Natural Disasters

Catalog description

Natural disasters are major events on Earth that often have extreme consequences. This course is a survey of geoscience through an examination of natural hazards, including the causes and effects of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, climate change, and more. Case studies of natural disasters will be discussed, focusing on the geologic context of the hazard and its Impact on society, individuals, and the environments. The course will examine how society minimizes the risks associated with disasters and students will develop a foundation for critically evaluating future approaches to managing hazards. This course Is designed for students without an extensive background in science or math and who do not plan to major in geology. Potential geology majors should take GEOL-101A.