Key Terms: Natural Hazards (AQA GCSE Geography): Revision Note

Natural hazards – key term glossary

Atmospheric hazard – A type of natural hazard caused by weather or climatic conditions such as tropical storms, droughts, and tornadoes.

Biological hazard – A natural hazard caused by living organisms, such as the spread of pests or diseases.

Disaster – A hazardous event that causes actual harm to people, the environment, or the economy, as opposed to just the potential for harm.

Degg’s model – A diagram that shows how a natural event becomes a natural hazard when it affects people; the overlap between natural processes and human presence.

Development (level of) – The economic and social status of a country, which affects how well it can prepare for and respond to natural hazards. High Income Countries (HICs) tend to cope better than Low Income Countries (LICs) or Newly Emerging Economies (NEEs).

Drought – An extended period with lower-than-average rainfall, leading to water shortages and crop failure.

Earthquake – A sudden and violent shaking of the ground caused by movements within the Earth's crust or volcanic activity.

Flood – An overflow of water that covers land which is usually dry, often caused by heavy rainfall or coastal storm surges.

Geomorphological hazard – A natural hazard related to the Earth's surface processes, such as floods and landslides.

Hazard – An event with the potential to cause harm to people, property, the environment, or the economy.

Hazard risk – The chance or likelihood that people or places will be affected by a natural hazard.

Human activities – Actions such as deforestation and urbanisation that can increase the impact or frequency of natural hazards.

Landslide – The downward movement of rock, earth, or debris down a slope, often triggered by rain, earthquakes, or human activity.

Magnitude – A measure of the size or strength of a hazard event, such as the energy released by an earthquake.

Natural hazard – A natural event (e.g., earthquake, storm, flood) that has the potential to cause harm to humans or property.

Natural event – A naturally occurring physical phenomenon, which may or may not become a hazard depending on human interaction.

Prediction – The attempt to forecast when and where a natural hazard will occur, and with what impact. Some hazards, like earthquakes, are very difficult to predict.

Population density – The number of people living in a given area, with higher densities increasing vulnerability to natural hazards.

Tectonic hazard – A natural hazard caused by movement of the Earth's plates, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.

Tornado – A rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, capable of causing significant damage.

Tropical storm – A large storm system with strong winds and heavy rain that develops over warm ocean waters, also known as hurricanes or cyclones.

Tsunami – A series of powerful sea waves caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, capable of causing massive coastal destruction.

Urbanisation – The increase in the proportion of people living in cities, which can lead to more people being exposed to natural hazards.

Volcanic eruption – The release of magma, gas, and ash from a volcano, often with explosive force.