© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 1 Opportunities and risks─Is it rational to live in...

© Oxford University Press 2009

Part 1 Opportunities and risks─Is it rational to live in hazard-prone areas?

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1.71.7 Is it rational toIs it rational to choose to live inchoose to live in hazard-prone areas?hazard-prone areas?



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Tsunami 2004 Indonesia

Tsunami 2004 Indonesia Before the tsunami

After the tsunami

over 150,000 deaths

Banda Aceh, Indonesia(Credit: UNESCO)



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Montserrat in the Caribbean

Volcanic eruption 1997 Montserrat

Volcanic eruption 1997 Montserrat

23 deathsBuried much of the southern part of the

island



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Pamirs

HimalayasEarthquake 1998 Afghanistan

Earthquake 1998 Afghanistan

over 4,000 deaths

The Himalayan area

Direction of plate movement



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It is dangerous to live in hazard-prone areas.

Why do people live in hazard-

prone areas? Are their decisions

rational?

Why do people live in hazard-

prone areas? Are their decisions

rational?

What is a rational decision?A rational person will consider whether possible gains are greater than possible losses, for both staying and leaving.

Possible gains and losses of leaving

Possible gains and losses of staying behind

Since people weigh gains and losses differently, the final decision to move or stay is a subjective one.



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What is a rational decision?

Leave?Leave?

Secure new job

Re-establish social links



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What is a rational decision?

Stay?Stay?

Reduce future loss Restore productivity

Take out insurance

Reduce vulnerability

Move to hazard-proof structure in

the same area

Change the way of living

Rebuild home or business

Exploit new

resources



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What do people consider when deciding to stay or leave hazard-prone areas?

Leave? Stay?

Leave? Stay?

1 Risks

2 Opportunities

3 Social links

4 Limitations on migrations



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Are people’s decisions rational?

Leave? Stay?

Leave? Stay?

This depends on their subjective but careful evaluation of ...

the perceived risk of hazards happening

in the area

the possible gains if one leaves the

hazard-prone area

the possible gains from the opportunities offered

by tectonic processes

the possible losses if one leaves the

hazard-prone area



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1 RisksThe perception of the risk of hazards varies greatly among people.

What make the perceptions of

people different?

What make the perceptions of

people different?

Education level

Past experience

One’s character

Religious background



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Unaware of hazards and their history

It is useless to avoid hazard as it is an ‘act of God’

Leave, as it is too dangerous to stay

It is improbable for a hazard to strike the same place twice

Overlook the risk when the hazard has not occurred for a long time Believing the

government can provide protection, warning, evacuation and relief work

1 Risks



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2 Opportunities

People choose to live in tectonic hazard-prone areas

since internal processes bring job opportunities and

wealth to them.

There is intense heat below the earth’s surface.

What kind of power can it generate?

There is intense heat below the earth’s surface.

What kind of power can it generate?

The hot water and steam found in volcanic areas can be used to generate ___________ power.

It is renewable and clean. Therefore it is a more preferred energy resource.

geothermal

Electricity generated by geothermal power in Iceland

A Geothermal power

(Credit: Gerth/Blickwinkel)



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2 OpportunitiesA Geothermal power

Primary energy consumption in Iceland, 1940-2006Source: <http://www.geoberg.de/text/geology/07020201.php> and Statistics Iceland

Geothermal power becomes the primary energy resource in Iceland



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2 OpportunitiesB Metals and minerals

When magma cools and solidifies below the earth’s surface, it forms rocks containing _______ and _________.

metalsminerals

Many metals and minerals have economic value to people, for example, iron ore and diamonds.

Manganese mineral (Credit: McPHOTO/Blickwinkel)



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2 OpportunitiesB Metals and minerals

World distribution of major metals and precious stones

Which mineral is more

commonly found at plate boundaries?

Which mineral is more

commonly found at plate boundaries?



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2 OpportunitiesC Fertile soil

Farmland at the foothill of Mount Mayon in the Philippines

Volcanic ash is rich in minerals.

They provide ________ for crop growth and attract farmers.

nutrients

Weathering of solidified ____ produce fertile soil.lava

(Credit: Paul A. Souders/Corbis)



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2 OpportunitiesD Tourist attractions

Many volcanic areas and areas with folds and faults are scenic spots.

Mount Fuji, Japan

Mount Fuji in Japan is a well-known volcanic area with beautiful scenery

The Alps are famous fold mountains in the world

The Alps



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(Credit: Reuters/OTHK)

2 OpportunitiesD Tourist attractions

___________ and ________ are both flows of hot water coming from underground to the surface in volcanic areas.

Hot springs geysers

A hot spring in Japan

The water from hot springs usually contains minerals and are said to be good to our health

A geyser at Yellowstone

National Park, the USA

Developing these scenic spots provide job opportunities, higher incomes and a better living standard to local people.

Geysers are spectacular natural fountains. They flow intermittently in jets of hot water or steam

(Credit: Jeff Henry/Corbis)



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3 Social links

Strong ties to one’s motherland and ancestors prevent people from moving away.

People have strong feelings for their friends and relatives, and their own culture.

The weakening of the social bond is considered a great loss.

People have strong social bond in their hometown

(Credit: Ng Kim Hung)



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4 Limitations on migrationsA Political barriers

There are strict population and immigration policies for every country.

Migration is not free among countries, or sometimes even within a country.



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B Physical constraints

Desert landscape: too

_____dry

Polar landscape: too

______cold

Tropical rainforest landscape: too

_____wet

Mountain landscape: too

________rugged

Many places are free from tectonic hazards, but why

are they sparsely populated?

Many places are free from tectonic hazards, but why

are they sparsely populated?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 1 Opportunities and risks─Is it rational to live in...

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