Natural hazards
Natural hazards like earthquakes, floods and storms destroy lives and damage economies across the globe.
Scientists working for NERC are among the UK's leading natural hazard experts. Their work helps us predict how and where natural hazards will occur, understand what causes them, and what makes them particularly damaging. This knowledge saves lives, and helps protect livelihoods and infrastructure.
In 2005, British Prime Minister Tony Blair set up the Natural Hazards Working Group to advise government on detecting natural hazards and providing early warnings. A number of NERC scientists, including NERC's Chief Executive, Professor Alan Thorpe, form part of this group.
Natural hazards described in these pages include:
- Earthquakes
- Tsunamis
- Volcanoes
- Tropical storms - hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones
- Storm surges
- Rising sea level
- Flooding
- Landslides
- Shrinkable clay soils
- Near-Earth objects
- Space weather
- Worldwide natural hazard monitoring systems