Natural Hazards
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 1.1.1
Natural Hazards
A natural hazard is something natural that can endanger people (causing death, injuries or damage) or buildings. We call it a natural disaster when a natural hazard that 'can' endanger people & buildings 'does' happen in real life.
Out of human control
- Natural hazards are out of human control.
Different places more at risk
- Some places are likely to be hit by many natural hazards (e.g. the Philippines).
- The Philippines is at risk of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, tropical storms, floods and landslides.
Must threaten or affect human life
- If there is a sandstorm in a desert where nobody lives (an uninhabited desert), we don’t call this a hazard.
Test yourself on Natural Hazards
What do we call something natural that can endanger humans or human activity?
"Something natural that can endanger people, causing death, injuries or damage to buildings and properties."
What does this definition describe?What is the key difference between a natural hazard and a natural disaster?
Why is a sandstorm in an uninhabited desert not classed as a natural hazard?
Select the correct statement in each pair.