Hazards in Geographical Context (AQA A Level Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Rhiannon Molyneux
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Defining Hazards
A hazard is an event which has the potential to cause harm to the environment, people or the economy
A natural hazard is an event caused by environmental processes and would occur without the presence of humans
The term hazard is used because of the potential impact when the natural event interacts with humans
A disaster occurs when harm actually occurs to the environment, people or the economy
The UN defines a disaster as:
‘A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources’
Examiner Tips and Tricks
It is important to remember that a natural hazard is a natural event that has the potential to harm people and their property. A disaster only occurs when that potential is realised so actual harm occurs.
There are 3 main types of natural hazard:
Geophysical – caused by land processes – examples include earthquakes, volcanic activity and mass movements such as landslides and mudflows
Atmospheric – caused by meteorological or climatic processes – examples include tropical storms and wildfires
Hydrological – caused by the movement and distribution of water – examples include floods
Natural hazards have the potential to cause significant impacts on humans and on the built and natural environment e.g. loss of life, property damage and psychological impacts
The severity of the impacts depend on a number of factors such as population density of the area, magnitude of the hazard and the level of preparedness
Examiner Tips and Tricks
It is important to recognise that some hazards may be caused by a combination of processes e.g. heavy rain could lead to saturation of soil and a low-magnitude earthquake could then trigger a landslide
Perceptions of Hazards
People have different perceptions of hazards and the risks they present
Influence of Economic and Cultural Factors on Hazard Perception
Economic factors | Cultural factors |
|---|---|
Quality of housing and infrastructure is likely to be higher in wealthier areas – this may mean that people feel safer | Cultural values and beliefs may affect whether people trust scientists and government officials – this may mean they underestimate the risk |
Increased spending on preparation and prediction – this may mean that people are more aware of the risks and able to evacuate | Some cultures believe that hazards are an act of God – this may mean that they don’t want to evacuate |
More investment in education – this may mean that people understand the potential dangers and are more likely to take action to minimise risk | People who have previously experienced hazards may be more fearful – this may mean they are more prepared |
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