Course Description
Consequences of potentially hazardous geologic processes, including volcanic activity, earthquakes, landslides, flooding, shoreline erosion, and ground failure. Emphasis on developing understanding of the underlying geologic processes that result in hazards and delineating risk potential. Evaluation of methods of prediction and damage control through laboratory analysis of case studies.
Athena Title
GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will be expected to understand the geologic principles underlying geologic hazards and how human activity can decrease or increase the societal impact of these hazards. Students will also be expected to understand the paths that society can take to minimize hazards and to monitor hazard potential.
Topical Outline
Earthquakes and societal impact, including tsunamis causes, effects and detection; landslides as a consequence of earthquakes and how to minimize societal impact; the nature of rock/soil substrates and how they can amplify earthquake shaking; successful building codes and related laws to minimize earthquake impact. Volcanic hazards: lava flows, pyroclastic flows, lahars and mudflows, poisonous gases; killer volcanoes - active volcanoes located near population centers; monitoring volcanoes to predict eruptions. Hurricanes and storm surges: effect on coast lines; how development can increase the net damage associated with hurricanes. Climate change past and present; causes and effects; changes in precipitation, sea level, ocean pH, and ocean temperature and the effects on society. Petroleum exploration and use: the hazards of drilling and oil spills, the politics of oil and the threat to United States security. Mineral exploration and exploitation; hazards and pollution associated with, for example, coal mining, uranium mining, copper and gold mining. Acid mine drainage, catastrophic slope failures. Landslide hazards, especially in the southeastern Appalachians. Cause of landslides and identification of susceptible terrain before landslides and the nature of development on such terrain. Flooding with emphasis on the historic Atlanta area flood of 2009. Delineation of flood plains and the effect of urbanization on these flood plains. The meaning of the 100- year flood in the context of urbanization. Flood mitigation and prediction.