Section A: The challenge of natural hazards key terms

Natural Hazard

A natural event that has the potential to cause harm to people, property, and the environment.

Hazard Risk

The likelihood of a natural hazard causing harm, influenced by factors such as location, vulnerability, and preparedness.

Natural hazard

A natural event that has the potential to cause harm to people, property, or the environment.

Types of natural hazards

Categories of natural hazards, including geological, meteorological, hydrological, and biological hazards.

hazard risk

The likelihood of a natural hazard causing harm to people, property, and the environment.

vulnerability

The susceptibility of a community or area to the impacts of a natural hazard, influenced by factors such as location, preparedness, and resilience.

natural hazard

A natural event that has the potential to cause harm to people, property, and the environment.

risk

The likelihood of harm or damage occurring as a result of a natural hazard affecting people and property.

Plate Tectonics

The theory explaining the movement of the Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates.

Tectonic Plates

Large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries, causing geological activity.

earthquake

A sudden and violent shaking of the ground, often caused by the movement of tectonic plates.

plate margin

The boundary between two tectonic plates, where interactions can lead to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Constructive plate margin

A plate margin where two tectonic plates move apart, creating new crust through volcanic activity and leading to earthquakes as magma rises and pressure builds.

Destructive plate margin

A plate margin where two tectonic plates move toward each other, causing one plate to subduct beneath the other, producing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as the subducted material melts and rises.

Primary effects

Immediate impacts of a tectonic hazard, such as destruction of buildings and loss of life.

Secondary effects

Subsequent impacts following a tectonic hazard, including economic disruption and long-term health issues.

immediate response

Actions taken quickly after a tectonic hazard to save lives and protect property.

long-term response

Strategies implemented over time to rebuild and improve resilience after a tectonic hazard.

tectonic hazard

A natural hazard resulting from the movement of tectonic plates, leading to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other geological events.

wealth

The abundance of valuable resources or material possessions in a region, which can influence the impact and response to tectonic hazards.

tectonic hazard

A natural hazard that occurs due to the movement of tectonic plates, leading to events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

risk factors

Elements that increase the likelihood of people being affected by tectonic hazards, including population density, building structures, and preparedness.

Monitoring

The continuous observation of tectonic activity to detect changes that may indicate an impending hazard.

Prediction

The process of forecasting tectonic hazards based on data and models to prepare for potential impacts.

atmospheric circulation

The large-scale movement of air that distributes heat and moisture around the Earth, influencing weather patterns.

pressure belts

Regions of high and low atmospheric pressure that influence wind patterns and climate across the globe.

Atmospheric circulation

The large‑scale movement of air around the Earth driven by the Sun’s uneven heating, which creates pressure belts and surface winds that shape weather and climate patterns.

Pressure belts

Bands of high and low atmospheric pressure that form around the equator, subtropics, mid‑latitudes and polar regions, guiding the direction and speed of prevailing winds.

tropical storm

A tropical storm is a localized, intense low-pressure system that forms over warm tropical oceans, characterized by strong winds and heavy rain.

global distribution

Global distribution refers to the spread and occurrence of phenomena, such as tropical storms, across different regions of the world.