Can Human Activity Influence the Effects of Hazards?
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- Date Submitted: 12/24/2014 03:44 AM
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The answer to the above question is yes. Without a doubt we can examine all the evidence of hazards and see that as mankind we too play our role in the effect it has on the earth. Naturally occurring hazards without human influence still have a great impact, however with human influence indirectly or directly increases the effects of the hazard adding to the deaths or destruction.
For example the coral reefs suffer from an increase in coastal erosion that too of the mangrove swamps, as the powerful destructive ways erode away the sand. As a result the sand from the mangrove gets deposited on the coral reefs and causes them to die. Economically more coastal erosion results in less tourism as the sites or buildings get destroyed, therefore less revenue and employment in the country. This has a knock on effect on the local businesses which will fail and then eventually shut down and many local people will become unemployed. Which in return means the society becomes resources poor and increases the rates of poverty and crime. This is because through coastal erosion and deforestation animals lose their habitats and migrate away, so loss of livestock means less food and they are unable to use the animals for skin/materials. And a shortage will spark conflict with the people themselves causing further destruction. With damage being done to coral reefs, mangroves and forests it increases the risk of flooding and tsunamis. If we take a look at forests, deforestation has already left 20% of the Amazon has already gone at an alarming rate. So when it rains the water will be absorbed as there is less interception but this means that the ground becomes saturated, thus the next it rains it will not be absorbed and results in more surface runoff. In addition, a shortage in trees means less decaying leaves therefore the soil becomes deprived of nutrients which get leached away meaning the farming yield is reduced significantly.Lastly, due to global warming through our...
For example the coral reefs suffer from an increase in coastal erosion that too of the mangrove swamps, as the powerful destructive ways erode away the sand. As a result the sand from the mangrove gets deposited on the coral reefs and causes them to die. Economically more coastal erosion results in less tourism as the sites or buildings get destroyed, therefore less revenue and employment in the country. This has a knock on effect on the local businesses which will fail and then eventually shut down and many local people will become unemployed. Which in return means the society becomes resources poor and increases the rates of poverty and crime. This is because through coastal erosion and deforestation animals lose their habitats and migrate away, so loss of livestock means less food and they are unable to use the animals for skin/materials. And a shortage will spark conflict with the people themselves causing further destruction. With damage being done to coral reefs, mangroves and forests it increases the risk of flooding and tsunamis. If we take a look at forests, deforestation has already left 20% of the Amazon has already gone at an alarming rate. So when it rains the water will be absorbed as there is less interception but this means that the ground becomes saturated, thus the next it rains it will not be absorbed and results in more surface runoff. In addition, a shortage in trees means less decaying leaves therefore the soil becomes deprived of nutrients which get leached away meaning the farming yield is reduced significantly.Lastly, due to global warming through our...