Climate Change and Social Vulnerability Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What role does local knowledge play in tropical storm management?

Local knowledge enhances risk reduction and recovery by utilizing past experiences and cultural insights of the community.

Explain the significance of early warning systems in tropical storm management.

Early warning systems are crucial for effectively communicating risks to communities, especially in areas with poor infrastructure.

How does human vulnerability influence the outcome of natural hazards?

Human vulnerability determines the extent of damage caused by natural hazards, reflecting both physical exposure and susceptibility to loss.

What factors are considered in strategic flood risk assessment?

Factors include modeling potential flood magnitudes, identifying at-risk assets, assessing their vulnerability, and estimating potential financial losses. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the challenges faced in communicating tropical storm risks.

Challenges include addressing diverse needs across wide areas and communicating effectively in communities with limited infrastructure. Signup and view all the answers

What are the most common types of severe winter weather events mentioned?

The most common types are snow storms, blizzards, and avalanches. Signup and view all the answers

What impact did the snow on January 7, 2007, have on the UK workforce?

More than 10% of the workforce was unable to commute due to the snow. Signup and view all the answers

Describe what occurs during an ice storm or frozen rain.

An ice storm occurs when falling rain freezes upon contact with cold surfaces, creating a smooth layer of ice. Signup and view all the answers

What was one significant consequence of the North American ice storm in January 1998?

Nearly 3 million people were left without power, and many homes were without power for up to 6 weeks. Signup and view all the answers

How many fatalities were reported as a result of the 1998 ice storm?

There were between 28 to 40 fatalities reported. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ice tsunami, and what causes it?

An ice tsunami, or ice shove, is caused by the piling up of ice on oceans or lakes due to winds, currents, or temperature differences. Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the oscillations mentioned that may influence winter storm patterns?

The North Atlantic Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation are mentioned as influential factors. Signup and view all the answers

Is there evidence suggesting an increase in snow storms in the UK?

There are indications questioning whether extra-tropical storms are becoming more frequent and extreme, but conclusive evidence is lacking. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of the £1.2 million AHRC research project conducted from 2013-2017?

The project focused on social vulnerability to weather and its impact on life in the Outer Hebrides. Signup and view all the answers

How does Bankoff (2007) define vulnerable populations in relation to extreme weather events?

Vulnerable populations are those at risk due to their marginality and exposure to hazards, causing their life to be a 'permanent emergency.' Signup and view all the answers

According to Pfister and Brazdil (2006), what change is necessary for understanding the impacts of climate on social vulnerability?

A shift is needed from macroscale generalization to micro-scale case studies. Signup and view all the answers

What role did the capitalist system play in the life of island communities according to Symonds (2011)?

The capitalist system disrupted traditional farming practices and contributed to extreme poverty in island communities. Signup and view all the answers

What was one significant consequence of severe weather on school attendance in the Outer Hebrides?

Severe weather led to very bad school attendance and instances where children had to go home early. Signup and view all the answers

What types of damage to infrastructure were noted in relation to extreme weather events?

Flooding and wind damage were significant forms of infrastructure damage caused by extreme weather. Signup and view all the answers

How is 'weather memory' characterized in the context of the research project?

Weather memory reflects limited evidence of forward thinking about weather significance in community history. Signup and view all the answers

What do Pfister and Brazdil (2006) advocate for regarding socio-environmental interactions?

They encourage more comparative studies to illustrate the variety of human responses to climate impacts. Signup and view all the answers

What factors influenced the perception of extreme weather events in Scotland during the late 19th century?

Cultural and historical experiences influenced by individual circumstances shaped how people perceived extreme weather events in Scotland during this period. Signup and view all the answers

How did the frequent changing of headmasters and teachers affect educational practices in the context of severe winter storms?

The frequent changes in educators led to a lack of continuity and understanding of the significance of severe weather events over time. Signup and view all the answers

What major weather pattern shift occurred in the 1860s in Scotland?

The late 1860s marked the beginning of a 30-year period of severe winter storms in Scotland. Signup and view all the answers

What were the consequences of the extensive sea ice in the North Atlantic in 1881?

The extensive sea ice led to poor harvests and social unrest, including rent strikes. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways did cultural memory affect responses to extreme weather events?

Cultural memory influenced how communities recorded and transmitted knowledge of past extreme events, affecting their ability to respond to future risks. Signup and view all the answers

How did the oral culture of the population affect literacy and documentation of weather events?

The primarily oral culture resulted in widespread illiteracy, limiting formal documentation of weather events. Signup and view all the answers

What role did the thermal gradient across the North Atlantic play in weather patterns during this period?

A steeper thermal gradient caused by the southward movement of cold polar waters led to an increase in storms. Signup and view all the answers

What adaptations might communities have made in response to extreme weather events?

Communities likely made technological and physical adaptations to their landscapes and built environments to better cope with extreme weather. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of plate boundaries in the occurrence of earthquakes?

Plate boundaries act as zones where tectonic plates interact, causing earthquakes through divergent, convergent, or transform movements. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Japanese folklore explain the cause of earthquakes?

Japanese folklore attributes earthquakes to a giant catfish beneath the ground that causes the ground to shake when it flails about. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a normal fault from a reverse fault?

A normal fault occurs when the Earth's crust strengthens or lengthens, while a reverse fault is characterized by the block above the fault moving up relative to the block below. Signup and view all the answers

What conditions are necessary for tropical cyclones to form?

Tropical cyclones require warm ocean waters, sufficient Coriolis force, atmospheric instability, and a pre-existing disturbance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Saffir-Simpson scale used for?

The Saffir-Simpson scale categorizes hurricanes based on sustained wind speed, separating them into five categories. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Coriolis force affect the movement of tropical storms in different hemispheres?

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis force deflects moving objects to the right, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it deflects them to the left. Signup and view all the answers

Why do hurricanes generally cause more economic damage compared to typhoons?

Hurricanes typically impact more densely populated areas, leading to greater infrastructure loss and financial costs. Signup and view all the answers

What are the initial steps leading to the formation of a tropical storm?

The formation of a tropical storm begins with warm ocean waters providing energy, followed by the development of low pressure and necessary atmospheric conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of community wildfire protection plans in the U.S.?

The primary goal is to combine mapping of fuel hazard, ignition risk, and assets at risk to determine an overall risk rating. Signup and view all the answers

How has the focus of disaster management responses shifted since the 1990s?

The focus has shifted from hazards to disasters, emphasizing the convergence of hazard domains and human vulnerability. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the three main strategies for reducing the impacts of natural hazards.

The three strategies are protection, mitigation, and adaptation, aiming to control hazards, reduce losses, and lessen vulnerabilities, respectively. Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between macro and micro protection measures in disaster risk reduction.

Macro protection involves large-scale structures like levees and flood reservoirs, while micro protection includes individual building measures like earthquake-proof houses. Signup and view all the answers

What role does insurance play in disaster risk mitigation?

Insurance transfers risk to the insurer, compensating for losses and sometimes reducing vulnerability through financial incentives. Signup and view all the answers

What are the key phases of disaster aid and how do they differ?

The key phases are the emergency period (24hr - 3weeks), relief period (2weeks - 6months), and recovery period (5weeks - 10years or more). Signup and view all the answers

What factors influence the capacity to respond to disasters caused by natural hazards?

The capacity to respond is highly dependent on societal factors, particularly the level of development. Signup and view all the answers

How does international aid play a role in disaster relief for developing countries?

Developing countries often heavily rely on international aid for disaster response, which depends on media coverage and political interest. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Climate Change

A change in the climate, identified by alterations in average conditions over extended periods (decades or longer).
Includes modifications to typical weather patterns.

Climate Extreme

A weather or climate event reaching a threshold value, either above or below previously observed normals.
Extreme weather events and extreme climate events are often grouped together as 'climate extremes'.

Describes characteristics of individuals or groups that impact how they cope with, resist, and recover from natural hazards.
Vulnerable populations are at risk, not from exposure to hazards, but from pre-existing social marginalization.
Societal impacts of a hazard are influenced as much by vulnerability as by the hazard's magnitude.
People who face hazards frequently develop successful coping and resilience strategies.

Heat Index

August 2003 Europe: Around 35,000 deaths from heat-related causes during a record heatwave.
August 2009 Argentina: Above 40°C temperatures during a winter heatwave.
August 2010 Russia: Wildfires and drought caused by extreme heat.

Extreme Cold Weather Events

Often occur rapidly, causing significant damage.
Common types include: snowstorms, blizzards, avalanches, and snow accumulation.
Extreme cold weather can disrupt daily life, impacting transportation and work.
The UK experienced severe cold in January 2007, with widespread disruption.
Ice storms (frozen rain) can cause widespread damage by weighing down structures.
North American ice storm of 4-10 January 1998, left millions without power, and Canadians were aided by forces in emergency relief efforts.

Earthquakes

The global history of earthquakes includes severe events.
Early beliefs about earthquake causes were culturally diverse. Some linked them to giant creatures or animals beneath the ground.
Major causes of earthquakes are at plate boundaries (where the plates meet).
Common fault structures include Normal, Reverse, and Strike-slip faults.

Tropical Storms

Different regions use different terms for the same weather phenomenon (e.g., hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones).
Tropical storms are characterized by low pressure, warm ocean waters, and sustained wind speeds.
The Saffir-Simpson scale categorizes hurricanes based on wind speed.
Formation is highly influenced by temperature differences in the atmosphere, including differing pressure conditions, air movement and Coriolis force.
Impacts can range from considerable damage (category 3+) to catastrophic damage (category 5).

General Climate Risk Assessment

Modeling possible future flood magnitudes and probabilities (for floods).
Identifying assets at risk given a specific flood height.
Assessing vulnerability of assets at risk.
Estimating the chance of losses.
Considerations of wildfire risk planning, including fuel hazards, ignition risks, and assets at risk.

Managing Natural Hazards

The current tendency is to focus on how people react rather than the hazards themselves.
Understanding how societies/communities perceive natural hazards is crucial to creating effective disaster plans.
Resilience involves a community’s ability to recover from events that threaten it.
Macro-scale (large-scale interventions such as levee construction, flood control reservoirs) and micro-scale (individual building designs, house construction methods) approaches to disaster mitigation.
Preparedness plans should include risk assessments, evacuation planning, and resource stockpiles.

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Description

Test your knowledge on climate change, extreme weather events, and social vulnerability. This quiz covers key concepts including the heat index and the societal impacts of natural hazards. Understand how climate variations affect vulnerable populations and their resilience strategies.