Hazards In Geographical Context Flashcards
What is a hazard?
A hazard is an event which has the potential to cause harm to the environment, people or the economy.
What is a natural hazard?
A natural hazard is an event caused by environmental processes and would occur without the presence of humans. Have the potential to cause significant impacts on humans and on the built and natural environment e.g. loss of life, property damage and psychological impacts
What is a disaster?
A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
What are the three main types of natural hazard?
Geophysical- Caused by land processes. Examples of these hazards are earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Atmospheric- caused by meteorological or climatic processes. Such as tropical storms or wildfires.
Hydrological- Caused by the movement and distribution of water. Such as floods.
