Natural Hazards
Geological Processes
n Landslides:
n Cause, classification, zonation and protection; Land subsidence
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Course content
n Storms: Tropical Cyclone
n Hurricane, Tornado, Storm damage and safety
n Wildfires:
n Fire Process and Secondary effects
n Floods:
n Streams and rivers-hydrology; types of floods, nature and
extent of flood hazard, flood hazard zoning - flood control and
protection
n Case studies: Geological hazards
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Text Books:
n Bell, F. G. Environmental Geology
n Keller, E.A. Environmental Geology
n Horn & Scott, Geological Hazards
n Monroe, J. S., Wicander, R., and Hazlett, R. Physical
Geology: Exploring the Earth.
n Strahler, A. Introduction to Physical Geoloyg.
n Hyndman, D., and Hyndman, D. Natural Hazards and
Disasters.
n Keller, E. D. Introduction to Environmental Geology
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n Natural hazards – a growing threat (Stewart and
Donovan, 2007)
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n a
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NATURAL HAZARDS:
n Natural Hazards are the naturally occurring processes which are
dangerous to human life and property
n Earth surface is susceptible to a variety of natural/geological
hazards
n These events can happen anywhere
Hazards
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n Plate movements
n Geothermal energy
Earth
system
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External processes
n Hydrological cycle
The System Concept
The System Concept
• A system in any portion of the
universe that can be isolated
from the rest of the universe
for observing and measuring
change.
• The simplest kind to understand
is an isolated system.
• The boundary completely
prevents the exchange of either
matter or energy.
The System Concept (2)
• The nearest thing to an
isolated system in the real
world is a closed system:
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The wavelength (λ) is given in µm (10-6 m) or nm (10-9 m).
• Incoming radiation from the sun: Shortwave radiation
(Visible and UV radiation)
q Climate
q Air
q Water quality
q Erosion
• To have proper understanding of the
earth processes it is essential to know
various natural process related to the
Earth and its Environment:
• Internal processes
• External processes
Cyclone Vardah
Cyclones • A tropical cyclone is an intense low
pressure area in the atmosphere
over tropical or sub-tropical waters.
• The direction of circulation is
anti-clockwise in Northern
Hemisphere and clockwise in
Southern Hemisphere due to
Coriolis effect...
• I M D - I n d i a M e t e o r o l o g i c a l
Department classifies the low
pressure systems in the Bay of
Bengal and in the Arabian Sea into
7 classes
Severe Cyclonic
88-117 47-63
Storm
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Cyclone Vardah
Peak Intensity
130 km/h
The Kaikoura, New Zealand earthquake occurred
on 14 Nov. 2016
(Magnitude 7.8); depth of 22 km; 70 km ruputre (36km on
land and 34km under the sea)
Background
A M 7.8 earthquake occurred
on 13 November 2016
Geological hazards
Ø Earthquakes
Ø Tsunamis
Ø Cyclones/storms
Ø Slope failures
(Landslides)
Ø Floods
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General Background of Natural Hazards
n Many developing countries of the Asia and
Pacific are situated in the world’s hazard
belts and are subjected to floods, cyclones,
earthquakes, windstorms, tidal waves/
tsunamis, landslides, etc.
Landslides in Hilly
Urbanization Deforestation terrain and flooding
in plains
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Human Impact of Natural Disasters
n A natural process when poses a threat to human life or property,
- it is termed as a natural hazard.
n Whereas, a natural event that kills or injures large numbers of
people or causes extensive damage to the property, it is called a
catastrophe
n Many geologic processes are potentially hazardous, e.g., floods,
earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones etc.
12 Jan 2010
Haiti earthquake
Mw7.0
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Human Impact of Natural Disasters
n We need to understand the impact of the natural disaster – which does not depend on the size
of the event but on number of people getting affected and the area vulnerable to such events.
n e.g., An event in a thinly populated area can hardly pose a major hazard.
n For instant, earthquake in New Zealand on July 15, 2009 with M7.6 was severe but posed little
threat because it happened in a region with few people or buildings.
n Whereas, October 8, 2005 Muzzaffarabad earthquake with M7.6 occurred in heavily populated
valleys of the southern Himalayas killed more than 80,000 people, and a much smaller January
12, 2010, M7.0 earthquake in Haiti killed more than 222,000.
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Natural Disasters Impact on Human
n Similarly, May 2, 2008, cyclone in
Myanmar killed about 138,000 in a
mostly rural area.
n If such event occur, then it takes long time for recovery and
rehabilitation.
n One can study the processes and identify the potentiality of the
particular hazard in particular area.
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Natural Disasters in India
n India is vulnerable to a large number
of disasters.
n More than 58.6 per cent of the
landmass is prone to earthquakes of
moderate to very high intensity
n Over 40 million hectares (12%) of its
land is prone to floods and river
erosion
n About 5,700 km, out of the 7,516 km
long coastline is prone to cyclones and
tsunamis
n About 68% of its cultivable area is
vulnerable to droughts
n Its hilly areas are at risk from
landslides and avalanches.
n Moreover, India is also vulnerable to
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and
Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies and
other man-made disasters.
Source NDMA, New Delhi 60
n Disaster risks in India are
further compounded by
i n cr e asi n g v u l n e r ab i l i t i e s
related
n To changing demographics and
socio-economic conditions
n Unplanned urbanization,
development within high-risk
zones
n Environmental degradation,
climate change, geological
hazards, epidemics
n All these contribute to a
situation where disasters
seriously threaten India’s
economy, its population and
sustainable development
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Earthquakes
n The Asia-Pacific region alone records 70% of the world’s
earthquakes measuring M7 or more on the Richter scale, at an
average rate of 15 events per year.
n The countries of the region which are badly affected by
earthquakes include Japan, Philippines, India, Nepal, Afghanistan,
Iran and the Pacific Islands.
n Many of these countries in the region are located along, or
adjacent to, the Pacific Ocean Seismic Zone or the Indian Ocean
Seismic Zone.
n For example 50–60% of India is vulnerable to seismic activities of
varying intensity particularly the areas in the Himalayan region and
the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
n e.g., The earthquake in Maharashtra State in Western India in
September 1993 claimed over 12,000 lives and January 2001 Bhuj
claimed 19,000-20,000 lives; and more than a lakh due to 2004
Sumatra-Andaman quake and tsunami
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3rd August 2014 China Earthquake
Yunnan Province, China
398 people have been claimed dead, 1891 were injured & 29,400 have been evacuated
Pattern of Damage in Kachchh due to 2001 Bhuj quake
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1964 Niigata earthquake M7.6
n a
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Christchurch EQ: Liquefaction
on Kilmore St.
n a
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n EQ with magnitude 7.9 occurred along Denali Fault
n Investigations revealed that the fault may move by
about 20 feet if rupture
n It moved about 18 feet, and the pipeline did not face
any damage…
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Landslides
or
Mass wasting
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Landslides
n Landslides are very common in the hills-mountainous
parts of the Asia-Pacific regions – occur frequently in
India, China, Nepal, Thailand and the Philippines.
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Disastrous landslides in India
Date/year Location Damage
Sep-68 Himachal Pradesh Active Maling slide- 1km of road and a bridge washed out
Dec-82 Himachal Pradesh Near Solding nallah 3 bridges & 1.5km length of road washed away
Jan-82 Nashri, Jammu & Kashmir Active slide from 1953. Every year road and communication network is damaged.
Mar-89 Himachal Pradesh Nathpa, 500m road section is frequently damaged during successive year
Oct-90 Nilgiris 36 people killed and several injured. Several buildings and communication network damaged
Jul-91 Assam 300 people killed, road and buildings damaged, Millions of rupees
Nov-92 Nilgiris Road network and buildings damaged, Rs.5 million damage estimate
Aug-93 Kohima, Nagaland 200 houses destroyed, 500 people died, about5km road stretch was damaged
Jun-94 Varundh ghat, Konkan Coast 20 people killed, breaching of ghat road damaged to the extent of 1km. At several places
18,August - 98 Malpa,Kali river 205 people killed road network to Mansarovar disrupted
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Pune Landslide 30 July 2014
On 30 July 2014,
a landslide occurred in the
village of Malin in
the Ambegaon taluka of
the Pune district in
Maharashtra, India.
It has been caused due to heavy
flood and has killed at least 86
people and up to 200 are buried
Bihar government on Saturday issued a high alert cauWoning several northern districts about imminent floods due
to drasWc rise in water level of Kosi aXer landslides blocked the course of the main river in Nepal.
Photo showing effect of Mudflow (Lahars) triggered by Volcanic eruption
and Snow melt in 1985. Destroyed the town of Armero, Colombia
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Cloudburst @ Kedarnath
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Floods…
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Floods
n Floods are the most common climate-related disaster
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n In India, regions like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat,
Maharashtra are facing flooding problem every year.
In addition since last couple of years Rajasthan and
Kachchh region of Gujarat have experienced flooding
in some area…
CE642 (JNM) 93
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CE642 (JNM) 95
n This image shows estimated rainfall amounts from July 10 to 16, 2011.
The lowest rainfall amounts (less than 50 millimeters, or 2 inches)
appear in pale green, and the heaviest amounts (more than 400
millimeters, or 16 inches) appear in dark blue (NASA).
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Floods
CE642 (JNM) 98
CE642 (JNM) 99
Cloudburst @ Kedarnath
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Floods in Uttrakhand in 2013
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Tsunami…
Marina Beach @ Chennai
affect of 2004 tsunami
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26 Dec. 2004 Sumarta-Andaman
Earthquake Tsunami
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after
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11 March, 2011 – Tohuku
Earthquake
Run-up height 39 m,
travelled 10 km inland
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n a
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Tsunamis around the world
n 684 Kii Channel Earthquake, Japan n 1946 - Pacific tsunami
n 1096/1099 Quakes, Japan n 1958 - Lituya Bay megatsunami
n 1700 - Vancouver Island, Canada n 1960 - Chilean tsunami
n 1703 -Kanto Quake, Japan n 1963 - Vajont Dam Megatsunami
n 1755 - Lisbon, Portugal n 1964 - Niigata Earthquake
n 1771 - Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa, n 1964 - Good Friday tsunami
Japan n 1976 - Moro Gulf tsunami
n 1792 - Tsunami in Kyūshū, Japan n 1979 - Tumaco tsunami
n 1854 -Ansei Nankai Quakes in n 1983 - Sea of Japan tsunami
South Coast of Japan n 1993 - Okushiri, Hokkaido tsunami
1868 - Hawaiian Islands local 1998 - Papua New Guinea
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tsunami generated by earthquake n
2004 - Indian Ocean tsunami
1883 - Krakatoa explosive eruption n
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2006 - South of Java Island
1896 - Sanriku coast, Japan n
n
tsunami
1917 - Halifax Explosion and 2006 - Kuril Islands tsunami
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tsunami n
n Warning measures
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Flow Chart for Disaster and Warning
Analysis –
prediction
prediction
Scientific
inputs Government
Organisation
War
Local offices
ning
and state Govt.
Collection of organisation
Data
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Benefits and disadvantages
Palm trees along the San Andreas Fault, USA Water pool along the San Andreas Fault, USA
n Flooding causing damage to human settlement – erodes lot of material from mountains and
deposit it in the lower reaches along the river floodplains – adds nutrients to form fertile
soil
n Landslides – in hilly areas result into formation of dam along the river courses – provide
valuable resource in form of storage of water
n Volcanic eruption – create good agricultural and grazing land and aqua life
n Faults – can cause blocking of ground water example shown above of SAF.
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Indo-
Gang
et ic Pla
ins
Sub-H
imala
y a
India
Himalayas
Tibet