Africa: composite hazard map
This map illustrates area at risk of earthquake activity, volcanic eruptions and tropical storms according to established risk scales.
Earthquake intensity risk is gauged using the 1956 version of the Modified Mercalli Scale (MM), describing the effects of an earthquake on the surface of the earth.
Tropical storm risk is taken from the Munich Reinsurance Company's World Map of the Natural Hazards and shows tropical storm intensity based on the five wind speeds of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The zones indicate where there is a 10% probability of a storm of this intensity striking in the next 10 years.
Map data source: UN Cartographic Section, Global Discovery, Munich Reinsurance / NATHAN, UNEP/GRID, UNISYS, Pacific Disaster Center, Smithsonian Institute
Volcanic risk is indicated by the locations of Holocene volcanoes, defined as having shown activity within the past 11,500 years approximately, up to 2002.