Geography 329 Lesson 8.1

Summary

This module explores the intersection of environmental hazards and their impact on urban structures and populations. It emphasizes how location influences risk, such as the increased likelihood of hurricanes in the southeast U.S. or earthquakes on the West Coast. The course covers various hazards including earthquakes, landslides, and wildfires, while discussing vulnerability and risk mitigation strategies. Key concepts include hazard, risk, vulnerability, and disaster, with a focus on how urban planning and preparedness can reduce the negative consequences of these natural events on human life and property.

Takeaways

• 😀 Environmental hazards in urban areas are more dangerous due to the proximity of human life and infrastructure.
• 😀 Location plays a significant role in increasing the vulnerability of cities to environmental hazards, like hurricanes or earthquakes.
• 😀 The risk of a hazard is the probability that it will cause significant harm, such as loss of life or economic damage.
• 😀 Urban planning processes are essential in mitigating environmental hazards and reducing vulnerability to disasters.
• 😀 Vulnerability is influenced by social and environmental factors, not just geography, like poor urban planning or inadequate building codes.
• 😀 Hazards can include severe weather, earthquakes, floods, landslides, fires, and other natural phenomena.
• 😀 The risk of a disaster increases in densely populated areas compared to remote regions, even if the hazard is the same.
• 😀 A disaster occurs when a hazard leads to negative consequences such as destruction and loss of life.
• 😀 Earthquakes, landslides, and wildfires are key environmental hazards that affect cities, particularly in areas like Southern California.
• 😀 Hazard mitigation involves actions to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of hazards leading to disasters.
• 😀 Understanding local risks and being prepared (e.g., emergency kits, evacuation plans) can help reduce vulnerability to environmental hazards.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this module?

The main focus of this module is to explore the intersection of environmental hazards and their impact on city structures and the people living in urban areas.

How does the location of a city affect its vulnerability to environmental hazards?

The location of a city can increase its vulnerability to environmental hazards by placing it in areas more likely to experience specific types of extreme events, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or tornadoes.

Why does the impact of a tornado differ between a rural area and a city?

The impact of a tornado is more severe in a city due to the higher population density and infrastructure, which increases the risk to human life and causes greater economic losses compared to a rural area.

What is the essential question raised in the module?

The essential question is: How does the location of an urban area increase the environmental hazard risk?

What are some examples of environmental hazards discussed in the module?

Examples of environmental hazards discussed include hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, and wildfires.

What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

A hazard is an extreme event like an earthquake or tornado, while risk refers to the probability of that hazard causing negative consequences, such as loss of life or economic damage. The risk increases in areas with higher exposure or vulnerability.

What does vulnerability mean in the context of environmental hazards?

Vulnerability refers to the characteristics of a person or group that influence their ability to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from the impact of a natural hazard.

How can poorly planned urban growth contribute to vulnerability?

Poorly planned urban growth, such as deforestation, inadequate building codes, and rapid urban expansion, can increase the susceptibility to environmental hazards, making it harder for communities to withstand and recover from disasters.

What is the difference between a hazard and a disaster?

A hazard is the potential for an extreme event (like an earthquake or wildfire), while a disaster is the actual negative impact of that hazard, such as loss of life, damage to buildings, and economic hardship.

What are the three specific environmental hazards that will be discussed in this module?

The three specific environmental hazards discussed in this module are earthquakes, mass wasting events (including landslides), and wildfires.