Knowra Geological hazard Geological hazard A geological process or condition that can threaten people, property, or the environment. Its consequences depend on both the physical event and the exposure and vulnerability of what lies in its path.
Earthquake : The sudden release of stored energy in Earth’s crust, producing seismic waves and ground shaking. Fault rupture can cause shaking, surface breaks, and secondary hazards.
Natural hazard : A natural process or event with potential to harm people, property, or the environment. Geological hazards form one part of the broader family of natural hazards.
Seismic hazard analysis : The assessment of earthquake ground-shaking levels and their probabilities at a location. It estimates shaking that informs building standards and infrastructure design.
Hydrological hazard : A process involving the occurrence, movement, or distribution of surface or subsurface water that can cause harm. Floods are water-driven hazards, although landslides and floods can trigger one another.
Volcanic eruption : The emission of lava, ash, gases, or other material from a volcano. Eruptions expose nearby areas to ash, lava, gases, and fast-moving flows.
Exposure (risk) : The presence of people, infrastructure, or assets in places that could be affected by hazards. A hazard becomes consequential when people or assets occupy its affected area.
Volcanic hazard map : A map showing areas potentially affected by specified volcanic phenomena. Mapped lava, ash, and flow zones guide land use and evacuation planning.
Meteorological hazard : A hazard caused by atmospheric weather processes, such as severe storms or extreme temperatures. Its immediate driver is atmospheric rather than a geological process.
Landslide : The downslope movement of rock, soil, or debris under gravity. Slope failure can bury settlements and block rivers or roads.
Vulnerability : The characteristics that make people or systems more likely to suffer harm from a hazard. The same geological event can cause very different losses depending on susceptibility.
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