Natural Disasters

Undergraduate catalogue

An introduction to natural (and some society-induced) hazards and the importance of public understanding of related issues. Emphasis is on the geological processes that drive the hazards, and how these can inform policy choices. Topics include: earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunami, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, meteorite impacts, climate change. Intended primarily for non-science majors. Two lectures, one three-hour laboratory.