Natural Hazards

• Defection of a natural hazard


  A natural hazard is an event which has the potential to cause harm to the environment, poeple or the economy
• What is the difference between a hazard and a event

  A natural hazard is only a hazard when there it is a threat to people.
• 3 main types of natural hazards

  1. Geological hazards

  2. Hydrological hazards

  3. Atmospheric hazards
• Definition of geological hazard

  Hazards caused by the processes on the land
• Definition of hydrological hazards

  Hazards caused by the movement of water on the land
• Defentiton of atmospheric hazards

  Hazards caused by the weather
• Examples of geological hazards

  Volcanoes

  Earthquakes

  Landslides
• Examples of hydrological hazards

  Flooding
• Examples of atmospheric hazards

  Tropical Storms

  Tornadoes

  Droughts
• Factors affecting hazard risk

  Urbanisation

  Population growth

  Wealth

  Climate Charge

  Land Use
• Hazard risk: urbanisation


  - Urban areas are packed with infrastructure and housing

  - These structures collapse during natural hazards, putting many people at risk
• Hazard risk: Population Growth

  - As the global population increases, the demand for housing is exceeding the supply

  - Many people live in cheaper informal housing, which are not able to withstand natural hazards
• Hazard risk: Wealth


  - Poverty can force populations to live in unsafe housing with less access to healthcare + rescue services
• Hazard risk: Land use

  - Many floodplains are very fertile, meaning they are excellent areas for farming

  - Therefore, people choose to live here making a higher risk of experiencing flooding
• Hazard risk: Climate Change


  - Effects of climate change have exposed more people to natural hazard

  - For example, sea levels rise and changes in precipitation have increased flooding in tropical storms