1. What Do We Mean By Hazards In Geographical Context?

Question 1

What is a natural hazard?

Answer 1

A perceived event that threatens both life and property

Question 2

What is a natural disaster?

Answer 2

A hazard becoming reality, leading to damage and casualties

Question 3

What is a geophysical natural hazard?

Answer 3

Driven by the earth’s own internal energy sources

Question 4

What is an atmospheric natural hazard?

Answer 4

Driven by processes at work in the atmosphere

Question 5

Examples of geophysical natural hazards

Answer 5

Plate tectonics, volcanoes, seismic activity

Question 6

Examples of atmospheric natural hazards

Answer 6

Droughts
Tropical storms

Question 7

What is a hydrological natural hazard?

Answer 7

Driven by water bodies, mainly the oceans

Question 8

Examples of hydrological natural hazards

Answer 8

Floods
Storm surges
Tsunamis

Question 9

What are some common characteristics of hazards?

Answer 9

• Origins are clear and their effects are distinctive
• Most only have a short warning time
• Exposure to the risk is involuntary
• Most damage and losses to life occur shortly after the event although effects on communities can be felt for months/years
• Scale and intensity of the event requires an emergency response

Question 10

Why do people put themselves at risk?

Answer 10

• Hazard events are unpredictable -> cannot predict frequency, magnitude, scale
• Lack of alternatives -> people cannot just uproot themselves and move
• Changing level of risk -> previously safe places may have become more at risk
• Cost-benefit -> advantages may outweigh the risks
• People’s perception of the hazard

Question 11

Reasons FOR chance of surviving a natural hazard depending on wealth

Answer 11

• People living in poverty are more likely to be living in areas in close proximity to potential hazards
• People living in poverty are less likely to be educated so lack awareness
• HICs have technology to predict and protect
• HICs have better resources to monitor
• Wealthier people may have better connnections

Question 12

Reasons AGAINST chances of surviving a natural hazard depending on wealth

Answer 12

• Some hazards are so severe, mo matter the wealth you cannot stop it
• Hazards can be too sudden
• People may become too complacent
• Levels of urbanisation -> population/ building density

Question 13

Perceptions of natural hazards: fear:

Answer 13

People feel so vulnerable to an event that they are no longer able to face living in the area and move away to regions perceived to be unaffected by the hazard

Question 14

Perceptions of natural hazards: adaptation:

Answer 14

People see that they can prepare for and therefore survive the event by prediction, prevention and/or protection, depending on the economic and technological circumstances of the area

Question 15

Perceptions of natural hazards: fatalism:

Answer 15

Some communities believe that it’s “God’s will” -> action is usually direct and concerned with safety; losses are accepted as inevitable and people remain where they are