1 Hazards In Australia
Differences between natural hazards and natural disasters
1
A hazard is an event or object that is a potential source of harm to community.
A disaster occurs as the result of a hazardous event that dramatically affects a community. Natural
Hazards
Human Hazards
Atmospheric – eg cyclones, hailstorms, blizzards or bushfires.
Technological – accidents, explosions or hazardous materials. Hydrological – eg example, flooding, wave action or glaciers
Human – eg. War, crowd stampede and terrorism.
Geological – eg earthquakes or volcanoes Biological – eg. Disease epidemics and plagues.
2
* Natural hazards are any natural events where people see a perceived risk in terms of life or property.
3
Earthquakes that strike in uninhabited areas may not cause any damage, but the
Newcastle earthquake on 28 December
1989 caused loss of life and widespread damage in the city. Similarly, landslides in isolated areas are not seen as a problem, but the landslide that struck Thredbo in the snowy mountains in 1997 a natural disaster, with the loss of eighteen lives and extensive property damage. Some argue this was due to poor building construction.
4
The impact of natural hazards in Australia has been minimal compared to that in other countries because:
* Australia is a stable continent
* Australian homes are well constructed
* Australia is not a densely populated nation.
5
* Floods
Few parts of Australia are immune from flooding (see pg.46). Areas where floods most commonly occur in Australia include northern Australia (associated with monsoonal depressions in summer), coastal areas of eastern Australia (associated with low pressure systems and fronts).
Flooding can be localised flash flooding from intense rain, or more widespread and longer lasting inundations. Some inland areas, such as Lake Eyre, are often influenced by rain falling hundreds of kiometers away.
6
Fig. 2.5 pg.46 shows that cyclones are common in the tropical areas of
1
A hazard is an event or object that is a potential source of harm to community.
A disaster occurs as the result of a hazardous event that dramatically affects a community. Natural
Hazards
Human Hazards
Atmospheric – eg cyclones, hailstorms, blizzards or bushfires.
Technological – accidents, explosions or hazardous materials. Hydrological – eg example, flooding, wave action or glaciers
Human – eg. War, crowd stampede and terrorism.
Geological – eg earthquakes or volcanoes Biological – eg. Disease epidemics and plagues.
2
* Natural hazards are any natural events where people see a perceived risk in terms of life or property.
3
Earthquakes that strike in uninhabited areas may not cause any damage, but the
Newcastle earthquake on 28 December
1989 caused loss of life and widespread damage in the city. Similarly, landslides in isolated areas are not seen as a problem, but the landslide that struck Thredbo in the snowy mountains in 1997 a natural disaster, with the loss of eighteen lives and extensive property damage. Some argue this was due to poor building construction.
4
The impact of natural hazards in Australia has been minimal compared to that in other countries because:
* Australia is a stable continent
* Australian homes are well constructed
* Australia is not a densely populated nation.
5
* Floods
Few parts of Australia are immune from flooding (see pg.46). Areas where floods most commonly occur in Australia include northern Australia (associated with monsoonal depressions in summer), coastal areas of eastern Australia (associated with low pressure systems and fronts).
Flooding can be localised flash flooding from intense rain, or more widespread and longer lasting inundations. Some inland areas, such as Lake Eyre, are often influenced by rain falling hundreds of kiometers away.
6
Fig. 2.5 pg.46 shows that cyclones are common in the tropical areas of