New Publication - Pat Abbott

Natural Disasters, 6th Edition

Patrick Leon Abbott
©2008, ISBN-13 9780073292328
MHID 007329232X

Description
This book focuses on natural disasters: how the normal processes of the Earth concentrate their energies and deal heavy blows to humans and their structures. It is concerned with how the natural world operates and, in so doing, kills and maims humans and destroys their works. Throughout the book, certain themes are maintained: * energy sources underlying disasters * plate tectonics and climate change * earth processes operating in rock, water, and atmosphere * significance of geologic time * complexities of multiple variables operating simultaneously * detailed and readable case studies.

Table of Contents
1 Natural Disasters and The Human Population
2 Energy Flows in Earth History and Natural Disasters
3 Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes
4 Earthquake Geology and Seismology
5 Tsunami
6 Earthquakes in Western North America
7 More U.S. and Canadian Earthquakes
8 Volcanic Eruptions: Plate Tectonics and Magmas
9 Volcano Case Histories: Killer Events
10 Mass Movements
11 Atmosphere, Oceans, and Long-Term Climate Change
12 Short-Term Climate Change and Severe Weather
13 Hurricanes and the Coastline
14 Floods
15 Fire
16 The Great Dyings
17 Impacts with Space Objects

About the Author
Pat Abbott is a professor at San Diego State University

Features

• New feature: Entire text has been revised to feature 4-color line drawings and photos.
  Case Histories: The text aims to explain important principles about the Earth and then develop further understanding through numerous case studies.


• End-of-Chapter Learning Aids: Learning aids at the conclusion of every chapter include Terms to Remember, Questions for Review and Questions for Further Thought.


• Organization: The primary organization of the book is based on an energy theme. Chapter 1 leads off with data describing natural disasters and the human population. Chapter 2 examines the energy sources underlying disasters. Disasters fueled by Earth’s internal energy are addressed in Chapters 3 through 9 and are organized on a plate-tectonics theme, with the new Chapter 5 discussing tsunami. Disasters powered primarily by gravity are covered in Chapter 10 on mass movements. Disasters fueled by the external energy of the Sun are examined in chapters 11 through 15. Chapter 16 examines the great dyings encased in the fossil record. Chapter 17 examines impact mechanisms in greater detail and includes plans to protect Earth from future impacts.


• Comprehensiveness: The text covers the most significant natural hazards, from geologic to oceanographic to atmospheric to astronomic to demographic, and their associated phenomena. The broad range of natural disasters topics allows each instructor to select those chapters that cover their interests and local hazards.
  New chapter exclusively covering tsunami.