This course discusses the physical processes that underpin a selection of natural hazards: severe weather, tropical cyclones, volcanic eruptions, floods, tsunamis, coastal hazards and earthquakes. Basic knowledge from EMSC8706 is extended and each hazard is discussed in depth. Detailed hazard and risk assessments are undertaken in class and relevant writing and presentation skills are further trained.

Lectures in this course are designed to provide comprehensive knowledge on a selection of hazards. During practicals, methods for detailed hazard and risk assessments are discussed and analytical skills are trained. Discussion sessions focus on recent scientific findings published in peer-reviewed journals and will help students to further train the skills necessary for critical reading, thinking and data analysis.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. identify and evaluate the physical mechanisms and context in which natural hazards form globally,
2.  judge the impact of natural hazards on society,
3. assess the most effective hazard monitoring and mitigation measures,
4. devise, apply and communicate a detailed hazard and risk assessment.

-         Written reports based on the practicals and performance in online quizzes (40%; LO 1-4)

-         Final paper (in the format of a scientific paper) (35%; LO 1-4)

-         Presentation of a scientific journal article (20%; LO 1-3)

-         Participation in class discussion during lectures, student presentations of journal articles,  field trips, laboratory practicals, etc. (5%; LO 1-4)

Two 2 hour lectures/practicals per week. Students are expected to spend an average of a further 6 hours per week on work related to the course.

EMSC8706

Basic knowledge of geoscience.

Recommended preparatory reading:

1)      Press and Siever ‘Understanding Earth’ or Kump et al. ‘The Earth System’.

2)      Keller and DeVecchio (2012) ‘Natural Hazards: Earth's Processes as Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes’ or Hyndman and Hyndman (2006) ‘Natural Hazards and Disasters’