Climate Change & Environmental Science

Climate Hazards

Climatic hazards are agents of disaster in terms of what they'll do to human settlements or to the environment. Potentially hazardous atmospheric phenomena include tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, tornadoes, drought, rain, hail, snow, lightning, fog, wind, temperature extremes, pollution, and climatic change. Identification of hazardous events isn't easy, although certain criteria are usually present. They include property damage; economic loss, like loss of income or a halt in production; major disruption of social services, including communications failures; excessive strain on essential services such as police, fire, hospital, and public.