Hazard in geographical context

What is a hazard?

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

What is a natural hazard?

-An event caused by environmental processes that would occur without the presence of humans

-It has the potential to cause significant impacts on humans and on the built and natural environment

-Severighty depends on population density, magnitude and preparedness

What is a disaster?

-When harm actually occurs to the environment, people or the economy

-A disaster occurs when harm actually occurs to the environment, people or the economy

• The UN defines a disaster as:

A serious disruption of the functioning of a community/society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses+impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources

What are the 3 main types of hazards?

Geographical-Caused by land processes, including earthquakes, volcanic activity and mass movement like landslides

Atmospheric-Caused by meteorological or climatic processes like tropical storms

Hydrological-Caused by the movment and distribution of water like floods

Economic factors which effect perceptions of hazards

-Quality of housing and infrastructure is likely to be higher in welathy areas so people feel more safe

-Increased spending on preperation and prediction-makes people more aware of the risks and ability to evacuate

-More investment in education-people are better able to understand the potential dangers and are able to minimise risks