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U2 l7 2 What Are Natural Hazards

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Unit 2 Lesson 7: What are Natural Hazards?

The Earth is a dynamic place. Within nature nothing is constant. Indeed, nature is typified by
continual changes, in some cases by predictable change or the normal sequence of cyclical events
as in seasonal weather. Much of nature, though, is unpredictable. When unpredictable natural
events become extreme in their occurrence, they may constitute a danger to humans and to the
other members of an environment. Such an event, then, defines a natural hazard.
Another way of conceptualizing natural hazard is as the coexistence of people in a natural
environment that may disrupt or threaten their safety, property, or livelihood at an unpredictable
time. There are many such natural events that, when experienced in an extreme degree, may
become a risk to the inhabitants of an environment. These include avalanche, coastal erosion,
drought, earthquake, flood, fog, frost, hail, landslide, lightning, snow, tornado, tropical cyclone,
volcano, and wind.
It is important to understand that there is a relationship between natural hazards and
disasters. In fact, the hazard may be viewed as the triggering device for the disaster to occur.
Often times the disaster is brought on by the mere presence of human settlement in an area
that perhaps should not be occupied, as in flood plains. Or the impact of human intervention in
natural processes may trigger a disaster, as in a flash flood in a deforested area.
Why are natural hazards such a universal concern? The disasters they cause kill and injure
people worldwide. They cause emotional stress and trauma. They destroy homes and
businesses, damage agriculture, and disrupt both local and national economies. Disasters
are increasing, both in number and in people affected.
Adapted from: Natural Hazards: Causes and Effects. 20 September 2012
<http://epdfiles.engr.wisc.edu/dmcweb/BB02NaturalHazardsCausesandEffects.pdf>.

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