Natural Hazards

What is a natural hazard?

A natural event that poses a risk to people property or the environment

What is a natural disaster?

A natural hazard that causes significant damage disruption or loss of life

What is hazard risk?

The probability of a natural hazard causing harm to people or property

What is vulnerability?

How likely people are to suffer harm from a hazard based on location wealth and preparation

What is resilience?

The ability of people or communities to prepare for respond to and recover from hazards

What causes earthquakes?

Movement of tectonic plates along faults

What is the focus of an earthquake?

The point within the Earth where the earthquake starts

What is the epicentre?

The point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus

What scale measures earthquake magnitude?

The Moment Magnitude Scale

What are primary effects of earthquakes?

Immediate impacts such as building collapse deaths and road damage

What are secondary effects of earthquakes?

Indirect impacts such as disease homelessness and landslides

How can earthquake impacts be reduced?

Earthquake-resistant buildings planning and education

What is a volcano?

An opening in the Earth’s crust where magma gas and ash escape

What is magma?

Molten rock below the Earth’s surface

What is lava?

Magma that reaches the Earth’s surface

What are constructive plate margins?

Where plates move apart and magma rises to form volcanoes

What are destructive plate margins?

Where plates collide and one is forced under the other causing volcanic activity

What is a pyroclastic flow?

A fast-moving current of hot gas ash and rock fragments

Why do people live near volcanoes?

Fertile soils geothermal energy tourism and minerals

What is a tropical storm?

An intense low pressure weather system that forms over warm tropical oceans

What conditions are needed for tropical storms?

Sea temperatures above 27°C warm moist air and low wind shear

What are tropical storms called in different regions?

Hurricanes cyclones and typhoons

What is a storm surge?

A rise in sea level caused by strong winds and low pressure

What are primary effects of tropical storms?

Wind damage flooding and storm surges

What are secondary effects of tropical storms?

Disease food shortages and displacement

How can tropical storm impacts be reduced?

Monitoring early warning systems evacuation and strong buildings

What is flooding?

When land that is usually dry becomes covered in water

What causes flooding?

Heavy rainfall snowmelt storm surges or river overflow

What is a flash flood?

A sudden and fast flood caused by intense rainfall

What is flood risk management?

Strategies used to reduce the impact of flooding such as barriers zoning and warning systems

What is drought?

A prolonged period of below-average rainfall

What are impacts of drought?

Water shortages crop failure famine and migration

How can drought impacts be reduced?

Water conservation irrigation and drought-resistant crops

What is a tsunami?

A large sea wave caused by underwater earthquakes volcanic eruptions or landslides

Why are LIDCs more vulnerable to hazards?

They often have lower income weaker infrastructure and limited emergency response

Why are ACs less vulnerable to hazards?

They have stronger infrastructure better planning and more effective emergency services

What is mitigation?

Actions taken to reduce the impact of hazards

What is adaptation?

Adjusting behaviour or systems to live with hazard risk

What is response?

Immediate actions during and after a disaster

What is recovery?

Long-term rebuilding and restoring normal life