Topic Summaries

Factors affecting hazard risks

IGCSE > Geography > CIE > IGCSE Geography Topic Summaries > Natural and tectonic hazards > Factors affecting hazard risks
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Weather hazards and atmospheric circulation

Tropical storm hazards

Responding to tropical storms

Hot desert ecosystems

Cold environment ecosystems

Glacial landscapes

Glacial landform processes

Water supply

Energy supply

  • Location: people often live in hazardous areas because they have no choice or cannot afford to relocate. Some areas, like areas near volcanoes, have fertile soil rich in minerals (e.g. phosphorus), which is ideal for farming and supports livelihoods.
  • Climate change: human activities, such as deforestation and industrial processes (e.g. emitting greenhouse gases), have increased global temperatures. This leads to more frequent and intense landslides and tropical storms. 
  • Urbanisation: contributes further by increasing greenhouse gas emissions and clearing forests to make space for buildings. 
  • Ability to cope and predictability: this is largely dependent on how wealthy and well-resourced a nation or region is to respond to a natural hazard.
    • High-income countries (HICs), like Japan, have more resources and advanced technology to predict and manage natural disasters. For example: Japan uses earthquake-resistant buildings to absorb shock waves and reduce damage.
    • Poorer countries (LICs), like Nepal, lack the money to invest in such infrastructures, making them more vulnerable. As a result, similar disasters cause greater damage and loss of life in LICs compared to HICs. 
  • Some natural hazards are inherently more destructive, especially those occurring near tectonic plate boundaries, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are likely.

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