A - 1 Natural Hazards

Question 1

Define natural hazard

Answer 1

A natural hazard is a natural process which could cause death, injury or disruption to humans, or destroy property and possessions.

Question 2

Define natural disaster

Answer 2

A natural disaster is a natural hazard that has actually happened.

Question 3

2 main types of hazards

Answer 3

Geological hazards, meteorological hazards

Question 4

Define geological hazard and give 4 examples

Answer 4

A geological hazard is caused by land and tectonic processes.
Examples: volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches.

Question 5

Define meteorological hazard and give 3 examples

Answer 5

Caused by weather and climate.

Examples: tropical storms, heatwaves, cold spells.

Question 6

Define hazard risk

Answer 6

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

Question 7

3 factors affecting the hazard risk

Answer 7

Vulnerability, capacity to cope, nature of natural hazards (predictability)

Question 8

How does vulnerability affect the hazard risk?

Answer 8

The more people that are in an area exposed to natural hazards, the greater the probability they will be affected by a natural hazard.

Question 9

How does the capacity to cope affect the hazard risk?

Answer 9

The better a population can cope with a hazard, the lower the risk of them being severely affected.

Question 10

How does the nature of natural hazards (predictability) affect the hazard risk?

Answer 10

• Type - the risk from some hazards is greater than others.
• Frequency - hazards that occur more often may carry a higher risk.
• Magnitude - more severe hazards tend to have greater effects.