AQA A Level Geography - Hazards

Hazard - ANS Something that is a potential threat to human life or property. Natural hazards - ANS Are caused by natural processes What are the three types of natural hazards? - ANS Geophysical hazards, atmospheric hazards and hydrological hazards. Disaster - ANS When a hazard actually seriously affects humans. Vulnerability - ANS How susceptible a population is to the damage caused by a hazard. Impacts of hazards - ANS Hazards can have significant impact while they are occurring and often need an emergency response. Impacts can also go on for a long time after the Hazard has passed. How do you people circumstances affect their perception of hazards? - ANS People view hazards in different ways for example some people believe that they will never experience a hazard and some adapt their lifestyle to minimise risk and some accept hazards as being beyond their control How do peoples circumstances affect the perception of hazards? - ANS Their perceptions are affected by their economic social and cultural background. Wealth if they can afford to move away, religion some people feel they are acts of God to punish people, education they have a better understanding of the risks and how they may be able to reduce them past experiences and personality. There are many responses to hazards that individuals and the government may take, to try to reduce vulnerability and its impacts. - ANS People may try to prevent a hazard or juices magnitude for example building flood defences. Risk sharing involves sharing the cost of reducing hazard, the benefits of preventing it and the cost of not preventing it. People may try to mitigate the impacts of a hazard this could be by protection and adaptation. Fatalism Governments may coordinate responses to a hazard to manage effectively. Hazard incidence - ANS How often a Hazard occurs. Magnitude or intensity - ANS How powerful the hazard is Distribution - ANS The areal extent of the hazard. Low incidence and high magnitude hazards are - ANS More destructive. Level of development can affect how well countries manage hazards affectively - ANS Because of lack of wealth and technology. What does the park model show? - ANS The park model shows the different phases of response to a hazard. The park model - predisaster - ANS Before the event the situation is normal. The park model - disruption - ANS During and directly after the hazard event occurs there is destruction of property and loss of life before people begin to respond. The park model - relief. - ANS In the aftermath of the event rescue efforts focus on saving people and preventing further damage.