Cav's geography homework 2.1

1 What is a natural hazard?
A natural hazard is anything that can cause harm to the surrounding environment and communities.
2 What is the difference between a natural hazard and a natural disaster?
A natural hazard is anything that can cause harm to the surrounding environment and communities and a natural disaster is something that has impacted on social, economical or environmental affairs.
3 What two broad categories of natural hazard exist in Australia?
Those related to weather and those related to movement in the earths crust.
4 Make a list of the types of natural hazards that fit each category.
1)Weather: Hail, floods, drought, heat waves, bush fires, strong winds, storms and tropical cyclones.
2) Tectonic movement: Landslides, earth tremors, earthquakes and tsunamis.
5 Why are natural hazards that occur in densely populated areas more noticeable than hazards that occur elsewhere in Australia?
Because they effect a larger community affecting social and economical growth.
6 Outline two specific impacts droughts have on rural communities in Australia.
Drought affects farmers in rural communities costing them thousands through the loss of crops and livestock, therefore also affecting them because they have less to spend locally.
7 Name the three categories geographers use to classify the impacts of natural hazards. Give examples of each.
1) Social Impact; Loss of life and destruction of community facilities and structures.
2) Economical Impact: Loss of income and damage to industry.
3) Environmental Impact: Death or injury of wildlife and dramatic changes to the environment.
8 Explain why it is essential that Australian communities study the nature and impacts of natural hazards.
Australian communities should analyze the effect of natural hazards in order to better prepare and recover from them if they should ever occur.
9 Explain how GIS is used to map the threat of natural hazards in Australia.
Geographers collect information from all 2573 post codes throughout Australia, data such as how many natural disasters have occurred. Then they can accurately graph the most hazardous prone zones.