natural hazards

• what is a natural hazard?


  its a natural process which can cause death, injury or disruption to humans - or destroy property or possessions
• what are the two main types of natural hazards?

  Geological and meteorological.
• what are geological hazards?

  they are caused by land and tectonic processes
• what are meteorological hazards?


  they are caused by weather or climate
• what are some egs of geological hazards?


  Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunamis, and sinkholes.
• what are some egs of meteorological hazards?


  Hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, heatwaves, and thunderstorms.
• what is hazard risk?

  is the probability of people being affected by a hazard in a particular area
• what are some hazard risks?

  • vulnerability
  • capacity to cope
  • nature of natural hazards
• what are primary effect of a natural hazard?

  • buildings & roads destroyed
  • people injured or killed
  • crops and water supplies damaged or contaminated
  • cutting off supplies - electric, gas, communication
• what are secondary effects of a natural hazard?

  • initial hazard can trigger other hazards
  • aid and emergency can't get through because of blocked roads
  • shortage of clean water - easier for disease to spread
  • food shortages
• what are some immediate responses of a natural hazard?

  • evacuate
  • treat the injured
  • rescue people
  • recover dead bodies
  • temporary supplies of electricity and gas
  • provide food, drink
  • shelter homeless
  • governments may send aid workers or financial donations
• what are some long term responses of a natural hazard?

  • repair homes
  • rehouse people
  • repair roads, railways and bridges
  • reconnect broken electricity,water,gas
  • improve forecasting & evacuation plans
  • improve building regulations
  • boost economic recovery
• monitoring 


  detecting and recording physical changes and warning signs of a hazard
• planning


  having systems in place such as evacuation routes so that if a hazarderous event does occur, the population is prepared in advance
• storm surge


  a rise in sea level caused when a tropical storm pushes a large amount of sea water to shore
• Give 4 examples of tectonic hazards.

  Volcanic eruptions and ash fall

  Earthquakes

  Tsunamis

  Landslide due to tectonic activity

  Avalanches in mountainous areas
• Give two factors that affect the risk

  from natural hazards.

  • Urbanisation - densely populated areas

  are at greater risk of natural hazards

  • Level of economic develop in the area

  affected by the tectonic hazard - higher

  income countries (HICs) are better

  equipped to cope with natural hazards

  than lower income countries (LICs).

  • Geographical location - some places

  are more at risk of natural hazards

  because of where they are.