This article helps the reader think more deeply into the problem of climate change. It also helps the reader think emotionally about the aspects of their lifestyle that is contributing to the problem of our environment. The article educates readers on a common sense level of doing the right thing. Also ending the problem now so the future will be brighter.…
To what extent can preparedness and planning mitigate the effects of volcanic hazards? (40 marks)…
o GHGs are changing the climate in other ways too. • This is the conclusion of o Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change o US National Academy of Sciences o Science academies of Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Russia and United Kingdom • Prognosis: GHG emissions and concentrations will grow for decades unless the patient takes preventative action o rising temperatures § more extreme weather § frequency of excessive heat o more exposure to air pollution o greater risk of hunger o higher storm surges and costal flooding Who’s at Risk? • People at risk include • Poor, marginalized people • Resource based livelihoods • People in low lying coasts, small islands, flood plains • People in arid, semi-‐arid areas • Women, elderly, young, infirm • People with poor governance institutions • Least developed countries • Us • Adaptation: adjusting or adapting to the impacts of climate change to reduce risk and vulnerability • Societies have always adapted but additional measures required (IPCC 2007) • Vulnerability exacerbated by other stresses (i.e., poverty, food insecurity, poor governance, conflict, incidence of disease, etc.)…
A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or the environment. Therefore, in this case a volcanic hazard is the threat posed from natural volcanic processes towards the populations and the environment. The extent of volcanic hazards can vary due to two factors; physical factors such as the type of volcano and human factors such as the population density in the area. Volcanic hazards can also be placed into two phases: primary hazards such as lava flows and gas emissions; there are also secondary hazards such as lahars and landslides. The management of volcanic hazards are done through preparedness and planning where through prior risk assessments with monitoring the effects are mitigated. There are three stages of managing eruptions; before the event, during the event, and the evacuation; the effective transitions between these stages creates a situation where there is minimal damages from a volcanic event. Mitigation, in this question refers to elimination or reduction of the risk posed by a natural hazard (volcanic hazard), usually through human intervention. The scale of preparedness and planning varies from less developed countries (LDC’s) to more developed countries (MDC’s) either from financial backing or through technological advances. The lack of preparedness and planning in the volcanic event of Chaiten in Chile saw widespread environmental and infrastructure damage. While, the 2010 eruption in Iceland gave an insight of the wider hazards to other countries in the world; but through high levels preparedness and planning there has been minimal damages to infrastructure and the population.…
All communities - urban or rural - are vulnerable to most hazards. However, different regions will be more prone to certain types of hazards than others. Floods and windstorms are the hazards that most frequently lead to disasters in Asia, the Pacific, Europe and North America, while it is droughts and epidemics that are reported in African countries. In contrast, Pacific and Caribbean islands are most vulnerable to the effects of tropical cyclones. El Niño events, floods, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes affect in greater degree the Andean and Meso-American countries. Even within a specific region, such as the Pacific, the frequency and intensity of specific hazards varies from one country to another. Hydrometeorological hazards are most common and floods alone account for two-thirds of people affected by natural hazards…
Conflict between two idea is an inevitable situation in a country, regardless of its resources, moral support, or any unifying idea of any sort that comes about, even over time. El Salvador had had a growing problem of the way its’ government was treating its’ population at the time due to the way the government was structured, and this lead to a demand for a better life. Even in the original 13 colonies, there was always something that the colonists conflicted over with the imperial power, which leads the question, how does the history of suppression in El Salvador and America during the years of conflict in the Salvadoran Civil War, and the American Revolution shape the countries they are today? The American Revolution and the Salvadoran…
Have you ever noticed how many deaths have occurred due to natural disasters? Well if you don’t know what a natural disaster is, it is a natural hazard to the environment (floods, tornados, hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis). All of these natural disasters can cause severe damage to the environment and many deaths. In this essay I am only going to talk about earthquakes and hurricanes.…
El Salvador, like many Latin American countries, has customs that have been practiced for centuries and have strong ties to the past in everyday life. It is the smallest country in Central America and is known for its beautiful beaches and its namesake food: papusas. What makes El Salvador different than any other Latin American country is its miniature size and the manner that people care for one another. El Salvador has a togetherness aspect that is hard to compete with; sharing food, Catholicism, and family being a normal part of the everyday life and culture.…
President Obama informs the audience about the major effects that climate change causes. Mr. Obama acknowledge “ rising sea levels threaten every coastline. More powerful storms and flood threaten every continent.” as natural events caused by climate change. These statements show the drastic changes that results in the change of climate. Mr. Obama also states that “ more frequent drought and crop failures breed hunger… shrinking islands, families are already being forced to flee their homes as climate refugees” as other results of climate change. These events can…
Ever since the Industrial Revolution started in the 1700s the emission of carbon dioxide has been the major problem for frequent occurrences of natural disasters because we are living in the time in which Earth is starting to warm up. Furthermore, carbon dioxide has taken its contribution as a major “greenhouse gas” in which it prevents heat from sunlight from escaping Earth. Because of the continuation of emission of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels such negative aspects are caused by a warm climate change such as melting of glaciers, stronger hurricanes, and more heat waves and…
With a total land mass of just 8,124 square miles, El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. Like many of its’ neighboring countries, it possesses very few natural resources. Since the nation’s economy is based predominantly on agriculture, it’s no surprise that its’ citizens often experience “resource roller coasters”. In addition, its’ long history of inappropriate land tenure and ownership practices date all the way back to colonialism. Even more strikingly, “sixty percent of El Salvador’s population is expected to live in the capital by 2010.” As a result, El Salvador has to deal with continuing environmental problems. The fact that the nation lies along the Pacific Ring of fire doesn’t help either, which subjects the country to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The environmental problems that El Salvador continually struggles with are deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, contamination and lack of bio-diversity.…
In the article “Climate Change, Coming home: Global Warming Effects on populations”, we have learned from “Sarah DeWeerdt” that global warming lead to more than just one effects on our society. One thing leads to another that leads to anoher and the chain is never ending. The changing in the rainfall frequency leads to insufficient amount and bad quality of the crops which leads to malnutrition. Malnutrition causes diseases. Natural disasters is another the potential affect of the climate change although there is no certain evidence that climate change cause a specific big event like Hurricane Catrina(DeWeerdt). However a study asserts “magnitude and timing of the heat wave were consistent with computer models of climate change” (DeWeerdt). Human is highly responsible for this changes. It is hard to say that we should refrain the burning of fossil fuels. People have no choice but to generate a vast amount energy for the living and thus inevitably leading to climate change.…
When asked the question about climate change, most people tend to have heard about the topic, but people do not know about what is happening to the earth. Climate change is defined as general increase in the earth’s temperature over a defined period of time, which are caused by humans and by nature, of increased levels of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Over the course of human history climate change has been watched and recorded to track the changes. In the last 30 years, there have been increases in general global temperatures which at the same period seen an increase in destruction of the rainforest, and increase in industrialization production, namely in automobile manufacturing.…
* Swiss- Re (2009)’ Natural catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2008’, available: http://www.preventionweb.net/files/8698_dd6346004d4e9669ac76eecedd316cf3sigma22009e1.pdf [accessed 10 Nov 2012].…
The Caribbean is made up of 2 dozen islands, having a total population of about 40 million people. We experience constant rains, rising sea levels, earthquakes, and tropical storms/ increased tropical storm intensity and are considered the most vulnerable, in regards to any sudden changes in climate. Changes in climate are usually due to the greenhouse gases which are emitted into the air from burning fossil fuels and the extensive clearing of forests, and even though the Caribbean has hardly contributed to any of those factors, it still remains one of the greatest factors facing the development of our islands, and here are a few reasons as to why.…