1-A Natural Hazards

Question 1

What is the definition of a natural hazard?

Answer 1

A natural hazard is an extreme natural event or process that cause loss of life and/or extreme damage to property and creates severe disruption to human activities

Question 2

What are the types of natural hazards?

Answer 2

1) Tectonic Hazards (Earthquakes or Tsunamis; involves movement of tectonic plates)
2) Atmospheric hazards (Hurricanes)
3) Geomorphological Hazards (Flooding; occurs on Earth’s surface)
4) Biological hazards (Forest Fires; involves living organisms)

Question 3

What are the factors affecting hazard risk?

Answer 3

1. Vulnerability - more people that are in areas exposed to natural hazards, the greater the probability that they will be affected (e.g. Bangladesh on a flood plain)
2. Capacity To Cope - the better a population can cope with an extreme event, the lower the threat. (e.g. HICs can afford flood defences to combat floods)
3. Nature of Natural Hazards - type (some are greater than others); frequency (some natural hazards increase more than others); magnitude (more severe natural hazards cause greater effects)

Question 4

What is a natural disaster?

Answer 4

A natural disaster is a natural hazard that has happened