Unit 1- natural hazards

Question 1

What is a natural hazard?

Answer 1

A natural process which could cause death, injury or disruptions to humans, or destroy property and possessions.

Question 2

what is a natural disaster?

Answer 2

a natural hazard that has actually happened.

Question 3

are natural events still considered as hazards if they don’t cause any threat to human activity?

Answer 3

no.

Question 4

define a geological hazard

Answer 4

they are caused by land and tectonic processes.

Question 5

define a meteorological hazard

Answer 5

they are caused by the weather and climate.

Question 6

give an example of a geological hazard

Answer 6

volcanoes and earthquakes.

Question 7

give an example of a meteorological hazard

Answer 7

tropical storms and heatwaves.

Question 8

what is a hazard risk?

Answer 8

the probability of people being affected by a hazard in a particular area.

Question 9

define vulnerability in terms of hazard risk

Answer 9

the more people in an area exposed to a natural hazard, the more likely they are to be affected by a natural hazard, and so they are more vulnerable to it.

Question 10

define capacity to cope in terms of hazard risk

Answer 10

the better a population can cope with a natural hazard, the lower the possibility that they are severely affected by the extreme event, making them of a high capacity to cope.

Question 11

Why is a tropical storm a lesser risk than an earthquake?

Answer 11

tropical storms can be predicted and monitored, giving people time to prepare and evacuate, whereas earthquakes happen very suddenly without warning, putting more people at risk.

Question 12

how does frequency affect the nature of a natural hazard?

Answer 12

if a natural hazard happens frequently, it can carry a higher risk.