Week 16 Blog Final

Norway is a beautiful country that is full of large mountains and deep fjords. Norway is relatively safe from the dangers of most natural disasters. However, there are a couple of natural threats that Norway must prepare for. These two are mass movements and blizzards. While not initially life threatening on a massive scale, they can cause long term damage to the country if not properly mitigated.

The first disaster I will address are Mass Movements. Mass movements are a common occurrence in Norway. Because the country is mostly mountainous with little flat land, the shifting of rocks and soil should be expected. One form of these disasters are the mass movements that strike fjords. Fjords are inlets of the ocean that are between steep cliffs. The sudden change in altitude makes it easy for gravity to mold the landscape. This makes the roads in these areas a high risk zone for mass wasting. The mass wasting effects most roads that are in the fjord regions all year. All this damage to infrastructure can cause logistical problems for the country.

There are many ways that mass movement can be mitigated. The first is terracing, where slopes are formed into steps which can reduce waste. Next is wedging, which is when walls are constructed to redirect mass movements to other areas. Lastly, drainage observation can be used to manage the water supply of an area and redirect it if needed. These are a few ways to mitigate mass movements.

The second disaster I will talk about are Blizzards. The most common form of extreme weather in Norway comes from blizzards. Norway is known for its cold weather and in the winter it can get to freezing temperatures. An example of how bad it could get was the infamous Carolean Death March, where in 1719, 3000 people were killed in a Norwegian Storm. While this happened centuries ago, it is a lesson to those who would underestimate winter in Norway. It is still quite dangerous and people are at risk every year.

 In modern times, it is easier to prepare for a blizzard. There are plans people can make to handle them. For a place like Norway. It is important to always check the weather forecast. Next is to gather supplies, like food and tools like flashlights. The last major thing you need is wood for a fire. By planning ahead like this, people will have a much easier time surviving this crisis. There is not much the government can do for a blizzard other than providing supplies before hand and doing their best to keep roads somewhat clear. 

If I were to construct a house in Norway, I would build it by Oslo, which is the capital city. I would build it to the Northwest which would put me inland, away from dangerous ocean activity but close enough to civilization that I can receive help with dangerous mass movements disasters. Also I would be one of the first to receive aid for blizzards, due to the close proximity of the government near me. It is for these reasons that I would build my house Northwest of Oslo. 

Sources 

1. asabs.harvard

https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009NHESS...9..469J/abstract

2.European Geoscience Union https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/9/469/2009/

3. The Watchers

https://watchers.news/2020/02/21/severe-winter-storm-hits-norway-with-heavy-snow-resulting-in-at-least-2-fatalities/

4. Water Damage Advisor

 https://www.waterdamageadvisor.com/storm-damage/blizzard-damage/