Natural Hazards and Risk | Earth Science

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head>  <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="ie=edge"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <base href="https://www.visionlearning.com"> <title>Natural Hazards and Risk | Earth Science | Visionlearning</title> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288"> <meta name="description" content="Tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity are all examples of natural hazards with the potential to cause substantial damage to a community or region. However, the potential impact these hazards pose to a region or community depends on a variety of other factors. In this module, we’ll explore the difference between a hazard and a disaster and how we determine a region’s risk for a particular natural hazard."> <meta name="keywords" content="hazard, risk, vulnerability, exposure, disaster, hurricane, earthquake, tornado, volcano, tsunami, geology, hydrology"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, shrink-to-fit=no"> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="D8E20F39AD48052260032E56DE409970"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://schema.org/", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://visionlearning.com/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288" }, "name": "Natural Hazards and Risk", "headline": "Natural Hazards and Risk: Where Earth processes and society intersect", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anne E. Egger, Ph.D." }, "datePublished": "2023-09-05 15:42:23", "dateModified": "2017-02-12T08:30:00+05:00", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/img/library/moduleImages/mod-image-288.jpeg", "width": 696, "height": 464 }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Visionlearning, Inc.", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://visionlearning.com/images/logo.png", "width": 278, "height": 60 } }, "description": "Tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity are all examples of natural hazards with the potential to cause substantial damage to a community or region. However, the potential impact these hazards pose to a region or community depends on a variety of other factors. In this module, we’ll explore the difference between a hazard and a disaster and how we determine a region’s risk for a particular natural hazard.", "keywords": "hazard, risk, vulnerability, exposure, disaster, hurricane, earthquake, tornado, volcano, tsunami, geology, hydrology", "inLanguage": { "@type": "Language", "name": "English", "alternateName": "en" }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Visionlearning, Inc." }, "copyrightYear": "2023"} </script> <meta property="og:url" content="https://visionlearning.com/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288"> <meta property="og:title" content="Natural Hazards and Risk | Earth Science | Visionlearning" /> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Visionlearning"> <meta property="og:description" content="Tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity are all examples of natural hazards with the potential to cause substantial damage to a community or region. However, the potential impact these hazards pose to a region or community depends on a variety of other factors. In this module, we’ll explore the difference between a hazard and a disaster and how we determine a region’s risk for a particular natural hazard."> <meta property="og:image" content="https://visionlearning.com/images/logo.png"> <meta property="fb:admins" content="100000299664514"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/visionlearning.css">  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/visionlearning-icons.css">  <link rel="preload" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com"> <link rel="preload" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Open+Sans:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Schoolbell&display=swap"> <style> textarea.myEditor { width: 90%; height: 350px; } </style> <script type="text/x-mathjax-config" src="/js/mathjax-config.js"></script> <script id="MathJax-script" async src="/js/mathjax/tex-svg.js"></script> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9561344156007092" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> </head> 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Periodic Table of Elements II</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/the-periodic-table-of-elements-iii/297">The Periodic Table of Elements III</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/the-periodic-table-of-elements-iv/298">The Periodic Table of Elements IV</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/the-periodic-table-of-elements-v/299">The Periodic Table of Elements V</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/atomic-theory-i/50">Atomic Theory I</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/atomic-theory-ii/51">Atomic Theory II</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/atomic-theory-iii/223">Atomic Theory III</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/atomic-theory-iv/231">Atomic Theory IV</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/the-mole-and-atomic-mass/53">The Mole and Atomic Mass</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-physical-states-and-properties" data-accordion="button" 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II</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-reactions-and-changes" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-reactions-and-changes" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Reactions and Changes </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-reactions-and-changes" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-reactions-and-changes" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/chemical-reactions/54">Chemical Reactions</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/chemical-reactions-ii/278">Chemical Reactions II</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/nuclear-chemistry-i/284">Nuclear Chemistry I</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/chemistry/1/carbon-chemistry/60">Carbon Chemistry</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-earth-science" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-earth-science" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Earth Science </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-earth-science" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-earth-science" role="region"> <div class="accordion accordion--secondary"> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-plate-tectonics" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-plate-tectonics" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Plate Tectonics </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-plate-tectonics" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-plate-tectonics" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/origins-of-plate-tectonic-theory/65">Origins of Plate Tectonic Theory</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/plate-boundaries/66">Plate Boundaries</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/earth-structure/69">Earth Structure</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-earth-cycles" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-earth-cycles" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Earth Cycles </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-earth-cycles" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-earth-cycles" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-rock-cycle/128">The Rock Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-hydrologic-cycle/99">The Hydrologic Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-carbon-cycle/95">The Carbon Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-nitrogen-cycle/98">The Nitrogen Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-phosphorus-cycle/197">The Phosphorus Cycle</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-rocks-and-minerals" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-rocks-and-minerals" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Rocks and Minerals </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-rocks-and-minerals" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-rocks-and-minerals" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/defining-minerals/119">Defining Minerals</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/identifying-minerals/130">Identifying Minerals</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-silicate-minerals/140">The Silicate Minerals</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-atmosphere-and-oceans" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-atmosphere-and-oceans" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Atmosphere and Oceans </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-atmosphere-and-oceans" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-atmosphere-and-oceans" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/ocean-currents/282">Ocean Currents</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/water-in-the-atmosphere/289">Water in the Atmosphere</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/weather-fronts-and-forecasts/303">Weather, Fronts, and Forecasts</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/history-of-earths-atmosphere-i/202">History of Earth's Atmosphere I</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/history-of-earths-atmosphere-ii/203">History of Earth's Atmosphere II</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/earths-atmosphere/107">Earth's Atmosphere</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/factors-that-control-earths-temperature/234">Factors that Control Earth's Temperature</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/circulation-in-the-atmosphere/255">Circulation in the Atmosphere</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-hazards" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-hazards" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Hazards </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-hazards" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-hazards" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li class="current">Natural Hazards and Risk</li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-earth-history" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-earth-history" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Earth History </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-earth-history" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-earth-history" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/extinction/295">Extinction</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/mass-extinctions/294">Mass Extinctions</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-environmental-science" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-environmental-science" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Environmental Science </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-environmental-science" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-environmental-science" role="region"> <div class="accordion accordion--secondary"> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-ecology" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-ecology" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Ecology </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-ecology" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-ecology" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/environmental-science/61/biodiversity-i/276">Biodiversity I</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/environmental-science/61/biodiversity-ii/281">Biodiversity II</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/environmental-science/61/ecosystem-services/279">Ecosystem Services</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/environmental-science/61/population-biology/287">Population Biology</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-earth-cycles" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-earth-cycles" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Earth Cycles </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-earth-cycles" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-earth-cycles" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/environmental-science/61/the-nitrogen-cycle/98">The Nitrogen Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/environmental-science/61/the-carbon-cycle/95">The Carbon Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/environmental-science/61/the-phosphorus-cycle/197">The Phosphorus Cycle</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-scientific-research" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-scientific-research" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Scientific Research </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-scientific-research" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-scientific-research" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/environmental-science/61/collaborative-research-in-the-arctic-towards-understanding-climate-change/183">Collaborative Research in the Arctic Towards Understanding Climate Change</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/environmental-science/61/atmospheric-chemistry-research-that-changed-global-policy/211">Atmospheric Chemistry Research that Changed Global Policy</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-general-science" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-general-science" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> General Science </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-general-science" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-general-science" role="region"> <div class="accordion accordion--secondary"> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-methods" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-methods" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Methods </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-methods" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-methods" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/general-science/3/the-scientific-method/45">The Scientific Method</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-measurement" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-measurement" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Measurement </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-measurement" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-measurement" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/general-science/3/the-metric-system/47">The Metric System</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-physical-properties" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-physical-properties" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Physical Properties </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-physical-properties" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-physical-properties" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/general-science/3/temperature/48">Temperature</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/general-science/3/density-and-buoyancy/37">Density and Buoyancy</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-math-in-science" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-math-in-science" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Math in Science </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-math-in-science" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-math-in-science" role="region"> <div class="accordion accordion--secondary"> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-equations" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-equations" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Equations </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-equations" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-equations" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/math-in-science/62/unit-conversion/144">Unit Conversion</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/math-in-science/62/linear-equations/194">Linear Equations</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/math-in-science/62/exponential-equations-i/206">Exponential Equations I</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/math-in-science/62/exponential-equations-ii/210">Exponential Equations II</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/math-in-science/62/scientific-notation/250">Scientific Notation</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/math-in-science/62/measurement/257">Measurement</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-statistics" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-statistics" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Statistics </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-statistics" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-statistics" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/math-in-science/62/introduction-to-descriptive-statistics/218">Introduction to Descriptive Statistics</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/math-in-science/62/introduction-to-inferential-statistics/224">Introduction to Inferential Statistics</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/math-in-science/62/statistical-techniques/239">Statistical Techniques</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-trigonometric-functions" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-trigonometric-functions" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Trigonometric Functions </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-trigonometric-functions" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-trigonometric-functions" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/math-in-science/62/wave-mathematics/131">Wave Mathematics</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-physics" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-physics" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Physics </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-physics" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-physics" role="region"> <div class="accordion accordion--secondary"> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-light-and-optics" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-light-and-optics" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Light and Optics </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-light-and-optics" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-light-and-optics" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/physics/24/the-nature-of-light/132">The Nature of Light</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/physics/24/electromagnetism-and-light/138">Electromagnetism and Light</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-mechanics" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-mechanics" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Mechanics </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-mechanics" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-mechanics" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/physics/24/defining-energy/199">Defining Energy</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/physics/24/waves-and-wave-motion/102">Waves and Wave Motion</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/physics/24/gravity/118">Gravity</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/physics/24/thermodynamics-i/200">Thermodynamics I</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-process-of-science" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-process-of-science" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Process of Science </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-process-of-science" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-process-of-science" role="region"> <div class="accordion accordion--secondary"> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-introduction" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-introduction" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Introduction </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-introduction" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-introduction" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/the-process-of-science/176">The Process of Science</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-the-culture-of-science" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-the-culture-of-science" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> The Culture of Science </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-the-culture-of-science" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-the-culture-of-science" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/the-nature-of-scientific-knowledge/185">The Nature of Scientific Knowledge</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/scientists-and-the-scientific-community/172">Scientists and the Scientific Community</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/scientific-ethics/161">Scientific Ethics</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/scientific-institutions-and-societies/162">Scientific Institutions and Societies</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-ideas-in-science" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-ideas-in-science" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Ideas in Science </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-ideas-in-science" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-ideas-in-science" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/theories-hypotheses-and-laws/177">Theories, Hypotheses, and Laws</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/scientific-controversy/181">Scientific Controversy</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/creativity-in-science/182">Creativity in Science</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-research-methods" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-research-methods" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Research Methods </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-research-methods" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-research-methods" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/the-practice-of-science/148">The Practice of Science</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/experimentation-in-scientific-research/150">Experimentation in Scientific Research</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/description-in-scientific-research/151">Description in Scientific Research</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/comparison-in-scientific-research/152">Comparison in Scientific Research</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/modeling-in-scientific-research/153">Modeling in Scientific Research</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-data" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-data" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Data </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-data" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-data" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/data-analysis-and-interpretation/154">Data Analysis and Interpretation</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/uncertainty-error-and-confidence/157">Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/statistics-in-science/155">Statistics in Science</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/using-graphs-and-visual-data-in-science/156">Using Graphs and Visual Data in Science</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-scientific-communication" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-scientific-communication" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Scientific Communication </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-scientific-communication" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-scientific-communication" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/understanding-scientific-journals-and-articles/158">Understanding Scientific Journals and Articles</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/utilizing-the-scientific-literature/173">Utilizing the Scientific Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/peer-review-in-scientific-publishing/159">Peer Review in Scientific Publishing</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/process-of-science/49/the-how-and-why-of-scientific-meetings/186">The How and Why of Scientific Meetings</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-scientists-and-research" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-scientists-and-research" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Scientists and Research </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-scientists-and-research" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-scientists-and-research" role="region"> <div class="accordion accordion--secondary"> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-scientific-research" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-scientific-research" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Scientific Research </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-scientific-research" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-scientific-research" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/collaborative-research-in-the-arctic-towards-understanding-climate-change/183">Collaborative Research in the Arctic Towards Understanding Climate Change</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/from-stable-chromosomes-to-jumping-genes/184">From Stable Chromosomes to Jumping Genes</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/an-elegant-experiment-to-test-the-process-of-dna-replication/187">An Elegant Experiment to Test the Process of DNA Replication</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/the-founding-of-neuroscience/233">The Founding of Neuroscience</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/tracking-endangered-jaguars-across-the-border/189">Tracking Endangered Jaguars across the Border</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/atmospheric-chemistry-research-that-changed-global-policy/211">Atmospheric Chemistry Research that Changed Global Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/revolutionizing-medicine-with-monoclonal-antibodies/220">Revolutionizing Medicine with Monoclonal Antibodies</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/uncovering-the-mysteries-of-chronic-mountain-sickness/238">Uncovering the Mysteries of Chronic Mountain Sickness</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-profiles-in-science" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-profiles-in-science" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Profiles in Science </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-profiles-in-science" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-profiles-in-science" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/luis-e.-miramontes/232">Luis E. Miramontes</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/bernardo-houssay/237">Bernardo Houssay</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/craig-lee/256">Craig Lee</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/david-ho/241">David Ho</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/louis-tompkins-wright/244">Louis Tompkins Wright</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/carlos-j.-finlay/217">Carlos J. Finlay</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/cecilia-payne/290">Cecilia Payne</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/jazmin-scarlett/291">Jazmin Scarlett</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/ramari-stewart/292">Ramari Stewart</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/johnson-cerda/300">Johnson Cerda</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/ellen-ochoa/201">Ellen Ochoa</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/ruth-benerito/205">Ruth Benerito</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/franklin-chang-díaz/219">Franklin Chang Díaz</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/percy-lavon-julian/221">Percy Lavon Julian</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/luis-walter-alvarez/229">Luis Walter Alvarez</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/scientists-and-research/58/france-anne-dominic-córdova/230">France Anne-Dominic Córdova</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li>  <button class="button" data-toggle="dropdown">Earth Science </button> <div class="nav__dropdown box-shadow-1 padding-1"> <div class="accordion accordion--secondary font-size-sm"> <div class="accordion accordion--secondary"> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-sub-button-plate-tectonics" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-sub-panel-plate-tectonics" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Plate Tectonics </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-sub-panel-plate-tectonics" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-sub-button-plate-tectonics" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/origins-of-plate-tectonic-theory/65">Origins of Plate Tectonic Theory</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/plate-boundaries/66">Plate Boundaries</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/earth-structure/69">Earth Structure</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-sub-button-earth-cycles" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-sub-panel-earth-cycles" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Earth Cycles </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-sub-panel-earth-cycles" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-sub-button-earth-cycles" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-rock-cycle/128">The Rock Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-hydrologic-cycle/99">The Hydrologic Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-carbon-cycle/95">The Carbon Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-nitrogen-cycle/98">The Nitrogen Cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-phosphorus-cycle/197">The Phosphorus Cycle</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-sub-button-rocks-and-minerals" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-sub-panel-rocks-and-minerals" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Rocks and Minerals </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-sub-panel-rocks-and-minerals" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-sub-button-rocks-and-minerals" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/defining-minerals/119">Defining Minerals</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/identifying-minerals/130">Identifying Minerals</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/the-silicate-minerals/140">The Silicate Minerals</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-sub-button-atmosphere-and-oceans" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-sub-panel-atmosphere-and-oceans" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Atmosphere and Oceans </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-sub-panel-atmosphere-and-oceans" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-sub-button-atmosphere-and-oceans" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/ocean-currents/282">Ocean Currents</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/water-in-the-atmosphere/289">Water in the Atmosphere</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/weather-fronts-and-forecasts/303">Weather, Fronts, and Forecasts</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/history-of-earths-atmosphere-i/202">History of Earth's Atmosphere I</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/history-of-earths-atmosphere-ii/203">History of Earth's Atmosphere II</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/earths-atmosphere/107">Earth's Atmosphere</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/factors-that-control-earths-temperature/234">Factors that Control Earth's Temperature</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/circulation-in-the-atmosphere/255">Circulation in the Atmosphere</a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-sub-button-hazards" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-sub-panel-hazards" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Hazards </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-sub-panel-hazards" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-sub-button-hazards" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li class="current">Natural Hazards and Risk</li> </ul> </div> <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-sub-button-earth-history" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-sub-panel-earth-history" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="accordion__button__label"> Earth History </span> </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-sub-panel-earth-history" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-sub-button-earth-history" role="region"> <ul class="nav text-color-link"> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/extinction/295">Extinction</a></li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/mass-extinctions/294">Mass Extinctions</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </nav>  <div id="theTop"></div> <main id="skip-header-content"> <div class="margin-bottom-5"> <article class="container wide module"> <header class="grid grid--sidebar-right module__header"> <div class="module__header__title"> <span class="subcategory"> <strong><em>Hazards</em></strong> </span> <h1>Natural Hazards and Risk: <sub><em>Where Earth processes and society intersect</em></sub></h1> <p class="byline">by Anne E. Egger, Ph.D.</p> <nav class="module__header__tabs"> <ul class="tabs-nav tabs-nav--horizontal library"> <li> <a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288/reading" aria-current="page" >Reading</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288/quiz">Quiz</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288/resources">Teach with this</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </header> <hr class="divider"/>   <div class="grid grid--sidebar-right grid--divider"> <div class="order-2 order-1--lg module__main"> <div class="narrow margin-x-auto margin-y-5"> <div class="accordion margin-bottom-5">  <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-key-concepts" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-key-concepts" aria-expanded="true" tabindex="0"> Did you know? </button> <div class="accordion__panel shown show" id="acc-panel-key-concepts" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-key-concepts" role="region"> <div class="accordion__panel__content"> <p>Did you know Japan is home to over 100 active volcanoes and experiences thousands of earthquakes annually? Despite this, Japan is ranked 28th regarding risk from natural hazards by the 2022 World Risk Report. The United States is ranked 18th, while countries like Mexico and Myanmar populate the top ten. So why is Japan so far down the list? It’s due to a host of other factors. Let’s find out!</p> </div> </div>  <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-table-of-contents" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-table-of-contents" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="0"> Key concepts </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-table-of-contents" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-table-of-contents" role="region" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="accordion__panel__content"> <ul class="bulleted"> <li><p>Natural hazards have impacted humans and society throughout history.</p></li> <li><p>The risk that communities face from natural hazards depends on the type of hazard, their exposure to it, and vulnerabilities that can exacerbate negative impacts.</p></li> <li><p>Scientists collect data about the frequency and magnitude of natural hazards to develop models and predict the likelihood of events that damage communities.</p></li> <li><p>Communities and individuals can reduce the risks they face from natural hazards by reducing their exposure and vulnerabilities.</p></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <button class="accordion__button" id="acc-button-terms-you-should-know" data-accordion="button" aria-controls="acc-panel-terms-you-should-know" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="0"> Terms you should know </button> <div class="accordion__panel" id="acc-panel-terms-you-should-know" data-accordion="panel" aria-labelledby="acc-button-terms-you-should-know" role="region" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="accordion__panel__content"> <dl> <dt>geology </dt> <dd> the study of Earth’s physical structure and substance </dd> <dt>hydrology </dt> <dd> the study of Earth’s water and its movement </dd> <dt>tectonic </dt> <dd> relating to the structure of the Earth’s crust and the formations in it </dd> <dt><a href="/en/glossary/view/magnitude">magnitude </a></dt> <dd> a number assigned to a quantity and refers to the size or extent of something; in geology, it can indicate the size of an earthquake </dd> <dt>seismic </dt> <dd> vibrations of Earth and its crust caused by earthquakes or artificially through explosions</dd> </dl> </div> </div> </div> <hr class="border-color-dark" /> <section> <div class="container narrow"> <section id="toc_1" class=""> <h2>Introduction</h2> <p>Think about the place where you live. What comes to mind? You might think about the physical space, the people you live with, how much you pay to live there, or what is close by. Now think about the place you live differently: what would happen if there were an <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquake</mark> nearby, or a flood, or a wildfire? Do you know how often things like earthquakes, floods, and wildfires occur where you live? Would you know what to do if something like that happened?</p> <p>Earthquakes, floods, and wildfires are all examples of natural hazards: phenomena in the Earth <mark class="term" data-term="system" data-term-def="A group of interacting, interrelated or interdependent components that form a complex whole. The size of the system is defined for&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/system/3904">system</mark> with the potential to impact individuals, communities, and <mark class="term" data-term="society" data-term-def="A group of people who belong to an organization that has been formed because of shared interest in a specific field." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/society/8249">society</mark> as a whole. Natural hazards include:</p><ul class="bulleted"> <li>Weather-related phenomena, like severe storms and tornadoes</li> <li>Geological phenomena, like <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquakes</mark> and volcanic activity</li> <li>Hydrological phenomena, like floods and drought</li> </ul><p>Learning more about the <mark class="term" data-term="frequency" data-term-def="The rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave, either in a material or in an electromagnetic field, usually&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/frequency/2210">frequency</mark> and potential severity of natural hazards in a particular region can help reduce catastrophic impacts on humans, because knowing what <strong>can</strong> happen allows individuals, communities, and societies to prepare. When we are prepared for hazards, we are more resilient and better able to recover from any impacts they have.</p> <p><mark id="ngss-583" class="ngss">Now, think again about where you live. The chance that you will experience any particular natural hazard is based on the region’s <mark class="term" data-term="climate" data-term-def="Climate describes the average and patterns of a particular area’s weather over time. Climate includes such elements as temperature, precipitation, humidity,&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/climate/9334">climate</mark> and tectonic setting (the proximity to faults and volcanoes), as well as more localized geology and topography. However, the risk that natural hazards pose to you and your community is based on more than these physical factors. Calculating the risk you face involves understanding the hazard, your exposure to it, and any vulnerabilities that might worsen the impacts of the hazard and make it difficult for you and your community to adapt or recover.</mark></p></section> <section id="toc_2"> <h2>The relationship between hazard and risk</h2><p>Every year on September 1, schools and local governments across Japan conduct emergency drills. Students practice dropping to the floor, getting under cover, and holding on when <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquake</mark> shaking begins (see Figure 1). They also learn how to use a fire extinguisher to put out fires that can start in the aftermath of an earthquake. Government agencies conduct elaborate drills to practice responding to an event, including setting up emergency headquarters and planning responses to major damage in cities like their capital, Tokyo. Why September 1? September 1 is Disaster Prevention Day, established by the Japanese government in 1960 to commemorate the date of the Great Kanto Earthquake, a <mark class="term" data-term="magnitude" data-term-def="Magnitude is a number assigned to a quantity and refers to the size or extent of something. There are several differing&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/magnitude/11226">magnitude</mark> 7.9 or greater earthquake that occurred in 1923 and devastated the cities of Tokyo and Yokohama. September 1 is also when children return to school after a summer break, providing an opportunity to reach all school-aged children, and is during peak typhoon season, which brings powerful storms and flooding to the islands. All of these reasons make September 1 a good date to commemorate.</p> <div class="figure"> <figure> <button class="lightbox-button lightbox-button--icon" data-lightbox="" data-lightbox-src="/img/library/large_images/image_12944.png"> <img src="/img/library/modules/mid288/Image/VLObject12944-23082803081034.png" alt="Figure 1: Elementary students during an earthquake drill in Japan." /> </button> <figcaption> <p><strong>Figure 1:</strong> Elementary students during an earthquake drill in Japan.</p> <span class="credit">image ©<a href="http://telegraph.co.uk"> CC BY 3.0 telegraph.co.uk</a> </span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>Japan’s annual preparedness reminder to individuals, organizations, and governments is more than a commemoration, however. In addition, it is an important safety strategy for the country. Japan is located on a <mark class="term" data-term="subduction" data-term-def="The process by which one tectonic plate moves beneath another." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/subduction/871">subduction</mark> zone where the Pacific plate is descending beneath the island nation. As a result, the country hosts 111 active volcanoes and experiences thousands of <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquakes</mark> a year, a handful of which are large enough to cause damage.</p> <p>These local earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can generate tsunamis that inundate Japan’s coast. Because of its location on the western margin of the Pacific Ocean, Japan also receives tsunamis generated by earthquakes from as far away as South America. It is also prone to typhoons (the name for <mark class="term" data-term="hurricane" data-term-def="Also called tropical cyclone; "hurricane" is the name used more commonly for tropical cyclones in the northern Atlantic Ocean basin and&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/hurricane/5216">hurricanes</mark> that form in the northwest Pacific Ocean) that gather strength as they travel across the ocean. The mountainous terrain, combined with the potential for heavy rain and snowfall, <mark class="term" data-term="mean" data-term-def="In statistics, mean commonly refers to the arithmetic mean, also called the average, which is one measure of the mid-point of&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/mean/4221">means</mark> that landslides and avalanches are also common occurrences.</p> <p>In other words, Japan’s <mark class="term" data-term="population" data-term-def="In biology, the population is all individuals of a certain kind of plant or animal that live in a particular habitat.&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/population/8283">population</mark> of 125 million people is exposed to a wide range of potentially devastating natural hazards. And yet, in the 2022 World Risk Report, Japan ranks relatively low in the world in terms of risk from natural hazards: 28th. The Philippines tops the list, with countries as diverse as Mexico, Myanmar, and Madagascar in the top ten (the United States is ranked 18th). Why is this the case? What makes the people of the Philippines so much more vulnerable to the impacts of an earthquake or volcanic eruption than Japan, which experiences more of both?</p> <p>To answer this question, we need to define several terms—hazard, exposure, vulnerability, risk, and disaster—and how they are quantified and related to each other.</p> <div class="comprehension-checkpoint margin-y-4"> <h6 class="comprehension-checkpoint__header"> <span> <span class="icon icon-question"></span> </span> Comprehension Checkpoint </h6> <form class="" name="cc12946"> <div class="form-entry"> <div class="form-entry__field"> <span class="form-entry__field__label">The risk a hazard poses is based solely on a region’s physical factors. </span> <div class="form-entry__option"> <div class="form-entry__option__radio" data-answer="incorrect"> <label> <input id="q1-12946-0-option-a" name="quiz-option-12946" type="radio" value="True" > <span class="option__label"> <span class="screen-reader-only">a.</span> True </span> </label> <span class="quiz__response" id="response-12946-0"> <strong>Incorrect.</strong> </span> </div> <div class="form-entry__option__radio" data-answer="correct"> <label> <input id="q1-12946-1-option-b" name="quiz-option-12946" type="radio" value="False" > <span class="option__label"> <span class="screen-reader-only">b.</span> False </span> </label> <span class="quiz__response" id="response-12946-1"> <strong>Correct!</strong> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </section> <section id="toc2_1"><h3>Hazard</h3><p>A hazard is a natural <mark class="term" data-term="process" data-term-def="Method, procedure; series of actions or steps." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/process/8256">process</mark> or phenomenon that can produce damaging impacts on a community and <mark class="term" data-term="society" data-term-def="A group of people who belong to an organization that has been formed because of shared interest in a specific field." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/society/8249">society</mark>. Natural hazards include ground shaking and tsunami from <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquakes</mark>, ashfall and lava flows from volcanic eruptions, inundation from river and coastal flooding, heavy rains and high winds in <mark class="term" data-term="hurricane" data-term-def="Also called tropical cyclone; "hurricane" is the name used more commonly for tropical cyclones in the northern Atlantic Ocean basin and&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/hurricane/5216">hurricanes</mark>, and more.</p> <p><mark id="ngss-584" class="ngss">Scientists collect <mark class="term" data-term="data" data-term-def="(plural form of <b>datum</b>) A collection of pieces of information, generally taking the form of numbers, text, bits, or facts, that&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/data/3729">data</mark> on the <mark class="term" data-term="frequency" data-term-def="The rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave, either in a material or in an electromagnetic field, usually&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/frequency/2210">frequency</mark>, <mark class="term" data-term="magnitude" data-term-def="Magnitude is a number assigned to a quantity and refers to the size or extent of something. There are several differing&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/magnitude/11226">magnitude</mark>, and characteristics of natural hazards in a particular area to make predictions about the likelihood of their occurrence in the future. Those data are often presented on maps for use by other scientists and the general public. For example, in Japan, hazard maps for about 75 of the 111 active volcanoes show where lava is likely to flow and how thick the ashfall would be from a large eruption. The maps are based on scientists’ knowledge of previous eruptions and the <mark class="term" data-term="prevailing wind" data-term-def="a wind from the direction that is strongest at a particular place or season" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/prevailing+wind/12617">prevailing wind</mark> direction.</mark> A hazard map for Mt. Fuji is shown in Figure 2.</p> <div class="figure"> <figure> <button class="lightbox-button lightbox-button--icon" data-lightbox="" data-lightbox-src="/img/library/large_images/image_12949.jpeg"> <img src="/img/library/modules/mid288/Image/VLObject12949-23082803081552.jpeg" alt="Figure 2: Volcanic hazards map and information brochure for Mt. Fuji, Japan." /> </button> <figcaption> <p><strong><strong>Figure 2:</strong> </strong>Volcanic hazards map and information brochure for Mt. Fuji, Japan.</p> <span class="credit">image ©Used under the Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use (Ver.2.0).</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <p><mark id="ngss-585" class="ngss">In the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) produces seismic hazard maps that show the likelihood of severe ground shaking based on the distribution and <mark class="term" data-term="magnitude" data-term-def="Magnitude is a number assigned to a quantity and refers to the size or extent of something. There are several differing&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/magnitude/11226">magnitude</mark> of past <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquakes</mark> and the underlying geology. Similarly, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces flood hazard maps based on topography (the elevation of the land) and the <mark class="term" data-term="probability" data-term-def="The likelihood that a given event will occur. In statistics, probability is often expressed as a ratio of the number of&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/probability/3913">probability</mark> of high streamflow (the <mark class="term" data-term="volume" data-term-def="The amount of space taken up by matter, commonly expressed in cubic centimeters (cm<sup>3</sup>) or milliliters (ml)." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/volume/8515">volume</mark> of water carried by a stream). The more we learn about the characteristics, <mark class="term" data-term="frequency" data-term-def="The rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave, either in a material or in an electromagnetic field, usually&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/frequency/2210">frequency</mark>, and magnitude of all these events through careful <mark class="term" data-term="observation" data-term-def="1. The act of noticing something. 2. A record of that which has been noticed." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/observation/8255">observations</mark>, the more we can make accurate maps and predictions to help communities prepare.</mark></p></section> <section id="toc2_2"><h3>Exposure</h3><p><mark id="ngss-586" class="ngss">Hazard maps show the likelihood of a particular hazard occurring in an area. But we also need to know what else is in those areas—in other words, what is exposed to the hazard. Exposure is determined by quantifying the <mark class="term" data-term="value" data-term-def="A number that is assigned based on measurement or a calculation. In mathematics, an unknown value that is commonly represented by&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/value/8254">value</mark> of the people, <mark class="term" data-term="property" data-term-def="A characteristic or attribute." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/property/8555">property</mark>, infrastructure, and <mark class="term" data-term="ecosystem" data-term-def="The complex of a community of organisms and its environment, functioning as a unit." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/ecosystem/2174">ecosystems</mark> that could experience damaging impacts from a particular hazard.</mark></p> <p>For example, many of Japan’s volcanoes that lack hazard maps are on remote islands with no inhabitants; therefore, there is no exposure. In contrast, Japan’s exposure to large <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquakes</mark> is very high: Tokyo is a densely populated world business capital filled with skyscrapers, bullet trains, schools, hospitals, and home to nearly 14 million people (see photo in Figure 3). The city is very likely to experience damaging impacts from earthquakes that occur on a long portion of the <mark class="term" data-term="subduction" data-term-def="The process by which one tectonic plate moves beneath another." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/subduction/871">subduction</mark> zone. The buildings and people are exposed not only to the shaking, but also to the potential tsunami that an earthquake could generate.</p> <div class="figure"> <figure> <button class="lightbox-button lightbox-button--icon" data-lightbox="" data-lightbox-src="/img/library/large_images/image_12953.jpg"> <img src="/img/library/modules/mid288/Image/VLObject12953-23082803081909.jpeg" alt="Figure 3: Apartment buildings in Tokyo on the harbor." /> </button> <figcaption> <p><strong>Figure 3:</strong> Apartment buildings in Tokyo on the harbor.</p> <span class="credit">image ©CC0 1.0</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>We often describe exposure in numbers: the estimated cost to repair or rebuild collapsed buildings and bridges; the number of people living in a given area. As the world’s <mark class="term" data-term="population" data-term-def="In biology, the population is all individuals of a certain kind of plant or animal that live in a particular habitat.&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/population/8283">population</mark> has grown and countries have become more developed over time, our collective exposure to hazards has increased because there are more of us building more things. Communities can reduce their exposure to particular hazards by using hazard maps and other <mark class="term" data-term="data" data-term-def="(plural form of <b>datum</b>) A collection of pieces of information, generally taking the form of numbers, text, bits, or facts, that&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/data/3729">data</mark> to decide where to allow residential and commercial building.</p> <div class="comprehension-checkpoint margin-y-4"> <h6 class="comprehension-checkpoint__header"> <span> <span class="icon icon-question"></span> </span> Comprehension Checkpoint </h6> <form class="" name="cc12955"> <div class="form-entry"> <div class="form-entry__field"> <span class="form-entry__field__label">A volcano on a remote island with no inhabitants is a hazard with __________.</span> <div class="form-entry__option"> <div class="form-entry__option__radio" data-answer="correct"> <label> <input id="q1-12955-0-option-a" name="quiz-option-12955" type="radio" value="very low exposure" > <span class="option__label"> <span class="screen-reader-only">a.</span> very low exposure </span> </label> <span class="quiz__response" id="response-12955-0"> <strong>Correct!</strong> </span> </div> <div class="form-entry__option__radio" data-answer="incorrect"> <label> <input id="q1-12955-1-option-b" name="quiz-option-12955" type="radio" value="very high exposure" > <span class="option__label"> <span class="screen-reader-only">b.</span> very high exposure </span> </label> <span class="quiz__response" id="response-12955-1"> <strong>Incorrect.</strong> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </section> <section id="toc2_3"><h3>Vulnerability</h3><p>Many communities are exposed to natural hazards around the world. Yet those communities may experience different short- and long-term effects, even from the same hazard. That is because not every <mark class="term" data-term="group" data-term-def="A column of elements in the periodic table." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/group/8566">group</mark> is equally vulnerable to the damaging impacts of a hazard. Vulnerability describes the potential for harm and disruption to a community from a particular hazard.</p> <p><mark id="ngss-587" class="ngss">Physical, economic, political, and social factors influence a community’s vulnerability, to potential for harm. Physical factors, like construction quality and building codes, determine the extent to which buildings (and the people inside them) are damaged or destroyed. Economic and political factors, like the influence of a community on policies, their financial ability to implement them, and access to technology like smartphones, determine whether evacuation routes for major storms are identified, maintained, and made visible. And social factors, like the connections within a community and language diversity, can determine the extent to which individuals learn about the potential risk and how to prepare in the event of an emergency. All these factors influence the short-term impact of a hazard on a community and how much time it takes to recover in the long-term.</mark></p> <p>Reducing vulnerability to particular hazards may require legislation, such as passing and enforcing building codes for <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquake</mark> safety—Japan is the world leader in this particular area—and this varies from country to country (and state to state within countries) depending on the will of the people. In addition, reducing vulnerability often requires the recognition of systemic inequities that make some groups more vulnerable due to their socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, or immigration status, among other things. In the United States, the <mark class="term" data-term="Environmental Protection Agency" data-term-def="An independent federal agency of the United States government established to coordinate programs to reduce pollution and protect the environment." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/Environmental+Protection+Agency/3900">Environmental Protection Agency</mark> (EPA) has combined census <mark class="term" data-term="data" data-term-def="(plural form of <b>datum</b>) A collection of pieces of information, generally taking the form of numbers, text, bits, or facts, that&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/data/3729">data</mark> with hazard maps and other <mark class="term" data-term="dataset" data-term-def="A collection of measurements and observations that can be analyzed." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/dataset/8290">datasets</mark> in their Environmental Justice Mapper to allow communities to identify vulnerable <mark class="term" data-term="population" data-term-def="In biology, the population is all individuals of a certain kind of plant or animal that live in a particular habitat.&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/population/8283">populations</mark> and areas.</p></section> <section id="toc2_4"><h3>Risk</h3><p><mark id="ngss-588" class="ngss">The risk that a community or country faces is determined by combining the characteristics of the hazard, the exposure to that hazard, and the community’s vulnerability.</mark> If there is no hazard (no active volcanoes, for example, or no possibility for coastal flooding for an inland community), there is no risk. But if a hazard is present, the risk varies based on the hazard’s characteristics and the community’s assets and preparedness.</p> <p>For example, a country like Japan experiences frequent, large <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquakes</mark> that produce severe ground-shaking, especially in parts of Tokyo where the ground consists of unconsolidated <mark class="term" data-term="sediment" data-term-def="Loose, unconsolidated material of the following compositions: <br> 1. rock fragments (also called clasts) transported by wind, moving water,&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/sediment/3310">sediments</mark> that amplify shaking (that’s the hazard). Tokyo’s large <mark class="term" data-term="population" data-term-def="In biology, the population is all individuals of a certain kind of plant or animal that live in a particular habitat.&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/population/8283">population</mark> and many buildings are exposed to that hazard. However, Japan has a very long history of earthquakes and has done several things to reduce its vulnerability. The country enacted strict building codes and innovative engineering <mark class="term" data-term="solution" data-term-def="A mixture of more than one substance with properties that do not vary within the sample. Commonly used to describe a&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/solution/1571">solutions</mark> that prevent even tall skyscrapers from collapsing in strong shaking. Schools and public events integrate drills and education about what to do in the event of an earthquake. Japan is a wealthy, developed country with a common language and strong community <mark class="term" data-term="network" data-term-def="An interconnected system; an interrelated net-like arrangement of parts." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/network/8740">networks</mark>. It has had the economic <mark class="term" data-term="mean" data-term-def="In statistics, mean commonly refers to the arithmetic mean, also called the average, which is one measure of the mid-point of&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/mean/4221">means</mark> to implement all these actions that reduce its vulnerability and, thus, its overall risk.</p> <p><mark id="ngss-589" class="ngss">You can explore the relationship between hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and risk for a few cities in the United States in the animation below.</mark></p> <a class="interactive-animation" href="https://www.visionlearning.com/library/animations/H&R_M/H&R_M.html" target="_blank"> <img class="interactive-animation__image" src="/images/anim-snaps/h_r-snap.png" width="200" alt="Hazards & Risks" /> <p class="interactive-animation__title"> <em>Interactive Animation:</em> <strong class="link-new-window"> <span class="link__text">Hazards & Risks</span> </strong> </p> </a> </section> <section id="toc_3"> <h2>How do we define disaster?</h2><p>September 1 in Japan is not Risk Reduction Day, however: it is Disaster Prevention Day. What does this word, disaster, mean? Many people use the word disaster in everyday conversation for a situation where many things go wrong. That same sense of the word is true for its use when referring to natural hazards: whereas “risk” is the potential for damage, “disaster” is the actual damage and harm resulting from an event. A disaster overwhelms the ability of a localized <mark class="term" data-term="group" data-term-def="A column of elements in the periodic table." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/group/8566">group</mark> to respond. For example, a city may need to call on its state; the state may need to call on the federal government. A country may need to call for international aid. The goal of reducing exposure and vulnerability to natural hazards is to prevent otherwise minor to moderate hazardous events from becoming disasters.</p> <div class="comprehension-checkpoint margin-y-4"> <h6 class="comprehension-checkpoint__header"> <span> <span class="icon icon-question"></span> </span> Comprehension Checkpoint </h6> <form class="" name="cc12962"> <div class="form-entry"> <div class="form-entry__field"> <span class="form-entry__field__label">Natural hazards and disasters are the same thing.</span> <div class="form-entry__option"> <div class="form-entry__option__radio" data-answer="incorrect"> <label> <input id="q1-12962-0-option-a" name="quiz-option-12962" type="radio" value="True" > <span class="option__label"> <span class="screen-reader-only">a.</span> True </span> </label> <span class="quiz__response" id="response-12962-0"> <strong>Incorrect.</strong> </span> </div> <div class="form-entry__option__radio" data-answer="correct"> <label> <input id="q1-12962-1-option-b" name="quiz-option-12962" type="radio" value="False" > <span class="option__label"> <span class="screen-reader-only">b.</span> False </span> </label> <span class="quiz__response" id="response-12962-1"> <strong>Correct!</strong> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </section> <section id="toc_4"> <h2>The role of scientists</h2><p>Natural hazards have impacted individuals, communities, and <mark class="term" data-term="society" data-term-def="A group of people who belong to an organization that has been formed because of shared interest in a specific field." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/society/8249">society</mark> as a whole as long as humans have existed. Every person who has recorded careful <mark class="term" data-term="observation" data-term-def="1. The act of noticing something. 2. A record of that which has been noticed." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/observation/8255">observations</mark> of an event like a volcanic eruption, <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquake</mark>, tsunami, or typhoon has contributed to our understanding of these phenomena and their potential to impact us. These careful observations have been recorded in many ways throughout time, from Samoan place names and tattoos that commemorate volcanic activity (Fepuleai et al., 2017) to detailed written <mark class="term" data-term="record" data-term-def="A written account or description. <br> <b>[verb]</b> To write an account or description." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/record/8239">records</mark> of tsunamis and earthquakes in Japan starting in 416 <mark class="term" data-term="CE" data-term-def="An abbreviation for Common Era, which is a designation for the time beginning with year 1 of the Gregorian calendar. CE&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/CE/3721">CE</mark> (Ishibashi, 2004).</p> <p><mark id="ngss-590" class="ngss">Today, scientists use two main approaches to better understand and predict hazards:</mark></p> <ol> <li><mark id="ngss-596" class="ngss">Monitoring of currently active systems</mark></li> <li><mark id="ngss-597" class="ngss">Studying past events preserved in the historical and geologic records</mark></li> </ol> <p><mark id="ngss-598" class="ngss">They apply what they learn through these approaches to a world where the <mark class="term" data-term="population" data-term-def="In biology, the population is all individuals of a certain kind of plant or animal that live in a particular habitat.&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/population/8283">population</mark> is increasing and the <mark class="term" data-term="climate" data-term-def="Climate describes the average and patterns of a particular area’s weather over time. Climate includes such elements as temperature, precipitation, humidity,&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/climate/9334">climate</mark> is warming to understand and reduce risk.</mark></p></section> <section id="toc2_5"><h3>Monitoring active systems</h3><p><mark id="ngss-591" class="ngss">In the United States and other countries, monitoring is part of the mission of many science agencies and is critical to predicting hazardous events. For example, stream gauges monitor water flow along the length of river <mark class="term" data-term="system" data-term-def="A group of interacting, interrelated or interdependent components that form a complex whole. The size of the system is defined for&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/system/3904">systems</mark> and can help make predictions about flow changes downstream, including potential floods. Agencies around the world monitor <mark class="term" data-term="gas" data-term-def="The state of matter characterized by its non-condensed nature and ability to flow. Unlike liquids, molecules within a gas remain far&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/gas/8725">gas</mark> emissions from active volcanoes, along with changes in the height and shape of the volcano and small <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquakes</mark>, all of which correlate with the movement of <mark class="term" data-term="magma" data-term-def="Molten rock below the surface of the Earth." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/magma/869">magma</mark> in the subsurface that can lead to an eruption (see Figure 4). Seismographs installed around the world, connected through the Global Seismograph <mark class="term" data-term="network" data-term-def="An interconnected system; an interrelated net-like arrangement of parts." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/network/8740">Network</mark>, <mark class="term" data-term="record" data-term-def="A written account or description. <br> <b>[verb]</b> To write an account or description." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/record/8239">record</mark> earthquakes of all sizes to determine how the <mark class="term" data-term="constant" data-term-def="In mathematics, a quantity that has a fixed value; something that does not vary." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/constant/8557">constant</mark> motion of the Earth’s tectonic plates is accommodated through earthquakes. Satellites have a continuous view of the <mark class="term" data-term="atmosphere" data-term-def="The collective mass of gases that surrounds the Earth or another planet." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/atmosphere/8529">atmosphere</mark> to monitor the <mark class="term" data-term="development" data-term-def="The gradual exposure to stimuli in the early-developmental stages that influences the size, shape, and function of animal once mature." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/development/13147">development</mark> of large storm systems and how smoke from wildfires travels.</mark></p> <div class="figure"> <figure> <button class="lightbox-button lightbox-button--icon" data-lightbox="" data-lightbox-src="/img/library/large_images/image_12967.jpg"> <img src="/img/library/modules/mid288/Image/VLObject12967-23082803082649.jpeg" alt="Figure 4: Combined seismic and GPS monitoring station on the north flank of Mt. Hood, a volcano in the Cascade Mountains in Oregon." /> </button> <figcaption> <p><strong>Figure 4:</strong> Combined seismic and GPS monitoring station on the north flank of Mt. Hood, a volcano in the Cascade Mountains in Oregon.</p> <span class="credit">image ©<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/volcano-monitoring-station-brsp-north-flank-mount-hood&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1693250992030787&usg=AOvVaw3Ppt-dIlSRUB9FXAqZ45Hw"> Image courtesy USGS, in the public domain. </a> </span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>Data collected through these monitoring efforts is most useful when it is networked and made widely available to allow patterns to be detected. Most monitoring occurs through government agencies. In the United States, the USGS monitors many potential hazards through widely distributed instruments that collect <mark class="term" data-term="data" data-term-def="(plural form of <b>datum</b>) A collection of pieces of information, generally taking the form of numbers, text, bits, or facts, that&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/data/3729">data</mark> continuously. These data are freely available to the general public as well as to scientists around the world.</p></section> <section id="toc2_6"><h3>Studying past events</h3><p><mark id="ngss-592" class="ngss">Our modern <mark class="term" data-term="record" data-term-def="A written account or description. <br> <b>[verb]</b> To write an account or description." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/record/8239">records</mark> of natural hazards often do not extend far enough back in time for us to reliably use them in making predictions. Very large events—whether they are very large <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquakes</mark>, volcanic eruptions, or superstorms—happen rarely, with entire <mark class="term" data-term="generation" data-term-def="Offspring at the same step in the line of descent from a common ancestor." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/generation/8293">generations</mark> in between them. As a result, we cannot rely on our monitoring <mark class="term" data-term="system" data-term-def="A group of interacting, interrelated or interdependent components that form a complex whole. The size of the system is defined for&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/system/3904">systems</mark>, which have been in place for a hundred years or less, to provide us with the information we need. In addition, scientists study <mark class="term" data-term="observation" data-term-def="1. The act of noticing something. 2. A record of that which has been noticed." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/observation/8255">observations</mark> recorded by others in journals, newspapers, oral histories, and other written records and document in detail the impacts of large events when they happen. They also look back in time through geological investigations to identify, map, and date prehistoric volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, and other events.</mark></p> <p>This is the <mark class="term" data-term="work" data-term-def="A process that occurs when a force acts over a distance, as when an object is moved. Work equals the multiple&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/work/1502">work</mark> of thousands of scientists around the world today at government agencies, private companies, and universities, and it is critically important to the <mark class="term" data-term="development" data-term-def="The gradual exposure to stimuli in the early-developmental stages that influences the size, shape, and function of animal once mature." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/development/13147">development</mark> of accurate predictions about the <mark class="term" data-term="frequency" data-term-def="The rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave, either in a material or in an electromagnetic field, usually&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/frequency/2210">frequency</mark> and <mark class="term" data-term="magnitude" data-term-def="Magnitude is a number assigned to a quantity and refers to the size or extent of something. There are several differing&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/magnitude/11226">magnitude</mark> of events in a particular system. Paleoseismologists dig trenches across faults to identify the age and magnitude of past earthquakes. Volcanologists map the flanks of volcanoes to document the extent and age of past lava flows and ash deposits. Sedimentologists dig pits in coastal <mark class="term" data-term="environment" data-term-def="The conditions that surround and affect an organism." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/environment/8270">environments</mark> to identify and date tsunami deposits and try to tie them to a specific earthquake. Geomorphologists identify landslide deposits and use their size and shape to determine the cause. Atmospheric scientists look at rainfall distribution and winds to better constrain storm size and impact.</p></section> <section id="toc2_7"><h3>Adapting to a changing world</h3><p><mark id="ngss-593" class="ngss">One of the reasons that this <mark class="term" data-term="work" data-term-def="A process that occurs when a force acts over a distance, as when an object is moved. Work equals the multiple&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/work/1502">work</mark> is ongoing is because all the factors involved in determining risk—the characteristics of the hazards, the exposure, and our vulnerability—can and do change. <mark class="term" data-term="climate" data-term-def="Climate describes the average and patterns of a particular area’s weather over time. Climate includes such elements as temperature, precipitation, humidity,&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/climate/9334">Climate</mark> change is one factor that is requiring many communities to reassess their hazards. For example, rising sea level <mark class="term" data-term="mean" data-term-def="In statistics, mean commonly refers to the arithmetic mean, also called the average, which is one measure of the mid-point of&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/mean/4221">means</mark> that the <mark class="term" data-term="frequency" data-term-def="The rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave, either in a material or in an electromagnetic field, usually&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/frequency/2210">frequency</mark> and <mark class="term" data-term="magnitude" data-term-def="Magnitude is a number assigned to a quantity and refers to the size or extent of something. There are several differing&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/magnitude/11226">magnitude</mark> of hazards like coastal flooding are changing; a generally warming climate means that temperature and <mark class="term" data-term="precipitation" data-term-def="Water that falls from the atmosphere to the ground in any form, such as rain, snow, hail, or sleet." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/precipitation/8562">precipitation</mark> changes can increase the frequency of landslides and consequent flooding. Vulnerability is changing, too, as coastal communities have greater potential to be isolated from help even during non-hazard events. Scientists need to combine <mark class="term" data-term="data" data-term-def="(plural form of <b>datum</b>) A collection of pieces of information, generally taking the form of numbers, text, bits, or facts, that&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/data/3729">data</mark> about major storms, tides, and <mark class="term" data-term="model" data-term-def="A representation, pattern, or mathematical description that can help scientists replicate a system." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/model/8236">models</mark> of projected sea level rise to develop hazard maps. The maps can be combined with the most recent census data and other information to assess the risk and how it might change as the global climate continues to warm.</mark></p> <div class="comprehension-checkpoint margin-y-4"> <h6 class="comprehension-checkpoint__header"> <span> <span class="icon icon-question"></span> </span> Comprehension Checkpoint </h6> <form class="" name="cc12973"> <div class="form-entry"> <div class="form-entry__field"> <span class="form-entry__field__label">Once the risk for a particular hazard has been determined, _________.</span> <div class="form-entry__option"> <div class="form-entry__option__radio" data-answer="incorrect"> <label> <input id="q1-12973-0-option-a" name="quiz-option-12973" type="radio" value="it doesn’t change" > <span class="option__label"> <span class="screen-reader-only">a.</span> it doesn’t change </span> </label> <span class="quiz__response" id="response-12973-0"> <strong>Incorrect.</strong> </span> </div> <div class="form-entry__option__radio" data-answer="correct"> <label> <input id="q1-12973-1-option-b" name="quiz-option-12973" type="radio" value="it can change for many reasons" > <span class="option__label"> <span class="screen-reader-only">b.</span> it can change for many reasons </span> </label> <span class="quiz__response" id="response-12973-1"> <strong>Correct!</strong> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </section> <section id="toc_5"> <h2>Reducing the risks of hazards</h2><p><mark id="ngss-594" class="ngss">Describing the hazard is a critical step. However, description alone cannot prepare communities and reduce their risk. Mitigating the impact of a natural hazard—reducing risks and preventing a disaster—requires combining the <mark class="term" data-term="work" data-term-def="A process that occurs when a force acts over a distance, as when an object is moved. Work equals the multiple&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/work/1502">work</mark> of scientists with the social, economic, and political realities of communities.</mark></p> <p>For example, in New Zealand, scientists long ago identified the Alpine fault as the source of a potentially disastrous <mark class="term" data-term="earthquake" data-term-def="1. The sudden motion or slip along a fault. 2. The ground shaking that results from the release of seismic energy&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/earthquake/1664">earthquake</mark>. The Alpine fault has not had an earthquake in historic times, but scientists have identified several large earthquakes through geological excavations and other techniques and agree that it will likely host a very large earthquake again in our lifetimes. The Alpine Fault <mark class="term" data-term="magnitude" data-term-def="Magnitude is a number assigned to a quantity and refers to the size or extent of something. There are several differing&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/magnitude/11226">Magnitude</mark> 8 <mark class="term" data-term="group" data-term-def="A column of elements in the periodic table." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/group/8566">group</mark> is a coalition of scientists, policymakers, regional councils (community leaders), emergency managers, and others that collaborate to identify vulnerable communities and provide education to prepare individuals, communities, and local governments for a large earthquake (Orchiston et al., 2018).</p> <p><mark id="ngss-595" class="ngss">By definition, natural hazards exist at the intersection of science and <mark class="term" data-term="society" data-term-def="A group of people who belong to an organization that has been formed because of shared interest in a specific field." data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/society/8249">society</mark>. Scientists work to develop our collective understanding of the characteristics, <mark class="term" data-term="frequency" data-term-def="The rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave, either in a material or in an electromagnetic field, usually&hellip;" data-term-url="/en/glossary/view/frequency/2210">frequency</mark>, and magnitude of particular hazards. That work can help inform policies and practices that mitigate the impact of hazards on individuals and communities.</mark></p> <p>Think back again to where you live. What kind of natural hazards might you encounter? Are you ready for them? If you live outside Japan, consider establishing your own “Disaster Prevention Day” to find out how you can reduce your risk to natural hazards in your area.</p> </div> </section> <hr class="border-color-dark" /> <footer class="module__footer"> <p class="citation"> <em> Anne E. Egger, Ph.D. “Natural Hazards and Risk” Visionlearning Vol. EAS-3 (9), 2023. </em> </p>  <div class="title-list" id="refs" name="refs"> <p class="h6 title-list__title"> References </p> <ul class="title-list__list"> <li><p>AF8 Steering Group. (2023). AF8 [Alpine Fault magnitude 8]. https://af8.org.nz/</p></li> <li><p>Fepuleai, A., Weber, E., Németh, K. et al. (2017) Eruption Styles of Samoan Volcanoes Represented in Tattooing, Language and Cultural Activities of the Indigenous People. <em>Geoheritage 9</em>, 395–411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-016-0204-1</p></li> <li><p>Ishibashi, K. (2004) Status of historical seismology in Japan. <em>Annals of Geophysics</em></p></li> <li><p>Orchiston, C., Mitchell, J., Wilson, T., Langridge, R., Davies, T., Bradley, B., ... & McKay, A. (2018). Project AF8: developing a coordinated, multi-agency response plan for a future great Alpine Fault earthquake. <em>New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 61</em>(3), 389-402.</p></li> <li><p>United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2023 version. EJScreen. Retrieved: August 2023, from https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/</p></li> <li><p>United States Geological Survey. GSN - Global Seismographic Network | U.S. Geological Survey. https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/gsn-global-seismographic-network </p></li> </ul> </div> </footer> </div>   </div>  <div class="order-1 order-2--lg module__tools"> <div class="narrow margin-x-auto position-sticky-top font-size-md"> <div class="padding-2 border-radius box-shadow-1--lg"> <div class="tabs" role="tablist"> <nav> <button class="button button--icon-label" id="tab-button-in-this-module" aria-label="Table of Contents" aria-controls="tab-panel-module__tools" aria-selected="true" role="tab"> <span class="icon icon-list" aria-hidden="true"></span> <span class="button__text">Contents</span> </button> <button class="button button--icon-label" id="tab-button-toggle-terms" aria-controls="tab-panel-toggle-terms" aria-selected="false" role="tab"> <span class="icon icon-glossary-highlight"></span> <span class="button__text">Glossary Terms</span> </button> <button class="button button--icon-label" id="tab-button-toggle-ngss" aria-controls="tab-panel-toggle-ngss" aria-selected="false" role="tab"> <span class="icon icon-ngss"></span> <span class="button__text">NGSS</span> </button> </nav> <hr class="divider" /> <div class="tabs__panel shown" id="tab-panel-module__tools" aria-labelledby="tab-button-module__tools" role="tabpanel"> <p class="font-weight-bold margin-bottom-1"> Table of Contents </p> <div class="table-of-contents" id="module-toc"> <ul> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc_1">Introduction</a> </li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc_2">The relationship between hazard and risk</a> </li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc2_1">Hazard</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc2_2">Exposure</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc2_3">Vulnerability</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc2_4">Risk</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc_3">How do we define disaster?</a> </li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc_4">The role of scientists</a> </li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc2_5">Monitoring active systems</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc2_6">Studying past events</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc2_7">Adapting to a changing world</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/en/library/earth-science/6/natural-hazards-and-risk/288#toc_5">Reducing the risks of hazards</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div>   <div class="tabs__panel" id="tab-panel-toggle-terms" aria-labelledby="tab-button-toggle-terms" role="tabpanel"> <div class="reading-toggle"> <div class="reading-toggle__switch"> <div class="form-entry__option__switch"> <label> <input type="checkbox" name="termsToggleSwitch" id="terms-toggle-switch" /> <span class="switch__slider"></span> <span class="option__label text-decoration-none font-size-md"> Highlight Glossary Terms </span> </label> </div> </div> <div class="reading-toggle__help"> <p> <em> Activate glossary term highlighting to easily identify key terms within the module. Once highlighted, you can click on these terms to view their definitions. </em> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="tabs__panel" id="tab-panel-toggle-ngss" aria-labelledby="tab-button-toggle-ngss" role="tabpanel"> <div class="reading-toggle"> <div class="reading-toggle__switch"> <div class="form-entry__option__switch"> <label> <input type="checkbox" name="ngssToggleSwitch" id="ngss-toggle-switch" /> <span class="switch__slider"></span> <span class="option__label text-decoration-none font-size-md"> Show NGSS Annotations </span> </label> </div> </div> <div class="reading-toggle__help"> <p> <em> Activate NGSS annotations to easily identify NGSS standards within the module. Once highlighted, you can click on them to view these standards. </em> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="reading-annotation-container"></div>  </div> </div> <div class="margin-3"> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9561344156007092" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9561344156007092" data-ad-slot="7634263342" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div>   </article> </div> </main> <script id="ngssCommentdata" type="application/json"> [{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"cc","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>Cause-effect connects the hazards of a particular location to its features (climate and tectonic setting).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-CC.2 Cause and Effect:<\/strong> Cause and effect relationships can be suggested and predicted for complex natural and human designed systems by examining what is known about smaller scale mechanisms within the system.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"583","display_order":"1","dimension":"cc","dimension_full":"Crosscutting Concepts"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"p","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>Data are used to construct predictive models for natural hazards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-SEP.2 Developing and Using Models:<\/strong> Develop and\/or use multiple types of models to provide mechanistic accounts and\/or predict phenomena, and move flexibly between model types based on merits and limitations.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"584","display_order":"2","dimension":"p","dimension_full":"Science and Engineering Practices"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"p","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>Data are used to construct predictive models for natural hazards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-SEP.2 Developing and Using Models:<\/strong> Develop and\/or use multiple types of models to provide mechanistic accounts and\/or predict phenomena, and move flexibly between model types based on merits and limitations.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"585","display_order":"3","dimension":"p","dimension_full":"Science and Engineering Practices"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"p","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>Calculations are used to quantify \"exposure\" to hazards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-SEP.5 Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking:<\/strong> Use mathematical, computational, and\/or algorithmic representations of phenomena or design solutions to describe and\/or support claims and\/or explanations.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"586","display_order":"4","dimension":"p","dimension_full":"Science and Engineering Practices"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"cc","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>When determining a causal relationship between hazards and vulnerability, numerous factors are considered.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-CC.2 Cause and Effect:<\/strong> Cause and effect relationships can be suggested and predicted for complex natural and human designed systems by examining what is known about smaller scale mechanisms within the system.<\/p>","is_public":"0","mod_ngss_comment_id":"587","display_order":"5","dimension":"cc","dimension_full":"Crosscutting Concepts"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"cc","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>Risk is determined by the combining the characteristics of hazard, exposure to the hazard, and community's vulnerability.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-CC.2 Cause and Effect:<\/strong> Cause and effect relationships can be suggested and predicted for complex natural and human designed systems by examining what is known about smaller scale mechanisms within the system.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"588","display_order":"6","dimension":"cc","dimension_full":"Crosscutting Concepts"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"p","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>A model can be used to predict the level of risk a population faces.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-SEP.2 Developing and Using Models:<\/strong> Develop and\/or use multiple types of models to provide mechanistic accounts and\/or predict phenomena, and move flexibly between model types based on merits and limitations.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"589","display_order":"7","dimension":"p","dimension_full":"Science and Engineering Practices"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"p","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>Scientists use two main approaches to better understand and predict hazards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-SEP.3 Planning and Carrying Out Investigations:<\/strong> Select appropriate tools to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate data.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"590","display_order":"8","dimension":"p","dimension_full":"Science and Engineering Practices"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"cc","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>This section describes the monitoring programs used to predict hazardous events.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-SEP.3 Planning and Carrying Out Investigations:<\/strong> Select appropriate tools to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate data.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"591","display_order":"9","dimension":"cc","dimension_full":"Crosscutting Concepts"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"dci","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>This entire section describes the role past events plays in understanding natural hazards. It develops the DCI element listed below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-ESS3.B Natural Hazards:<\/strong> Natural hazards and other geologic events have shaped the course of human history; [they] have significantly altered the sizes of human populations and have driven human migrations.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"592","display_order":"10","dimension":"dci","dimension_full":"Disciplinary Core Ideas"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"dci","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>This entire section describes the role past events plays in understanding natural hazards. It develops the DCI element listed below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-ESS3.B Natural Hazards:<\/strong> Natural hazards and other geologic events have shaped the course of human history; [they] have significantly altered the sizes of human populations and have driven human migrations.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"593","display_order":"11","dimension":"dci","dimension_full":"Disciplinary Core Ideas"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"cc","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>Systems thinking through the lens of multiple stakeholders is needed to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-CC.4 Systems and System Models:<\/strong> When investigating or describing a system, the boundaries and initial conditions of the system need to be defined and their inputs and outputs analyzed and described using models.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"594","display_order":"12","dimension":"cc","dimension_full":"Crosscutting Concepts"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"dci","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>The criteria and constraints of solutions need to be identified by the parties involved in mitigating natural hazards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-ETS1.A Defining and Delimiting an Engineering Problem:<\/strong> Criteria and constraints also include satisfying any requirements set by society, such as taking issues of risk mitigation into account, and they should be quantified to the extent possible and stated in such a way that one can tell if a given design meets them.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"595","display_order":"13","dimension":"dci","dimension_full":"Disciplinary Core Ideas"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"p","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>Scientists use two main approaches to better understand and predict hazards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-SEP.3 Planning and Carrying Out Investigations:<\/strong> Select appropriate tools to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate data.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"596","display_order":"14","dimension":"p","dimension_full":"Science and Engineering Practices"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"p","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>Scientists use two main approaches to better understand and predict hazards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-SEP.3 Planning and Carrying Out Investigations:<\/strong> Select appropriate tools to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate data.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"597","display_order":"15","dimension":"p","dimension_full":"Science and Engineering Practices"},{"ngss_tag_id":null,"type":"p","tag":"","name":null,"description":null,"comment":"<p>Scientists use two main approaches to better understand and predict hazards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>HS-SEP.3 Planning and Carrying Out Investigations:<\/strong> Select appropriate tools to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate data.<\/p>","is_public":"1","mod_ngss_comment_id":"598","display_order":"16","dimension":"p","dimension_full":"Science and Engineering Practices"}]</script>   <footer class="position-relative box-shadow-1 font-size-md" id="global-footer"> <h2 class="screen-reader-only">Page Footer</h2> <div class="back-to-top"> <div class="container wide"> <button class="button button--has-icon font-size-sm"> <span class="icon icon-arrow-up"></span> <span class="button__text">Back to top</span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="container wide padding-y-2"> <div class="grid grid--column-2--md grid--column-4--lg gap-4 grid--divider--fill-x"> <nav> <ul class="nav font-weight-bold"> <li> <a href="/en/library" title="Readings & quizzes"> Library </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/glossary" title="Science terms"> Glossary </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/classroom" title="Courses & bookmarks"> Classroom </a> </li> </ul> </nav> <nav> <ul class="nav"> <li><a href="/en/about">About</a></li> <li><a href="/en/help">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="/en/about/jobs">Jobs</a></li> <li><a href="/en/help/faq">FAQ</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div> <ul class="nav nav--horizontal margin-bottom-2"> <li> <a class="display-flex" href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <img src="/images/sponsor-nsf.png" width="60" height="60" alt="US Education Department Logo" /> </a> </li> <li> <a class="display-flex" href="https://www.ed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <img src="/images/sponsor-doe.png" width="60" height="60" alt="US Education Department Logo" /> </a> </li> </ul> <p>Visionlearning is supported by the The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education. 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