The Dynamics of Disaster

Humans persist in building centres of civilisation in places of past disasters as we believe that our technology will protect us next time. Yet we rarely win these battles with the earth because we don't understand natural disasters deeply enough.

Susan Kieffer's book explains how the dynamics-the workings-of disasters are connected by a small number of natural laws. She goes on to show how the most obvious process in a disaster is not always the one that causes the devastation. For instance, the transformation of apparently solid ground into a substance like quicksand during the 2010 Haiti earthquake is what caused the destruction of Port au Prince.

Kieffer argues that only by understanding the dynamics of natural disasters can we begin to institute engineering and policy practices to minimise their impact on our lives.

About the author

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.

Summary

Natural disasters bedevil our planet, and each appears to be a unique event. Leading geologist Susan W. Kieffer shows how all disasters are connected.

Product details

• Authors: Susan W. Kieffer, Kieffer Susan W.
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 17.11.2014
• EAN: 9780393349917
• ISBN: 978-0-393-34991-7
• Dimensions: 140 mm x 211 mm x 23 mm
• Weight: 266 g
• Illustrations: 40 illustrations
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > General, dictionaries; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences; popular science, NATURE / Natural Disasters, SCIENCE / Earth Sciences / General, Earth Sciences, Natural disasters