Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 5
The Hazards among Us
S. Shane Stovall
Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................88
Hazards ...............................................................................................................88
Natural Hazards..............................................................................................88
Flooding ....................................................................................................88
Lightning ...................................................................................................92
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms .................................................................93
Tornadoes ..................................................................................................97
Wildfires ..................................................................................................100
Earthquakes .............................................................................................102
Winter Storms..........................................................................................105
Drought ...................................................................................................108
Extreme Heat/Heat Waves .......................................................................109
Tsunamis.................................................................................................. 110
Volcanoes .................................................................................................112
Epidemics and Pandemics ........................................................................ 114
Space Weather.......................................................................................... 116
Man-Made Hazards ...................................................................................... 117
Hazardous Materials Incidents ................................................................. 117
Terrorism .................................................................................................120
Cyber hreats and Attacks........................................................................122
Infrastructure Failures ..............................................................................125
Nuclear Power Plant Emergencies ............................................................127
Summary...........................................................................................................129
References .........................................................................................................129
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