definitions

• natural hazard


  any natural event (eg earthquake, volcanic eruption, tropical storm) that threatens people or has the potential to cause damage, destruction and death (harm)
• disaster


  humans are involved
• natural


  human absence
• tectonic hazards (internal


  hazards caused by tectonic processes inside the Earth

  generally alongside plate boundaries

  earthquakes

  volcanic eruptions

  tsunami's
• atmospheric hazards - weather


  hazards created in the atmosphere by the movement of air and water

  tropical storms

  tornados

  droughts

  flood

  snowstorms
• geomorphic hazards - surface


  hazards caused by surface processes which sculpt landscapes

  river flooding

  landslides

  erosion
• biological hazards - living things


  hazards caused by or involving living organisms

  forest fires

  environmental disease

  pests
• lithosphere 


  the solid outer part of the crust
• asthenosphere


  the upper part of the mantle
• plate boundary


  where two or more tectonic plates meet
• focus


  the point where shaking originates from - inside the earth
• epicentre


  the point on the surface directly above the focus
• seismic wave


  shock waves released by an earthquakes
• plate movement


  the movement of plates
• primary effects


  the immediate consequences of an earthquake
• secondary effects


  consequences of primary effects
• liquefaction


  ground shakes so violently water rises to the surface
• quaternary period


  the most current time period on the geological time scale
• glacial periods


  a cold period of time

  ice age
• interglacial period


  a warmer time
• mitigation


  strategies that deal with the cause of climate change

  reduce or prevent greenhouse gases that cause climate change and protect carbon sinks
• adaptations


  strategies are local, rather then global

  respond to localised impacts of climate change