Distinguish between two chosen hazards in terms of their spatial extent, predictability, frequency, magnitude, duration, speed of onset and effects. [10 marks]

(typhoons/hurricanes & earthquakes)These two different hazards have different levels of spatial extent, predictability, frequency, magnitude, duration, speed of onset and effects.
Two types of hazards are typhoons and earthquakes and both of these are different in terms of their spatial extent, predictability, frequency, magnitude, duration, speed of onset and effects. Typhoons and hurricanes  are hazards that are much more predictable as they can be monitored from its formation from a low pressure area until it forms into a typhoon. They form in areas of warm water and therefore they would occur much more often during times of the year where the water in the ocean is warmer. They have different magnitudes and bring different wind speeds and rainfall depending on how long it formed. The effects of typhoons and hurricanes will depend on its magnitude and how long it stays in an area. Since typhoons and earthquakes can be detected early, it is much easier to prepare for the hazard in order to minimize the effects that they may cause however they can still be destructive as they can last for many days and cause things such as flooding. Earthquakes on the other hand, compared to typhoons and earthquakes are much more unpredictable as they occur almost instantly than being formed over time. They are formed by movements between tectonic plates in the earth's crust. Earthquakes occur frequently with different magnitudes from very faint movements that may not be felt to very large destructive tremors that cause destruction in its area of effect. Since earthquakes are unpredictable, it is very hard to prepare for the hazard. While earthquakes occur for very short times usually for seconds up to a few minutes, they cause much greater destruction.
Typhoons/Hurricanes are predictable through the use of satellite imaging and the study of weather patterns. The level of magnitude always depend on the temperature difference of sea water and air temperature.These storms or "cyclones" often form in areas of warm water in both the atlantic and pacific ocean. They rotate counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern. Compared to hurricanes, typhoons occur much more often in a year at an average of 25 to 30 per year compared to 10 to 15 for hurricanes. These hazards are caused by the exchanges from the cool temperature of the air with the warm temperature of the water. If there is a larger difference between the two temperatures, the larger the hazard will become. These can be measured into five different levels of intensity. The different levels depend of the different speeds of the hurricane or typhoon. Category one moves at an average of 33 to 42 meters per second, category two moves at 43 to 49 meters per second, category 3 moves at 50 to 59 meters per second, category 4 moves from 58 to 70 meters per second, and category 5 has winds greater than 79 meters per second. Some characteristics that these hazards have include heavy winds, rain, and floods. Some of these typhoons/hurricanes differ from each occurrence to another. This is because the magnitude of the hurricane effects the duration. The greater the magnitude, the longer the   hazard will last. Also with the speed of onset and spatial extent, the strength of the typhoon/hurricane will effect the other factors of the hazard. The frequency of these hazard occurs 6.8 times annually with the highest amount of typhoon/ hurricanes in one month is during the month of January at an average of 5.6 typhoons from 1959 to 2011.
What is earthquake? Earthquake is described as the vibration of land caused by sudden break of bedrocks or crusts below the land due to the certain(gravitational/pressure) force. Scientists mostly describe the plate tectonic as the cause of the Earthquakes and in fact, earthquakes tend to happen along the fault lines between tectonic plates. Moreover, when there is the sudden break of bedrock or crusts, energy wave is released from by the reaction of the split of rocks which causes the vibration of the land. In specific term, epicenter which is the center of the earthquake is where the energy waves are released from. Strength of the waves decreases as distance from the epicenter increases. Therefore, the spatial extent can range anywhere from a small area to over the size of a city but the seismic intensity, specific term for earthquakes’ magnitude depends on the area to areas. Which means, the spatial extent of the hazard depends largely on the magnitude of the quake, measured on the richter scale(as the number of scale increase, the magnitude increases. Measured by the calculation of energy. Ex: richter scale of 6 is has 32 times stronger energy release than scale of 5). Major scale is 10, which can destroy an entire city, and minor scale is 1 where a sensitive human can barely feel the vibration. In fact many people confuse about the scale and magnitude of the earthquake. Scale is amount of the area affected by the earthquake, and the magnitude which is seismic intensity is the strength of the earthquake. The predictability of the earthquakes is still an issue to the seismologists. There are many signs predicted before earthquakes, but none of these are scientifically prove. For instance, one of the sign is the appearance of deep sea creatures. In fact, current science technology cannot predict the earthquake. In 2012, there was approximately 140 earthquakes, however in 2006, there were 180 earthquakes. Therefore, frequency(year) of the earthquakes fluctuates also. 

Explain the characteristics and spatial distribution of Hurricane/Typhoons at least two specific examples. [10 marks]

Hurricanes and typhoons are both of the same type of hazard. In terms of their characteristics they differ  in spatial distribution in the world. Typhoon is the name used for tropical storms that occur in the western pacific ocean. Whereas a Hurricane occurs in the North Atlantic and eastern Pacific. Both of these storms or "cyclones" often form in areas of warm water in both the atlantic and pacific ocean. They rotate counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern. Compares to hurricanes, typhoons occur much more often in a year at an average of 25 to 30 per year compared to 10 to 15 for hurricanes. These hazards are caused by the exchanges in temperature of the cool temperature of the air and the warm temperature of the water. The larger the difference between the two temperatures, the larger the hazard will become. These can be measured into five different levels of intensity. The different levels depend of the different speeds of the hurricane or typhoon. Category one moves at an average of 33 to 42 meters per second, category two moves at 43 to 49 meters per second, category 3 moves at 50 to 59 meters per second, category 4 moves from 58 to 70 meters per second, and category 5 has winds greater than 79 meters per second. Some characteristics that these hazards have include heavy winds, rain, and floods.
Hurricane Katrina is an example of a hurricane that occurred in the east coast of the US. It was one of the most destructive tropical storms to occur in the country. It is called a hurricane because it formed north atlantic ocean. It was formed and strengthened due to the warm water from the Gulf of Mexico and reached up to a category 5. The strongest for hurricanes. It caused severe damage to property and killed many people due to the flooding from intense rainfall that was brought inland by the hurricane. One famous typhoon which had great affect on the country is typhoon Haiyan. Typhoon Haiyan is 30^th typhoon formed in North-West Pacific Ocean which arrived to the central part of the Philippine. Visayas. This typhoon was categorized in category 5 which is called the Saffir-Sampson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS). The maximum wind speed of this typhoon was 314km/hr, and killed about ten thousand people and thirty thousand people became homeless. 
Both are essentially the same hazard. They have different levels of intensity, and mainly differ only in the special distribution. 

The Methods Used to Make Estimates of the Probability of 2 Hazard Events Occurring.

Around the world, there are at least 50 earthquakes every year. 
There are many ways that can be utilized in diagnosing an active volcano. Such methods include the visual warning signs. For example, if there is smoke or steam rising from the mouth of the volcano and in areas close to the volcano. This is mostly from the sulfur being released from the earth. Another way this can be diagnosed is through the use of an equipment called a correlation spectrometer. A correlation spectrometer is a device that can measure the amount and density of volcanic gases. 
The methods of diagnosing an active volcano is not limited to just the correlation spectrometer, there is another device that is popularly used. It is called a Seismometer. A Seismometer's basic function is to record minor and major earthquakes at least 4 miles below surface in the form of Seismic waves.
 Other methods include ground deformation reading, and thermal monitoring.
 Ground formation is monitored because ground swelling will indicate whether or not there is an increase of sulfur dioxide below the surface. Movement of magma and changes in gas releases thermal activity which can be seen through the use of infrared radiometry.