natural disasters

Collects one hundred facts about extreme weather and natural phenomena, covering volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and more; and includes illustrations, cartoons, quizzes, and activities.

This book shows how the dynamics--the workings--of disasters are connected by a small number of natural laws and how the most obvious process in a disaster is not always the one that causes the devastation. For instance, the transformation of apparently solid ground into a substance like quicksand during the 2010 Haiti earthquake is what caused the destruction of Port au Prince. Kieffer argues that only by truly understanding the dynamics of natural disasters can we begin to institute engineering and policy practices to minimize their impact on our lives.

Natural Disasters examines the types of natural hazards, their costs in human lives and economic impact, and national and international responses to them. Detailed case studies examine disasters in the United States, the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake and tsunami of 2004-2005, water resource management in China, the 1984-1985 famine in Ethiopia, and the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia in 1985. The case studies also investigate strategies that governments and private agencies have adopted to predict, manage, and survive natural disasters.

Natural disasters, the people who have experienced them, and how they survived.

Provides facts, figures, and interesting stories about each of one hundred memorable natural disasters from throughout history; features scientific descriptions of the different types of disasters; and includes photographs, a glossary of meteorological and geological terms, a bibliography, and other reference information.

Examines the natural forces that shape life on earth, describing hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, wildfires, and floods that have affected human life in recent years.

Offers a comprehensive account of Hurricane Katrina and its devastating impact on the city of New Orleans, describing how the storm destroyed the city and revealed serious flaws in the government's emergency response system and drawing on scientific research to explain why other equally destructive storms will happen in the future.

Provides an introduction to weather; contains alphabetized articles on topics related to weather and natural disasters, covering the science behind types of disasters and presenting firsthand accounts of events such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Asian tsunami; and discusses advances in related technology and the impact of human activities on weather. Includes lists of resources, comprehensive indexes, chronologies, and glossaries.

Photographs, diagrams, and easy-to-follow text help students learn about tsunamis, explaining what causes them, how they travel, and why they are so devastating.

Explains the causes of tornadoes, discusses where they occur and their aftermath, and describes tornadoes throughout history.