Natural Disaster- Concept and Its Classification

Disaster is an undesirable occurrence resulting from forces that are largely outside human control, strikes quickly with little or no warning, which causes or threatens serious disruption of life and property including death and injury to a large number of people. Whereas the Natural Disaster is a catastrophic event that is caused by nature or the natural processes of the earth; examples include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes. It affects the rural community the most, as they are vulnerable to economic changes, and have no alternate means of livings. The destructive potential of any natural hazard is estimated basically by its spatial extent and severity. Here, we are giving the concept of natural disaster and its classification for general awareness.

Classification of Natural Disaster

Atmospheric

This type of natural disaster has its own natural characteristics, geographic area where it occurs (areal extent), time of year it is most likely to occur, severity, and associated risk. In most cases, a natural disaster or event involves multiple hazards: severe thunder-storms spawn tornados; wind is a factor in thunderstorms, severe winter storms, tropical cyclones, and hailstorms; snowfall from a severe winter storm can prompt avalanches.

1. Blizzards

2. Thunder-storms

3. Lightening

4. Tornadoes

5. Tropical cyclone

6. Drought

7. Hailstorm

8. Frost, Heat, wave

9. Cold Wave

Basic Concepts in Geography

Terrestrial

1. Earthquakes

2. Volcanic eruptions

3. Landslides

4. Avalanches

5. Subsidence

6. Soil Erosion

What is Tide, why it occurs and how it is important for human life?

Aquatic

1. Floods

2. Tidal Waves Ocean

3. Storm surge

4. Tsunami

What is Cloudburst and how cloudburst different from normal rainfall?

Biological

1. Insect Infection

2. Viral Disease    

3. Bacterial Disease

4. Parasitic Disease

5. Fungal Disease

6. Prion Disease

About 60 per cent of the landmass in India is susceptible to earthquakes and over 8 per cent is prone to floods. Of the nearly 7,500 km long coastline, more than 5,500 km is prone to cyclones. Around 68 per cent area is also susceptible to drought. The Government and World agencies are working to develop technology for disaster management for early warning system, efficient rescue operations; relief operations; rehabilitation; and long range planning.

Indian Geography: A Complete Study Material