Geophysical Hazards: Minimizing Risk, Maximizing Awareness (International Year of Planet Earth)

This volume, written by the Hazards Science Team of the International Year of Planet Earth, brings together some of the most influential international scientists dealing with Natural Hazards and society’s response to natural hazards. It recognises that hazards, like poverty, will always be with us but that concerted and organised societal response can prevent a hazard becoming a disaster. By bringing together geoscientists, social scientists and those concerned with the administration of international science and international disaster reduction, this book details the state-of-the-science as well as the state-of-the-response in natural hazards. The contents of this volume fall into four parts: Part 1 deals with the IYPE Hazards Theme and its relation to society, emphasising that implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action requires a strong emphasis on human societies, human security, and that this can be achieved only through appropriate communication. Part 2 focuses on the response of the international scientific community. Part 3 concentrates on geophysical risk and sustainability by considering climate and climate change as well as the theory and the praxis involved in hazards, their prevention and mitigation. Part 4 relates to the observation and assessment of geo-hazards and risk. Front Matter....Pages i-xix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Hazards Theme of the International Year of Planet Earth....Pages 3-16 Social Science Perspectives on Hazards and Vulnerability Science....Pages 17-30 Focusing on the Environment and Human Security Nexus....Pages 31-39 Communicating Geological Hazards: Educating, Training and Assisting Geoscientists in Communication Skills....Pages 41-55 Front Matter....Pages 57-57 Introduction of a New International Research Program: Integrated Research on Disaster Risk - The Challenge of Natural and Human-Induced Environmental Hazards....Pages 59-69 Building a University Network for Disaster Risk Reduction in sub-Saharan Africa....Pages 71-81 Co-operation Plan on Hazards & Disasters Risk Reduction in Asia and the Pacific....Pages 83-101 Front Matter....Pages 103-103 Closing the Gap Between Science and Practice to Reduce Human Losses in Hydro-Meteorological Disasters....Pages 105-114 The Role of Geosciences in the Mitigation of Natural Disasters: Five Case Studies....Pages 115-147 Front Matter....Pages 149-149 Seismic Hazard in India - Practical Aspects and Initiatives During IYPE....Pages 151-160 Computational Geodynamics as a Component of Comprehensive Seismic Hazards Analysis....Pages 161-177 Hazards in the Coastal Zones Related to Groundwater–Seawater Interaction Processes....Pages 179-194 Front Matter....Pages 195-195 Mega Tsunami of the World Oceans: Chevron Dune Formation, Micro-Ejecta, and Rapid Climate Change as the Evidence of Recent Oceanic Bolide Impacts....Pages 197-227 Understanding Slow Deformation Before Dynamic Failure....Pages 229-247 Landslides in Mountain Regions: Hazards, Resources and Information....Pages 249-260 Back Matter....Pages 261-262 The International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) was established as a means of raising worldwide public and political awareness of the vast, though frequently under-used, potential the Earth Sciences possess for improving the quality of life of the peoples of the world and safeguarding Earth's rich and diverse environments. The International Year project was jointly initiated in 2000 by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the Earth Science Division of the United Nations Educational, Scienti?c and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). IUGS, which is a Non-Governmental Organisation, and UNESCO, an Inter-Governmental Orga- sation, already shared a long record of productive cooperation in the natural sciences and their application to societal problems, including the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) now in its fourth decade. With its main goals of raising public awareness of, and enhancing research in the Earth sciences on a global scale in both the developed and less-developed countries of the world, two operational programmes were demanded. In 2002 and 2003, the Series Editors together with Dr. Ted Nield and Dr. Henk Schalke (all four being core members of the Management Team at that time) drew up outlines of a Science and an Outreach Programme. In 2005, following the UN proclamation of 2008 as the United Nations International Year of Planet Earth, the “Year” grew into a triennium (2007–2009). This Volume Brings Together Some Of The Most Influential International Scientists Dealing With Natural Hazards And Society's Response To Natural Hazards. It Recognises That Hazards, Like Poverty, Will Always Be With Us But That Concerted And Organized Societal Response Can Prevent A Hazard Becoming A Disaster.