1.1 natural hazards

• • A hazard is an event which has the potential to cause harm to the environment, people or the economy.
• A natural hazard is an event caused by environmental processes and would occur without the presence of humans
• why is the term hazard used?

  because of the potential impact when the natural event interacts with humans
• • A disaster occurs when harm actually occurs to the environment, people or the economy
• give 4 examples of tectonic hazards

  earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslides, tsunami
• give 2 examples of geomorphological hazards

  floods and landslides
• give 3 examples of atmospheric hazards

  tropical storms, droughts and tornadoes
• give 2 examples of biological hazards

  pests and disease
• factors affecting hazard risk:

  POPULATION: As the world population increases, more people live in areas which are vulnerable to natural hazards
• factors affecting hazard risk:

  • Urbanisation and population density: Urban areas are more densely populated, increasing the numbers of people at risk
• factors affecting hazard risk:

  • Frequency and magnitude: How often a hazard event occurs as well as the size and strength of the event
• factors affecting hazard risk:

  • Level of development: High Income Countries (HICs) are more prepared and are more able to cope with the effects than Low Income Countries (LICs) and Newly Emerging Economies (NEEs)
• factors affecting hazard risk:

  • Prediction: Some hazards such as earthquakes are impossible to predict and so people have no warning
• factors affecting hazard risk:

  • Human activities: Some human activity such as deforestation and urbanisation increase the level of hazard risk