These cover the entire 'World at Risk' section of unit 1. These notes are specific to edexcel, but the information will likely overlap with other exam boards. I used this along with my other notes (which I have also uploaded) and got 115/120 UMS!
- Disasters result when hydro-meteorological and geophysical hazards threaten the life & property of
increasing no‟s of the world‟s people.
- The Risk of disaster grows as global Hazards and people‟s Vulnerability increases, while their
Capacity to cope decreases.
Disaster – a hazard becoming a reality in an event that causes death and damage to goods and property
and the environment.
Risk – The probability of a hazard event occurring and causing loss of life or injury, property damage etc.
Vulnerability – How susceptible a population is to the damage caused by a hazard.
The …DISASTER Disaster Risk [D] = Freq./magnitude of Hazards [H] x Vulnerability [V]
RISK EQUATION Capacity to Cope [C]
- Equation measures the level of Hazard for an area
- Degg’s Model how a hazard becomes a disaster
, Why do people live in risk areas?
- Some people may not know that they live in a hazardous area, but others may consistently place
themselves at risk from natural hazards. Why?
- Lack of alternatives
- Unpredictability
- Changing dangers
- Cost vs. Benefit
Frequency or Magnitude of Hazard
- This is unfortunately increasing
- Mainly due to use of fossil fuels increasing the frequency and severity of weather
Level of Vulnerability
- This is increasing
- Hazards only become hazards when people get in the way the world‟s pop. Increasing rapidly so
more people are having to live in hazard prone areas.
Capacity to Cope
- This is decreasing
- Communities need the skills, tools and money to cope with the effects of climate change
- Debt repayments
- Unfair trade arrangements
- MEDCs directing aid funds towards politically strategic regions rather than those meet in need
WHY THE POOREST AREAS LACK THE MONEY NEEDED
, - Tropical island
- 100,000 people (pop. In 2011)
- Officially the republic of Kiribati
- Formerly owned by UK
- Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean
- Neighbours: Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia
- One impact: rising sea levels e.g. island of Tebua under sea
Why are sea levels rising?
- Land-based glaciers melting contributes to sea level (not sea-based glaciers)
due to global warming
- Thermal expansion of water due to global warming
What is happening to the people of Kiribati?
- Environmental refugee = person forced to migrate as a result of changes to their environment.
- People from Kiribati are becoming some of the world‟s first environmental refugees
Where will the people of Kiribati go?
“Australia and New Zealand should accept all environmental refugees from Kiribati”
- The New Zealand and Australian government may not be able to cope New Zealand already
accepted refugees from Tuvalu
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Ibby1996. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £4.54. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.