GCSE AQA Geography Section A: Natural Hazards

What is a natural hazard?

A natural event that threatens people or has the potential to cause damage, destruction
and death.

What is a natural disaster?

A natural event such as a flood, earthquake, or hurricane that has caused great damage or loss of life.

The Philippines is at risk of...

Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, tropical storms, floods and landslides

What are examples of natural hazards?

tropical storms, tsunamis, landslides, earthquakes, floods, volcanoes etc

What are geological hazards?

Caused by land and tectonic processes. E.g. volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides and avalanches

What are meteorological hazards?

Caused by weather and climate. E.g. heatwaves, climate change and tropical storms

What is hazard risk?

The probability that a natural hazard occurs

Factors that influence hazard risk are..

ability to cope, vulnerability, nature of natural hazards,
frequency, magnitude, urbanisation and climate change: warmer world=more energy=more natural hazards

What factors are there which impact a countries ability to cope with a natural hazard?

Preparation- HIC governments build flood defences + evacuate the population / LIC's don't resources or ability

Income- LIC's will have lower incomes, weaker houses, more damage / HIC's will have stronger houses -> less damage

what are factors that predict how bad a natural hazard is?

Predictability- some hazards are more predictable (e.g. earthquakes are less predictable than tropical storms; governments cannot prepare and evacuate)

Frequency- how often it happens

Magnitude- the size of the hazard can possibly do more damage and injury

What are the primary effects of natural disasters (immediate impacts)?

- buildings and roads are damaged
- people are injured, killed
- crops and water supplies damaged/contaminated
- electricity cables,gas pipes and communication networks damaged -> cutting off supplies

What are secondary effects of natural disasters? (aftermath impacts)

- aid and emergency vehicles cannot get through because of blocked roads/bridges- which can cause more deaths

- clean water shortage + lack of proper sanitation spreads disease

- food shortages if crops are damaged, livestock are killed are supply lines are blocked

- country's economy weakened- damage to business causes unemployment -> reconstruction process is expensive

What are the immediate responses to natural disasters?

- evacuation
- first aid
- recovering dead bodies to prevent the spread of disease
- providing temporary supplies of electricity/gas if regular supplies are damaged
- providing food,water and shelter to the homeless
- foreign governments or charities sending aid workers, supplies or financial donations

What are the long-term responses for natural disasters?

- repairing homes or rehousing people
- repairing damaged things
- reconnect broken electricity, water, gas and communication connections
- improve forecasting, monitoring and evacuation plans
- improve building regulations so buildings can withstand similar hazards
- boost economy recovery (e.g. tourism)

What is the disaster risk equation?

Risk = Hazard X Vunerability / Capacity to cope