ENVR 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Natural Hazard, Natural Disaster, Plate Tectonics
12 Dec 2014
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What forces drive earth"s internal and external processes? (p. 7) Internal forces are processes deep within earth, driven by the slow, but persistent convective currents that cause plate tectonics and heat loss from earth"s deep interior. External forces are processes that take place near the surface or at the surface of earth and are driven by gravity and energy from the sun. What are the distinctions between a natural hazard and a disaster, and between a disaster and a catastrophe? (p. 8) A natural hazard is any natural, largely geological process that poses a threat to human life or property. A disaster occurs when that hazard, such as a flood or earthquake, inflicts loss of life and property in a society. A catastrophe is a massive disaster, typically with great loss of life and enormous destruction of infrastructure, and it requires a large input of time and money to rectify.
