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: Natural and Man-Made Disaster and their Impact on Environment
Natural and Man-Made Disaster and their Impact on Environment
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ADVERTISEMENTS: Earthquakes, floods and landslides, etc. are natural environmental hazards of disastrous consequences. In recent years these hazards took toll of thousands of lives and caused massive destruction of property. These have adversely affected the vital sectors of our development as agriculture, communication, irrigation, power projects and rural and urban settlements. ADVERTISEMENTS: The time and cost overrun in some cases have been enormous but their indirect impact on our economy has never been calculated. India is among the world’s most disaster prone areas and a large part of the country is exposed to natural hazards, which often turn into disasters causing loss of life and property. The unique geo-climatic conditions have exposed this country to natural catastrophes. Disasters can be defined as a sudden, accidental event of great magnitude that causes considerable damage to life and property.