GEOL-1100-850: Earth System Science
Introduction
This paper is about what could possibly happen to the city of Perth, Australia and all of the people whom call it home, should a natural disaster strike the city or region. First let me give you some facts about the city of Perth. Perth is located in the country of Australia, which is located in the Southern Hemisphere. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. As of 2009, Perth had a population of 1,650,000. (Perth, 2009)
The metropolitan area of Perth is located on the southwest coast of the country. The central business district and suburbs of Perth are situated along the banks of the Swan River.
Natural Disasters
Perth has the potential to be struck by natural disasters just as any other country in the world. A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard that effects the environment, and leads to financial, environmental and/or human losses. (Natural Disaster, 2009) The list of possible natural disasters includes: tropical storms, earthquakes, droughts, floods, cyclones and bush fires. Everyday around the world natural disasters take place and they shape the environment in which we live. Many countries have other natural disasters that strike them like tsunamis, tornadoes, volcanoes and many more.
Droughts
Droughts are periods of time in which a region does not receive any precipitation and it is usually critically damaging to crops. (drought, n.d.) In Perth and many other parts of Australia, droughts are a way of life and the impact on those living through one can be severe. Frequently there are temporary and/or sometimes permanent water restrictions in many areas of Australia including in the major cities like Perth. During draughts, many rural rivers are sucked dry either by the weather or by the demand for water.
The weather has a crucial effect during a drought, take El Nino for instance, which is an ocean warming phenomenon, this