This volume, written by the Hazards Science Team of the International Year of Planet Earth, brings together some of the most influential international scientists dealing with Natural Hazards and society’s response to natural hazards. It recognises that hazards, like poverty, will always be with us but that concerted and organised societal response can prevent a hazard becoming a disaster. By bringing together geoscientists, social scientists and those concerned with the administration of international science and international disaster reduction, this book details the state-of-the-science as well as the state-of-the-response in natural hazards.
Part 1 deals with the IYPE Hazards Theme and its relation to society, emphasising that implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action requires a strong emphasis on human societies, human security, and that this can be achieved only through appropriate communication. Part 2 focuses on the response of the international scientific community. Part 3 concentrates on geophysical risk and sustainability by considering climate and climate change as well as the theory and the praxis involved in hazards, their prevention and mitigation. Part 4 relates to the observation and assessment of geo-hazards and risk.
Geophysical Hazards
International Year of Planet Earth Series Editors: Eduardo F.J. de Mulder Executive Director International Secretariat International Year of Planet Earth Edward Derbyshire Goodwill Ambassador International Year of Planet Earth
The book series is dedicated to the United Nations International Year of Planet Earth. The aim of the Year is to raise worldwide public and political awareness of the vast (but often under-used) potential of Earth sciences for improving the quality of life and safeguarding the planet. Geoscientific knowledge can save lives and protect property if threatened by natural disasters. Such knowledge is also needed to sustainably satisfy the growing need for Earth’s resources by more people. Earths scientists are ready to contribute to a safer, healthier and more prosperous society. IYPE aims to develop a new generation of such experts to find new resources and to develop land more sustainably.
For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/8096
Tom Beer Editor
Geophysical Hazards Minimizing Risk, Maximizing Awareness
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Editor Dr. Tom Beer CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research and Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research 111 Station Street Aspendale VIC 3195 Australia
[email protected]
ISBN 978-90-481-3235-5 e-ISBN 978-90-481-3236-2 DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3236-2 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2009938629 © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Foreword
The International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) was established as a means of raising worldwide public and political awareness of the vast, though frequently under-used, potential the Earth Sciences possess for improving the quality of life of the peoples of the world and safeguarding Earth’s rich and diverse environments. The International Year pr