Browsing by Subject "natural hazards"

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    Application of Scenario Earthquakes for Analysis of Seismically Triggered Landslide Hazard: A Case Study in Costa Rica
    (Central American School of Geology, University of Costa Rica, 2022-07-11) Seal , Dylan M.; Nowicki Jessee, M. Anna; Hamburger, Michael W.; Ruiz , Paulo; Earth and Environmental Sciences, School of Science
    In this study, we demonstrate the capabilities of hypothetical scenario earthquakes as a new tool for assessment of hazards associated with earthquake-triggered landslides. Costa Rica offers an ideal environment for demonstrating the utility of scenario earthquakes due to its diverse tectonic environments and associated widespread seismic hazard, rugged topography, and high landslide susceptibility. We investigate the relative influence of landslide proxies such as topographic slope, peak ground velocity (PGV), and compound topographic index (CTI), and earthquake source parameters such as magnitude and depth, on predicted landslide probability and fatality. We examine five distinct tectonic environments, including subduction events beneath the (1) Nicoya and (2) Osa peninsulas respectively, (3) intraplate earthquakes beneath the Central Volcanic Range (CVR) and (4) the Central Costa Rica Deformed Belt (CCRDB), and (5) back-arc thrust events on the eastern Caribbean coast. Our results demonstrate that the slope, PGV, and CTI thresholds necessary to produce landslide probabilities greater than 10% vary by tectonic environment. In all cases, we observe magnitude to be the primary control on the predicted maximum landslide probability and overall areal landslide coverage. We validate model predictions with observed landslide inventories from the 2009 Cinchona and 1991 Limon earthquakes, demonstrating a good fit, where over 70% of landslides occurring in zones of greater than 20% probability. We also use a global model of landslide impact to predict exposure and fatality ranges for each scenario earthquake of this study, revealing that moderate-sized earthquakes in the CCRDB and CVR and large subduction megathrust earthquakes each pose a significant hazard to Costa Rica’s population.
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    Employees’ Perceptions of Workplace Preparedness for Climate Change-Related Natural Hazards
    (Wiley, 2016-06) Sadiq, Abdul-Akeem; Ollier, Meredith; Tyler, Jenna; School of Public and Environmental Affairs
    Despite climate change being identified as a current or future risk for organizations, researchers have yet to understand employees’ perceptions of their workplaces’ preparedness for climate change-related natural hazards (cc hazards) such as floods and wildfires. The purpose of this preliminary study is to describe the current state of workplace preparedness for cc hazards and to ascertain whether workplace preparedness for cc hazards aligns with state hazard priorities for cc hazards. Using data collected in 2014 from an online, national survey of 2,008 employees in the United States, the results indicate that workplaces are moderately prepared for cc hazards. In addition, there is a slight mismatch between workplace preparedness and state preparedness priorities for cc hazards. This study contributes to the literature on organizational preparedness for cc hazards by providing insights on the current state of workplace preparedness—from the perspectives of employees—for natural hazards associated with the global threat known as climate change. The paper concludes with a policy recommendation and provides an outline for future research on organizational preparedness for cc hazards.