1. Special thanks to J Tomlinson for contributing to this resource
What is the definition of a Natural Hazard?
A natural hazard is a natural event such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, tropical storm or flood that poses risk of death, injury or damage to people and property.
Geological Hazards – these are caused by land and tectonic processes.
Atmospheric Hazards – these are caused by changes in weather and climate.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, avalanches, mudflows and tsunamis.
Tropical storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, rain, drought and flooding.
What is Hazard Risk?
Hazard risk is the chance or probability of being affected by a natural event.
People who live close to a river may be at risk to flooding.
What is the Plate Tectonic Theory?
The Earth’s crust is split into many plates about 100km thick. There are two types of crust – dense thin oceanic crust and less dense, thick continental crust. Plates move in relation to each other due to convection currents in the mantle.
Plate Boundaries- Conservative- plates slide past each other-earthquakes
Destructive- Oceanic and Continental collide. Oceanic subducts-earthquakes, eruptions. Constructive- plates move apart- volcanoes and volcanic islands
Maule, Chile, 2010 (HIC)
27th February – Magnitude 8.8
Gorka, Nepal, 2015 (LIC)
25th April – Magnitude 7.9
Primary Effects
Secondary Effects
500 people died.
12000 people injured.
homes, 4500 schools, 56 hospitals and 53 ports destroyed.
1500km of roads damaged by landslides – remote communicates cut off
Coastal towns hit by tsunami waves.
A fire at a chemical plant near Santiago.
8841 people died.
16800 people injured.
7000 schools, 26 hospitals and Daharahara Tower (heritage site) destroyed.
3 million homeless.
Avalanche in Langstang left 250 missing.
Landslide blocked Kali Gandaki river – risk of flooding.
Immediate Responses
Long-term Responses
Emergency services arrived quickly.
Temporary repairs made to Route 5 North-South highway made in 24 hours.
Within 10 days 90% home had water and power restored.
$60 million raised.
One month later, gov. launched rehousing plan to help households.
Economy could be rebuilt based on copper exports rather than international aid.
Take up to 4 years to fully recover.
International help requested.
Helicopters rescued people on Mt. Everest.
500, 000 tents provided.
Field hospitals set up.
Free telephone calls.
Lakes and valleys cleared of landslide material to avoid flooding.
Stricter building controls enforced.
New trekking routes opened on Mt. Everest and permits extended.
$247 aid money raised.
Tropical storm formation
Warm seas will warm the air which rises, forming storm clouds. Many thunderstorms join together and the system spins. The storm forms an eye at the centre which is calm. The eyewall surrounds it and here is the heaviest rain and strongest winds. Saffir-Simspson scale 1-5 scale. Getting more hurricanes due to climate change.
What factors affect Hazard Risk?
Urbanisation – Over 50% of world’s population now live in cities. For examples Tokyo and Los Angeles are at risk from earthquakes.
Poverty – In poorer parts of the world poverty may force people to live at risk. In Caracas, Venezuela, a shortage of housing had led to people building on unstable slopes prone to floods and landslides.
Typhoon Haiyan Philippines
Primary effect killed, Tacloban city 90% destroyed.
Secondary effects- 14 million homeless, looting in Tacloban.
Immediate res evacuation centres set up, international aid.
Long-term res- rebuilding, Oxfam replaced fishing boats.
Special thanks to J Tomlinson for contributing to this resource
Distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes
Most volcanoes and earthquakes occur at the edge of plate boundaries. They are found in lines along the western side of north and south America. Volcanoes circle the Pacific ocean this is known as the “Ring of Fire”
Extreme weather UK
2003 heatwave 38.5c in Kent.
2010 heavy snow in northern England. Northern Ireland and Scotland. Castlederg -18.7c
flooding, River Thames burst its bank, wettest winter in 250 years.
Climate Change causes
Natural- Orbital changes so sometimes we are closer to the sun. Volcanic eruption and the ash blocks out the sun.
Human- Deforestation as trees take in CO2. Pollution from cars. Farming increase methane a greenhouse gas
Climate Change effects
Causes the sun’s rays to be trapped in the atmosphere and this causes an increase in temperature.
Land ice is melting which will increase sea levels by 60-70m so there will be mass flooding of coastal and low land areas.
Climate Change Mitigation
Planting trees.
Carbon capture
International agreements- Paris countries signed a deal to reduce climate change.
Managing sea rises in places like Maldives.
Reducing effects of Tropical storms
Bangladesh have built 2000 cyclone shelters on raised ground. Bikes with sirens on to warn people.

2. What is the definition of a Natural Hazard?
A natural hazard is a natural event such as an earthquake and people could die.
Geological Hazards – these are caused by the earth
Atmospheric Hazards – these are caused by changes weather
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides.
Tropical storms, hurricanes.
What is Hazard Risk?
Hazard risk is if the hazard can injure or kill people
What is the Plate Tectonic Theory?
The Earth’s crust is split into many plates about 100km thick. Oceanic crust is heavier then the continental.
Plate Boundaries- Conservative- plates slide past each other-earthquakes
Destructive- Oceanic and Continental collide. Oceanic goes down-earthquakes, eruptions. Constructive- plates move apart- volcanoes and volcanic islands
Maule, Chile, 2010 (HIC)
27th February – Magnitude 8.8
Gorka, Nepal, 2015 (LIC)
25th April – Magnitude 7.9
Primary Effects
Secondary Effects
500 people died.
12000 people injured.
1500km of roads damaged by landslides – remote communicates cut off
8841 people died.
16800 people injured. .
3 million homeless.
Avalanche in Langstang left 250 missing.
Immediate Responses
Long-term Responses
Emergency services arrived quickly.
Within 10 days 90% home had water and power restored.
One month later, gov. launched rehousing plan to help households.
International help requested.
Helicopters rescued people on Mt. Everest.
Lakes and valleys cleared of landslide material to avoid flooding.
Stricter building controls enforced.
Tropical storm formation
Warm seas will warm the air which rises, forming storm clouds. Many thunderstorms join together and the system spins. The eye is clam. The eyewall surrounds it and here is the heaviest rain and strongest winds. Saffir-Simspson scale 1-5 scale. Getting more hurricanes due to climate change.
What factors affect Hazard Risk?
Urbanisation – Over 50% of world’s population now live in cities. This means lots of people could get hurt.
Poverty – In poorer parts of the world being poor means houses are built on ground that is not safe, like steep slopes would cause landslides.
Typhoon Haiyan Philippines
Primary effect killed, Tacloban city 90% destroyed.
Secondary effects- 14 million homeless, looting in Tacloban.
Immediate res evacuation centres set up, international aid.
Long-term res- rebuilding, Oxfam replaced fishing boats.
Distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes
Most volcanoes and earthquakes occur at the edge of plate boundaries. They are found in lines.
Extreme weather UK
2003 heatwave 38.5c in Kent.
2010 heavy snow in northern England. Northern Ireland and Scotland.
flooding, River Thames burst its bank, wettest winter in 250 years.
Climate Change causes
Natural- Volcanic eruption and the ash blocks out the sun.
Human- Deforestation as trees take in CO2. Pollution from cars.
Climate Change effects
Causes the sun’s rays to be trapped in the atmosphere and this causes an increase in temperature.
Land ice is melting which will increase sea levels by 60-70m which causes flooding.
Climate Change Mitigation
Planting trees.
Carbon capture- so the CO2 is trapped and it will not pollute the air.
Reducing effects of Tropical storms
Bangladesh have built 2000 cyclone shelters on raised ground. Bikes with sirens on to warn people.