Hazard Basics
Meet the natural hazards: what a hazard is, the three types (geophysical, atmospheric and hydrological), and the factors that decide how much of a risk a hazard really is.
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What is a natural hazard? 🌍
A **natural hazard** is a natural event that threatens people, or has the potential to cause damage, destruction or death. When a hazard actually causes serious loss of life or damage, it becomes a **natural disaster**. The same event can be a hazard in an empty place and a disaster in a crowded one.
Three types of hazard 📖
Natural hazards are grouped by the kind of process that causes them:
What changes the risk? ⚖️
The same hazard is more dangerous in some places than others. These factors push the risk up or down:
Match the type to an example 🔗
- Geophysical hazard
- Atmospheric hazard
- Hydrological hazard
- An earthquake
- A tropical storm
- A flood
Which type? 🌋
A volcanic eruption is caused by processes inside the Earth. Which type of natural hazard is it?
- Geophysical
- Atmospheric
- Hydrological
- Biological
The factors that decide the risk 📊
Five things shape the hazard risk. **Magnitude** is how powerful the event is. **Frequency** is how often it happens. **Duration** is how long it lasts. **Predictability** is how easy it is to forecast. And **human factors**, such as how many people live in the area and how developed that area is, decide how many people are exposed and how well they can cope.
Match the factor to its meaning 🔀
- Magnitude
- Frequency
- Duration
- Predictability
- How powerful the hazard is
- How often the hazard happens
- How long the hazard lasts
- How easy the hazard is to forecast
Higher risk? ✅
Select the TWO things that INCREASE the hazard risk for a community.
- A densely populated area
- A hazard that is hard to predict
- A wealthy area with strong defences
- A hazard of very low magnitude
Lowest to highest risk 🪜
An interactive activity.
Complete the summary 🧩
A natural _____ is a natural event that threatens people. Its hazard _____ is the chance that it will affect them. A hazard with a high _____ is more powerful. A hazard that is hard to _____ gives less warning. More people are at risk where the _____ density is high.
Spot the true statements 🖍️
An interactive activity.
Where is the risk higher? 🧭
An interactive activity.
Explain a hazard risk ✍️
An interactive activity.