natural hazards

• natural hazard


  natural process which could cause disruption to humans or destroy property
• types of natural hazard

  geological and meteorological
• what factor affect hazard risk

  • vulnerability
  • capacity to cope
  • nature of natrual hazards
• destructive margins


  plates move towards each other
• constructive margin


  plates move away from each other
• conservative margin 


  plates move sideways past each other
• volcanoes

  occur at destructive and constructive plate margins
• epicentre

  the point above the earths surface straight above the focus
• moment magnitude scale

  measures the amount of energy released by an earthquake
• management of tectonic hazards

  monitoring

  planning

  prediction

  protection
• monitoring

  earthquakes - seismometres and laser monitor earth movement, can be used for early warning systems

  volcanic eruptions - scientists can monitor tiny earthquakes, escaping gas and changes in the shape of the earthquake
• prediction


  earthquakes - scientists can forecast where they may occur

  volcanic eruptions - can be predicted if monitored closely
• protection - earthquakes


  can use reinforced concrete that absorbs the energy, bridges and buildings can be strengthened with steel frames and automatic shutters can prevent fires
• protection - volcanic eruptions


  buildings can be strengthened , trenches and barriers can also be used to divert lava away
• atmospheric circulation model

  shows the transfer of heat from the equator to the poles by the movement of air
• 3 cells of circulation

  polar cell

  ferrel cell

  hadley cell
• tropical storms


  temperature 27 degrees or higher

  develop between 5 to 30 degrees north and south of the equator
• structure of tropical storm

  • anticlockwise spin
  • centre of the storm - the eye
  • the eye is surrounded by the eyewall
• eye wall - high winds and heavy rainfall
• tropical storm - prediction and monitoring

  • storms can be monitored using satellites and aircraft
  • predicting the tropical storm can help people to evacuate and protect their homes
• tropical storm - planning

  • future development can avoid high risk areas
  • governments can plan evacuation routes
  • emergency services
• tropical storm - protection

  • flood defences
  • buildings can be built to withstand storms
• uk weather hazards

  • strong winds
  • heavy rainfall
  • snow and ice
  • drought
  • thunderstorm
  • heatwaves
• climate change - evidance

  • ice and sediment cores
  • tree ring
  • pollen analysis
  • temperature records
• ice and sediment cores

  layers of ice formed over each other every year

  analysing gases trapped in the layers
• tree rings

  tree rings are thicker in warmer, wet conditions

  thickness of ring shows the climate
• pollen analysis


  pollen from plants get preserved in sediment
• temperature records

  temperatures have been measured using thermometers
• climate change - natural causes

  • orbital changes
  • volcanic activity
  • solar output
• orbital changes


  effects how much energy the earth receives - more energy more warming

  these changes may have caused the glacial and interglacial cycles of the quaternary period
• volcanic activity


  eruptions eject materials into the atmosphere

  these particles reflect the suns rays back out to space so the earths surface cools
• solar output

  the suns energy output isnt constant - changes in short cycles of 11 years

  reduced solar output - the earths climate may become cooler in some areas
• climate change - human activity

  • burning fossil fuels
  • farming
  • cement production
  • deforestation
• burning fossil fuels 


  co2 is released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned e.g oil, coal, and petrol
• farming


  farming livestock produces methane

  rice paddies contribute to global warmiong
• cement production


  cement is made from limestone which contains carbon

  produces lots of co2 releasing into the atmosphere
• mitigation strategies

  • carbon capture
  • international agreements
  • planting trees
  • energy production
• carbon capture

  designed to reduce emissions from power stations burning fossil fuels

  involves capturing carbon and transporting it to safe places so it can be stored,
• international agreements


  aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limits global warming
• planting trees


  increases the amount of co2 in the atmosphere