Natural Hazards

• Types of Natural Hazard

  • Tectonic
  • Geomorphological
  • Atmospheric
  • Biological
• Natural Hazards


  • Events caused by environmental processes and would occur without the presence of humans
  • Have the potential to cause harm to the environment, people or the economy
• Hazard


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


  Occurs when harm actually occurs to the environment, people or the economy
• Examples of Natural Hazards

  • Earthquake
  • Volcanic eruption
  • Landslides
  • Floods
  • Tropical Storms
  • Droughts
  • Tsunami
  • Tornadoes
  • Pests
  • Diseases
• Factors affecting Hazard Risk

  • Population
  • Urbanisation and population density
  • Frequency and magnitude
  • Level of development
  • Prediction
  • Human activities
• As the world population increases, more people live in areas which are vulnerable to natural hazards
• Urban areas are more densely populated, increasing the numbers of people at risk
• 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)
• Some hazards such as earthquakes are impossible to predict and so people have no warning
• Some human activity such as deforestation and urbanisation increase the level of hazard risk