UK Geohazards
Although we do not think of Britain as experiencing
large scale geological hazards, less dramatic ones result
in costs of between £0.5bn and £1bn each year, as well
as occasional injury or loss of life.
Most significant is the swelling and shrinking of clay
formations, which can damage buildings and
infrastructure. Other relatively common natural
geological hazards include landslides, sinkhole
formation by the dissolution of more soluble rocks, and
the presence of weak and compressible ground. The
geological record also shows that the UK has
experienced significant tsunamis in the recent past, and
this could happen again.
There are also ‘anthropogenic geohazards’ caused by
human activities such as ground contamination, mineral
extraction and waste disposal. We are experiencing
increasing levels of weather-related hazards such as
flooding, including groundwater flooding. The 2012-
2013 flooding events seen across the UK resulted in
insurance claims of over £1bn. Geologists have an
essential role to play in advising on the construction of
flood defences, understanding and managing natural
defences, and ensuring land use is planned effectively.