Natural Hazards

Question 1

What are hazards

Answer 1

A hazard is something that’s a potential threat to human life or property
Natural hazards are caused by natural processes

Question 2

Types of natural hazards

Answer 2

Geophysical hazards(caused by land processes)-earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and tsunamis
Atmospheric hazards(caused by climatic processes)-cyclones, storms, droughts, extremes of hot or cold weather and wildfires
Hydrological hazards(caused by water movements)-floods and avalanches

Question 3

People’s perception of hazards is affected by their economic, social and cultural background for example:

Answer 3

Wealth-richer people may be able to afford to move, build their homes to withstand hazards.
Religion-some view hazards as acts of God, sent to punish people
Education-people that are more educated understand the risks of hazards, or believe they can reduce risks or mitigate impacts

Question 4

Responses to hazards-1

Answer 4

People might try to prevent a hazard or reduce its magnitude. By building flood defences, Risk sharing involves sharing the costs of reducing a hazard, the benefits of preventing it or the costs of not preventing e.g. people buy insurance to help them repair their property after a disaster.

Question 5

Responses to hazards-2

Answer 5

People might try to reduce (mitigate) the impacts of a hazard. This could be by prediction-working out when and where a hazard is likely to occur. It could also be by adaptation-eg adding earthquake-resistant features to buildings