natural hazards

• Hazard


  An event which has the potential to cause harm to the environment, people or the economy
• Natural hazard


  An event caused by environmental processes and would occur without the presence of humans
• The term hazard is used because of the potential impact when the natural event interacts with humans
• Disaster


  When harm actually occurs to the environment, people or the economy
• A natural hazard is a natural event that has the potential to harm people and their property. A disaster only occurs when that potential is realised so actual harm occurs.
• Types of Natural Hazard

  • Tectonic
  • Geomorphological
  • Atmospheric
  • Biological
• Tectonic


  • Earthquake
  • Volcanic eruption
  • Tsunami
• Geomorphological


  • Floods
  • Landslides
• Atmospheric


  • Tropical Storms
  • Droughts
  • Tornadoes
• Biological

  • Pests
  • Diseases
• Hazard risk


  The chance that an area or population will be affected by a natural hazard
• Factors affecting hazard risk

  • Population
  • Urbanisation and population density
  • Frequency and magnitude
  • Level of development
  • Prediction
  • Human activities
• Population


  As the world population increases, more people live in areas which are vulnerable to natural hazards
• Urbanisation and population density


  Urban areas are more densely populated, increasing the numbers of people at risk
• Frequency and magnitude


  How often a hazard event occurs as well as the size and strength of the event
• 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)
• Prediction


  Some hazards such as earthquakes are impossible to predict and so people have no warning
• Human activities


  Some human activity such as deforestation and urbanisation increase the level of hazard risk