Natural hazards are all around us. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and tsunamis are all natural processes, but may have the potential to harm people living in the affected regions and cause billions of dollars of damage. In many cases, these risks are reaching farther and becoming more severe due to climate change. Geophysicists play a vital role in assessing the potential risks from natural hazards and geophysical research can point to ways to lessen the impacts of these hazardous events.