Natural Hazards

Question 1

What is a natural hazard?

Answer 1

A naturally occurring event that poses risk to humans and property.

Question 2

What are the types of natural hazard?

Answer 2

1) Atmospheric hazards - caused by the weather. Eg cyclones, hurricanes, drought.

2) Geomorphological hazards - originate on the Earth’s surface. Eg volcanoes, landslides, floods.

3) Biological hazards - involve living organisms. Eg viruses, forest fires.

Question 3

What is hazard risk?

Answer 3

The probability of being affected negatively by a natural event.

Question 4

What factors affect hazard risk?

Answer 4

1) Poverty: poorer people live in higher risk places because land is cheaper.

2) Urbanisation: densely populated areas are at greater risk since more people are affected. Many also live in informal housing unfit to withstand hazards.

Question 5

What are more factors that affect hazard risk?

Answer 5

1) Farming: flood plains are fertile and are good for farming.

2) Climate change: increases the intensity, frequency and duration of natural disasters.

3) Geographical location: some places are more at risk than others, for example countries near the Pacific Ring of Fire.