EARTHSC 2GG3 Lecture 2: Earth Science - Lecture 2 Notes.docx
17 Sep 2013
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Ex. rain can become extreme (torrential, etc. ) Becomes extreme when it is threatening to human life and property. Not extreme when it is in the middle of the pacific ocean because does not threaten human life. Natural disasters are defined by human consequences (life & property) Levels of natural events: potential hazard, extreme, catastrophe: when over a certain amount of people are killed (depends on place) 1st classification (based on origin: geophysical: based on internal energy of the planet (ex. earthquakes, volcanoes, hydro-meteorological: disasters that are based on water and climate (tornados, hurricanes, floods, droughts) 2nd classification (based on time: rapid/cataclysmic disasters: very quick, immediate event (ex. earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, long-term/continuing disasters: droughts (can be fore 20 years) and desertification.
