EARTHSC 2GG3 Study Guide - Final Guide: Natural Disaster, Heat Wave, Pearson Education

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Earth Sciences
• Course: EARTHSC 2GG3
• Professor: John Maclachlan

Document Summary

Natural disasters are high-energy events caused by natural earth processes. Natural hazards have social, economic, and political dimensions that are just as important as the hazards themselves. Magnitude of a hazardous event is inversely related to the frequency of an event. Ex: one high magnitude event low frequency. Many natural hazards are linked to one another. Population growth, concentration of infrastructure and wealth in hazardous areas, and land-use decisions are increasing our vulnerability to natural disasters. Hazardous natural processes can also provide benefits. Physical, chemical, and biological ways in which events affect the earth"s surface. Internal processes come from forces within the earth. External processes come from forces on the earth"s surface. Hazard: any source of potential damage, harm, or adverse health effects on something or someone. Probability that a specific damaging event will happen within a particular period of time.