ENV 316 Natural Disasters and the Environment
Humans have been at the mercy of the forces of nature for thousands of years. Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes kill thousands of people around the globe each year, leave many more homeless, and cause billions of dollars in property damage. Better engineering and warning systems can greatly reduce these losses, but the disasters will continue to occur, as recent events in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico have shown. Now, for the first time in our history, our actions may be affecting the earth itself. This course will investigate the forces that drive natural disasters, as well as human efforts to mitigate the destruction they cause.