Natural Hazards

Events that are naturally occurring and non-preventative with a negative effect on life.

Probability of a hazard occurring

The way that people view the risk caused by the hazard

The actual impact of the hazard

Earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunami

Avalanche, landslide

Locust swarm, forest fire

Floods, heatwaves, drought

• Good education

• Money available

• high quality infrastructure

• Small population

• Poor education

• Little money

• Low quality infrastructure

• Large, dense population

Warmer areas lead to more energy gained, leading to hurricanes

Some parts get wetter and more prone to flooding

Hotter areas get more droughts leading to famine

Poor people forced to live in high risk areas, leading to people building houses in dangerous areas

Some of the world’s largest cities are at risk of hazards

Densely populated areas are at greater risk

Floodplains are good for farming but are prone to flooding

• 6-8km thick

• Heavier and denser

• Newer

• Basalt

• 30-50km thick

• Lighter

• Older

• Granite

Move away from each other

Volcanoes, small earthquakes

Move towards each other

Mountains, Earthquakes, Volcanoes

Moves alongside each other

Hills, earthquakes

Ash blasted into the atmosphere

• Disrupts air transport

• Smothers farmland

• Suffocates people

Liquid magma on the Earth’s surface

• Destroys property, forests and fields

Deadly mix of rocks ash and gas surging quickly down volcano’s side

• Extremely dangerous

• Burns everything in path

• It’s scenic

• Well developed areas have good prep for minimising risk

• Good for tourism

• Many jobs for mining minerals, e.g. sulphur

• Volcanic soil is fertile

• Volcanic activity is rare

GPS satellites and other machinery detect ground deformations

Some phones have GPS receivers and accelerators built in to detect movement in the ground

Devices are used to detect radon gas that escape from cracks in the Earth’s surface

300 people died and 1500 people were injured

Up to 15000 buildings were damaged, including the hospital

Fewer applications for the University of L’Aquila

Transport was damaged due to landslides and rock falls

Temporary shelter was provided

The EU provided $550 million

No taxes were paid by residents of L’Aquila in 2010

University fees were dropped for 3 years

9000 people died and 22000 people were injured

7000 schools were destroyed

Kali Gandabi river got blocked causing floods

250 people missing from Langtang

500000 temporary shelters were set up

The UN and the WHO provided medical supplies

Buildings were constructed with safety in mind

Base camp at Mt. Everest was repaired since it is an important source of Nepal’s economy

Movement of air around the Earth in cells to balance the temperature.

Incoming solar radiation

From high pressure to low pressure

Cold air sinks - dry skies

Warm air rises - rainy

Distortion of winds on the ground caused by the Earth’s rotation

Polar, Ferrel, Hadley, Hadley, Ferrel, Polar

East Asia - typhoons

US and Caribbean - hurricanes

South Asia - cyclones

Australia - Willy-willies

From 5-30° north and south of the equator - temp are higher here so pressure is low and air rises

In the summer and autumn - sea temps are at their highest

Over warm oceans above 27°C, 60-70m deep - provides heat and moisture

Between 482-644km wide

6-8km high

As fast as 65km/h

The central part is the eye, it has no rain and light wind speeds.

It is surrounded by towering cumulonimbus clouds, has heavy rain and wind speeds of up to 320km/h

Air is heated above the ocean surface, causing warm air to rise rapidly.

More warm, moist air is drawn up, causing strong winds.

As it rises, it cools and condensed to form towering cumulonimbus clouds which make torrential rainfall.

Coriolis effect causes it to spin up around the eye to create an eye wall where it is most intense.

Cool air sinks in the eye so t is calmer and drier.

It travels across the ocean in the direction of the prevailing winds.

When it meets land, it loses power as there is no more moisture from the ocean to fuel it.

May affect areas outside of the current hazard zones as the seas will get more warmer.

It is unsure whether it will increase or decrease but the intensity will increase.

Intensity may increase due to warmer temps and higher sea levels.

6,300 people died across the Philippines, Vietnam, China, and SP Islands.

Nearly 600,000 people were displaced.

There was over 400mm rain

Raw sewage was spread by flood waters.

14 million affected, many homeless and lost income.

Cost the government at least $5.8 billion to repair and for lost earnings.

Over 1,200 evacuation sites were set up.

UK government sent shelter kits to families.

Philippines red cross delivered basic food aid.

Immunised people against diseases.

UN donated financial aid, supplied and med support.

Thousands of home are being built away from areas at risk.

TV, radio and social media will broadcast storm warnings days in advance.

Scientists use satellites to predict the track of the hurricane

Storm-proof building adaptation shelters, e.g. shutters over windows, made of strong concrete

Storm shelters

Sea walls and levees

National awareness program - activities in school and on social media

Signposts - evacuation routes and shelters are clearly marked around the city.

When weather events are significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern, and is severe or unseasonal

Weather is day to day atmospheric condition while climate is the average

Thunderstorms

Prolonged rainfall

Droughts and heatwaves

Snow and extreme cold

Strong winds

Somerset is a county in south-west England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Quantock Hills and Mendip Hills

The Somerset Levels and Moors are very flat and low-lying, with many slow-flowing rivers suffering from silt. The ground becomes easily saturated

Caused by low pressure systems as 13 storms hit the south-west in short periods of time.

Rainfall was 3x the average and was the wettest winter in 200 years.

Power supplies cut

Over 600 houses flooded

16 farms evacuated

Bristol to Taunton railway line closed at Bridgewater

Over 1000 livestock evacuated

Cost of damage was more than £10 million

Floodwaters were heavily contaminated with sewage and pollutants

Stagnant water needed reoxygenating before being pumped back into rivers

Large amounts of debris had to be cleared

Riverbank height was raised

8km of rivers have been dredged to increase capacity

£20 million Flood Action Plan launched by Somerset County Council