The cause and impact of Earth Hazards

Students learn to think like Emergency Managers by analysing a regional map and considering potential impacts of a volcanic eruption. The activity is paired with a PowerPoint introduction to volcanic hazards including notes about each slide.

‘Crib sheets’ that summarise talks and provide easy access links to each part of the videos. Topics covered are tsunamis in Australia, seismic hazard in Australia and social vulnerability to disasters like floods.

Community Safety

Webpages featuring information about most types of natural hazard.

Risk and Impact

Webpage that explains natural hazard risk plus the role of Geoscience Australia.

Storymap that provides an overview of community safety activities by ŮŮÊÓƵand introductions to a range of hazard types.

This report provides an overview of the rapid onset natural hazards in Australia, including tropical cyclone, flood, severe storm, bushfire, landslide, earthquake and tsunami. Risk analysis is explained.

This video introduces the concept of tectonic plates making use of a tectonic plates puzzle. (4:55).

Solve the puzzle of plate tectonics with this world map that shows the edges of the major tectonic plates.

Create a tectonics plate model using this easy to print A4 model. This colour model is ready to cut out and assemble on a tennis ball.

Topography of Australia and Surrounding Region

The height of the land and features of the sea floor including deep trenches.

A comprehensive booklet exploring earthquakes. Includes Australian case students and student activities – one of which is ‘Epicentre Hunt’.

Website showing recent earthquakes analysed by the National Earthquake Alerts Centre. Link to the catalogue of historic events.

Storymap with information about significant earthquake activity and events in Australia to 2016.

Article by GA staff considering the 2018 revised National Seismic Hazard Assessment and implications for emergency management.

Investigate earthquake magnitude using spaghetti pasta.

Downloadable poster showing earthquakes during one year and across ten years, in Australia. Suitable for analysing earthquake distribution patterns in Australia.

Poster showing earthquakes in Australia greater than magnitude 4.5 over the course of 55 years. It is interesting to compare the spatial distribution with the annual distribution of events of all sizes.

How the world's largest earthquake made waves in Australia

Feature story describing the largest recorded earthquake that happened off Chile in 1960 and sent a tsunami across the Pacific Ocean that was recorded in Australia.

30 years on – Commemorating the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake

Feature story about the Newcastle earthquake – one of the most significant natural disasters in Australia's history.

ABC article featuring Dr Mark Leonard talking about earthquakes in Australia and how heritage buildings are most at risk in our capital cities.

38 minute talk about the little known, but significantly large, Petermann Ranges event and how it was analysed. Dr Dan Clark.

A comprehensive booklet exploring tsunami. Includes Australian case studies and student activities.

Comprehensive multimedia set of information about tsunamis, their impacts in Australia, warning systems and preparation for tsunami. Recommended. Scroll down the page to see the resource.

Tsunami generation animations

Three animations demonstrating the main causes of tsunami generation – earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions.

Ten Years On: 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

Feature story looking back on the events of 2004 and the catastrophic Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Article by GA's Jane Sexton about the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake.

A comprehensive booklet exploring volcanoes. Includes Australian case students and the student activities include an eruption role play.

Explore the concept of lava viscosity and influence on volcanic cone shape.

An A4 paper model, ready to cut out and assemble into a 3D shield volcano.

An A4 paper model, ready to cut out and assemble into a 3D strato volcano.

A comprehensive booklet exploring landslides. Includes Australian case studies and student activities.

Water Observations from Space (WOfS) uses satellite imagery to understand water in the landscape and can help with flood mapping.

Satellite imagery is used to monitor bushfire hotspots and provide timely information to emergency service managers.

Program advised by GA's Mark Edwards that investigates wind hazard including tornadoes in Australia (18 minutes).

Explore the maps for different cyclone recurrence intervals and potential extent of cyclone impacts in Australia (ArcGIS).

Sim game in which the player prepares a community for five potential disaster types. Published by the UN and International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 outlines seven clear targets and four priorities for action to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks.

This site provides access to seismometer recordings from around the worlds. The IRIS site contains extensive teaching resources about earthquakes.

Extensive list of inquiry activities with explanations for teachers.

Suggested programs for the WA version of the Earth and Environmental Science Australian Curriculum course designed by Earth Science Western Australia in consultation with teachers.

Variety of Australian teaching resources for all ages based around natural hazards (includes ‘Tsunami the ultimate guide’).