Natural Hazards
Earthquakes, volcanoes, floods and storms threaten lives and property.
About this topic
Natural hazards include tectonic events (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis), weather events (tropical storms, tornadoes, floods, droughts, heatwaves) and others like landslides and wildfires. A hazard becomes a disaster when it affects people, and impact depends on preparedness, wealth, building quality and population density. A strong earthquake in an empty desert is only a hazard, but a smaller one under a crowded city can be a disaster.
Risk can be thought of as: Risk = hazard x vulnerability divided by capacity to cope. Poorer countries often suffer more deaths, while richer ones suffer greater economic loss. For instance, the 2010 Haiti earthquake killed a vast number of people because of weak buildings and few emergency services, while a similar-sized quake in Chile the same year caused far fewer deaths thanks to strict building codes.
Responses include prediction (monitoring volcanoes, satellite storm tracking), protection (earthquake-proof building design, flood barriers), planning (evacuation routes, land-use zoning) and education, and aid after the event. Earthquakes cannot yet be predicted precisely, which is a frequent misconception. Climate change is increasing some hazards, such as heatwaves, droughts and intense storms, which makes preparation more urgent for every country.
Key ideas
- Hazard vs disaster
- Risk depends on preparation
- Poorer countries suffer more
Quick check
Use cases: where Natural Hazards helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Natural Hazards before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Natural Hazards without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Natural Hazards changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Natural Hazards in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Geography helps with city planning, climate, trade and migration.
Frequently asked questions
What is Natural Hazards?
Earthquakes, volcanoes, floods and storms threaten lives and property.
What will I learn in Natural Hazards?
Hazard vs disaster. Risk depends on preparation. Poorer countries suffer more.
Is Natural Hazards part of Geography?
Yes. It is one of 40 Geography topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Natural Hazards lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Natural Hazards?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.