Types of natural hazard

There are many different types of natural hazards, and they can be classified by their causes. Examples of natural hazard classifications include:

• Tectonic hazards are caused by the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates and include earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
• Geomorphological hazards originating on or near the surface of the Earth, such as landslides, mudflows and floods.
• Atmospheric hazards like droughts and tropical storms relate to high and low-pressure systems.
• Living things cause biological hazards, including disease, pandemics, and forest fires.

Some hazards can be grouped into more than one classification. For example, tsunamis can be both tectonic and geomorphological hazards as they can be triggered by the movement of the Earth’s crust and originate on the Earth’s surface.