Natural Disasters - Softcover

Abbott, Patrick Leon

3.65

95 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 007329232X ISBN 13: 9780073292328

Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education, 2007

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This book focuses on natural disasters: how the normal processes of the Earth concentrate their energies and deal heavy blows to humans and their structures. It is concerned with how the natural world operates and, in so doing, kills and maims humans and destroys their works. Throughout the book, certain themes are maintained: * energy sources underlying disasters * plate tectonics and climate change * earth processes operating in rock, water, and atmosphere * significance of geologic time * complexities of multiple variables operating simultaneously * detailed and readable case studies.

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From the Publisher:

Updated Internet References and the addition of Internet questions at the end of each chapter.
You may choose to package Natural Disasters with The Smithsonian's Journey Through Geology: Earthquakes and Volcanoes version CD-ROM. This CD-ROM provides students with an active, hands-on learning experience. Viewing earthquake footage, building their own volcano, and flying over areas like Mount St. Helen's are just some of the topics you'll see on this CD-ROM.
Critical Thinking Questions have been added to the end of the chapters.
A thorough updating of material has been incorporated into the third edition. Major revisions in the following chapters have been instituted:

Chapter 6: Volcanoes now includes expanded coverage of how a volcano erupts and information on decompression melting. Additional material has also been added on Vesuvius eruption history and consideration of the future, better dating of Mt. Mazama (Crater Lake) eruption, and Krakatau eruption to include pryclastic flows crossing the sea to nearby islands.

Chapter 9: Climate Change has a new section on La Nina and expanded coverage of numerous topics: 1) weather vs climate; 2) water vapor; 3) greenhouse effect today; 4) methane hydrates; 5) the current Ice Age; 6) Younger Dryas; 7) Little Ice Age; 8) El Nino; 9) Tambora eruption effects

Chapter 10: Severe Weather has new sections on: 1) ice storms; 2) tornadoes and cities; 3) safe rooms. In addition, the following sections have been expanded: 1) Coriolis effect; 2) jet streams; 3) fronts; 4) lightning - how to avoid; 5) how a tornado works.

Chapter 11: Hurricanes and the Coastline has been significantly revised to include new sections on: 1) hurricane energy release; 2) the eye of the hurricane; 3) hurricane origins - Cape Verde vs Caribbean; 4) hurricane paths; 5) North Atlantic oscilllation and the Bermuda high; 6) forecasting the hurricane season; 7) case histories of Mitch and Pauline; and 8) the evacuation dilemma. Revised and expanded sections include: 1) how a hurricane works; 2) hurricane frequencies; and 3) hurricane damage.

Chapter 12: Floods now includes more information on: 1) gauging stations; 2) problems for cars crossing flood waters, 3) lengthy development of Red River of North flooding in 1997; 4) societal response to floods.

Chapter 13: Fire has new sections including: 1) fuel categories; 2) winds affecting fires; 3) fire suppression; 4) the Western U.S., summer 2000; 5) prescribed fires; 6) Los Alamos/Cerro Grande fire in 2000.
Over 50 diagrams have been revised and replaced in the new third edition.

About the Author:

Pat Abbott is a professor at San Diego State University

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