Overview

In 2011, there were fourteen natural calamities that each destroyed over a billion dollars' worth of property in the United States alone. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy ravaged the East Coast and major earthquakes struck in Italy, the Philippines, Iran, and Afghanistan. In the first half of 2013, the awful drumbeat continued-a monster supertornado struck Moore, Oklahoma; a powerful earthquake shook Sichuan, China; a cyclone ravaged Queensland, Australia; massive floods inundated Jakarta, Indonesia; and the largest wildfire ever engulfed a large part of Colorado. Despite these events, we still behave as if natural disasters are outliers. Why else would we continue to build new communities near active volcanoes, on tectonically active faults, on flood plains, and in areas routinely lashed by vicious storms? A famous historian once observed that ""civilization exists by geologic consent, subject to change without notice."" In the pages of this unique book, leading geologist Susan W. Kieffer provides a primer on most types of natural disasters: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, landslides, hurricanes, cyclones, and tornadoes. By taking us behind the scenes of the underlying geology that causes them, she shows why natural disasters are more common than we realize, and that their impact on us will increase as our growing population crowds us into ever more vulnerable areas. Kieffer describes how natural disasters result from ""changes in state"" in a geologic system, much as when water turns to steam. By understanding what causes these changes of state, we can begin to understand the dynamics of natural disasters. In the book's concluding chapter, Kieffer outlines how we might better prepare for, and in some cases prevent, future disasters. She also calls for the creation of an organization, something akin to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but focused on pending natural disasters.

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9780393349917

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Reviews

"""Anyone interested in the processes that underlie catastrophic events within Earth will welcome this book, part riveting and all informative."" -- Nature ""This book ought to be placed in the hands of politicians, engineers, insurance assessors and, frankly, anyone who sees sense in understanding the processes and systems that guide our planet."" -- Geographical Magazine ""...brisk and lucid presentation..."" -- The Times Literary Supplement ""...the clarity of Kieffer's writing, coupled with her careful choice of supporting graphics, makes the content engaging and accessible to a wide readership."" -- Times Higher Education ""Kieffer takes a novel approach that involves thinking about natural catastrophes in terms of changes to 'systems' that otherwise present no threat."" -- BBC Focus ""...Kieffer...uses her deep expertise in the physics of geological processes to give an unconventional and insightful treatment of natural hazards..."" -- Physics World"

Anyone interested in the processes that underlie catastrophic events within Earth will welcome this book, part riveting and all informative. Nature This book ought to be placed in the hands of politicians, engineers, insurance assessors and, frankly, anyone who sees sense in understanding the processes and systems that guide our planet. Geographical Magazine ...the clarity of Kieffer's writing, coupled with her careful choice of supporting graphics, makes the content engaging and accessible to a wide readership. Times Higher Education ...brisk and lucid presentation... Times Literary Supplement Kieffer takes a novel approach that involves thinking about natural catastrophes in terms of changes to 'systems' that otherwise present no threat. BBC Focus

Fast-moving, interesting... Imparts a range of knowledge of the risks of natural hazards in a relatively painless way that educates but also entertains. -- Donald Turcotte Anyone interested in the processes that underlie catastrophic events within Earth will welcome this book, part riveting and all informative.

Fast-moving, interesting Imparts a range of knowledge of the risks of natural hazards in a relatively painless way that educates but also entertains. --Donald Turcotte

Anyone interested in the processes that underlie catastrophic events within Earth will welcome this book, part riveting and all informative. -- Nature This book ought to be placed in the hands of politicians, engineers, insurance assessors and, frankly, anyone who sees sense in understanding the processes and systems that guide our planet. -- Geographical Magazine ...the clarity of Kieffer's writing, coupled with her careful choice of supporting graphics, makes the content engaging and accessible to a wide readership. -- Times Higher Education ...brisk and lucid presentation... -- The Times Literary Supplement Kieffer takes a novel approach that involves thinking about natural catastrophes in terms of changes to 'systems' that otherwise present no threat. -- BBC Focus ...Kieffer...uses her deep expertise in the physics of geological processes to give an unconventional and insightful treatment of natural hazards... -- Physics World

Author Information

Susan W. Kieffer is a professor emerita of geology at the University of Illinois and a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant. She is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Kieffer hosts a popular blog called Geology in Motion. She lives on Whidbey Island, Washington.

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