Natural Hazards and Natural Disasters

A natural hazard is caused by humans

• True

• False

Natural hazards have the potential to cause harm.

• True

• False

A natural disaster is a hazardous event that has a dramatic effect on a community.

• True

• False

Floods can be both a natural and a ​ ​ (a)   hazard. This is because floods can result from​ (b)   hydrological processes where there is more ​ (c)   than a river system can carry, so the river breaks its ​ (d)   .

• human
• natural
• water
• banks
• hazard
• riverbanks
• floodplain

However, it is possible for floods to be a ​ (a)   ​ hazard also. This usually happens when humans build along ​ (b)   and throughout a ​ (c)   - the land beside a river.

• human
• riverbanks
• floodplain
• natural
• water
• banks

Hazards and disasters can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment. Indicate whether the following impacts would be considered as a positive or a negative impact.

Pollution ​ (a)  

Loss of Habitat ​ (b)  

Creation of new land ​ (c)  

Increased Erosion ​ (d)  

Deposition of alluvial soil on a floodplain ​ (e)  

• Negative
• Positive
• Negaitve

Match the following natural disasters to the correct details below.

• Drought

• Myanmar, 2008: at least 146 000 deaths

• Flood

• Haiti, 2010: estimated range 85 000–316 000 deaths

• Cyclone Nargis

• Darwin, 1974: 65 deaths, 10 800 buildings destroyed, $4.18 billion cost

• Earthquake

• Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria 2010–2011: 35 deaths, $5.6 billion cost

• Cyclone Tracey

• Australia-wide yet mainly in New South Wales, 2018: $12 billion cost

What three types of natural disasters occur most often in Australia?

• Tornadoes

• Floods

• Earthquakes

• Cyclones

• Bushfires

What is the location of Australia’s cyclone hazard zone?

• Tropical areas of northern Australia

• 
  South-west of Western Australia

• The hot, dry inland areas

• Temperate areas of southern Australia

Which three States or Territories are most at risk from cyclones?

• Victoria

• 
  Queensland

• 
  Western Australia

• Northern Territory