Disaster, Biology

Assignment Help:

The Word 'disaster' is believed to be originating from the French word 'Disastre' which is a combination of two words 'des' meaning bad and 'astre' meaning star. Thus this term refers to a 'bad star'. It may be defined as the effect of a natural or manmade hazard that causes an enormous loss to human life together with plants and animals. According to the united nation, "disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing wide spread human material, economic and environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope with using its own resources".

       A disaster is a result of combination of hazard, vulnerability and insufficient capacity to reduce the chances of damage. A disaster occurs when a hazards strikes on the vulnerable areas and causes damage, casualties and disruption. Without vulnerability or hazard there is no disaster. It occurs when both hazard and vulnerability meet.

Any hazards like flood, earthquake or cyclone together with greater vulnerability (like inadequate supply of resources, sick and old people, lack of awareness etc.)  would lead to disaster causing greater loss to life and property. For example, an earthquake of strong intensity can be disaster only when it affects people, property and their activities on large scale not when it takes place in some deserted place.

                     Disasters occur rapidly and spontaneously. It is an extreme event which surpasses the tolerable limits causing great loss of life and property. Hazardous extreme environmental process cannot be termed as disasters until they affect the humans adversely. For example, a very strong tropical cyclone is an extreme event when it occurs and dies in the midst of an ocean but it becomes a disaster when it strikes the inhabited coastal areas. Similarly, a volcanic eruption is an extreme event but becomes a disaster when it occurs in densely populated area.

The consequences of environmental disasters are devastating for the social, economical and environmental system of a region or for the global ecosystem. They do not recognize the man made borders and are threat for future generations as it can abide them from a clean and friendly environment. Environmental disasters threaten life for long period of time. Their short term effects include injuries, poisoning. Radiation etc. but long term effects do not happen immediately and take some time to come to the surface for example malignant tumours and genetic defects which occur from the accumulation of hazardous materials.


Related Discussions:- Disaster

List what organelle is responsible, List what organelle is responsible for ...

List what organelle is responsible for each of these cellular functions. -production of energy (ATP) for the cell -synthesizing proteins -cellular digestion.

What do you mean by recovery period, Q. What do you mean by Recovery Period...

Q. What do you mean by Recovery Period? At the instant exercise is discontinued, the ECG recorded is turned on and left running for a few seconds while the blood pressure is re

Factors affecting normal blood sugar levels, Q. Factors Affecting Normal Bl...

Q. Factors Affecting Normal Blood Sugar Levels? Earlier in our discussion, we learnt that insulin is the most important factor responsible for normal blood sugar levels. Now we

What are the factors affecting taste quality, Q. What are the factors Affec...

Q. What are the factors Affecting Taste Quality? You may have experienced that the four primary tastes i.e., sweet, sour, salty and bitter are not sensed with an equal ease. Th

What is the nature of monosaccharides, What is the Nature of Monosaccharide...

What is the Nature of Monosaccharides? Monosaccharides are colourless, crystalline substances which are soluble in water but insoluble in non polar solvents. Monosaccharides ca

Determine some indicators of malnutrition, Determine Some indicators of Mal...

Determine Some indicators of Malnutrition? A few of the indicators are enumerated below: 1. Indicators related to Government policies a. Nutrition policy b. Nutrition

What percentage should be homozygous, If 40% gene pool is heterozygous then...

If 40% gene pool is heterozygous then what percentage should be homozygous?

Pollen tube growth, Pollen Tube Growth There are significant differen...

Pollen Tube Growth There are significant differences in the fine structure of the tips of pollen tubes in compatible and incompatible pistils such as Lilium. Tubes growing in

How cells of neoplastic tumors obtain oxygen and nutrients, Q. How do cells...

Q. How do cells of neoplastic tumors obtain oxygen and nutrients and release wastes? In the neoplastic tumors a phenomenon called as angiogenesis occurs. The Angiogenesis is th

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd