Earth Processes and Natural Hazards

StudyBlue printing of Earth Processes and Natural Hazards html, body, div, span, applet, object, iframe, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, p, blockquote, pre, a, abbr, acronym, address, big, cite, code, del, dfn, em, font, img, ins, kbd, q, s, samp, small, strike, strong, sub, sup, tt, var, b, u, i, center, fieldset, form, label, legend, table, caption, tbody, tfoot, thead, tr, th, td { margin: 0; padding: 0; border: 0; outline: 0; font-size: 100%; background: transparent; } body { line-height: 1; } blockquote, q { quotes: none; } blockquote:before, blockquote:after, q:before, q:after { content: ''; content: none; } /* remember to define focus styles! */ :focus { outline: 0; } /* remember to highlight inserts somehow! */ ins { text-decoration: none; } del { text-decoration: line-through; } /* tables still need 'cellspacing="0"' in the markup */ table { border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0; } /* end RESET */ .header { min-width:800px; } .logo { padding:6px 20px 2px 20px; margin:0; font-size:25px; 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-moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; } .print-button a:hover { background-color:black; } .theNote .content { width: 8.0in !important; margin: 5px auto; padding:20px; background-color:white; } .theNote .header { border-bottom: 1px dashed #C8C8C8; font-size: 17px; padding: 0 0 10px; line-height: 19px; color: #00ADE1; min-width:500px; } .theNote .body { font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 10px 0; } .theNote{ padding:6px 0; clear:both; background-color: rgb(200,200,200); } .theNote h3{ color: rgb(100,100,100); } .theNote h1, .theNote h3{ background-color:white; padding:2px 20px; width:8.0in !important; margin: 0 auto; font-size: 15px; } .theNote h1{ padding-top: 10px; font-size: 15px; } .theNote h1:first-child{ font-size: 20px; } .theNote h3 { font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; } #options { border: 3px double #ccc; padding: 5px 12px; margin: 10px 50px 10px 20px; float: left; } #info { border-top: 1px solid #ccc; padding-top: 5px; font-style: italic; } li { margin: 5px 10px 5px 25px; } ul li { list-style: disc; } ol li { list-style: decimal; } img { border: 0; } table { clear: both; width: 100%; border: 1px solid #c5c5c5; border-width: 1px 0; margin: 0; page-break-after: always; } table#page { page-break-after: auto; } td { text-align: center; font-size: 12px; border-bottom: 1px dashed #c5c5c5; height: 1.75in; width: 50%; padding-left: 15px; } .leftside { border-right: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 0 15px 0 0; } .bottom td { border-bottom: none; } .clearfix { clear:both; line-height:1px; height:1px; } img { max-width:80%; max-height:150px; margin:20px; } @media print {.header { display: none; } .content .header{ display:inherit; } table { border: 1px dashed #bbb; border-width: 1px 0; } .theNote{ background-color:white; } } Earth Processes and Natural Hazards Big Picture Internal forces that affect the Earth's surface Energy from the cooling earth Plate tectonics External forces on Earth's surface Energy from the sun Atmospheric dynamics Important Definitions Hazard - Potential danger that poses a threat to people or property Disaster - Sudden event that causes great damage or loss of life during a limited time and in limited geographic area Catastrophe - Sudden event that causes significant damage or loss of life and requires a long and complex recovery or rehabilitation process Geologic Cycles Plate tectonics - plate boundaries and plate tectonic cycle: movie - plate tectonics (faults/fractures), natural resources, societies catastrophic collapse of Minoan civilization ~1500 BC Other Geologic cycles: Rock cycle Hydrologic cycle Biogeochemical cycle Weathering consumes CO2 from atmosphere => weathering influence climate (warming and cooling) Rock types in a location give clues to both the geological past and present For example history of: Earthquakes Landslides Floods Volcanic eruptions Hydrologic Cycle Precipitation Evaporation Rivers and streams .0001% of total water Groundwater .31% of total water, residence time of hundreds to thousands of years Lakes .009% of total water Biogeochemical Cycle Combines the two previous cycles - rocks and water - with life (carbon) Transfer of chemical elements through a series of reservoirs Carbon (greenhouse gas), Nitrogen, Phosphorus Fundamental Concepts for Understanding Natural Processes Hazards can be forcasted or predicted from scientific evaluation Risk analysis is an important component in our understanding of the effects of hazardous processes Linkages exist between different natural hazards as well as between hazards and the physical environment Hazardous events that previously produced disasters are now producing catastrophes Consequences of hazards can be minimized Scientific Method can be used to Forecast or Predict Hazards Basis of science is to gain an understanding or explanation Geologists observe hazardous events and form a possible explanation From this explanation, they propose a hypothesis Additional data are collected to test the hypothesis If the hypothesis is validated, then the next event might be forecasted or predicted This is the basis of the scientific method Hazards are Natural Processes They are a result of natural forces They become hazardous when they interfere with human activity These process are NOT within our control or maybe should not be Best solution is preparation Forecast and Prediction Prediction - Specific date, time, and magnitude of event Forecast - Range of probability for event Some hazards can be predicted, but most can be forecasted Hazard Reduction Identify the location of probable event Determine probability of event Observe precursor events Forecast or predict event Warn the public Risk Assessment Risk = (probability of event) x (consequences) Probability - frequency of events or number of events of particular size during particular time (100 year flood) On average there will be a flood of this size every 100 years Consequences - damages to people, property, economics, etc. Acceptable risk is the amount of risk that an individual or society is willing to take Links Hazards are linked to each other Some events may cause others Ex: Earthquakes and landslides Physical environment is linked to hazards Example: some rock types are prone to subsidence Disasters are now becoming catastrophes Concentration of population creates greater loss of life in disaster Human population growth puts greater demand on Earth's resources Land use affects magnitude and frequency of events - understanding history of events is critical Global warming appears to be increasing frequency and severity of hazardous weather Consequences can be minimized Move from reactive response : recovery and restoration To an anticipatory (or proactive) response): avoiding and adjusting to hazards Land-use planning Building codes Insurance Evacuation Disaster preparedness Artificial control Benefits of Hazards Flooding provides nutrients for soil landslides form dams to create lakes; remove steep slopes Volcanoes create new land; provide nutrients to soils; generate steam heat that can be used directly or power electrical generators Global Climate Change and Hazards Rising sea level from melting ice caps and thermal expansion of sea water increases in coastal erosion and food production Redistribution of areas precipitation Redistribution of areas of food production Warmer oceans drive more moisture into the atmosphere, increasing severity and frequency of atmospheric storms Extreme-weather events have increased since 1950's in the US Global Warming - means that the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere is higher Summers will be longer Winters will be shorter Snow accumulation will be less Ice caps and mountain glaciers will recede oceans will be warmer