Online Geography Resources |
Disasters |
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Starter and Something to think about ... |
The definition of a disaster as provided by the International Baccalaureate Organization: |
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A major hazard event that causes widespread disruption to a community or region that the affected community is unable to deal with adequately without outside help |
The definition of a disaster as provided by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction: “A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that causes serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic and/or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own level of resources." For a disaster to be entered into the database of the UN's International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, at least one of the following criteria must be met:
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Are the two definitions the same? So was the L'Aquila, Italy, 2009 earthquake a disaster by both definitions? |
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Activity |
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Task One - Describe the methods used to quantify the spatial extent and intensity of disasters. |
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Aid agencies 'must use new tools' [11 December 2009] |
The "crowd-sourced" data that comes from victims of natural disasters and conflicts is now a crucial part in disaster management, says a new report. | |
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Social networks and the web offer a lifeline in Haiti [15 January 2010] |
The collapse of traditional channels of communication in Haiti has again highlighted the role of social media and the internet in disasters. |
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Task Two - Explain the causes and impacts of any one disaster resulting from a natural hazard. |
Using a natural hazard case study you have previously researched produce revision notes under two sub-headings:
You should have six case studies you can choose from: a LEDC earthquake, a MEDC earthquake, a LEDC drought, a MEDC drought, a LEDC hurricane and a MEDC hurricane. |
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Task Three - Explain the causes and impacts of any one recent human-induced hazard event or disaster. |
Using a human-induced hazard case study you have previously researched [Chernobyl] produce revision notes under two sub-headings:
This is a good opportunities to condense your original case study notes - why not work onto index cards? |
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Task Four - Examine the ways in which the intensity and impacts of disasters vary in space and have changed over time. |
Using the data provided above produce an explanation of the following: How does the intensity and impacts of disasters vary in space and time? You will need to analysis the data by means of producing some visualizations - graphs and/or maps. |
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