Geohazard notes

In response to the work of the Natural Hazards Partnership, the BGS has prepared a number of Geohazard notes to provide relevant summary information for some of the geohazards that could affect the UK.

The Geohazard notes provide information on how and why the hazard occurs, how it is measured, locations susceptible to the hazard and possible worst case scenarios.

The notes also give details on how the BGS and collaborating organisations respond to such hazards.

Coastal defence measures at Hopton-on-sea, Norfolk, UK: wooden revetments and groynes. Coastal Erosion
What is coastal erosion and why does it occur?
What are the consequences and costs to the UK economy?
Compton Village, Berkshire: groundwater flooding in a chalk catchment in the winter of 2003. Groundwater flooding
Why does groundwater flooding occur?
What is the impact and cost to the UK economy?
Cracks in Gault Clay, Munday's Hill Quarry, Leighton Buzzard. Ground shrinking and swelling
What is shrink-swell and why does it occur?
What is the cost to the UK economy?
Holbeck Hall landslide, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, June 1993.Landslides
Where are the locations that are susceptible to landslides in the UK?
How is the hazard characterised?
Radon monitoring system in a house basement. Image ©iStockphoto.com/BanksPhotos Naturally occurring radon
How does the hazard occur?
What are the consequences of exposure to radon?
Damage in the city of L'Aquila, Italy, following the earthquake of 2009 Seismic hazard
Why do earthquakes occur?
What threat are they to the UK?
Earthquake monitoring in the UK.
Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano, Iceland, May 2010. Volcanic hazards
What causes the different volcanic hazards?
What are the consequences and costs to the UK economy?