NATURAL HAZARDS

1
NATURAL HAZARDS

• A brief introduction to physical processes for
  Key Stage 3 Geography

2
WHAT IS A NATURAL HAZARD RISK ?

• A hazard risk is present when people live in
  places where threatening natural events take
  place
• What are the main types of NATURAL EVENT that put
  people in danger?

3
WHATS THE HAZARD RISK HERE?

• Volcanoes can kill when they explode
• Lava, pyroclastic flows, hot ash and poison gases
• People often live near volcanoes due to fertile
  soils found there
• Creating a hazard risk in populated volcanic
  areas like South Americas west coast

4
WHATS THE HAZARD RISK HERE?

• Hurricanes can kill when strong winds destroy
  buildings and blow down trees and structures
• Hurricanes often develop offshore in warm ocean
  areas
• People like to live in warm ocean areas
• Creating a hazard risk in places like the
  Caribbean and Florida

5
WHATS THE HAZARD RISK HERE?

• Floods can kill when a town or city becomes
  submerged in water, especially in very
  fast-flowing water
• People often live near rivers and coasts for
  reasons of trade and water supply
• Creating a hazard risk close to major rivers and
  along coastlines

6
WHATS THE HAZARD RISK HERE?

• Droughts can kill when water supplies are low,
  when crops fail, fires start and when
  temperatures get too high for sick and old people
• Many parts of the world experience droughts
  regularly or occasionally
• Lots of these places like the Mediterranean and
  California are densely populated
• Creating a hazard risk there

7
WHATS THE HAZARD RISK HERE?

• Earthquakes can kill when buildings collapse
• Earthquakes mostly take place close to plate
  boundaries
• Many coasts are plate boundaries and people are
  attracted to coasts
• Creating a hazard risk in cities like Tokyo and
  Los Angeles

8
WHAT OTHER HAZARDS ARE THERE?

• ANSWERS
• Avalanches
• Rockfalls
• Mudslides

• Here are some clues
• Snow
• Falling rocks
• Mud