Hazards

• What is a hazard?

  A hazard is a threat of substantial loss of life, impact, or damage to property.
• How can hazards be caused?

  Hazards can be caused by humans but are mostly natural.
• What is a natural hazard?

  A natural hazard is a threat caused by natural events.
• What is a disaster?

  A disaster occurs as a result of a hazard, such as an earthquake on a fault line.
• What are the types of natural hazards?

  • Geophysical
  • Atmospheric
  • Hydrological
• What drives geophysical hazards?

  Geophysical hazards are driven by the Earth's own internal energy.
• What drives atmospheric hazards?

  Atmospheric hazards are driven by processes in the atmosphere.
• Give examples of geophysical hazards.

  Examples include plate tectonics, volcanoes, seismic activity, lightning, landslides, and tsunamis.
• Give examples of atmospheric hazards.

  Examples include tropical storms, droughts, and wildfires.
• What drives hydrological hazards?

  Hydrological hazards are driven by water bodies, mainly oceans.
• Give examples of hydrological hazards.

  Examples include floods, storm surges, tsunamis, tropical storms, and desertification.
• What makes a natural event a hazard?

  • Causes death or injury
  • Damages property and communication systems
  • Disrupts economic activity
• What are the risks associated with geophysical hazards?

  Geophysical risks include damage to property, being buried under debris, and respiratory issues from volcanic eruptions.
• What are the risks associated with atmospheric hazards?

  Atmospheric risks include hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, and hail storms.
• What are the risks associated with hydrological hazards?

  Hydrological risks include coastal flooding, desertification, salinization, and storm surges.
• What are the common characteristics of natural hazards?

  • Clear origin
  • Discernible effects
  • Short warning time before event
  • Requires emergency response
  • Most losses occur shortly after the event
  • Long-lasting effects
  • Involuntary exposure to risk
  • Awareness of risks in developed areas
• What is the formula for risk?

  Risk (R) = Frequency or magnitude of hazard (t) x Vulnerability (V).
• What does vulnerability refer to in the context of hazards?

  Vulnerability refers to the susceptibility of a community to the impacts of hazards.
• What does capacity refer to in the context of hazards?

  Capacity refers to the strengths and resources available in a community to reduce the level of risk.
• How is perception of a hazard defined?

  Perception of a hazard is the way someone understands or views a hazard.
• What are the approaches to hazard perception?

  • Fatalism: Accepting hazards as part of life
  • Domination: Predicting hazards through scientific research
  • Adaptation: Changing lives to reduce impacts of hazards
• What are the types of volcanoes?

  Types of volcanoes include effusive, basic shield, acid dome, composite cones, and calderas.
• What characterizes effusive eruptions?

  Effusive eruptions create extensive lava plateaus and flat featureless basalt plains.
• What are basic shield volcanoes?

  Basic shield volcanoes are shallow-sided and broad, formed by pure basalt that cools as it runs down the summit crater.
• What characterizes acid dome volcanoes?

  Acid dome volcanoes are steep-sided convex cones with thick viscous lava that solidifies before running too far down the slope.
• What are composite cones?

  Composite cones are formed from alternating eruptions of ash, tephra, and lava, building up the volcano in layers.
• What results in calderas?

  Calderas result from violent eruptions that blow off the volcano's summit, causing the sides to collapse inwards.
• What are the characteristics of volcanoes?

  • Types include effusive, basic shield, acid dome, composite cones, and calderas
  • Each type has distinct eruption styles and formations
• What percentage of the world population lives in hazardous areas?

  21%
• How does living in developing countries affect vulnerability to hazards?

  It increases vulnerability to hazards.
• Who is most affected by natural disasters?

  The world's poorest people.
• What are the types of hazards based on their energy sources?

  • Geophysical: driven by planet's internal energy sources
  • Atmospheric: driven by processes in the atmosphere
  • Hydrological: driven by water bodies
• What are the types of hazard perception?

  • Fatalist: hazards are a part of life
  • domination: hazards are predictable and can be understood through research
  • Adaptation: hazards are influenced by natural and human events, allowing for changes to reduce impact
• What factors impact responses to hazards?

  • Frequency
  • Magnitude
  • Location of hazard/country
  • Level of risk
  • Development of country (education)
  • Previous experience of hazard
  • Vulnerability
• What does the Park Model illustrate?

  • The speed of recovery after a disaster
  • Recovery is slow but eventually returns to normal
• What are some secondary impacts of disasters?


  • Multistory buildings collapse during earthquakes
  • Unprotected water sources cause waterborne diseases
  • Spread of disease
  • Food shortages
  • Transport disruption
• What are the tertiary impacts and management of disasters?


  • Economic losses and damage to core
  • Compromised health and increased mortality
  • Social disruption and loss of social ties
  • Abandonment of land and rural exodus
  • Psychological trauma and stress, especially among children
  • Reduced capacity of infrastructure and economic recovery
• What are the primary impacts of volcanic hazards?

  • Lava flows
  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Volcanic gases
  • Ash fall
• What is the hazard management cycle?


  • Prevention
  • Preparedness
  • Response
  • Recovery