PHYSICS OF NATURAL & UNNATURAL DISASTERS (SC1060)

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Managing risk associated with natural environmental disasters (volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, etc.) and unnatural disasters (oil spills, nuclear fallout, toxic spills, groundwater exhaustion, eutrophication, global warming) is a fundamental aspect of environmental policy. In this course, students will learn about the underlying physical processes of the most common and costly environmental disasters afflicting society today, and will examine historical landmark cases, discussing damage cost models (infrastructure, life, ecosystem) and risk minimization strategies (relocation, protection, resource or technology discontinuation).

Code: 
SC1060
Name: 
PHYSICS OF NATURAL & UNNATURAL DISASTERS
Discipline: 
SC (Science)
Type: 
GE130
Level: 
Undergraduate
Credits: 
4
Can be taken twice for credit?: 
No
Pre-requisites: 
None
Co-requisites: 
SC1060LLAB AND (MA1005CCM OR MA1020CCM OR MA1025CCM OR MA1030CCM OR MA1091CCM OR ELECMA-30 OR CCMCCM)

Learning Outcomes

  1. Develop a basic quantitative understanding of Seismology, Tsunami, Hurricanes and their impact on society and the environment
  2. Understand what constitutes a quantitative versus qualitative approach to environmental risk assessment
  3. Develop the skills necessary to evaluate and manage environmental risks associated with natural disasters.