World at Risk – Key Notes (Simplified Version)
Types of Natural Hazards
• Natural hazards are events that can cause damage to human life and property. They are
divided into two types: geophysical and hydrometeorological hazards.
• Geophysical Hazards: These occur due to processes on land. Examples include
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. These hazards mostly happen near tectonic
plate boundaries where plates move and collide.
• Hydrometeorological Hazards: These are caused by weather and climate changes.
Examples include hurricanes, droughts, and floods. Unlike geophysical hazards, these can
occur almost anywhere in the world.
Plate Boundaries and Hazards
• The Earth's crust is divided into tectonic plates that move in different directions. The
interactions between these plates create various natural hazards.
• Destructive Boundaries: Plates move toward each other. The denser oceanic plate
subducts beneath the lighter continental plate, creating deep ocean trenches and explosive
volcanoes. Fold mountains like the Andes are also formed at these boundaries.
• Constructive Boundaries: Plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and cool, forming
new land. This process creates mid-ocean ridges, and evidence of this movement is seen in
sea-floor spreading.
• Conservative Boundaries: Plates slide past each other without creating or destroying land.
However, the friction causes pressure to build up, leading to earthquakes. An example is the
San Andreas Fault in California.
Geophysical Hazards – Earthquakes & Volcanoes
• Earthquakes: These occur when pressure builds up between plates and is suddenly
released. This creates seismic waves that spread through the ground, causing shaking.
• Types of Seismic Waves:
• - Primary Waves (P-Waves): The fastest waves, travel through solids and liquids.
• - Secondary Waves (S-Waves): Slower but more damaging, only travel through solids.
• - Surface Waves (Love and Rayleigh Waves): Cause the most destruction, especially near
the surface.
• Secondary Hazards from Earthquakes: Soil liquefaction (where the ground acts like a
liquid), landslides (triggered by shaking), and tsunamis (giant waves caused by underwater
earthquakes).
• Volcanoes: Volcanoes release magma, ash, and gases during eruptions. Primary hazards
include lava flows and pyroclastic flows (fast-moving clouds of hot gas and volcanic
material). Secondary hazards include lahars (mudflows) and jokulhlaups (floods caused by
melting glaciers).
Tsunamis
• Tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes that displace large amounts of water.
These waves travel quickly in deep water but grow taller near the coast, creating
destructive walls of water.
• Most vulnerable areas: Tsunamis often occur in the Pacific Ring of Fire, affecting countries
like Japan and Indonesia. Coastal communities are especially at risk.
Measuring Hazards
• Scientists use different scales to measure the strength and impact of natural hazards:
• - Moment Magnitude Scale: Measures earthquake strength on a scale from 0 to 9.
• - Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI): Rates the power of volcanic eruptions on a scale from 0
to 8.
• - Saffir-Simpson Scale: Classifies hurricanes based on wind speed, ranging from Category 1
to Category 5.
Factors Affecting Hazard Impact
• Several factors determine how severe a natural hazard's impact will be:
• Physical Factors:
• - Geology: Softer rocks are more prone to collapse and can cause landslides.
• - Location: Coastal areas are more vulnerable to tsunamis and storm surges.
• Human Factors:
• - Population Density: The more people living in an area, the higher the risk of casualties.
• - Level of Development: Wealthier countries have better infrastructure and response
systems, reducing the impact of hazards.
• - Mitigation Strategies: Engineering solutions like tsunami walls and earthquake-resistant
buildings can minimize damage.
Hydrometeorological Hazards
• Flooding: Often caused by heavy rain, snowmelt, or storms. Factors that increase flood risk
include deforestation (which reduces water absorption) and urbanization (which creates
more impermeable surfaces).
• Droughts: Occur when water demand exceeds supply, leading to crop failure, livestock
death, and rural migration. Droughts can be worsened by El Niño, which causes unusual
weather patterns worldwide.
Reducing Risk and Managing Hazards
• There are several ways to manage and reduce the risk of natural hazards:
• Prediction & Monitoring: Use technology to forecast hazards (e.g., seismic sensors for
earthquakes, satellite images for hurricanes).
• Mitigation Strategies:
• - Land-use planning: Avoid building in high-risk areas.
• - Resistant Buildings: Use stronger materials and flexible designs to withstand
earthquakes.
• - Tsunami Walls: Protect coastal areas from large waves.
• Preparedness: Educate communities, develop evacuation plans, and create early warning
systems.
• Response: Rescue operations, providing shelter, food, and medical aid.
Multiple Hazard Zones
• Some countries experience multiple hazards, making them highly vulnerable. These areas
are called multiple hazard zones.
• Example: The Philippines faces typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods.
Constant rebuilding and recovery slow down development.
• In multiple hazard zones, education and preparedness are key to reducing the impact of
these risks.
