Natural Hazards

Summary

A natural hazard is a potentially damaging natural process; it becomes a disaster when it seriously disrupts a vulnerable society.

Core idea

Understand the system

A natural hazard is a potentially damaging natural process; it becomes a disaster when it seriously disrupts a vulnerable society.

Why and how it happens

Causes and context

A natural hazard is a potentially damaging natural process; it becomes a disaster when it seriously disrupts a vulnerable society. The governing relationship is: Hazard intensity interacts with exposure, vulnerability and capacity to produce risk and loss.

How it works

Hazard intensity interacts with exposure, vulnerability and capacity to produce risk and loss.

Key facts

• Risk is commonly framed as a function of hazard, exposure and vulnerability.
• Earthquakes, floods, cyclones and droughts differ in onset, magnitude and predictability.
• A hazard is not automatically a disaster.

Important terms

• hazard
• exposure
• vulnerability
• risk
• resilience

Examples and case studies

• A cyclone over an uninhabited coast is a hazard, but concentrated exposure and weak housing can create disaster.

Causes and components

• Key components: hazard, exposure, vulnerability.
• Hazard intensity interacts with exposure, vulnerability and capacity to produce risk and loss.

Effects and significance

• Earthquakes, floods, cyclones and droughts differ in onset, magnitude and predictability.
• A hazard is not automatically a disaster.
• Application: A cyclone over an uninhabited coast is a hazard, but concentrated exposure and weak housing can create disaster.

Geography connection

A cyclone over an uninhabited coast is a hazard, but concentrated exposure and weak housing can create disaster. This illustrates how natural hazards varies by location, scale or environmental context.

Bangladesh connection

Bangladesh's deltaic exposure to floods, cyclones, river erosion and drought is moderated by shelters, warning systems, embankments and community capacity.

BCS preliminary facts

• Risk is commonly framed as a function of hazard, exposure and vulnerability.
• Earthquakes, floods, cyclones and droughts differ in onset, magnitude and predictability.
• A hazard is not automatically a disaster.

BCS written analysis

Build an analytical answer

• A natural hazard is a potentially damaging natural process; it becomes a disaster when it seriously disrupts a vulnerable society.
• Hazard intensity interacts with exposure, vulnerability and capacity to produce risk and loss. Use a cyclone over an uninhabited coast is a hazard, but concentrated exposure and weak housing can create disaster. as a named application in a comparative answer.

Common misconceptions

• Natural does not mean impacts are unavoidable.
• Vulnerability is social and spatial, not only physical.

Quick revision

• Natural Hazards
• Risk is commonly framed as a function of hazard, exposure and vulnerability.
• Earthquakes, floods, cyclones and droughts differ in onset, magnitude and predictability.
• hazard / exposure
• Definition → process → spatial example