COURSE DESCRIPTION GEOGRAPHY OF NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS GEOG 560. Fall Maingi Solomon, PhD

Transcription

1 GEOG 560 GEOGRAPHY OF NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS Fall 2016 Maingi Solomon, PhD COURSE DESCRIPTION There are few things in nature that impact society on such a large scale as natural disasters and catastrophes. The purpose of this course is to introduce you to a variety of naturally occurring phenomena that negatively impact human society over a variety of temporal and spatial scales. In this course, we will discuss, examine, and analyze the elements of natural processes and what makes them hazardous to humans. The course surveys the different natural processes that result in human disasters including the geographical distribution of, and the physical mechanisms that result in, the most hazardous, naturally occurring processes on earth. Many natural hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and related events such as tsunami, are driven by processes within the earth s interior and are considered internal. Others, like flooding and storms, are driven by the interactions between the earth s atmosphere, oceans, and land surface and are considered external. Although each natural hazard is an important physical process within earth s system, both internal and external processes have the potential to adversely affect human life, property, and activities. Therefore, the factors that influence the human perception of, and response to, natural hazards will be a common theme. The concepts of risk, risk management, hazard mitigation and response will be explored generally as well as with respect to each type of hazard. We will emphasize the geographic differences in how communities perceive, manage, and respond to the threats posed by natural hazards in terms of community vulnerability. Concepts will be reinforced qualitatively and quantitatively through class discussion, homework exercises, as well as reading and writing assignments.

2 BASICS Time & Place MWF 12:10AM - 1:00PM 204 Horton Hall Instructor Info Dr. Maingi Solomon maingi.solomon@unh.edu 331 Huddleston Hall (603) Office Hours Tuesday 10:00AM - 12:00 AM Or by appointment Friday 2:00 3:00 PM Mycourses Textbook Materials Accessibility University Policies Comments Course information can be found in: mycourses.unh.edu Lecture materials and assignments are organized by week under Files. Keller, E.A. & D.E. DeVecchio, Natural Hazards: Earth s Processes as Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes, 4 rd Edition, [ISBN: ] Calculator The University is committed to providing students with documented disabilities equal access to all University programs and facilities. If you think you have a disability requiring accommodations, you must register with Disability Services for Students (DSS). Contact DSS at (603) or disability.office@unh.edu. If you have received Accommodation Letters for this course from DSS, please provide me with that information privately so that we can review those accommodations. See the DSS Website for details: All students should know and understand university policies and procedures regarding academic performance, including attendance and academic dishonesty. If you are unfamiliar with these policies, please refer to the University of New Hampshire Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities for details: The following procedures, policies, and schedules may change during the course semester. Any changes will be announced in class and posted on blackboard. Announcements may also be distributed via . It is your responsibility to check your university account and blackboard regularly. GEOG560: Syllabus Page - 2

3 GRADING PROCEDURES General Exams All coursework submitted for evaluation must represent each student s own, original work. Therefore, all assignments and exams are to be completed individually in accordance with the standards of conduct outlined in Section 09: Academic Honesty of the UNH Students Rights, Rules and Responsibility: There will be a midterm and final exam, each worth 20 % of your final grade. Course material is comprehensive but exams focus on the section of the course most recently presented. Exams cover material from lecture and assignments and include multiple choice/matching, short-answer and essay questions. Assignments Assignments include five problem sets, together worth 20 % of your final grade, along with five journal assignments, together worth an additional 20 %. Problem sets focus on scientific observation and analysis of natural hazards based on information presented in lecture and the textbook. Journal assignments emphasize the human impact and response to natural hazards based on assigned readings. Final Project You will be required to complete a group project in which your group will act as consultants and prepare and present a disaster plan for a specific community worth 10 % of your final grade. Project details to follow. Participation Participation in class discussions is an important way to share information and ideas and reflects your comprehension of course material. Class attendance and participation go hand in hand and are together worth 10 % of your final grade. Final Grades Final grades will be assigned based on the cumulative weighted scores from all coursework using the following grade distribution: A 93 % B 83 % C 73 % D 60 % A- 90 % B- 80 % C- 70 % D- 60 % B+ 87 % C+ 77 % D+ 67 % F < 60 % Final grades may be curved, depending upon class performance. GEOG560: Syllabus Page - 3

4 ATTENDANCE Lecture Excused Absences Tardiness and early departure is incredibly disruptive and may cause you, and your classmates, to miss important material. Lecture begins promptly at 10 minutes after the hour so be on time and prepared for the start of class. Do not expect, nor prepare, to leave before the 80-minute class period has elapsed. Each student must receive equal opportunity to demonstrate his/her ability to comprehend course material. Therefore, all students will take exams on the same day and no make-up exams will be given except for: 1.) Absences in which prior arrangements have been made. Such arrangements must be made at least one week in advance of the absence. 2.) Absences due to family or personal medical emergencies in which a university approved absence has been granted. You must contact your college s Dean s office for a letter verifying your absence. 3.) Absences due to serious illness or personal medical emergency accompanied by a doctor s note. Missed Work In all cases, it is entirely up to you to make arrangements to complete missed work. In the case of an excused absence without prior arrangements, you must notify me within 48 hours of the scheduled exam or homework due date. If you fail to receive approval for a make-up exam or late work within this timeframe, or have an unexcused absence, you will receive a 0 for a missed exam and are subject to the penalties for late work described below. Late Work Assignments are due at the beginning of, or prior to, the class period on the indicated due date. Assignments submitted after the due date will be accepted for half credit up to one week after the due date. Assignments that are more than one week late will be assigned a grade of 0. There is no penalty for late work due to an excused absence. GEOG560: Syllabus Page - 4

5 GENERAL RULES OF CONDUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS COMMUNICATION Procedures, policies, and schedules may change during the course semester. Any changes will be announced in class and posted on blackboard. Announcements may also be distributed via . It is your responsibility to check your university account and the course homepage on Blackboard regularly. All forms of communication directed toward your instructor and classmates should be conducted in a professional manner. s should be addressed appropriately, contain your name and text should be written using proper English including the use of complete sentences, capital letters, and proper punctuation. ELECTRONIC DEVICES The use of digital communication devices is prohibited while in class unless otherwise approved for note-taking purposes only. A batteryoperated calculator is the only electronic device that can be used on exams unless otherwise instructed. Hand-held digital devices with internet capability may not be used as calculators. You may not share calculators with another student on an exam. Either action will be considered an act of academic misconduct following Section 09: Academic Honesty of the University of New Hampshire Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities ( BEHAVIOR Immature, rude, and inappropriate behavior in the classroom will not be tolerated. This includes talking during lecture, as well as personal use of digital communication devices during lecture including, but not limited to: text, instant or messaging, social media, and web browsing. Anyone caught engaging in such activity will be asked to leave immediately and will be given an unexcused absence regarding any missed coursework. This is your warning. GEOG560: Syllabus Page - 5

6 SCHEDULE WEEK TOPIC READINGS & DUE DATES Aug 29/31-2 7/9 Introduction: Introduction to Natural Hazards Natural Processes as Hazards Humans & Hazards t 5, No Class (Labor Day) Hazard Assessment Risk Predicting Natural Hazards K&D: Sect 1.1-3, 1.4, 1.5 K&D: Sect 1.4; Schiermeier (2012) CRN: Sect 3 K&D: Sect 1.4 HW1: Recurrence Intervals Due Friday 9/18 Hazard Mitigation & Management Social Vulnerability Preparedness, Response & Recovery Hazard Reporting CRN: Sect 3; Adger, N. (2006) K&D: Sect. 1.4; CRN: Sect 4 Articles Internal Processes: 12/14/16 19/21/23 26/28/30 Oct 3/5/7 Oct 10/12/14 Plate Tectonics K&D: Sect 2.1-3, 2.6&7; Ring of Fire HW2: Plate Tectonics Due Friday 9/23 Earthquake Mechanics Faults & Seismic Waves Earthquake Shaking K&D: Sect 3.1&2, 3.4; USGS Publications K&D: Sect 3.3&5; USGS Publications HW 3: Earthquakes Due Friday 9/30 Earthquake Hazards Human Interactions with K&D: Sect 3.7; Deadliest Earthquakes Earthquakes K&D: Sect 3.8&9 Earthquake Mitigation J1: Predicting Earthquakes Due Friday 10/7 Volcanic Processes Volcano Formation K&D: Sect 5.1 Volcano Types & Distribution K&D: Sect Volcano Hazards Eruptive Styles & Products Eruption Impacts HW4: Volcanoes J2: Volcano Monitoring & Hazard Mitigation Tsunami Formation & Impacts Monitoring & Mitigation K&D: Sect 5.2&4; USGS Publications K&D: Sect 5.7-9; Deadliest Volcanoes Due Friday 10/14 K&D: Sect 4.1-3; NatGeo Articles K&D: Sect 4.4-7; USGS Publications HW 5: Tsunami Due Friday 10/21 GEOG560: Syllabus Page - 6

7 Oct 17 Midterm Review K&D: Chapters 1-5, Additional Readings Oct 19 Midterm Exam (Chapters 1-5) WEEK TOPIC READINGS & DUE DATES Oct 21/24/26 Oct 28/31 - Nov 2 Nov 4/7/9 Nov 14/16/18 External Processes: River Flooding River Processes & Floodplains Flood Hazard & Mitigation HW 5: Flooding J3: Engineering the Mighty Mississippi Coastal Hazards Coastal Processes & Human Interactions Sea Level Rise & Storm Surge Mitigating & Managing Coastal Hazards K&D: Sect 6.1-3; USGS K&D: Sect 6.5-8; EPA Due Friday 10/28 K&D: Sect 11.1&2, K&D: Sect 11.3, pgs K&D: Sect , Articles J4: Politics of Protecting Coastlines Due Wednesday 11/9 Friday (11/11): No Class Veteran s Day Weather Processes Atmospheric Pressure & Circulation Midlatitude (Extratropical) Cyclones Severe Winter Weather Blizzards & Ice Storms Coastal Impacts K&D: Sect 9.4, 9.7&8 K&D: pgs ; NOAA-NWS K&D: pgs ; NOAA-NWS USGS J5: Eye one the Storm Due Friday 11/18 Thunderstorms & Tornado Severe Thunderstorms & Related K&D: pgs ; NOAA-NWS Hazards K&D: pgs , ; NOAA- Tornado Formation, Distribution & NWS Impacts Nov 21 Nov 28/30 - Dec 2 Anticyclonic Weather Hazards Extreme Temperature & Human Health Dryness & Related Hazards Tuesday - Friday (11/23-25): No Class Thanksgiving J6: Water Wars Due Friday 12/2 Tropical Cyclones Formation, Distribution & Classification Coastal & Inland Hazards Preparation & Mitigation K&D: pgs ; NWS; WMO K&D: pgs , Sect ; Articles K&D: Sect ; NOAA-NWS K&D: Sect , 10.7; NOAA-NWS K&D: Sect GEOG560: Syllabus Page - 7

8 Dec 5/7/9 Dec 14 Climate Change & Extreme Weather Linking Weather & Climate Climate-Related Weather Extremes K&D: Sect 12.2, NCA (2014); Miller (2012); Wallace (2012) Group Project Due Friday 12/9 Final Exam (Chapters 6, 9-11) (10:30 AM 12:30 PM) GEOG560: Syllabus Page - 8