Class
Objective:
This course
will examine the natural hazards that occur on Earth and their effects
on society. The emphasis will be on 1) the actual risk that natural
disasters pose, their geographical distribution, the perceived risk
that people associate with them, and the various methods of response,
and 2) the fundamental principles behind what causes natural disasters
and why they occur. A complete understanding of natural disasters
requires some concepts from mathematics, physics and chemistry. There
will be a few equations, and computer exercises that will be quantitative,
so you need some algebra and geometry from high school. The primary
objective of the course is to arrive at an understanding and appreciation
of the impact that extreme natural events have, or can have, on the
lives of people and communities, as well as the geology behind these
often devastating phenomena. To this end, we will examine the causes
and characteristics of phenomenon like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
landslides, storms, floods, giant sea waves, meteor impacts, climate
changes, and mass extinctions.
