Key Points

• Hazard


  Potential threat to human life/property caused by an event. Only becomes a hazard when it threatens people.
• Types of geographical hazards

  Geophysical (land processes), Hydrological (water movement), Atmospheric (weather systems) 
• Volcanic hazards

  Lava flows, lahars, glacial floods, tephra, toxic gases, acid rain, pyroclastic flows
• Seismic hazards

  Caused by sudden plate movements, releasing built-up pressure as seismic waves
• Tropical storms

  Low pressure systems with high winds and rain. Form over warm oceans (26-27°C) away from equator 
• Wildfires

  Large uncontrolled fire spreading through vegetation. Favoured by dry fuel, certain vegetation types, and climate conditions
• Hazard management cycle

  Preparedness, Response, Recovery, Mitigation
• Human response to hazards

  Fatalism (passive acceptance), Prediction, Adaptation, Mitigation, Management 
• Factors affecting hazard perception

  Wealth, Experience, Education, Religion, Mobility