Hazards
ESSENTIAL OVERVIEW
“This topic explores the nature and impact of lithospheric and atmospheric hazards. It examines the physical processes driving tectonic activity, tropical storms, and wildfires, alongside the human factors of vulnerability, perception, and resilience. The syllabus emphasises the Hazard Management Cycle and the Park Model as frameworks for evaluating the effectiveness of response and mitigation strategies across varying socio-economic contexts.”
CRUCIAL KEYWORDS
Hazard
A perceived natural or geophysical event that has the potential to threaten both life and property.
Vulnerability
The level of susceptibility of a community to the impacts of a hazard, often determined by socio-economic factors.
Resilience
The ability of a community or ecosystem to absorb the impacts of a hazard and recover to its pre-disaster state.
Primary Impacts
Immediate effects caused directly by the hazard itself, such as ground shaking or pyroclastic flows.
Core Processes & Theories
1) The Park Model
A disaster response curve that tracks the quality of life following a hazard event through stages of relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
2) The Hazard Management Cycle
A continuous four-stage process involving mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery to minimise hazard impacts.
3) Plate Tectonic Theory
The scientific explanation of the movement of the lithosphere’s plates, driven by mantle convection, slab pull, and ridge push.
CASE STUDY EVIDENCE
- Haiti 2010 Earthquake: A magnitude 7.0 event where over 230,000 deaths occurred due to poor infrastructure and high population density in Port-au-Prince.
- Iceland 2010 Eyjafjallajökull Eruption: A subglacial eruption that produced a fine ash cloud, leading to the cancellation of 100,000 flights and global economic losses of £3 billion.
- Hurricane Katrina 2005: A Category 5 storm where the failure of levee systems led to the flooding of 80 percent of New Orleans, highlighting social inequality.
EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Critically evaluate the ‘Response’: Always distinguish between short-term emergency aid and long-term sustainable redevelopment in your essays.
- Integrate the Hazard-Risk Equation: Use the formula Risk = (Hazard x Vulnerability) / Capacity to Cope to explain why similar events have different outcomes.
- Compare HIC vs LIC: Use specific data from contrasting case studies to show how wealth impacts a country’s ability to prepare for and recover from hazards.