Disaster Deferred - A New View of Earthquake Hazards in the New Madrid Seismic Zone

Informationen zum Autor Seth Stein is the William Deering Professor of Geological Science in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Northwestern University. He is the author of Disaster Deferred (CUP 2010) among several other titles and over 100 articles. Klappentext In the winter of 1811-12! a series of large earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone-often incorrectly described as the biggest ever to hit the United States-shook the Midwest. Today the federal government ranks the hazard in the Midwest as high as California's and is pressuring communities to undertake expensive preparations for disaster. Disaster Deferred revisits these earthquakes! the legends surrounding them! and the predictions of doom following in their wake. Seth Stein clearly explains the techniques seismologists use to study Midwestern quakes and estimate their danger. Detailing how limited scientific knowledge! bureaucratic instincts! and the media's love of a good story have exaggerated these hazards! Stein calmly debunks the hype surrounding such predictions and encourages the formulation of more sensible! less costly policy. Zusammenfassung In the winter of 1811-12! a series of large earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone-often incorrectly described as the biggest ever to hit the United States-shook the Midwest. Today the federal government ranks the hazard in the Midwest as high as California's and is pressuring communities to undertake expensive preparations for disaster. Disaster Deferred revisits these earthquakes! the legends surrounding them! and the predictions of doom following in their wake. Seth Stein clearly explains the techniques seismologists use to study Midwestern quakes and estimate their danger. Detailing how limited scientific knowledge! bureaucratic instincts! and the media's love of a good story have exaggerated these hazards! Stein calmly debunks the hype surrounding such predictions and encourages the formulation of more sensible! less costly policy. ...

Product details

• Authors: Stein, Seth Stein, Seth (Northwestern University) Stein, Stein Seth
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 10.07.2012
• EAN: 9780231151399
• ISBN: 978-0-231-15139-9
• No. of pages: 296
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geology; NATURE / Natural Disasters, SCIENCE / Earth Sciences / Geology, SCIENCE / Earth Sciences / Seismology & Volcanism, Geology, geomorphology and the lithosphere, Natural disasters, Volcanology & seismology, US Midwest, Geology & The Lithosphere, Volcanology and seismology, North Central & Mid-West States