Library Guides: Water in the World: Hydrological Hazards

Source: Erik K Veland

While water is essential to life and we all depend on it, it can also be incredibly dangerous. From floods to typhoons to hurricanes, water can get very dangerous very fast. Read through the resources below to learn more.

Understanding floods (Bureau of Meteorology, n.d.)
In Australia, flooding is the second most deadly natural disaster after heatwaves. So, what causes floods and how will you know if there's one on the way? Read through this website to learn more.
Floods (Geoscience Australia, n.d.)
Floods can have both positive and negative impacts. They can bring welcome relief for people and ecosystems suffering from prolonged drought, but also are estimated to be the most costly natural disaster in Australia. Read through this article to learn more.
Floods (World Health Organisation, n.d.)
Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry. Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or a storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas. Read through this website to learn more.
Disasters explained: hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones (Shelter Box, n.d.)
Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones are all tropical storms. When they hit, they can be extremely destructive and even deadly, depending on which category they fall under. Read through this website to learn more about these disasters.
What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon? (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, n.d.)
Hurricanes and typhoons are the same weather phenomenon: tropical cyclones. A tropical cyclone is a generic term used by meteorologists to describe a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation. Read through this website to learn more.
What is a hurricane, typhoon or tropical cyclone? (NASA, n.d.)
Read this fact sheet to learn more about these hydrological hazards.
What is a tsunami? (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, n.d.)
Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. Out in the depths of the ocean, tsunami waves do not dramatically increase in height. But as the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as the depth of the ocean decreases. Read through this website to learn more.
‘Heartbreaking’: Australia’s east coast reels from worst floods in living memory (The Guardian, 2022, March 4)
Queensland and NSW have faced catastrophic weather conditions in early 2022 that have claimed 16 lives. Read through this article to learn more about the human cost of floods.
‘Rain Bomb’ and floods inundate Eastern Australia (The Diplomat, 2022, March 16)
Brisbane and nearby communities experienced some of the worst flooding on record, with some residents wondering if its worth rebuilding as climate change worsens weather conditions. Read through this article to learn more about flood events in Australia.

Floods by Philip Steele & Nicola Barber
Publication Date: 2009
A discussion of all major types of natural disasters, including descriptions of some of the most destructive; explanations of these phenomena, what causes them, and where they occur; and information about how to prepare for and survive these forces of nature. Features include an activity, glossary, list of resources, and index.