries - ANSWER At these boundaries, plates move
toward each other. Subduction zones and collision boundaries
Subduction zones - ANSWER Collisions involving oceanic and continental
crust result in this. Dence ocean plates sink and melt (oceanic plate). The melted
magma rises to form volcanoes
Collision boundaries - ANSWER Collisions involving two continental plates
result in this. Neither plate sinks. Tall mountains tend to form (ex; Himalayas).
Ex; India and Continental Asia (mount Everest)
Transform boundaries - ANSWER At these boundaries, plates slide
horizontally past each other. The zone along which the movement occurs is
, called a transform fault. Most of these faults are located beneath oceans, but
some occur on continents. Ex: San Andreas
Hot spots - ANSWER These areas are found away from plate boundaries.
They are spots where magma rises up from the mantle. Magma erupting at the
surface results in the formation of volcanoes. Strings of islands are usually
indicative of a hot spot. Ex: Hawaiian islands
The rock cycle - ANSWER A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals.
The rock cycle refers to a group of interrelated processes that produce the three
different rock types: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic. In a given location,
the types of rock gives clues to geological events of the past
The hydrologic cycle - ANSWER The movement and exchange of water
among the land, atmosphere and oceans by changes in state. It is also referred to
as the water cycle. Solar energy drives the movement of water among the
atmosphere, oceans, and continents.
Residence time - ANSWER The residence time of a water molecule ranges
from days (in the atmosphere) to thousands of years (in the ocean)
Major course themes - ANSWER 1. Hazards can be understood through
scientific investigation and analysis.
2. An understanding of hazardous processes is needed to evaluate risk.
3. Hazards are linked to each other and the environment
4. Population growth and socio-economic changes are increasing the risk from
hazards.
5. The consequences of hazards can be reduced
Hazards can be understood - ANSWER Scientists observe a hazardous event
and form a possible explanation for the cause. From this explanation, a
hypothesis is formed. Data is then collected to test the hypothesis. Knowing the
cause allows for the identification of where hazards may occur. Knowledge of
past events aids in predicting future events
Many hazards are natural processes - ANSWER These events are natural
forces; they only become hazardous when they disrupt human activity or the
environment. These process are not within our control; we cannot prevent them,
