4.3. Regional Distribution

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.

In disaster risk management, the speed of onset refers to how quickly a hazard occurs. Some hazards, like flash floods, happen suddenly without warning, giving little to no time for preparation. Others, such as cyclones, can be predicted days in advance, allowing for better preparation and safety measures. Earthquakes are particularly concerning because they occur with no warning, making them especially dangerous.

Imagine you're watching a movie and suddenly a scene changes without any signs or transitions, just like a flash flood. In contrast, think of being alerted days before a storm—this gives time to prepare and gather supplies, similar to how we can prepare for cyclones.

Or so, 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.

Understanding the spatial dispersion and temporal spacing of hazards is crucial. Spatial dispersion refers to the area that will likely be affected by a disaster, while temporal spacing pertains to when hazards occur. Some events happen randomly, while others are cyclical or one-off occurrences. This knowledge helps us prepare and respond effectively to different types of hazards.

Think about planning a picnic. You need to consider where to go (spatial dispersion) and when to go (temporal spacing). If you know that it rains frequently in one area during a particular season, you would choose a different location or time to have your picnic.

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 primarily occur at the boundaries of tectonic plates. When these plates either collide, slide past each other, or move apart, it builds up pressure over time. When the pressure is released suddenly, it causes an earthquake. Understanding this helps us identify areas that are more prone to seismic activity.

Consider stretching a rubber band. As you pull on it (just like tectonic plates), it builds tension until it can't hold anymore, and then it snaps! This snapping is similar to how an earthquake occurs when pressure builds up between tectonic plates.

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 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.

Earthquakes are triggered by three main tectonic processes: convergent boundaries, where two plates collide, leading to mountain formation (like the Himalayas); subduction, where one plate goes under another, often causing significant seismic activity; and divergent boundaries, where plates pull apart, creating new crust. Each of these processes can lead to earthquakes and has different implications for the surrounding areas.

Imagine two cars bumping into each other at a stoplight (convergent), a car diving under another (subduction), and two cars moving away from each other in opposite directions (divergent). Each scenario results in a different type of impact, just like different tectonic movements result in different earthquakes.

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.

Hazards are natural occurrences that have existed throughout history and will continue to exist. While we can prepare for them and mitigate their impacts, we cannot entirely avoid them. Understanding their permanence can help us build more resilient communities that can withstand these events.

Think of hazards like storms. While we cannot stop a storm from happening, we can take steps to prepare our homes, choose safer locations, and develop emergency plans. It's about adapting rather than avoiding.

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 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.

Between 1980 and 2005, floods were the most commonly reported disasters, accounting for 35% of incidents. Wind storms also contributed significantly, while earthquakes and extreme temperatures each made up about 11%. This data indicates a significant prevalence of hydro-meteorological disasters, suggesting a need for focused disaster management strategies in these areas.

It's like studying the common medical conditions in a population. If most people visit hospitals for flu or colds (like floods), it suggests a need for vaccines and treatments targeting these common ailments rather than focusing only on rare diseases.

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.

From 1980 to 2005, hydro-meteorological disasters were responsible for approximately 70% of all fatalities. In developing countries, the impact is even more severe, with drought causing 28% of human losses, while floods caused 9%, and earthquakes only 14%. This highlights the importance of addressing water-related disasters and improving response strategies in vulnerable areas.

Think of a community that suffers from both drought and heavy rain. The drought could lead to food shortages (28% loss), while heavy rains might cause floods (9% loss) affecting agriculture. This shows how interconnected these hazards can be and the urgency of preparing for them.

You can see that Asia is one of the biggest sources of disasters, it is one of the hotspots 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 all disasters and disaster impacts.

Asia is identified as a major hotspot for natural disasters, particularly hydro-meteorological events like floods and droughts. This concentration of disasters necessitates tailored disaster risk reduction strategies that are specific to the region's needs.

Imagine a school where some classrooms frequently have disruptive behavior (like floods in Asia). The school administration must develop specific interventions for those classrooms to manage behavior effectively, just as regions like Asia need targeted disaster management strategies.

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.

Data from 1991 to 2002 indicates an increase in disaster occurrences globally, particularly in Asia. This trend highlights the urgent need for improving disaster preparedness and response frameworks as the frequency and impact of natural disasters seem to be on the rise.

This is like a growing number of traffic accidents in a city. If the number keeps increasing, it signals a need for better road safety measures and awareness campaigns to prevent future incidents.

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