natural hazards Flashcards
what is a natural hazard and when does it become a natural disaster?
a natural hazard is is something natural that endangers people or buildings ( tsunami). a natural hazard becomes a natural disaster when it affects people and buildings in real life.
would a sandstorm in a desert with no people around be considered a natural hazard?
no people there are no people around or buildings so it doesn’t threaten or affect human life.
can natural hazards be controlled
no they are incontrollable.
what are meteorological hazards and what are some examples of them
meteorological hazards are involving the weather, climate or atmosphere
examples:
-hurricane
- bushfire
- hurricanes
what are geological hazards and what are some examples of them
geological hazards are caused by earth and its tectonic plate movement
examples:
- volcanoes
earthquakes
landslides
avalanches
what is a hazard risk
a hazard risk is the chance or probability of being impacted or negatively affected by a natural event.
what factors affect hazard risk
vulnerability - large numbers of people in an area exposed to natural hazards, the more people will be affected E.G - Bangladesh flood plains
ability to cope - better population can cope with hazard there will be a lower risk E.G - HIC can build defences as they have more money
nature of hazards - some hazards area greater threat than others E.G hurricanes can be predicted whereas earthquakes are sudden.
magnitude - earthquake
suggest two reasons why the location of towns and cities can increase their hazard risk
- near to volcanoes - subject to volcanic eruption
- near to a large water source, flooding , ocean - tsunami
- certain areas are more vulnerable to earth quakes ( San Francisco)
what are the two different types of natural hazards?
meteorological and geological
what are some primary effects of natural hazards?
4 things
- building destroyed
- people injured or killed
- crops + water supply damaged or contaminated
- communication networks - electricity which cut off supplies
what are some secondary effects of natural hazards?
5 things
- initial hazard triggering others
- aid cant get through because of blacked roads - lead to more deaths
- shortage of clean water - disease
- food shortages if crops damaged
- country economy is weakened
what are some immediate responses of natural hazards
5 things
- evacuate people
- treat injured
- recover dead bodies to prevent disease spreading
- provide food,drink + shelter to people w/o homes
- foreign governments may send aid
what are some long term responses of natural hazards
6 things
- repair homes + rehouse people who have lost homes
- repair roads,railways,buildings
- reconnected electricity
- improve evacuation + forecast plans
- improve building regulations to withstand hazards
- boost economic recovery e.g tourism
