Natural Hazards

Year 9 Geography
5A1 Investigating Australias Physical
Environments
Syllabus Agenda
the nature of the natural hazard in Australia
the geographical processes involved
the impacts of the natural hazard:
economic
Environmental
social
the responsibility and responses of individuals,
groups and various levels of government to the
impact of the natural hazard

Natural hazards in Australia
Describe the range of natural hazards in Australia and their
consequences including:
bushfires, droughts, earthquakes, floods, storms and tropical
cyclones.

For at least one natural hazard:
The nature of the natural hazard in Australia.
The geographical processes involved.
The impacts of the natural hazard: economic,
environmental and social.
The responsibility and responses of individuals, groups and
various levels of government to the impact of the natural
hazard.
Natural hazards
A natural hazard is when the forces of nature
combine to become destructive including tropical
cyclones and storms, floods, bushfires, droughts,
earthquakes, landslides and tsunamis.
Activity
Using http://edu.glogster.com
Create a glog on natural hazards.
Include a definition and an
illustration for each natural
hazard listed above.
Types of natural hazards
Natural hazards can be separated into two main
categories:
1. Those related to weather and climatic factors
drought, flood, heat waves, bushfires, strong winds,
storms, cyclones and tornadoes.
2. Those related to movements in the earths crust
landslides, earth tremors, earthquakes and
tsunamis.
Types of impacts
Three main categories
Social impacts loss of life, stresses placed on
families and people, destruction of community
structures and facilities.
Economic impacts loss of income for people or
damage to an industry, loss and destruction of
property, insurance losses.
Environmental impacts destruction
of natural and human environment,
death of and injury to wildlife,
changes to environments.
Building damage in
Australia
Activity
Using figure 2.4
a) Name the three
most costly
natural hazards
in terms of
building
damage in
Australia

Cyclones
Tropical cyclones
A tropical cyclone is an intense tropical
storm that develops over warm oceans
between 5 and 20 north or south of the
Equator.
Tropical Cyclones (TC) in
Australia
Tropical Cyclones form over the northern parts of
Australia in the months from November to April.
They affect areas North of Perth along the coasts
of Western Australia and the Northern Territory,
the Queensland coastline and the far north coast
of New South Wales.
Go to http://www.studyismybuddy.com
Download the Cyclone worksheet
Complete the worksheet using the
http://www.ema.gov.au/www/ema/schools.nsf/Pa
ge/Get_The_FactsCyclones website

(a) Activity
Key geographical
processes in cyclone
development
They form in the band between 5 and 22 N and S of the
Equator over oceans with a water temperature greater than
26.5C.
Warm moist air over these oceans rises, causing low pressure
systems to develop.
The rising air forms clouds, which release heat, causing the air to
rise further, leading to a tropical storm.

How tropical cyclones
develop
Tropical cyclones develop in the tropical regions of the world.
Heat from the sun causes warm, moist air to rise into the atmosphere.
As the air rises, a low-pressure system forms and condensation occurs,
which releases further latent heat causing the air to rise further into the
atmosphere.
If the air pressure in the upper atmosphere is high, then the rising column
of warm air will spiral outwards in the upper atmosphere and air will rush
from the surface to replace it, forming a tropical cyclone.
Cyclones (Hazards Disasters
& Survival)
Click view movie Social Science / Geography /
Cyclones
Tropical cyclone conditions
Winds can reach and exceed speeds of 120
kilometres per hour (km/h), with gusts exceeding
170 km/h. Winds at these speeds can do great
damage to property, including causing boats to
slip from their moorings, downing trees and even
ripping roofs and walls from buildings.


Power lines are often damaged in tropical cyclones,
causing power outages.
High levels of rainfall cause flooding in some areas.

Storm Surges
another risk from
tropical cyclones
Storm surges are a rise in sea level caused by high winds
pushing water towards shore and lower atmospheric
pressure.
Storm surges are affected by:
wind speeds within the cyclone,
the speed at which the cyclone is travelling towards the
coast,
The angle at which the cyclone crosses the coast,
the shape of the sea floor, and
local topography.
When high tide comes to an area at the same time as a
storm surge, a phenomenon known as a storm tide can
cause the sea level to be even higher. This can threaten
areas that would usually be safe from a high tide, causing
flooding and sea damage.
Five categories of tropical cyclones
o Little damage to houses and other buildings. Some damage to crops
and other vegetation. Wind speeds less than 125 km/h.
o Minor damage to houses and other buildings. Damage to signs, trees
and caravans. Heavy damage to crops and other vegetation. Small
boats break moorings. Risk of power failure. Wind speeds between
125 km/h and 169 km/h.
o Some damage to roofs and building structures. Some caravans
destroyed. High risk of power failure. Wind speeds between 170 km/h
and 224 km/h.
o Heavy damage to roofs and building structures. Caravans destroyed
and blown away. Risk of damage from flying debris. Widespread
power failures. Wind speeds between 225km/h and 279 km/h.
o Very heavy and widespread destruction. Wind speeds over 280 km/

Categor
y
Damage Wind
speed
1 Little damage houses and
buildings
Some damage crops and
vegetation
125 km/hr
2
3
4
5
Activity:
Copy and
complete table
to summarise
the five
categories of
tropical
cyclones
Cyclone
defences

In Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology identifies potentially
dangerous cyclones and tracks them using weather stations on
small islands and information from satellite pictures.
If a cyclone is deemed dangerous, a cyclone warning is issued in
areas that might be affected from three Tropical Cyclone Warning
Centres (TCWC) located in Brisbane, Darwin and Perth. Cyclone
warnings tell people how to prepare for the coming storm. This can
range from securing loose objects that might cause damage to
evacuating the area until the storm has passed.
People living in areas prone to tropical cyclones have to take
precautions at all times. Citizens are encouraged to pack emergency
kits and evacuation kits to keep in their houses. Houses in at-risk
areas are built to strict building codes.
ACTIVITY
Go to www.ema.gov.au - The
Emergency Management Australia
website
Report on the most recent tropical
cyclone that has been responded to.
Steps to take when
planning for the cyclone
season Check the building regulations. In some areas, if
you are building a house, there are strict regulations
that need to be followed. These can be found at your
local council.
Ensure your home is in good condition, especially
the roof: no loose tiles, the structure is secure and
safe
Clear property of loose items and /or secure them.
This reduces flying debris, which can cause fatal
accidents
Locate nearby safety. Find where your nearest safe
higher ground is in case of flood warnings
Create your emergency survival kit and stock tinned
food, water containers, medicines, important
documents, torches, candles and matches, portable
radio
Discuss with your family your emergency plan.
Decide on the safest places in the house should a
cyclone threaten, as well as ensuring that the
emergency kit is easily accessible to all family
members, a list of emergency contacts are clearly
visible and a copy is in the emergency kit.
Emergency survival kit
ACTIVITY
Refer to the
information
and
template in
Edmodo
called
emergency
pantry list.
Plan the
food for
your family
in an
emergency.
Steps to take during and
after a cyclone
During the cyclone, ensure you:
stay inside and be sheltered in the strongest part of
the house (e.g. bathroom)
protect yourself with mattresses and blankets
hold firmly to a strong fixture such as pipes or stay
under a solid table
remain indoors until the cyclone has completely
passed. Remember in the eye of the cyclone there
is a brief moment period of calm weather. After that,
the cyclone will continue.
The calm after the storm
Remain indoors until you are advised that it is safe.
When you do go outside, be aware of debris,
buildings and trees may be unstable and power
lines may have fallen.
If you are driving, use recommended routes to
avoid accidents, flooding of rivers and roads, and
debris falling in the path of the cyclone.
Activity:
Use word art to
develop a pamphlet
to educate
individuals in
cyclone prone areas
on the steps to take
to prepare for
cyclones, during a
cyclone and after the
cyclone.
Social impacts

loss of lives and death
financial trauma because of
loss of homes and people
become worried that another
cyclone will come and do
further damage.
loss of food supplies can lead
to malnutrition.
water contamination could
occur and peoples health may
be affected.
people come together and
work as a team and community
spirit can be strengthened.

Environmenta
l impacts

Water supplies may be compromised if
supplies are contaminated and pipelines
cut.
Sewerage lines may be cut, resulting in a
lack of sanitation, and poisons therefore
leaching out into the environment.
If the cyclone brings flooding, there are the
usual problems resulting from too much
water, e.g. loss of animal and plant
habitats.
Trees may be uprooted, and animal
habitats destroyed. This causes the food
chain to be broken, and it can be many
months before food chain order is
reestablished among the various species.
Beaches are often strewn with dead marine
or coastal-dwelling creatures.
Litter ends up in the ocean, destroying
animals' habitats.
Many coral reefs, fish and animals can be
damaged and can take years to recover.


Economic
impacts
Less income from exports and general
economic turndown.
Flooding and high winds can destroy all
crops.
Cost of creating a new infrastructure.
Not as many tourists ( short term effect)
Businesses closed down and people
unemployed.
Activity
Develop a
collage of the
social,
environmenta
l and
economic
impacts of a
cyclone in
Australia.
Cyclone
Tracy
Literacy Activity

When did cyclone Tracy hit
Darwin?

What role did the local
police and community
leaders play in responding
to the hazard?

What is the National
Disaster Organisation and
why did it become involved
in the response to Cyclone
Tracy?

Why do you think
evacuation of Darwin was
an essential response to
Cyclone Tracy?

Calculate the percentage
of Darwins population that
was evacuated in the week
following Cyclone Tracy.

How has cyclone Tracy
better enabled
communities to prepare for
this type of hazard?
Comparison of recent
Tropical Cyclones - Activity
Go to site
http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/cyclone-
season-2010-2011/comparison.htm.
Use this page to complete the following table:
Cyclon
e
Categor
y
Locatio
n
Storm
Surge
Rainfall Wind Damage

YASI

LARRY

TRACY

Australian
Government
response to
disasters
The primary role for protecting the
community and property rests with state
and territory governments.
The Australian Government supports the
states and territories in recovery
response through the provision of a
range of programs and tailored
assistance measures.
In November 2005, the Australian
Government Disaster Recovery
Committee (AGDRC) was established to
provide advice on, and coordinate
implementation of, tailored disaster
recovery assistance measures to
Australian individuals, families and
communities in response to disasters.
It ensures that coordinated whole-of-
Australian Government recovery
assistance can be provided quickly to
Australians.
It develops and coordinates whole-of-
Australian Government social and
community recovery packages.
20 March 2006
Far North
Queensland -
Tropical cyclone
Larry
Australian
Government
Response
A natural disaster zone was declared by the Queensland Government.
Ex-gratia payments of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per
eligible child for people whose principal place of residence was
destroyed by the cyclone or was rendered uninhabitable
tax relief to taxpayers who suffered damage to their homes and
businesses.
a one-off income support program for affected farmers and
small business
a tax-free grant of $25,000 for businesses demonstrating
significant losses
a wage subsidy for employers (businesses, farmers and non-
profit organisations) to help employers retain their pre-cyclone
labour levels and get back into production and business as
quickly as possible
concessional loans of up to $500,000 to eligible farmers and
business to re-establish their enterprises
assistance with excise on diesel or petrol fuel used by
businesses, farmers and households to generate their own
electricity until normal services were restored
assistance for costs associated with hiring a generator where
electricity was needed to operate equipment required to relieve
livestock distress.

Activity 2 - Role of groups Describe how the Red Cross responded to Cyclone Larry.
Go to
http://www.redcross.org.au/ourservices_acrossaustralia_disasteremergencyservices_larr
y2006.htm
Activity 1 :
Use a table
to
summarise
how the
Queensland
Government
responded
to cyclone
Larry.
Cyclone Yasi
Go to Edmodo. Find PDF - St Terersas Abergowrie College
Cyclone Yasi: A Diary.
Use this PDF to help you image you were one of the
children at St Terersas. Write a diary entry describing what
happened during your day.
Develop a poster for a local school in Queensland to explain
how individuals could help Cyclone Yasi victims.