Geohazard Essay

A geohazard is the term for a geological state which has the potential to create widespread damage. But what exactly is a geohazard, and where do they occur?

A geohazard is the term for a geological state which has the potential to create widespread damage. Typical geohazards include tectonic issues, such as earthquakes and volcanoes, other naturally-occurring processes such as landslides and mud flows. Another geohazard can be other human-induced matters such as drilling through an over-pressured geological zone. While some geohazards can be on a relatively minor scale, such as a small rock fall on an isolated mountain, there can be serious consequences for bigger geohazards. For instance, a coastal landslide can cause a tsunami, which

Every geohazard is different based on lots of factors, such as the geological composition of the land in terms of rock types or tectonic activity, and the socioeconomic impact a hazard would have. For example, a large earthquake in the middle of barren land is likely to be less of a problem than a smaller-scale earthquake in a city. Some geohazards can have unexpected consequences from relatively far flung locations, for instance a wide-reaching pyroclastic flow from a volcano can cause damage far more widespread than many people would expect, especially depending on factors such as wind strength and direction and the volume of pyroclastic material.

It’s important that anyone in an industry dealing with the geological environment remains mindful of the risks and knows how to avoid them. It’s best to get a geotechnical engineer in to assess the potential risks and help you protect your property from geohazards. Nobody can prevent some of the potential hazards, such as earthquakes, as these are tectonic processes which aren’t yet fully understood in terms of activity, frequency and intensity. But there is lots that can be done to protect an area from certain geohazards, and as long as they are monitored and analysed by professionals, this can limit the damage to an