examples of environmental vulnerability

EXTINCTIONS24. A lot of other technology was used in the response. People who cannot walk may not evacuate on time if they don’t have a car or if public transportation is not properly equipped with a ramp or lift. A vulnerability is that quality of a resource or its environment that allows the threat to be realized. Watch the following 6 minute video with video and images from the tsunami. When populations include professionals trained in hazards, then these people can help the populations with their hazards preparations and responses. The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences is committed to making its websites accessible to all users, and welcomes comments or suggestions on access improvements. LOWLANDS16. Please send comments or suggestions on accessibility to the site editor. A vulnerability assessment is the process of identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing (or ranking) the vulnerabilities in a system. Simply put, society now has more of value that is exposed to hazards. They are also less likely to have access to medical care. DRY PERIODS3. A bank teller is an example of a valuable resource that may be vulnerable during a bank robbery. But other knowledge can help, too. Haiti, like Myanmar, is a poor country, but it has positive and close relationships with the international community and thus readily welcomed international assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake. But there are exceptions. Are there other human factors that influence disaster severity? 3. USB thumb drives: Believe it or not, USB drives are actually one of, if not the most, common ways … IRI = Intrinsic Resilience sub-Index (Intrinsic resilience) Some important environmental vulnerability issues are not yet  measured because relevant data or robust measurement techniques are not yet available. Likewise, even without governments, communities can informally engage in many of these governance activities. Talking of vulnerability in business can mean the inabilities of the business or organization to withstand the competitive marketing environment while vulnerability in an individual is facing hostile situation in work relationships, social relationships, racism and others. Governments can advance policies that reduce vulnerability. However with new technological advances especially in the area of remote sensing further indicators may be developed for use in the EVI. A0001: Ability to identify systemic security issues based on the analysis of vulnerability and configuration data. Because of these and other factors, when disaster strikes, the poor are far more likely than the rich to be injured or killed. A society's governance systems play a large role in how - and how effectively - the available technology is used in a disaster situation. which can be caused by population growth, economic growth, or changes in reporting standards. Growth in population and the economy is a main reason that more money is lost. By characterizing these trends, we can understand who and what is vulnerable and in what ways they are vulnerable. Contact Us, Privacy & Legal Statements | Copyright Information The risk of specific natural hazards varies widely from region to region. However, these material disparities alone do not explain the greater losses experienced by people of color. Governance. Education. The risk of specific natural hazards varies widely from region to region. Thomas A. Glass2. The concept of vulnerability has been used to describe the susceptibility of physical, biotic, and social systems to harm or hazard. Vulnerabilities associated with social norms and discrimination. It seems that natural disasters are getting more costly perhaps because people are building more expensive infrastructure in hazard-prone areas. Environmental conflicts, access to resources and women’s vulnerability There is acceptance that poverty and environmental degradation (an important aspect of several types of environmental conflicts) have disproportionate impacts on African women (especially those who reside in rural areas). This increases our resilience to hazards. Do not cite without author permission . Children, especially young children, have less education. Example : Wetlands, such as the Caroni Swamp, are sensitive to increasing salinity from sea water, and pollution from stormwater runoff containing agricultural chemicals, eroded soils, etc. Here is another example that will help clarify exactly what sort of education is important for natural disasters. While any one extreme event may be unusual, there are broad trends in natural hazards. Potential effects are varied and may contribute to an increase in vulnerability and the frequency and intensity of natural hazards. Florida, on the other hand, doesn't have to bundle up so much in the winter, but it does face frequent hurricanes. For example, the U.S. Navy sent the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship, to treat the injured, and several helicopters to transport the injured to the ship. ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS50. This assistance saved many lives and is helping Haiti rebuild. In order for them to survive a disaster, it is necessary for both them and their caretakers to stay alive and stay together. The severity of a disaster depends on both the physical nature of the extreme event and the social nature of the human populations affected by the event. Version 11 . Wealth affects vulnerability in several ways. Examples of systems for which vulnerability assessments are performed include, but are not limited to, information technology systems, energy supply systems, water supply systems, transportation systems, and communication systems. The vulnerability framework of the Research and Assessment Systems for Sustainability Program explicitly recognizes the coupled human–environment system and accounts for interactions in the coupling affecting the system's responses to hazards and its vulnerability. SEA TEMPERATURES7. EARTHQUAKES9. Some people and places are more vulnerable to certain hazards than other people and places. For instance, after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, the media covered damage in whiter areas earlier than in ethnic minority neighborhoods, leading to a quicker emergency response in the former. Moreover, during a disaster it is difficult for caretakers or family members to reach people with disabilities who need special assistance. Also, the rich tend to lose more money from disasters, simply because they have more valuable property at stake. When disaster strikes, women are often the ones tasked with protecting children and the elderly. Response in environmental health emergencies. Definition of Environmental Vulnerability: The tendency of the environment to respond either positively or negatively to changes in human and climatic conditions. The indicators selected for use in the EVI are based on the best scientific understanding currently available and have been developed in consultation with international experts, country experts, other agencies and interest groups. ENDANGERED SPECIES23. This leaves them less mobile and more likely to experience harm themselves. BORDERS17. Vulnerability Assessment as the name suggests is the process of recognizing, analyzing and ranking vulnerabilities in computers and other related systems to equip the IT personnel and management team with adequate knowledge about prevailing threats in the environment. Many of the world’s earthquakes and volcanoes occur along the edge of the Pacific Ocean, along the boundaries of the Pacific Plate. MINING43. Affiliations: 1. Vulnerability, threat, and breach are the three most important words when talking about system threats. Assesses policies and practices to ensure zero-vulnerability related on wired or wireless networks. PRODUCTIVITY OVERFISHING35. Environmental vulnerability has been characterised by three components or sub-indices. Tsunami folklore 'saved islanders' by Subir Bhaumik for BBC News discusses how ancient, isolated tribes on Indian Ocean islands drew on their oral traditions to survive the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. A0120: Ability to share meaningful insights about the context of an organization’s threat environment that improve its risk management posture. POPULATION GROWTH47. The term ‘smart indicators’ has been used to define EVI indicators which aim to capture a large number of elements in a complex interactive system while simultaneously showing how the value obtained relates to some ideal condition. ENVIRONMENTAL OPENNESS19. In other words, it is a known issue that allows an attack to succeed. Education is another important factor in hazard impacts. Environmental vulnerability has been characterised by three components or sub-indices. David C. Bellinger. This region is known as the Ring of Fire for its intense volcanic activity. Within the United States, some regions are more vulnerable to natural hazards than others. Technology. The site editor may also be contacted with questions or comments about this Open Educational Resource. Within the hazards literature, vulnerability has many different connotations, Regardless of the nature of the threat, facility owners have a responsibility to limit or manage risks from these threats to the extent possible. These threats may be the result of natural events, accidents, or intentional acts to cause harm. Pennsylvania gets a lot of hot weather in the summer, cold weather in the winter, and rainfall throughout, but while this all can be inconvenient or unpleasant, it is usually not dangerous. Forest fires tend to occur (as you might guess) in forests. Host Assessment: Server and host vulnerabilities are identified. They are less able to purchase resources needed for disaster response and are less likely to have insurance policies that can contribute. They have less physical strength to survive disasters and are often more susceptible to certain diseases. It is the result of what resources are available to you and the challenges you face. The capabilities of the available technology can also play a large role in disasters. SULPHUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS38. Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar for his portrayal of fur trapper Hugh Gla… Using the Disaster Trends database, you can view the number of disasters, the number of people affected, and the dollars of damages from 1900 to 2014. They make threat outcomes possible and potentially even more dangerous. Children and the elderly tend to be more vulnerable. An armed bank robber is an example of a threat. People’s personal experiences during disasters are uniquely conditioned by not one, but several intersecting identities. The vulnerability definition encompasses exposure, coping capacities, sensitivity and adaptation responses in the model of double structure of vulnerability and the global environmental change school model , while within the framework of hazard and risk, vulnerability is separated from these characteristics. Histories of racial segregation and institutionalized discrimination in many countries have resulted in greater poverty rates and lower quality housing and services among people of color. Generally speaking, vulnerability to environmental hazards means the potential for loss. Since losses vary geographically, over time, and among different social groups, vulnerability also varies over time and space. On the next page, we'll learn about new Internet mapping technology such as Ushahidi that was used to help rescuers locate people in need. What is Environmental Vulnerability? It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability and authenticity. For example, some coastal areas contain expensive beachside real estate populated mainly by the rich, leaving the rich more vulnerable to tsunamis, storm surges, and other coastal hazards. FERTILISERS32. Vulnerabilities help predict health problems and your risk for certain diseases or of public health emergencies and your associated risks. REI = Risk Exposure sub-Index This work saves lives, and much more. The Sahel region (the southern edge of the Sahara desert in Africa) is periodically plagued by droughts. A0044: Ability to apply programming language structures (e.g., source code review) and logic. Vulnerability varies significantly within a … For example, when a team member resigns and you forget to disable their access to external accounts, change logins, or remove their names from company credit cards, this leaves your business open to both intentional and unintentional threats. Manhood is personified in those who leave behind safety. Modern education, such as that found in university geography departments, can be very helpful in reducing the harm from natural disasters. Can these factors be integrated to disaster preparedness so that people can be better prepared and have faster and more efficient response to disasters? This courseware module is part of Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' OER Initiative. Earthquakes and volcanoes tend to occur near boundaries of tectonic plates. HABITAT FRAGMENTATION27. These trends are due to characteristics of both natural systems and human systems. Generally speaking, disasters are becoming less deadly but more costly. HIGH WINDS2. Many of the deaths were elderly people who were still capable of taking care of themselves. With the appropriate information at hand, the risk factors can rightly be understood, and the required measures … When populations are literate, then written messages can be used to spread word about hazards in general or about specific disasters. A core point here is that different people, even within the same region, have different vulnerability to natural hazards. One striking example of the role of technology is in the international response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake. This happened in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. When the waves reached coasts, they caused massive destruction, killing over 230,000 people, making the event one of the deadliest natural disasters ever. For example, Pennsylvania has a relatively low vulnerability, whereas Florida has a relatively high vulnerability. Vulnerabilities in functionality added to a browser, e.g., libraries, plugins, extensions and add-ons, are treated as part of the browser when determining Attack Vector. They don’t avoid negative emotions. The elderly often also have declining vision and hearing. Some populations are more likely to face vulnerabilities than others. TERRESTRIAL RESERVES29. WASTE TREATMENT40. BIOTECHNOLOGY34. Wealthier, more educated societies are more likely to have more advanced technology. INDUSTRY41. Importantly, these intersecting human factors of vulnerability cannot be simply “added”—they are compounded in complex ways that are difficult to predict, but are revealed during the disaster. POPULATION46. Differential vulnerability & Susceptibility: expanding the scope of risk assessment . PESTICIDES33. AVI = Acquired Vulnerability sub-Index (this was EDI - Environmental Degradation sub-Index (Extrinsic resilience). VEGETATION COVER25. TSUNAMIS10. These sub-indices focus on ecosystem integrity and how it is threatened by anthropogenic and natural hazards. Compare that to Haiti after its 2010 earthquake. It’s valid to have anxiety about the unknown or have a fear of … People with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards. 1. Social norms and discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and race may place certain groups in a more vulnerable position than others. The feminisation of poverty is well documented. In addition, whiter neighborhoods received more volunteers than equally affected neighborhoods with more people of color. For example, droughts, floods and storms kill more women than men, and tend to kill women at a younger age. This is a vulnerability, as unscrupulous people can easily break the window and gain entry into your home. CONFLICTS, Measuring the resilience of our planetary life-support systems, EVI = Environmental vulnerability index If we have a high temperature it is a symptom of a potential health problem and we then rely on further tests and our doctor’s experience to find out what may be wrong. The vulnerability is a system weakness that can be exploited by a potential attacker. 2217 Earth and Engineering Sciences Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 Vulnerability. SPILLS42. TOURISTS48. For example, radio communication is not effective for warning deaf people about an incoming wildfire or hurricane. One example of the role of government that we've seen already is the Myanmar government during Cyclone Nargis. Attack Complexity: Low Network Assessment:Identifying network security attacks. Finally, they can foster social networks and empower individuals and communities to help themselves to prepare for and respond to hazards. Vulnerabilities could range to a number of things from devices connected to … Thankfully, this does not require our full knowledge of every transaction because if this were a requirement, we would never be able to use indicators at all. COASTAL SETTLEMENTS49. The concepts of vulnerability and risks are not only used in the context of foreign and defense policy, but also with regard to environmental security challenges by the global environmental change, the climate change and the hazard and disaster communities, An example of the role of age is the 2003 European heat wave. VOLCANOES8. These trends can be seen in graphs available online from EM-DAT, the International Disaster Database. Please adjust the settings to examine several graphs. COUNTRY DISPERSION13. Managing environmental health risks in emergencies. The poor are less able to afford housing and other infrastructure that can withstand extreme events. Application Assessment:Identifying vulnerabilities in web applications and their source code. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper or me… ENDEMICS21. LAND AREA12. Vulnerabilities simply refer to weaknesses in a system. For example, a young white, low-income man with a disability and a low-income elderly woman of color living in the same neighborhood may both be very vulnerable to a hurricane, but their experiences of vulnerability will certainly be quite distinct. vulnerability of modern societies to attacks by non-state terrorist actors. The EVI utilises 50 ‘smart indicators’ to capture the key elements of environmental vulnerability. The force sent massive waves out in all directions. Another insight is that the knowledge we gain from our experience observing and living in the world, and sharing this experience with others, can be every bit as useful as that which we gain from classroom or textbook instruction. HOT PERIODS5. On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake occurred underwater in the Indian Ocean. Publications INTRODUCTIONS22. For example, a vulnerability in Adobe Flash is scored with an Attack Vector of Network (assuming the victim loads the exploit over a network). With education, we can learn how to avoid or reduce many impacts. They can support education and awareness efforts, as well as economic development to reduce poverty. LGBTI people may face difficulties in shelters after a natural hazard strikes. Fewer people are dying in disasters, but damages are costing more in dollars. Often the most vulnerable people are those who are politically marginalized because these people have less access to key resources and opportunities. For example, floods tend to occur in low-lying areas near water. This, in turn, helps us reduce vulnerability and, when extreme events occur, reduce the damage. 1. Even though much of this is also more resistant to damage, the total dollar amount of damage has been increasing. Some emergency response technologies do not meet the needs of people with disabilities. Detection and alert in environmental health emergencies. The helicopters were crucial because Port-au-Prince's port was damaged, as were many roads. They venture into the wilderness where help and modern conveniences are far removed. MIGRATIONS20. Natural resource depletion and resource degradation are key aspects of environmental vulnerability. RELIEF15. In general, vulnerability means the potential to be harmed. Vulnerability to natural hazards is thus the potential to be harmed by natural hazards. The earthquake’s magnitude was about 9.2, making it one of the most powerful earthquakes ever. A system could be exploited through a single vulnerability, for example, a single SQL Injection attack could give an attacker full control over sensitive data. In places where men are raised to be breadwinners, families prioritize boys’ education over girls’, thereby making women more likely to be poor and less educated than men. Technology can improve our ability to forecast extreme events, withstand the impacts of the events, and recover afterward. Authors: Petra Tschakert, Assistant Professor of Geography; Karl Zimmerer, Professor and Department Head of Geography; Brian King, Assistant Professor of Geography; Seth Baum, Graduate Assistant and Ph.D. student in Geography and Chongming Wang, Teaching Assistant, Geography. This government is isolated from the international community and, thus, was not welcoming to international assistance in the aftermath of the cyclone. Example, droughts, floods tend to occur ( as you might guess ) forests... To you and the elderly often also have declining vision and hearing ways ( examples of environmental vulnerability et al., )... 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