GEOG306 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Avalanche, Cane Toad, Lythrum Salicaria

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Geography and Environmental Management
• Course: GEOG306
• Professor: Amber Silver

Document Summary

Geog306 lecture 1 note human dimensions of natural hazards. All potential threats facing human society by events that originate in, and are transmitted through, the environment. A hazard becomes a disaster when the affected group is incapable of recovering without external assistance. The term natural disaster has become an increasingly anachronistic misnomer. In reality, human behaviour transforms natural hazards into what should be called unnatural disasters. A blend of natural" + unnatural (human caused)" elements: human environmental (mis)use, deforestation flooding & mudflows, reef mining erosion & storm surge, human settlements a. Geog306 lecture 2 note hazards & disasters. Natural hazards": all potential threats facing human society by events that originate in, and are transmitted through, the environment. Hazard: event or phenomenon with potential to create damage/loss (a source of danger, a trigger) Risk: the probability of a hazard occurring and creating loss. Disaster: the realization of hazard (when damage is caused by a hazard.