Many calls it an earth process, but what is a natural hazard?

A natural hazard is distinguished from an

extreme event and a disaster. It is an extreme event that occurs naturally and causes harm to humans – or
to other things that we care about, though usually the focus is on humans. It is an extreme event that is
simply an unusual event; it does not necessarily cause harm, but it is note-worthy to remember that many
hazards have both natural and artificial components. There are three proclaimed parts of hazard, namely
geological, hydrometeorological, and marine and coastal hazard- Jarell.

GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS

Geological hazard is one of the main types of natural disasters. A geologic hazard is an extreme natural
event in the crust of the earth that pose a threat to life and property for example earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, tsunamis, tidal waves and landslides. These hazards consist of sudden phenomena and slow
phenomena. Sudden phenomena include Earthquakes – Liquefaction (soils), Tsunamis, Volcanic
Eruptions – Lava Flows, Ash Fall, Lahars, Landslides – Rock Falls or Slides, Debris Flows, Mud Flows,
Floods – Inundation, Erosion, Snow Avalanches, and Sand Blasting (Windblown). - Rheymar

Slow phenomena include Ground Settlement, Ground Subsidence or Collapse, Sinkholes, Erosion on

stream or shoreline. Nature is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous. Natural phenomena, which have

causes in the Earth’s interior or near the surface of the Earth, can result in natural disasters. With today’s

technology, most geologic events cannot be prevented or even predicted with any precision. Landslides

are an exception: they can often be prevented. Areas prone to such events can be identified as earthquake

fault zones, active volcanoes, and coastal areas susceptible to tsunamis. - Kirsten

Hydrometeorological hazard

Hydrometeorological hazards are caused by extreme meteorological and climate events, such as cyclones,
tornado, floods, monsoon, and drought. They account for a dominant fraction of natural hazards and occur
in all regions of the world, although the frequency and intensity of certain hazards and society’s
vulnerability to them differ between regions. Severe storms, strong winds, floods, and droughts develop at
different spatial and temporal scales, but all can become disasters that cause significant infrastructure
damage and claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually worldwide. Eunice
Oftentimes, multiple hazards can occur simultaneously or trigger cascading impacts from one extreme
weather event. For example, in addition to causing injuries, deaths, and material damage, a tropical storm
can also result in flooding and mudslides - which can disrupt water purification and sewage disposal
systems, causes overflow of toxic wastes, and increase propagation of mosquito-borne diseases. – K-ann
Marine and Coastal Hazards
Marine and coastal ecosystems include estuaries and coastal waters and lands. Within these systems are
sensitive habitats, marine sanctuaries, national parks, aquaculture, fisheries, and tourism activities.
Coastal and marine ecosystems are intimately linked to climate, at the sea floor or within sub-bottom
sediments that, if unrecognized, could result in dangerous or catastrophic events with attendant risks to
life and/or infrastructure. Coastal hazards are those natural hazards that occur at the interface between the
lake and the shoreline, inclusive of the uplands that impact the lake throughout the coastal watershed. -
Audrey
Coastal hazards refer to the risks of life and property on the coastline that are created by coastal flooding,
high winds, and waves, short- and long-term shoreline erosion, storm surges as well as tornadoes. The
risk that a natural hazard poses is considered by estimating the impact that it would have on the people,
services, facilities, and structures in a coastal community. Risk is typically defined as “probability of an
event x consequence” and the greater the frequency and/or impacts, the greater the risk. Winter storms
can produce rough lake conditions, coastal flooding, and beach erosion. Strong winter storms are also
responsible for significant land losses around the Great Lakes. – David -