Natural Hazards and Human-Exacerbated Disasters in Latin America: Special Volumes of Geomorphology (Volume 13) (Developments in Earth Surface Processes, Volume 13)

The main objective of the book is to offer a vision of the dynamics of the main disasters in South America, describing their mechanisms and consequences on South American societies. The chapters are written by selected specialists of each country. Human-induced disasters are also included, such as desertification in Patagonia and soil erosion in Brazil. The receding of South-American glaciers as a response to recent climatic trends and sea-level scenarios are discussed. The approach is broad in analyzing causes and consequences and includes social and economic costs, discussing environmental and planning problems, but always describing the geomorphologic/geologic involved processes with a good scientific substantiation. This is important to differentiate the book from others of a more 'social' impact that discuss risks and disasters with emphases mainly on economy and simple impacts. * actual theme, interesting for a variety of professionals.* fills in the scarcity of specialized literature in geosciences from South America.* is the first book in the market exclusively devoted to geomorphology of disasters in South America. Content: Series Editors Page ii Volume Editors Page iii Copyright Page iv Editorial Foreword Pages xiii-xiv John F. Shroder Jr. Foreword Pages xv-xvi Andrew Goudie Preface Pages xvii-xix Edgardo M. Latrubesse List of Contributors Pages xxi-xxiv Climate and Geomorphologic-related Disasters in Latin America Review Article Pages 1-27 Norberto O. Garcia, Rosana Nieto Ferreira, Edgardo M. Latrubesse Geomorphology as a Tool for Analysis of Seismogenic Sources in Latin America and the Caribbean Review Article Pages 29-47 Carlos H. Costa, Franck A. Audemard M, Laurence Audin, Carlos Benavente The Changing Coastlines of South America Review Article Pages 49-73 Federico I. Isla, Enrique J. Schnack Disasters in Mexico and Central America: A Little Bit More than a Century of Natural Hazards Review Article Pages 75-97 Irasema Alcántara-Ayala Venezuela: The Construction of Vulnerability and Its Relation to the High Seismic Risk Review Article Pages 99-114 Jaime Laffaille, Carlos Ferrer, Klaudia Laffaille Natural Hazards and Human-Induced Disasters Triggered by Intense and Episodic Tropical Rains in the Venezuelan Mountains Review Article Pages 115-129 Maximiliano Bezada Convulsive Events, a Widespread Hazard in the Colombian Andes Review Article Pages 131-148 Michel Hermelin, Natalia Hoyos Geomorphology of Natural Hazards and Human-induced Disasters in Ecuador Review Article Pages 149-163 Fausto O. Sarmiento Natural Hazards in Peru: Causation and Vulnerability Review Article Pages 165-180 Kenneth R. Young, Blanca León Geomorphology of Natural Hazards and Human-induced Disasters in Bolivia Review Article Pages 181-194 Edgardo M. Latrubesse, Paul A. Baker, Jaime Argollo Soil Erosion in Brazil from Coffee to the Present-day Soy Bean Production Review Article Pages 195-221 Selma Simões de Castro, José Pereira de Queiroz Neto Landslides and Disasters in Southeastern and Southern Brazil Review Article Pages 223-243 Ana Luiza Coelho-Netto, André de Souza Avelar, Willy Alvarenga Lacerda Floods in Urban Areas of Brazil Review Article Pages 245-266 Jose Candido Stevaux, Edgardo M. Latrubesse, Maria Lucia de P. Hermann, Samia Aquino Seismic and Volcanic Hazards in Argentina Review Article Pages 267-300 Laura P. Perucca, Stella M. Moreiras Landslide Processes in Argentina Review Article Pages 301-332 Stella M. Moreiras, Andrea Coronato Floods in Argentina Review Article Pages 333-349 Edgardo M. Latrubesse, Daniel Brea Desertification in Patagonia Review Article Pages 351-377 Elizabeth Mazzonia, Mirian Vazquez Geology and Geomorphology of Natural Hazards and Human-Induced Disasters in Chile Review Article Pages 379-413 Adriano Cecioni, Verónica Pineda Impact of Global Climate Change on Glaciers and Permafrost of South America, with Emphasis on Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and the Antarctic Peninsula Review Article Pages 415-438 Jorge Rabassa Possible Future Changes in Geomorphological Hazards in Latin America Review Article Pages 439-443 Andrew S. Goudie A Latin American Perspective on Geomorphologic Hazards and Related Disasters Review Article Pages 445-448 Edgardo M. Latrubesse Reference Review Article Pages 449-494 Edgardo M. Latrubesse Index Pages 495-510 The main objective of the book is to offer a vision of the dynamics of the main disasters in South America, describing their mechanisms and consequences on South American societies. The chapters are written by selected specialists of each country. Human-induced disasters are also included, such as desertification in Patagonia and soil erosion in Brazil. The receding of South-American glaciers as a response to recent climatic trends and sea-level scenarios are discussed.
The approach is broad in analyzing causes and consequences and includes social and economic costs, discussing environmental and planning problems, but always describing the geomorphologic/geologic involved processes with a good scientific substantiation. This is important to differentiate the book from others of a more 'social' impact that discuss risks and disasters with emphases mainly on economy and simple impacts.

* actual theme, interesting for a variety of professionals.
* fills in the scarcity of specialized literature in geosciences from South America.
* is the first book in the market exclusively devoted to geomorphology of disasters in South America.