Natural Hazards

Natural hazard

Natural events that threaten lives, property, and other assets

Natural disasters

The very harmful impact on a society of community after a natural hazard event.

The crust

The outside layer of the Earth made of solid rock.

The mantle

The layer of the Earth which lies under the crust, made of molten or semi-molten rock called magma.

The core

Centre of the Earth made of iron and nickel. It is the hottest part of the Earth at 6000°C and can be divided into inner and outer core.

Continental plates

Plates with land on top.

Oceanic plates

Plates with ocean on top.

Plate boundary

The area where two plates meet.

Convection currents

The circular motion of magma in the mantle which causes the plates to move.

Plate tectonics

Study of plates and their movement.

Plate collision.

Plate which collide with each other and have destructive boundaries. Here the crust is destroyed.

Plates separation

Separating plates which have constructive boundaries. Here, new crust is created.

Sliding plates

Plates that slide past each other and have passive boundaries. Here, crust is neither created nor destroyed.

Earthquake

Sudden tremor or vibrations in the Earth’s crust.

Focus

Point beneath the surface where the earthquake happens.

Epicentre

Point on the surface directly above the focus where the tremors and vibrations are the strongest.

Seismic waves/Shockwaves

Vibrations caused from the Earth shaking.

Fault line

A crack in the ground caused when 2 plates slide past each other.

Plate movement

When two plates move past each other or collide with each other.

Hydrological hazards

Natural hazards associated with the occurrence, movement, and distribution of water.

Meteorological hazards

Natural hazards driven by meteorological processes, in particular those related to temperature and wind.

Geophysical hazards

Natural hazards which originate from internal earth processes