Characteristic Features of Hazards
In disaster management science, we often hear about different types of hazards — earthquakes, floods, industrial accidents, and more. But to truly understand hazards, we must also study their characteristic features. These features describe how a hazard behaves, how often it happens, how severe it can be, and how much time we have to prepare. By knowing these characteristics, disaster managers can assess risks, design preparedness plans, and protect communities before a hazard becomes a disaster.
1. Origin
The origin explains where and how the hazard starts.
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Natural Origin: Created by natural processes (e.g., earthquakes begin due to tectonic plate movement deep underground).
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Human-made Origin: Result from human actions or technology (e.g., a chemical plant explosion caused by equipment failure).
Example: A tsunami caused by an undersea earthquake has a natural origin, while an oil spill in the ocean has a human-made origin.
2. Frequency
This is how often a hazard occurs in a specific area.
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High frequency: Seasonal floods, annual monsoon storms.
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Low frequency: Major volcanic eruptions, tsunamis.
Example: Bangladesh experiences frequent floods during the rainy season, but it rarely faces volcanic eruptions.
3. Intensity (Magnitude)
The intensity measures how strong or severe a hazard is.
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Measured using specific scientific tools and scales.
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Stronger intensity usually means more damage.
Example: Earthquakes are measured on the Richter Scale, while hurricanes are measured using the Saffir–Simpson Scale.
4. Duration
How long a hazard lasts can change its impact.
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Short duration: Earthquake shaking lasts a few seconds or minutes.
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Long duration: Droughts can last months or even years.
5. Predictability
Some hazards give us warning signs; others strike without warning.
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High predictability: Seasonal floods, cyclones (thanks to weather forecasting).
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Low predictability: Earthquakes, sudden landslides.
6. Speed of Onset
This describes how quickly the hazard begins after initial signs appear.
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Rapid onset: Earthquakes, explosions (very little time to react).
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Slow onset: Desertification, climate change (develop over years).
7. Scope of Impact
The scope refers to the size of the area and the number of people affected.
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Local impact: A small landslide in a village.
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Widespread impact: A pandemic affecting multiple countries.
8. Manageability
This is about how easily the effects of a hazard can be reduced.
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Some hazards are easier to manage with preparedness and technology (e.g., installing cyclone shelters).
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Others are harder to control or stop (e.g., earthquakes).
Characteristic Features of Hazards
Feature | Meaning | Example |
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Origin | Where/how hazard starts | Earthquake (natural), factory fire (human-made) |
Frequency | How often it occurs | Annual floods, rare tsunami |
Intensity | Strength/severity of hazard | Richter Scale for earthquakes |
Duration | How long hazard lasts | Minutes (earthquake), months (drought) |
Predictability | How well it can be forecasted | Cyclone (high), earthquake (low) |
Speed of Onset | Time between warning signs and start | Explosion (fast), desertification (slow) |
Scope of Impact | Size of area/number of people affected | Local landslide, global pandemic |
Manageability | How easily it can be reduced | Flood control systems vs. earthquake |
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Reviewed by: Dr. B. Kaur
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Published On: August 10, 2025
M. Hasan
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