This book deals with natural hazards of geophysical, meteorological, hydrological, and biological types that are causing increasing social and economic damage. The development of these hazards and their impact on the living and non-living environment are described in the individual chapters. The compilation synthesises a natural and social geography approach, explores mitigation options and focuses attention on the processes that are most prevalent in Europe and Western Asia, in addition to global phenomena.
The author argues that, with the right knowledge and preparedness, the wide-ranging impacts of natural hazards intertwined with climate change can be reduced. This work provides a wealth of digitally accessible professional information to help readers identify and manage natural hazards. The book is useful for students, educators, professionals, practitioners, and those interested in decision making.
Author(s): Gábor Mezősi
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 268
City: Cham
Preface
Contents
1 General Analysis of Natural Hazards
1.1 Natural Hazards and Their Types
1.2 Interpretation and Definitions of Natural Hazards
1.3 Overall Impacts and Consequences of Natural Hazards in Numbers
1.3.1 Human Aspects of Natural Hazards and Disasters
1.3.2 Economic Aspects of Natural Hazards and Disasters
1.4 Logical Steps for Reducing the Impacts of Natural Hazards
1.4.1 Early Warning Systems
1.5 Management of Natural Hazards
Bibliography
2 Geophysical Hazards
2.1 Natural Hazards Posed by Volcanic Activity and Mitigation Options
2.1.1 The Formation and Spatial Distribution of Volcanoes
2.1.2 The Intensity of Volcanic Activity
2.1.3 Consequences of Volcanic Activity and Related Hazards
2.1.4 Relationship of Volcanism to Other Natural Hazards
2.1.5 Forecasting and Mitigating Volcanic Hazards
2.1.6 Monitoring Volcanic Activity
2.1.7 Issues Related to Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions
2.1.8 Technical Tasks Related to Reducing Volcanic Damage
2.1.9 Human Tasks Tackling to Mitigate the Impact of the Hazard
2.2 The Earthquake Hazard
2.2.1 Naturally Occurring Earthquakes and Their Spatial Aspects
2.2.2 Measuring the Location and Magnitude of an Earthquake Epicentre
2.2.3 The Frequency of Earthquakes and Their Regional Aspects
2.2.4 Impacts of Earthquakes
2.2.5 Mitigating the Impacts of Earthquakes and Responding to Hazards
2.2.6 Some Infrastructural Aspects of Mitigating Earthquake Impacts
2.3 The Tsunami Hazard—Seismic Sea Waves
2.3.1 Tsunami Occurrence
2.3.2 Hydrometric Characteristics and Movement of a Tsunami
2.3.3 Consequences of a Tsunami, Environmental and Social Damage
2.3.4 Mitigation Options for the Effects of Tsunamis
2.4 Natural Hazards Caused by Landslides, Mass Movements
2.4.1 Some Types of Landslides
2.4.2 Physical Background of Mass Movements
2.4.3 Causes of Mass Movements
2.4.4 Spatial Occurrence of Mass Movements
2.4.5 Consequences of Mass Movements
2.4.6 Hazard Mitigation and Some Issues of Protection
2.4.7 Initial State, Monitoring and Mapping of the Process
2.4.8 Mass Movement Prediction
2.4.9 Some Elements of Protection Against the Effects of Mass Movements
2.4.10 Communicating the Hazards Associated with Mass Movements
Bibliography
3 Meteorological Hazards
3.1 Extreme Meteorological Events
3.1.1 Heatwaves
3.1.2 Cold Waves
3.1.3 Fog Hazard
3.2 Tropical and Temperate Cyclones and Related Phenomena, Hazards
3.2.1 Tropical Cyclones
3.2.2 Main Characteristics of Hurricanes and Typhoons
3.2.3 Temperate Cyclones
3.3 Extreme Climatic Phenomena Associated with Convective (Vertically Mixing) Air Mass Movement
3.3.1 Thunderstorms
3.3.2 Lightning
3.3.3 Extreme Rain, Freezing Rain, Snow, Blizzards and Snowstorms
3.3.4 Tornadoes
3.3.5 Dust and Sandstorms
3.4 Mapping and Forecasting Extreme Weather Events
Bibliography
4 Hydrological Hazards
4.1 Flood Risk
4.1.1 Definition, Concepts
4.1.2 Parameters Used in Flood Analysis
4.1.3 Types and Spatial Aspects of Floods
4.1.4 Some Natural and Social Consequences of Floods
4.1.5 Physical Consequences of Floods, Riverbed Formation
4.1.6 Flood (Risk) Management and Mitigation
4.1.7 Expected Trends in Flood Risk
4.2 Flash Floods
4.2.1 Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Flash Floods
4.2.2 Effects of Flash Floods and the Damage They Cause
4.2.3 Estimation of Flash Flood Risk
4.2.4 Protection, Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
4.3 Inland Excess Water Hazards
4.3.1 General Characterisation, Types
4.3.2 Factors Influencing the Formation of Inland Excess Water, Measurement and Extent of Inland Excess Water
4.3.3 Environmental Consequences of Inland Excess Water
4.3.4 Treatment and Management of Inland Excess Water
4.4 The Environmental Risk of Drought and Some of Its Management Issues
4.4.1 General Characterisation, Drought Types
4.4.2 Factors and Measurement of Drought
4.4.3 The Environmental Effects of Drought
4.4.4 Drought Management Questions—Effects and Answers
4.5 Soil Erosion Caused by Water and Wind
4.5.1 Definition of Soil Erosion and Its Determinants
4.5.2 Types of Soil Erosion and Its Spatial Aspects
4.5.3 Calculating the Extent of Soil Erosion by Precipitation and by Wind
4.5.4 Some Consequences of Soil Erosion Caused by Water and Wind
4.5.5 Answering Some Management Questions on Soil Erosion
4.5.6 Future Changes in the Extent of Soil Erosion
Bibliography
5 Biosphere-Related Natural Hazards
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Human Health Epidemics
5.3 Plant and Animal Health Epidemics
5.4 Rapid Spread of Species
5.4.1 Emergence of Invasive Species
5.4.2 Algal Bloom
5.4.3 Insect Invasions
5.5 Ecosystem Changes and Degradation
5.5.1 Consequences of Fires Affecting Vegetation
5.5.2 Forest Degradation
5.5.3 Extinction of Species
Bibliography
6 Extraterrestrial Hazards
6.1 Introduction
6.1.1 Cosmic Objects Related to the (Hazard) Process
6.2 Physical Background and Results of the Impact Process
6.3 Consequences of Extraterrestrial Effects
6.4 Mitigation Options Concerning the Impact of the Hazard
Bibliography
7 Climate Change and Its Impacts
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Physical Background and Trends in Climate Change
7.3 Some Causes and Consequences of Climate Change
7.4 Impact of Climate Change on Inland Ice Sheets, Glaciers and Oceans
7.5 Some Options to Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Change
Bibliography
