EARTH & LIFE SCIENCE

PERFORMANCE TASK

ADAPTATION & MITIGATION FOR

ALL NATURAL HAZARDS
Geologic Hazards
Coastal Hazards
Hydrometeorological Hazards

SUBMITTED BY:
Udarbe, Richand Famous D.
GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS:

Geological hazards or Geohazards are natural processes or phenomena that can cause
widespread damage, destruction, or loss of life and infrastructure. These hazards arise from
geological processes such as tectonic activity, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and tsunamis. They
can occur suddenly, without warning, or build up over time.Geohazards can be relatively small
features, but they can also attain huge dimensions and affect local and regional socio-economics
to a large extent.

Types of Geological Hazards:

EARTHQUAKE

VOLCANIC ERUPTION
 LANDSLIDE

SINKHOLE

How to adapt and mitigate geological hazards?

- Understand the possible geological dangers in a certain area, carry out thorough
evaluations. This involves identifying areas that are vulnerable, assessing the frequency
and severity of risks, and analyzing their effects on infrastructure, the environment, and
human populations.
- Implement zoning regulations and land-use policies that restrict development in high-risk
areas prone to geological hazards. This may involve avoiding construction on unstable
slopes, floodplains, or volcanic zones. Encourage the development of hazard-resistant
infrastructure in safer areas.
- Enforce strict building codes and construction standards to enhance the resilience of
buildings and infrastructure against geological hazards. This includes designing structures
to withstand earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and other hazards. Retrofitting
existing buildings to meet safety requirements is also important.
- Develop and deploy early warning systems that provide timely alerts about impending
geological hazards. These systems can include seismic monitoring networks for
earthquakes, volcano observatories for volcanic activity, and sensors for landslides and
tsunamis. Effective communication of warnings to the public is crucial.
- Implement sustainable land and natural resource management practices to minimize the
risk of geological hazards. This includes measures such as reforestation to reduce
landslide susceptibility, erosion control to prevent slope instability, and groundwater
management to mitigate subsidence.
- Strengthen critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, dams, and utilities to withstand
geological hazards. Consider resilient design features such as flexible foundations,
reinforced structures, and redundant systems to enhance resilience and minimize
disruption during hazard events.
- Raise awareness and educate communities about geological hazards, their potential
impacts, and ways to prepare and respond effectively. Develop community-based disaster
preparedness plans, conduct drills and exercises, and provide training in emergency
response and evacuation procedures.
COASTAL HAZARDS:

Coastal hazards refer to natural processes or events that occur along coastlines and pose
risks to human populations, infrastructure, and ecosystems. These hazards are often driven by a
combination of factors such as wave action, storm surges, sea-level rise, erosion, and coastal
geomorphology.

TYPES OF COASTAL HAZARDS:

STORM SURGES

COASTAL EROSION

TROPICAL CYCLONES &

HURRICANES
 TSUNAMIS

How to adapt and mitigate Coastal Hazards?

- Replenish eroded beaches with sand to restore coastal resilience and protect shorelines
from wave erosion.
- Implement a combination of hard structures (e.g., seawalls, groins, breakwaters) and soft
measures (e.g., dune restoration, mangrove planting) to stabilize shorelines and reduce
erosion and flooding.
- Strategically relocate or retreat from vulnerable coastal areas to safer locations, allowing
natural processes to restore coastal ecosystems and reduce risks to human settlements.
- Establish setback lines, buffer zones, and coastal development regulations to restrict
construction in hazard-prone areas and minimize exposure to coastal risks.
- Protect and restore coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs, and salt marshes,
which provide natural barriers against coastal hazards and enhance resilience.
- Develop and implement tsunami warning systems, storm surge forecasts, and coastal
monitoring networks to provide timely alerts and evacuation instructions to at-risk
communities.
- Integrate coastal hazard considerations into climate change adaptation strategies,
including measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance coastal resilience, and
prepare for future sea-level rise and extreme weather events.

HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

Hydrometeorological hazards are natural phenomena that involve the Earth's atmosphere
and water, often resulting in destructive or hazardous conditions. These hazards arise from the
interaction between meteorological (weather-related) processes and the hydrological
(water-related) cycle.
TYPES OF HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS:

FLOODING

DROUGHT

THUNDERSTORMS

How to adapt and mitigate Hydrometeorological Hazards?

- Implement land-use planning regulations, zoning ordinances, and floodplain mapping to
guide development away from flood-prone areas and minimize exposure to flood risks.
- Develop and deploy hydrological and meteorological monitoring networks, flood
forecasting models, and communication systems to provide timely warnings and
evacuation alerts to at-risk communities.
- Construct and maintain flood control structures such as levees, dams, reservoirs, retention
ponds, and drainage systems to manage floodwaters, reduce inundation, and protect
downstream areas.
- Implement sustainable land management practices, reforestation, soil conservation
measures, and wetland restoration to enhance natural water retention, infiltration, and
flood attenuation capabilities.
- Design and retrofit critical infrastructure (e.g., buildings, roads, bridges, utilities) to
withstand hydrometeorological hazards, including increased precipitation, storm
intensity, and sea-level rise associated with climate change.
- Develop drought contingency plans, water conservation measures, and alternative water
supply sources to mitigate the impacts of droughts on agriculture, industry, and municipal
water supplies.
- Enhance community preparedness, awareness, and capacity to respond to
hydrometeorological hazards through education, training, drills, and community-based
disaster risk reduction initiatives.