Factors affecting impact of hazards

This is how often the hazard occurs. Larger, more devastating earthquakes are rare whereas floods can occur annually. The more often a population is affected by a hazard, the more likely they are to adapt their way of life to cope.

• Level of development

• Management

• Frequency

• Population Density

This is the size of the hazard event. The greater the force of the hazard the more likely it is the hazard will have a greater impact on people.

• Level of development

• Magnitude

• Frequency

• Population Density

The greater the number of people there are in an area, the greater the risk. A hazard which occurs in a sparsely populated area would have a lower impact than a hazard in a densely populated area.

• Level of development

• Management

• Education

• Population Density

Rock type affects the severity of a hazard. An earthquake in an area of soft rock is larger and lasts longer than one in an area of hard rock. Soft rock also makes the risk of liquefaction greater.

• Geology

• Magnitude

• Frequency

• Population Density

There are a range of factors affecting hazard risk. Choose the two correct statements.

• HICs are more likely to have poorer defences.

• The more often a hazard occurs, the better prepared a place is likely to be.

• Harder rock causes earthquakes to have a larger effect.

• The better educated a population is, the lower their hazard risk.

• Sparsely populated areas have a higher hazard risk.

Teaching the population how to prepare and respond to an earthquake can reduce the hazard risk.

• Geology

• Magnitude

• Education

• Time

The more developed a population, the more chance there is they are prepared for an eruption. Countries can be split into HICs (High-Income countries) and LICs (Low-Income Countries).

• Level of development

• Management

• Education

• Time

The time of day the hazard occurs can affect the level of risk.

• Geology

• Magnitude

• Frequency

• Time

The amount of preparation a country has in place for natural hazards can help to reduce hazard risk.

• Geology

• Management

• Education

• Time

Draw and label the elements of a thunderstorm