Natural Disasters in Latin America 4206-FP106z

1. Introduction. Organizational questions (Forms of classes and credit). Literature. Introduction of the topic and basic terminology. Introduction to geography of continents. Basic aspects of geology.
2. Earthquakes and tsunami. Origin of earthquakes. Measurements. The results of earthquakes and ways of alleviating them. Disastrous earthquakes in America: San Francisco 1906, Mexico, Guatemala 1975, Managua 1972, central Peru, Concepción 1960, (Anchorage 1964). Characterizing tsunami waves. Tsunami at the coasts of America: central Chile 1960, Nicaragua, Peru.
3. Eruptions of volcanos. The emerging of volcanos and their classification. Types and scales of eruption. Products of eruption. American volcanos: Mount Pelée, Nevado del Ruiz, Particutín, Mistí, Cotopaxi, Llaima, (Mount St. Helens). The most disastrous eruptions in modern history of America.
4. Hurricanes. Formation of tropical cyclones. Classification and measurements. Hurricanes: Andrew, Mitch, Wilma, Katrina. Tornados.
5. Floods. Rivers of America: The Amazon, The La Plata. Precipitation. Causes and kinds of floods. Uruguay 1959, Venezuela 1999, Bolivia 2007, Tabasco 2007, Argentina, (Missisippi 1993).
6. Landslips and avalanches. Causes of mass movements. Classification. Forecasting and alleviating the results. The most dangerous landslips in America: Peru, Colombia, Honduras.
7. El Nińo and climatic changes. Southern Oscillation - ENSO. Investigating the phenomenon. The results and ways of alleviating them. El Nino 1982/83, 1997/98. Climatic changes versus the occurrence of disasters in Latin America.
8. Other dangers. Desertification, fires, droughts, locust, ozone hole. Human activity.

Final paper

Classes are lecture, which integrate students to discuss selected topics on the natural disasters.Conducting classes I use the various issues prepared for multimedia presentations and photographs depicting the effects of natural disasters, some classes are provided excerpts of documentaries or direct relations and television reports.

After passing the course student should be freely oriented in the basic topics related to the occurrence of natural disasters and their consequences. Should also detect and identify cause and effect relationships between the occurring of natural events and human activity. Classes should also help students to respond in practice in case they find in the zone of influence of the catastrophic phenomenon.