Assessing the Potential Risk of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis - Essay Example

Running Head: RISK ASSESSMENT Assessment of Risk of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tsunami of Assessment of Risk of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and TsunamiIn terms of population, Dallas is considered as thickly populated city of the state Texas. It ranks as third largest city of the Texas which makes it a land for a wider population. It is due to this fact that it is obligatory to note the environmental sciences risk potential within the city. This assessment paper broadly uses risk analysis techniques in order to understand the potential risk of earthquakes, tsunami and volcanoes at Dallas, Texas. a. Risk Assessment of Earthquake:Being a metropolitan city in the South, Dallas has a history of earthquakes that occurred every year.

But it has been noted that the magnitude of these earthquake incidents were relatively under 3.5 on the rector scale. The reason behind the occurrence of earthquakes is noted to be the excessive energy that has been accumulated within the layers of earth. Notably in the case of Dallas, Texas, it could be said that the energy has been releasing through the occurrence of earthquake every year which makes the probability of the earthquake predictable but with relatively lesser magnitude. Considering the four seasonal-geographical conditions of Dallas, it can be said that the delocalization of crust is less accumulating.

The occurrence of earthquakes at Dallas has projected the duration of thunderstorms much longer. Also, the hurricanes and snowstorms are predictable at Dallas mainly because of the occurrence of earthquake that releases energy off the earth surface displaying disturbance of the earth crust to minor extent (Resources for Environmental Literacy, 2007). b. Risk Assessment of Tsunami:The generation of Tsunamis is due to the disturbance of the large amount of water waves underneath. This may happen due to the eruption of volcano, land sliding or the contact of tectonic plates of the earth.

This may affect the waves of water which may travel 600mph. Considering the case of Tsunami in Dallas, Texas, there has been no activity on the active tectonic layer of Dallas which makes Dallas a less vulnerable region for the generation of Tsunami. The active tectonic plates in Texas in whole is considered as an out of alert zone for tsunami as per the predictions. Tsunami’s generation is more likely to take place at the active tectonic layer of Mexico and the near coastal areas of United States (Hasiholan, 2007). c. Risk Assessment of Volcanoes (above the ground and underwater):The eruption of volcano takes place when about 17 layers of earth are dismantled and or broken.

The layers of earth are then set beneath the ground usually on the hotter layer of the earth crust. Earth mantle is the hottest temperate area which makes the stones and other earthy elements to burn and melt into a fluid called magma. As per the risk assessment by taking in account the historic figures of volcanoes eruption at Dallas, there is a very little vulnerability. This is because the geographic condition of Dallas, where no water hoses is deep enough to give way for crust to melt down, mountain ranges are explicitly less vulnerable to have volcanoes.

In extreme cases of earthquakes (ultimate cause of volcanoes; the crust releases energy during earthquake), Dallas is more likely to experience Peléan which is an eruption of ashes, gas or dust etc (Integrated Disaster Risk Management Society, 2011). Reference ListHasiholan, S. (2007). Risk Communication for Disaster Preparedness of Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption. UNU – EHS , 22-28.Integrated Disaster Risk Management Society. (2011, January 1). Integrated Disaster Risk Management Society.

Retrieved November 7, 2011, from Idrim.org: http://idrim.org/newsletters/IDRiM%20Society%20Newsletter%20Jan7_2011updated.pdfResources for Environmental Literacy. (2007). Earthquakes Volcanoes and Tsunamis. Massachuets: National Science Teachers Association.