GEOL50443

Prerequisites: permission of the instructor. This course offers an in-depth exploration of natural hazards and disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. Students will examine the dynamic Earth system processes, including atmospheric, surface, and subsurface processes, that drive these phenomena while critically analyzing how human activities contribute to their frequency and severity. Through an interdisciplinary and global perspective, the course investigates how interconnected systems, such as climate change, tectonic activity, socio-economic factors, and anthropogenic influences, shape disaster occurrence, response, and long-term recovery. Emphasis is placed on global variations in risk perception, preparedness, response, and mitigation efforts, highlighting how various factors influence resilience and vulnerability across different regions. Lab exercises incorporate geospatial technology tools to assess risk, model disaster scenarios, and analyze the cascading effects of hazards on populations, infrastructure, and ecosystems.

CORE - NSC (Natural Science)