Natural disasters are a fact of everyday life. On almost any day, international news bulletins tell of some disaster that has befallen a remote location on Earth. Sometimes the disasters are on our doorstep. Most places in the world are at some risk from what nature can impart, whether it be geologic hazards (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and landslides), weather and climate hazards (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning strikes, ice storms, drought, and global warming); and extraterrestrial hazards (e.g., meteorite impacts and solar flares).

Disasters are also among the few events on Earth that unite humans. They emphasize our innate desire to reach out and help our fellow people. Unfortunately, the aid is often too little, too late. What is more advantageous is advanced planning, forethought, informed decision making, and dissemination of information through education. In other words, disaster preparedness. In order to be sufficiently prepared for any disaster, we must understand the science behind the hazard itself.

This course will examine the numerous types of natural hazards that people must face. It will examine the potential effects of natural hazards on the landscape of the Earth in general, as well as on populated areas specifically, through numerous case studies. It will illustrate both the short-term and long-term hardships and consequences of natural disasters on the social, economic, and political arenas. It will also highlight those locations (particularly using examples in the U.S.A.) where disasters are likely to occur in the future, scientific analyses of the nature of the hazards involved, and how we can prepare for them in such a way so as to minimize the damage and number of casualties.

The course will consist of the following major themes (weeks 1 through 15):

* Overview of Catastrophic Events in Nature
* Plate Tectonics
* Earthquakes
* Earthquake-induced tsunamis
* Volcanic eruptions
* Landslides
* Sinkholes, subsidence, and expansive soils
* River floods
* Shoreline hazards
* Hurricanes
* Storm surges and related flooding
* Thunderstorms and tornadoes
* Wildfires
* Meteorite Impacts
* Global warming

Lecture:

Textbook: Natural Hazards and Disasters, Second Edition (Hyndman and Hyndman). Available in the UI bookstore.

Course Syllabus

Lecture Outline

Quizzes on Blackboard

Homework Assignments

Online Class Materials

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Natural Disasters in the News Articles

USGS Natural Hazards Gateway

The Disaster Center

Most Expensive Natural Disasters (20th Century)

Highest Death Tolls in Natural Disasters (20th Century)

Death Tolls in Natural Disasters (by Category)

Emergency Disasters Database

Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters

Simon's Earthquake Information Resources webpage

Daily Updates of World Earthquakes (USGS)

Earthquakes in the US, Last 7 days (USGS)

Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest, last 2 weeks

Most Recent Significant Earthquake in the Pacific Northwest

Info on Significant Earthquakes by year (USGS)

Earthquakes "Top 10" Lists (USGS)

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (NOAA-National Weather Service)

National Geophysical Data Center: Tsunami Data

Weekly Updates of Volcanic Eruptions Worldwide

Epic Disasters website (Volcanoes)

Sinkhole.org

National Hurricane Center (National Weather Service)

Tornadoes and Severe Weather (Disaster Center)

Tornado FAQ

National Weather Service Fire Danger Forecasts

National Interagency Fire Center

Near Earth Object Program (NASA)

Torino Impact Hazard Scale

North American Impact Craters