Dept.

of Geography Simon Fraser University Spring Term 2011

Dr. Maggie Squires RCB 7132 squires.maggie@gmail.com GEOG 312 NATURAL HAZARDS

Natural hazards occur at the interface between human activities and potentially destructive natural events. Natural hazards include atmospheric, hydrologic, geologic, and biologic phenomena that, because of their location, severity, and/or frequency, may adversely affect humans. A hazardous event that causes unacceptably large numbers of fatalities, overwhelming property damage, or widespread disruption of human economies, is called a natural disaster. Although humans can do little or nothing to change the incidence or intensity of most natural phenomena, in some cases human activities may lead to an increase in the frequency and/or severity of natural hazards or directly cause hazards such as desertification and global warming. In still other cases humans may choose to settle in the vicinity of natural phenomena such as on fertile floodplains or volcano flanks, thus transforming potentially beneficial natural events into hazardous ones. The course covers geologic and weather events that release large amounts of energy for short periods (for example, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, fire, landslides), drought and heat waves, near-earth objects, biological hazards (insects and diseases), and the causes and consequences of mass extinctions. The course explores the vulnerability of humans, assets, goods, and activity to potential harm, how socio-economic factors affect vulnerability to hazardous events, and also how humans may affect hazards and their outcomes as well as create hazards and disasters. LECTURES: Lectures examine the histories, causes, magnitudes, frequencies, return periods, and impacts of natural hazards and disasters; risk assessment and prediction of hazardous events; prevention, preparedness and mitigation; and, response and recovery. TUTORIALS: Through articles, case studies, and role-playing tutorials explore vulnerability to natural hazards and disasters through examination of the social and cultural environment in which natural disasters occur, and how natural hazards and disasters may be exacerbated by human activities. OBJECTIVES: By the end of the course students will be able to identify the causes and factors controlling the magnitude of hazardous events and explain the connections among hazard, risk, vulnerability, and impact. PREREQUISITES: GEOG 111 or EASC 101. Students with credit for GEOG 212 may not take this course for further credit. This course may be applied toward the Certificate in Liberal Arts. ORGANIZATION: The course is comprised of one 2-h lecture and one 2-h tutorial session/week. There is a lecture but not a tutorial during the week of January 10 when a detailed schedule of lecture topics and related chapters in the text will be made available. Tutorials begin the week of January 16 when the first exercise and readings will be assigned. TEXT: Keller, E.A., R.H. Blodgett and J.J. Clague. 2008. "Natural Hazards". Pearson Canada, Toronto. REQUIREMENTS & GRADING: Participation at Lectures Tutorial Work Short Paper Term Paper Final Examination 5% 20% 15% 30% 30%

SCHEDULE: Lectures commence on Tuesday January 11. Tutorials commence the week of January 17. The Short Paper is due on Monday February 7. The Term Paper topic must be declared by Tuesday February 25. The Term Paper is due on Monday April 4.