Hazomes: A Classification of Earth’s Regions by Hazard Profiles

The combination of natural hazards, along with their frequency and intensity, defines local disturbance regimes that fundamentally shape ecosystems and human societies. We propose 'hazomes,' a novel classification system of the earth based on these specific hazard profiles. Unlike other classification systems such as climatic zones that categorize the earth according to average conditions, 'hazomes' are defined by distinct profiles of extreme natural hazards. We integrate data from multiple open sources and develop methodologies to systematically identify and categorize 'hazomes' across the globe, based on two return periods and two intensities for each hazard type (among others earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and tropical cyclones). This approach reveals thousands of distinct 'hazomes,' reflecting a diverse range of natural disturbance regimes. Our analysis shows that 'hazomes' provide insights that complement traditional classifications such as Köppen–Geiger climatic zones, biomes, and ecoregions.

For enhanced usability and broader application, we also develop two streamlined versions of the classification. The reduced version classifies geographic points based solely on the binary presence or absence of each hazard type. The simplified version distills the framework into less than a hundred principal categories by focusing on the most significant hazard characteristics. These versions balance the richness of detailed data with practical applicability in risk management and planning. This framework aims to deepen insights into ecosystem and societal resilience by highlighting how both ecological and human systems may adapt to or depend upon specific natural disturbance regimes. Among its various potential applications, this approach is particularly useful for facilitating multi-hazard risk assessments and supporting the development of adaptive strategies by transferring knowledge between areas with similar disturbance profiles.