Title: Natural and Man-Made Disaster and their Impact on Environment
Headings: Natural and Man-Made Disaster and their Impact on Environment
Natural and Man-Made Disaster and their Impact on Environment
Most of the disasters have a natural origin, however, some disasters are manmade as well. On this basis, disasters can be broadly classified into two groups:
Natural disasters:
Man-made disasters:
Natural Disasters:
Some of the common natural disasters, their impact on environment, and their prevention, control and mitigation are discussed below:
Earthquakes:
The earth is primarily composed of three layers:
Impact of Earthquake on the Environment:
The major impacts of earthquakes are as follows:
Shaking of the ground and surface rupture:
Liquefaction:
Landslides:
Fires:
Changes in the land elevation:
Tsunami:
Prevention and Mitigation:
Hazard reduction programmes:
These include the following:
Development of critical facilities:
These include the following:
Floods:
Impact on the Environment:
Floods not only damage property and endanger if lives of humans and animals, but have other effects as well, such as:
Prevention, Control and Mitigation:
Land use planning:
Proper land use planning in flood prone areas includes:
Building of physical barriers:
Flood can be prevented by building certain structures, such as:
Preventing human encroachment:
Human encroachment should be avoided in the following areas:
Use of technology for relief:
Advanced technology can be used in the following ways:
Drought:
Impact on the Environment:
Drought causes serious environmental imbalances, which are summarized below:
Prevention, control and mitigation:
Management of water resources:
These include the following:
Proper agricultural techniques:
These include the following:
Relief measures:
Immediate relief to the drought-affected people should be provided in the form of:
Cyclones:
Impact on the Environment:
The impact on the environment is severe, some of which are as under (Fig. 18.5):
Prevention, Control and Mitigation:
Use of Advanced Technology:
Hazard reduction initiatives:
Relief measures:
Landslides:
The important factors responsible for landslide occurrence are as follows:
Avalanche:
Impact on the Environment:
The impact on the environment is manifested in the form of:
Prevention, Control and Mitigation:
Providing slope support:
Minimizing human encroachment:
Man-Made Disasters:
Man-made disasters are mainly of two types:
Local disasters:
Industrial and technological disasters:
Impact on the environment:
Prevention, control and mitigation:
Man-made disasters can be minimized to a large extent by adopting the following measures:
Bhopal Gas Tragedy (BGT):
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster:
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Content: This is the main cause of destruction in which buildings, bridges, roads, canals and other structures are damaged. Liquefaction: Earthquakes make sands and silts to transform from a solid to liquid state. This also results in building collapse. Landslides: Earthquakes of high intensity often trigger many landslides in the hilly regions. ADVERTISEMENTS: Fires: It is a major hazard associated with earthquakes. The shakings of the ground and building damage often break the gas pipes and electric lines that cause fires.