1.2. Hazard Characteristics

Now, coming another important feature is the speed of onset like, if we consider a flood, it is a flash flood, it is very sudden without warning, very quick or is it a kind of slow process like in case of cyclone, we have much time to predict so, we have; we can prepare our self, we have better early warning system and we can take time but in case of earthquake, we do not have any time, it is very sudden or in case of flash flood, we have less time also consider to other kind of a flood.

This section talks about how different hazards occur at varying speeds. For instance, flash floods happen suddenly and with little to no warning, leaving little time to prepare. In contrast, cyclones develop over time, allowing for better prediction and preparation. Earthquakes, however, strike suddenly, giving us no time to react. Understanding the speed of onset is crucial for disaster management strategies to effectively minimize harm.

Imagine a fire alarm in a school. If the alarm goes off suddenly (like a flash flood), students have to leave immediately, often without time to grab their belongings. Conversely, if a snow day is announced the day before, students can prepare mentally and gather their homework ahead of time. Similarly, preparation for different types of disasters varies based on how quickly they occur.

speed of onset is very important and when you are considering the hazards in disaster risk management and the spatial dispersion; area likely to be affected by particular event. And temporal spacing also very important; what time, when and it is happening, are they random, are they occurring in a cyclic process in a recurring process or they are one-time events, so these are important features when we are dealing with hazards.

This part focuses on two main aspects of hazards: spatial dispersion and temporal spacing. Spatial dispersion refers to the geographical area that might be impacted by a specific event, while temporal spacing looks at when hazards occur. Understanding if they are random or follow a specific cycle can help in planning and preparation for these hazards, which is essential for effective disaster risk management.

Think about weather patterns. Some regions experience seasonal rains that happen around the same time each year (recurring events), while others might face random hail storms that come without warning. By knowing these patterns, farmers can plan when to plant crops or take precautions, just as communities can prepare for natural disasters.

In case of just for an example, maybe we can see that in case of earthquake; earthquake occurs along the boundaries of the tectonic plates of the earth crust. this is one hazard and when this is the source of the hazards and when this happen and this happens, we can see that these plates come in contact with each other and the pressure builds up an earthquake occurs.

Earthquakes are caused by movements along the boundaries of tectonic plates. When these plates push against each other, stress builds up until it is released, resulting in an earthquake. This section highlights the physical nature of earthquakes and their dependence on geological processes, emphasizing the importance of understanding such hazards in risk management.

Imagine a balloon being blown up! As more air is pumped in (representing pressure from tectonic movements), the balloon stretches but remains intact until it can't hold anymore. Suddenly, it pops (like an earthquake). Just as the popped balloon can’t be put back together, an earthquake can cause irrevocable damage.

Now, this is just simply a physical event, this is you can see some of the distribution of the tectonic plates in some places and this hazard; this earthquake hazard, we have 3 processes; physical process that can trigger this hazard. One is that convergent boundaries; when two plates collide together this created the Himalayan mountain so, one way of the event of earthquake that can happen when two plates are colliding each other. Another was is the subductions; there is when one oceanic plate goes under the land plate and created the this kind of earthquake. And another one is the divergent one, when two plates are moving apart, this can also cause earthquake. And this is we call divergent region.

Here, we learn about three key tectonic processes that trigger earthquakes: convergent boundaries where plates collide, subduction where an oceanic plate slides under a continental plate, and divergent boundaries where plates move apart. Each of these interactions can cause significant geological events like earthquakes, demonstrating the dynamic nature of Earth’s crust.

Consider a game of bumper cars. When two cars (representing tectonic plates) collide, there’s a crash. That’s like convergent boundaries. If one car goes underneath another, that’s like subduction. If they drift apart, with space in between, that’s like divergence. Each interaction has different consequences, just like in the Earth's crust.

Now when we are talking about hazards, can we avoid hazard? No, historically hazards were there, it is there and it will remain. So, we cannot avoid hazard basically.

This statement emphasizes the inevitability of natural hazards; they have always existed and will continue to do so. Understanding that we cannot prevent hazards from occurring is vital in shaping our response and risk management strategies. Instead of avoidance, our focus should be on preparedness and mitigation.

Imagine trying to avoid the rain during monsoon season. No matter how much you wish it wouldn’t rain, it inevitably will. Instead, we get prepared with umbrellas and raincoats. In the same way, communities must prepare for natural hazards like floods and earthquakes to protect lives and property.

Now, looking into the disaster; number of disasters from 1980’s to 2005, you can look as I told also before, it is the flood that is the most reported disastrous event. 35% of the all disasters are from 1980 to 2005 are flood disasters. Another one is also big share is the wind storm, earthquake is only 11%, an extreme temperature is 11%, so overall 90% of disasters are related to hydro-meteorological disasters, that is very important finding.

This part discusses statistics about disasters from 1980 to 2005, highlighting that floods were the most common disasters. 35% of reported disasters were floods, and together with wind storms and temperature extremes, they make up 90% of hazards under the category of hydro-meteorological disasters. This information is crucial for prioritizing disaster management efforts.

Think of natural disasters like a popular video game where floods, storms, and heatwaves are the main challenges. If floods occur most often, just like in gaming where you must master the most frequent obstacle, communities need to prepare for floods as a priority in their disaster readiness plans.

Also, when we are looking into the loss of human life from 1980 to 2005, we can see that nearly 70% of loss of life are related to hydro-meteorological factors. So, hydro-meteorological disasters are very critical, particularly when we are looking into developing countries or underdeveloped countries. Here you can see that 28%, drought is the reason of human loss in 28%. Similarly, flood 9%, earthquake is only 14%, here is the regional distribution of natural disasters from 1980 to 2005.

This highlights the human toll taken by disasters from 1980 to 2005, stating that about 70% of fatalities were due to hydro-meteorological factors like floods and droughts, particularly in developing regions. For instance, drought contributed to 28% of deaths. This underscores the critical nature of preparing for these kinds of disasters in vulnerable regions to save lives.

Imagine a fishing village that relies on the sea for sustenance. If a drought hits, the village may struggle to survive. Likewise, if floods occur regularly, homes and lives may be lost. It's clear how important it is for such communities to have effective disaster preparation and response strategies in place.

Similarly, flood 9%, earthquake is only 14%, here is the regional distribution of natural disasters from 1980 to 2005. You can see that Asia is one of the biggest source of disaster, it is one of the hotspot compared to any other region, when we are talking about disasters. And it is the hydro-meteorological particularly, the flood and drought which play a big share of the all disasters and disaster impacts.

This segment provides insight into the distribution of natural disasters, revealing that Asia is a major hotspot for disasters. With floods and droughts contributing significantly to total deaths and impacts in this region, it illustrates the pressing need for disaster risk reduction strategies specifically tailored to these circumstances.

Think of Asia as a densely packed library where many people (disasters) can cause chaos. If floods and droughts are pervasive, like books falling off the shelves, this library needs a strong system to keep everything organized and safe—not unlike how communities must prepare for frequent natural disasters.

Here is also you can see from 1991 to 2002, the growth of disasters. So, actually it is increasing in all continents particularly in Asia, so in 1990’s and 2002, you can see in Asia’s, these disasters are actually more and more reported and more and more human losses and property damage are reported.

This final piece outlines the upward trend in disaster occurrences globally, especially in Asia, from 1991 to 2002. The increase in both reports of disasters and related human losses signals an urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness and risk management efforts to address this growing challenge.

Imagine the rising water levels in a bathtub that’s filling up. At some point, if the water (disasters) keeps increasing, it will overflow (lead to increasing impacts). Just like homeowners should adjust by adding more drainage or removing some water, communities need to adapt their disaster strategies as the frequency of disasters rises.

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