Disaster Management Module 1 Important Topics
Table of contents
*Disaster Management Module 1 Important Topics*
*Various Layers of atmosphere with distance and sketch*
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
*Key Terms in disaster management*
*Ozone Layer*
Ozone Layer
Ozone Formation
Ozone Layer Depletion
Reasons for Ozone Depletion
Prevention of ozone layer depletion
*Green House Effect*
Causes
Effects
*Cyclone*
Categories
Types
*Difference between disaster and hazard*
*Hydrosphere*
*Biosphere*
Various Layers of atmosphere with distance and sketch
Based on the temperature, the atmosphere is divided into four parts:
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Troposphere
The bottom dense part, containing 70 per cent of the mass, close to the ground is
troposphere.
Clouds, storms, fog and haze are found only in troposphere
It reaches up to 11 km from the ground
The temperature in this layer decreases at about - 6.4°C/km with height. This decrease of
temperature
with altitude is called lapse rate.
The boarder of troposphere is called Tropopause. Tropopause acts like a lid over
troposphere. Temperature stops decreasing with height from tropopause.
Stratosphere
This layer extends to a height of about 50 km from earth's surface
Ozone (03) is found in this layer
The temperature increases with height in stratosphere
Above the stratosphere, there is a small layer called Stratopause where temperature
neither decreases nor increases with height
Mesosphere
The portion of the atmosphere above stratosphere, between 50 km and 80 km is known as
mesosphere.
Mesosphere plays a crucial role in radio communication as ionisation occurs here. The
sunlight passing through this layer converts individual molecules to charged ions.
These ionised particles are concentrated as a zone in this layer, which is named D-layer.
The D-layer reflects radio waves transmitted from earth.
Just above the mesosphere is a small layer called Mesopause, where temperature is
stable.
Thermosphere
Thermosphere extends from 80 km to about 60,000 km from earth. Here the temperature
increases to about 2000°C
Thermosphere has no definable upper boundary and it gradually blends with the outer
space
It is in thermosphere that most of the approaching meteoroids burn up before reaching
earth.
Ionisation takes place in this layer also. Ionisation produces two ionised layers—E and F
layers. These layers also have an influence over ratio communication as it reflects radio
waves
Key Terms in disaster management
Disaster:
• A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society due to hazardous events
interacting with conditions of vulnerability and exposure, leading to widespread human,
material, economic and environmental losses and impacts.
• The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) define
disaster as a calamitous event resulting in loss of life, great human suffering and distress, and
large-scale material damage.
Hazard:
• A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon or human activity that may cause the loss
of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation
is called hazard.
• A hazard turns into a disaster when there are elements of risk and vulnerability
• Hazards can be single or a combination of many, in origin and effects. It can vary with respect
to location, type, intensity, probability frequency
Exposure:
Exposure is the nearness of people, properties or communities to a hazard zone in space
and time to suffer potential impacts.
Houses and people close to an earthquake zone or at the epicentre are more exposed
than those far away.
Vulnerability:
Vulnerability is the degree to which a system, such as a community, is susceptible and
exposed to the adverse effects of a given hazard.
It is a condition that predisposes individuals, groups, communities or systems to hazard
event.
Vulnerability depends on the physical, socio-economic and environmental characteristics
and circumstances that make the target system or community susceptible.
Categories:
Physical Vulnerability: It considers those aspects that may be damaged or destroyed by a
hazard. This vulnerability is based on the physical conditions of a community and elements
of risk.
Physical conditions include different buildings, structures and infrastructures and their
capability to withstand. The proximity and nature of hazard is also considered.
Socio- Economic Vulnerability:
The socio economic conditions of a population also have a say on the intensity of impact
to which a population is exposed to.
For instance, poor people are most vulnerable in the event of cyclone or flood as the
houses may not be strong and may be constructed with locally available materials. Further
they find difficult to rebuild their houses.
Risk:
The combination of the probability of a hazardous event and its consequences which
result from interaction(s) between natural or man-made hazard(s), vulnerability, exposure
and capacity is called risk.
Risk Assessment:
An approach to determine the nature and extent of risk by analyzing potential hazards and
evaluating existing conditions of vulnerability that together could potentially harm exposed
people, property, services, livelihoods and the environment on which they depend.
Risk assessments (and associated risk mapping) include: a review of the technical
characteristics of hazards such as their location, intensity, frequency and probability; the
analysis of exposure and vulnerability including the physical social, health, economic and
environmental dimensions; and the evaluation of the effectiveness of prevailing and
alternative coping capacities in respect to likely risk scenarios. This series of activities is
sometimes known as a risk analysis process.
ISO 31000 defines risk assessment as a process made up of three processes
Risk identification: process that is used to find, recognize, and describe the risks
that could affect the achievement of objectives.
Risk analysis: process that is used to understand the nature, sources, and causes of
the risks that have been identified and to estimate the level of risk. It is also used to
study impacts and consequences and to examine the controls that currently exist.
Risk evaluation: process that is used to compare risk analysis results with risk
criteria in order to determine whether or not a specified level of risk is acceptable or
tolerable.
Risk Mapping:
Risk mapping is a process of analysing the hazard, vulnerability and capacity through a
scientific methodology.
The process of risk map preparation includes analysis of hazard, vulnerability and
capacity.
Capacity:
The combination of all the strengths, attributes and resources available within a
community, society or organization to manage and reduce the risks and strengthen
resilience.
Capacity may include infrastructure and physical means, institutions, societal coping
abilities, as well as human knowledge, skills and collective attributes such as social
relationships, leadership and management.
Capacity assessment is a term for the process by which the capacity of a group is
reviewed against desired goals, and the capacity gaps are identified for further action.
Coping Capacity:
The ability of people, organizations and systems, using available skills and resources, to
manage adverse conditions, risk or disasters is called coping capacity.
The capacity to cope requires continuing awareness, resources and good management,
both in normal times as well as during crises or adverse conditions.
It can be two types:
- Physical Coping capacity: Some members of a community affected by hazards could
have the required skills to find employment elsewhere and helps their family to sustain.
- Socio – economic coping capacity: In the event of any disaster maximum losses occurs
in physical and material realm. However rich members in a community could quickly and
completely recover due to their strength of wealth. This may not be possible for poor
people
Resilience:
The ability of a system, community or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb,
accommodate to and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner,
including through the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and
functions.
Resilience means the ability to “resile from” or “spring back from” a shock. The resilience
of a community in respect to any hazard or event is determined by the degree to which the
community has the necessary resources and is capable of organizing itself both prior to
and during times of need.
Disaster Risk reduction:
Disaster risk reduction is a systematic and continuous analysis and redressing of the
causal factors of disasters.
It is the first step and key component of disaster (risk) management.
Disaster risk reduction involves structural and non-structural measures.
- Structural measures include the use of physical or engineering solutions (such as
ocean wave barriers or earthquake resistant buildings) to avoid disaster or reduce its
impacts.
- Non-structural measures involve the use of policies, laws, education and awareness
creation, and practices to avoid or reduce the impacts of disaster.
Disaster risk management:
Disaster risk management is the application of disaster risk reduction policies, processes
and actions to prevent new risk reduce existing disaster risk and manage residual risk
contributing to the strengthening of resilience.
Disaster risk management includes actions designed to avoid the creation of new risks,
actions designed to address pre-existing risks and actions taken to address residual risk
and reducing impacts on communities and societies,
Early Warning Systems:
An interrelated set of hazard warning, risk assessment, communication and preparedness
activities that enable individuals, communities, businesses and others to take timely action
to reduce their risks is called early warning systems.
Effective “end-to-end” and “people-centered” early warning system comprises four
interrelated key elements
- risk knowledge and risk assessment
- detection, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of the hazards and possible scenarios
- dissemination and communication of timely, accurate and actionable warnings and
associated likelihood and impact information;
- preparedness and local capabilities to respond to the warnings received.
Disaster Preparedness:
Disaster preparedness consists of the knowledge and capacities of institutions,
communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from the
impacts of likely, imminent or active hazard events or conditions.
Thus, preparedness is incomplete if potentially affected people are not aware of the threat
of a hazard. Preparedness is embedded in disaster risk management.
Disaster Prevention:
Activities and measures to avoid existing and new disaster risks is called prevention.
Disaster Mitigation:
The lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of a hazardous event is called
mitigation.
The adverse impacts of hazards often cannot be prevented fully, but their scale or severity
can be substantially lessened by various strategies and actions.
Disaster Response:
Actions taken during or immediately after a disaster in order to save lives, reduce health
impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people
affected.
Disaster response is predominantly focused on immediate and short-term needs and is
sometimes called disaster relief.
Damage Assessment:
Damage assessment is the procedure for determining the magnitude of damage caused
by a disaster or emergency event.
Damages are normally classified as:
- Severe: the target facility or object cannot be used for its intended purpose. Complete
reconstruction is required.
- Moderate: the target facility or object cannot be used effectively for its intended purpose
unless major repairs are made.
- Light: the target facility or object can be used for intended purpose but minor repairs
would be necessary.
Crisis Counseling:
Crisis counselling is the process of alleviating the emotional and psychological
disturbances of persons affected by disaster in order to restore a sense of control and
mastery and to aid the process of recovery and reconstruction.
Normally, disasters overwhelm the physical and psychological capacity of people to cope.
This can lead to emotional and psychological disturbances which can affect a person’s
ability to make right decisions or adopt reasonable responsive actions.
Crisis counselling addresses these problems and is a crucial part of recovery and
reconstruction.
Needs Assessment:
Needs assessment is a process of estimating (usually based on a damage assessment)
the financial, technical,and human resources needed to implement the agreed-upon
programmes of recovery, reconstruction, and risk management.
Post-damage needs assessment is normally a rapid, multi-sectoral assessment that
measures the impact of disasters on the society, economy, and environment of the
disaster-affected areas
Ozone Layer
Ozone Layer
Ozone is a protective layer found in ozonosphere, which is in the stratosphere layer of
atmosphere.
Ozone absorbs and prevents the harmful ultraviolet radiations from reaching earth.
Maximum concentration of ozone occurs at 22 km from the ground level.
If the ozone layer was absent, millions of people would develop skin disease and may
have weaken the immune systems.
Ozone Formation
Ozone Layer Depletion
Ozone layer depletion is the gradual thinning of the earth’s ozone layer in the upper
atmosphere caused due to the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous
bromine or chlorine from industries or other human activities
When CFC come in contact with ozone, chlorine splits ozone into individual molecules.
Here chlorine acts as a catalyst.
Chlorine breakdown the ozone and combine with free oxygen to create 2 oxygen molecule
Reasons for Ozone Depletion
Depletion by CFC and BFC
Emitted by refrigerators and AC
UV radiation split these as, Chlorine (Cl) and Bromine (Br) radicals.
Due action, Ozone concentration is decreasing at a drastic rate
Depletion by nitric oxide(NO)
Large quantities of nitrogen are emitted by aircrafts .
Depletion by Natural Causes
The ozone layer has been found to be depleted by certain natural processes such as
Sun-spots andstratospheric winds
The volcanic eruptions are also responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.
Prevention of ozone layer depletion
Avoid Using ODS (Ozone depleting substances)
Reduce the use of ozone depleting substances.
Avoid using malfunctioning A C and refrigerators, which emits more CFC and BFC
Use Eco-friendly Cleaning Products
Most of the cleaning products have chlorine and bromine releasing chemicals that
find a way into the atmosphere and affect the ozone layer.
These should be substituted with natural products to protect the environment
Encourage Public transportation
Use of private vehicles will emits more pollutants to the atmosphere, so public
transportation should be promoted.
Use electric driven vehicles, in place of fuel driven vehicles
Promote the use of EVs in place of vehicles run by petrol /diesel.
Lead contained petrol will emits more pollutants.
Use of Nitrous Oxide should be prohibited
The government should take actions and prohibit the use of harmful nitrous oxide that
is adversely affecting the ozone layer.
Green House Effect
The greenhouse effect is the process that occurs when gases in Earth's atmosphere trap
the Sun's heat.
The gases which traps suns heat is known as greenhouse gases.
Eg:CO2,methane
Causes
Burning of Fossil Fuels
Burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide
Deforestation
Plants and trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Due to the cutting of
trees, there is aconsiderable increase in the greenhouse gases which increases the
earth’s temperature.
Farming
Nitrous oxide used in fertilizers is one of the contributors to the greenhouse effect in
the atmosphere.
Industrial Waste and Landfills
The industries and factories produce harmful gases which are released in the
atmosphere.
Landfills also release carbon dioxide and methane that adds to the greenhouse
gases
Effects
Global warming
It is the phenomenon of a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s
atmosphere
Smog and air pollution
Smog is formed by the combination of smoke and fog. It can be caused both by
natural means and man- made activities.
Acidification of water bodies
The greenhouse gases mix with the rainwater and fall as acid rain.
This leads to the acidification ofwater bodies.
Also, the rainwater carries the contaminants along with it and falls into the river,
streams and lakes thereby causing their acidification.
Cyclone
System of winds rotating inwards to an area of low pressure, in a coiled manner.
Reason: due to coriolis force, surface wind get spiralled towards the low pressure area
Cyclones are not present in equatorial regions because coriolis force is absent.
Categories
Category 1
Wind Speed 74-95 mph
Damage: Minimal
Surge surface: 4-5 feet
Category 2
Speed 96-110 mph
Damage: Moderate
Surge Surface: 6-8 feet
Category 3
111-130 mph
Damage: Extensive
Surge surface: 9-12 feet
Category 4
Speed 131-155 mph
Damage: Extreme
Surge surface: 13-18 feet
Category 5
Speed >155 mph
Damage: Catastrophic
Surge surface: 19+ feet
Types
Tropical Cyclone
Occurs in tropical oceans
Hurricanes and typhoons are two types.
Polar Cyclone
Formed over arctic and Antarctic oceans.
It takes place quickly, so forecasting is difficult.
Meso Cyclone
Formed along with strong thunderstorms.
Extra Tropical Cyclone
Also known as mid latitude cyclones.
Winds are weaker
Difference between disaster and hazard
Hydrosphere
The layer which contains all the water sources present on the earth.
It includes all the surface and subsurface water sources.
It forms over 70% of earth’s surface
Hydrosphere has direct influence on weather and climatic condition on the earth
Biosphere
Biosphere is a thin envelop that encircles most of the earth, and supports life.
Biosphere is the spherical terrestrial layer that comprises of the lower part of the
atmosphere, the seas and the upper layers of the soil wherein living organisms exist
naturally.
All forms of life including human beings dwell in biosphere. The health of the biosphere is
determined by the availability of oxygen, moisture, temperature, air pressure and soil.