GradeGen

An effect caused directly by an earthquake or volcanic eruption, such as buildings collapsing during ground shaking.

Damage or harm caused directly by a hazard, such as wind destroying a building.

It is also useful to distinguish primary impacts, caused directly by the storm, from secondary impacts, which follow from that damage. A destroyed road is a primary impact; difficulties reaching injured people because the road is blocked are secondary impacts. These categories describe the chain of consequences, whereas social, economic and environmental categories describe what is affected.

A direct consequence of a hazardous event, such as buildings being damaged by cyclone winds.

Primary impacts result directly from the storm, such as winds tearing roofs from houses or floodwater destroying crops. Secondary impacts develop from that initial damage: families lose shelter, farmers lose income and food supplies become disrupted. Secondary impacts can continue long after the wind and rain have stopped.

Primary impact

Definition

How each exam board covers it

Edexcel GCSE Geography A · 1GA0

Edexcel GCSE Geography B · 1GB0

Revise Geography with GradeGen

Definition

How each exam board covers it

Edexcel GCSE Geography A · 1GA0

Edexcel GCSE Geography B · 1GB0

Related key terms

Revise Geography with GradeGen