Natural hazards

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Lesson notes

Natural Hazards vs. Natural Disasters

A **natural hazard** is a threat of a natural event (e.g., earthquake, flood) that may cause harm.
A **natural disaster** occurs when a hazard actually impacts a vulnerable community, causing significant damage or loss.
Example: The 1906 San Francisco earthquake was the hazard; the resulting destruction was the disaster.
An event only becomes a disaster if it affects a populated or vulnerable area.

Types of Natural Hazards

Geophysical hazards: earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, landslides, sinkholes.
Hydrological hazards: floods (coastal, riverine), avalanches.
Meteorological hazards: tropical cyclones, tornadoes, thunderstorms, hailstorms, ice storms, blizzards, heat waves, cold waves, drought, wildfires.
Biological hazards: pandemics, insect infestations (though less emphasized in MS-ESS3).
FEMA's National Risk Index lists 18 natural hazards including lightning, strong wind, and winter weather.

What Makes a Disaster Worse?

**Vulnerability** of a community: poor building codes, marginalization, lack of preparedness.
**Land-use planning**: building in floodplains or on unstable slopes increases risk.
**Climate change** increases frequency and intensity of extreme weather hazards (floods, heat waves, wildfires).
Developing countries often lack disaster risk reduction systems, making them more vulnerable.
Human choices (e.g., deforestation, overexploitation) can turn a hazard into a disaster.

Forecasting and Reducing Impacts

Scientists use **data** (seismic records, weather models, river gauges) to forecast hazards.
Early warning systems (e.g., tsunami buoys, storm tracking) give time to evacuate.
**Mitigation** includes building stronger structures, zoning laws, and flood barriers.
**Preparedness** involves emergency plans, drills, and public education.
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) aims to lessen vulnerability before a hazard strikes.

Critique of the Term 'Natural Disaster'

The term 'natural disaster' is misleading because disasters result from human actions/inaction, not just nature.
Hazards are inevitable, but the impact on society is not — it depends on vulnerability and preparedness.
Using 'natural' implies disasters are unavoidable, shifting blame from poor planning and policy.
Scholars argue we should say 'disaster caused by a natural hazard' to emphasize human responsibility.

Regional Vulnerability

The **Asia-Pacific** region is the most disaster-prone; a person there is 5× more likely to be affected than elsewhere.
Countries with high disaster-related health impacts include Bahamas, Haiti, Zimbabwe, and Armenia.
Wealthy nations often suffer less loss of life but high economic damage; poor nations suffer more casualties.

A hazard only becomes a disaster when it impacts a vulnerable community.

Particle arrangement in solid, liquid, and gas — used to explain how hazards like floods (liquid) or wind (gas) behave.

Refraction of light — similar to how seismic waves bend through Earth's layers, helping locate earthquakes.

Slides

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Practice questions

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1.What is the main difference between a natural hazard and a natural disaster?
Easy
- AA natural hazard is the threat of an event; a natural disaster is the actual harmful impact of that event on a community.
- BA natural hazard causes more damage than a natural disaster.
- CA natural disaster is the threat of an event; a natural hazard is the actual harmful impact.
- DThere is no difference; the terms are interchangeable.
2.Which of the following is classified as a geophysical natural hazard?
Easy
- AEarthquake
- BTropical cyclone
- CFlood
- DWildfire
3.Why do some scholars argue that the term 'natural disaster' should be abandoned?
Medium
- ABecause disasters are not caused by nature but by human failures in development and preparedness.
- BBecause all disasters are actually caused by human activities.
- CBecause natural hazards never lead to disasters.
- DBecause the term is too old-fashioned to use.
4.Which of the following is NOT an example of a natural hazard?
Easy
- ACar accident
- BAvalanche
- CDrought
- DTsunami
5.What factor most determines whether a natural hazard becomes a natural disaster?
Medium
- AThe vulnerability of the community exposed to the hazard
- BThe magnitude of the hazard alone
- CThe time of year the hazard occurs
- DThe number of people living in rural areas
6.Which of the following statements best explains why developing countries often suffer more from natural disasters than high-income countries?
Hard
- ADeveloping countries have weaker disaster risk reduction systems and more vulnerable populations.
- BDeveloping countries experience more frequent natural hazards.
- CHigh-income countries are not affected by natural hazards.
- DNatural hazards are more intense in developing countries.
7.Which of the following is an example of a natural hazard that can be worsened by human activities?
Easy
- AFlooding due to poor land-use planning
- BA meteor impact
- CA volcanic eruption caused by drilling
- DA solar flare
8.According to the National Risk Index of FEMA, how many natural hazards are included?
Medium
- A18
- B12
- C24
- D10

Revision notes

## Natural Hazards & Disasters - **Natural hazard**: a natural phenomenon that *may* have a negative effect (e.g., earthquake, flood, storm). - **Natural disaster**: the *actual harmful impact* on a community when a hazard strikes a vulnerable population. - A hazard only becomes a disaster if it affects people or property. - Damage depends on preparation, building strength, and community resilience. ### Key Examples of Natural Hazards - **Geophysical**: earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, landslides, sinkholes. - **Weather/climate**: tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, blizzards, hails, ice storms, tornadoes, dust storms. ### Important Distinction > "A natural hazard is the threat of an event that will likely have a negative impact. A natural disaster is the negative impact following an actual occurrence of natural hazard in the event that it significantly harms a community." — FEMA ### Why "Natural Disaster" Is a Misnomer - Disasters are **not purely natural**; human choices (building codes, land use, inequality, climate change) often turn a hazard into a disaster. - Poor planning, inadequate norms, and marginalization increase vulnerability. - A disaster occurs when a hazard **impacts a vulnerable community**. - Blaming nature alone can make people think disasters are unavoidable, but many can be prevented or reduced. ### Reducing Impacts - Use data to **forecast** hazards (e.g., predicting storms, monitoring volcanoes). - Improve **preparedness**: stronger buildings, early warning systems, land-use planning. - Address **vulnerability**: reduce poverty, enforce building codes, protect ecosystems. ### Key Takeaway Hazards are inevitable, but disasters are not. Our choices determine the outcome.

Natural hazard: A natural phenomenon that might have a negative effect on humans, animals, or the environment (e.g., earthquake, flood, storm).
Natural disaster: The highly harmful impact on a society or community following a natural hazard event, causing loss of life, property damage, or economic loss.
Vulnerability: The degree to which a community is at risk of harm from a hazard, influenced by factors like poverty, building quality, and preparedness.
Disaster risk reduction: Actions taken to minimize the damage caused by natural hazards, such as early warning systems, land-use planning, and building codes.

Flashcards

What is the difference between a natural hazard and a natural disaster?

A natural hazard is the threat of an event that will likely have a negative impact, while a natural disaster is the actual negative impact that significantly harms a community.

Give an example that distinguishes a natural hazard from a natural disaster.

An earthquake is a natural hazard; the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that caused widespread destruction is a natural disaster.

What factors determine how damaging a natural disaster will be?

The damage depends on how well people are prepared for disasters and how strong buildings, roads, and other structures are.

Why do some scholars argue the term 'natural disaster' should be abandoned?

Because disasters result from a combination of a natural hazard and human vulnerability; calling them 'natural' implies the damage is inevitable and out of our control, ignoring human factors like poor planning and building norms.

List three human choices that can worsen natural disasters.

Inadequate building norms, poor land-use planning, and marginalization of people.

How does climate change affect natural disasters?

Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather hazards such as floods, heat waves, wildfires, and tropical cyclones.

What is a disaster according to the definition provided?

A disaster is a serious disruption to the functioning of a community that exceeds its capacity to cope using its own resources.

What are the two broad categories of natural hazard events?

Geophysical and biological.

List five natural hazards included in FEMA's National Risk Index.

Avalanche, coastal flooding, drought, earthquake, tropical cyclone (any five from: avalanche, coastal flooding, cold wave, drought, earthquake, hail, heat wave, tropical cyclone, ice storm, landslide, lightning, riverine flooding, strong wind, tornado, tsunami, volcanic activity, wildfire, winter weather).

Why are developing countries often more vulnerable to natural disasters?

Because they often lack proper disaster risk reduction systems, have inadequate building norms, and face marginalization and inequities.

What is the relationship between a hazard and a vulnerable community in causing a disaster?

A disaster happens when a natural or human-made hazard impacts a vulnerable community; it results from the combination of the hazard and the exposure of a vulnerable society.

What does FEMA's National Risk Index include?

It includes 18 natural hazards such as avalanche, coastal flooding, cold wave, drought, earthquake, hail, heat wave, tropical cyclone, ice storm, landslide, lightning, riverine flooding, strong wind, tornado, tsunami, volcanic activity, wildfire, and winter weather.

How can human activities provoke or affect natural hazards?

Through anthropogenic processes like land-use change, drainage, and construction.

What is a natural hazard?

A natural hazard is a natural phenomenon that might have a negative effect on humans, other animals, or the environment.