Exploring Nature Series. Disaster Edition

Author: Editorial Committee of the Nature Exploration Series
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Looking back at human history, the causes of disasters can be mainly divided into two categories: natural variation and human influence. Their manifestations also fall into two types: natural disasters and man-made disasters. Therefore, disasters primarily caused by natural variation and manifested as natural disasters are typically referred to as natural disasters, such as earthquakes, storm surges, droughts, floods, and landslides. Disasters primarily caused by human influence and manifested as man-made disasters are called man-made disasters, such as human-caused fires and traffic accidents. Disasters caused by natural variation but manifested as man-made disasters are referred to as natural-man-made disasters, such as large-scale epidemics during solar activity peaks. Disasters caused by human influence but manifested as natural disasters are called man-made natural disasters, such as soil erosion caused by excessive deforestation and ground subsidence caused by excessive groundwater extraction.
The harm of natural disasters to humans is mainly reflected in two aspects: causing casualties and property losses to countries, collectives, and individuals. In today's society, urban construction, transportation and energy facilities, factories, and research institutions are highly complex and massive systems. Once these man-made structures are damaged by natural disasters, they can fall into a state of chaos, bringing tremendous damage or even catastrophic strikes to the socio-economic operation. The destruction of lifeline projects such as water sources, power, transportation, and energy will lead to the paralysis of the entire city's production and living order. Therefore, the indirect economic losses caused by the destruction of structures and systems are often much larger than the direct economic losses.
The content of this book includes seven parts: geological disasters, marine disasters, environmental disasters, disasters in exploration, meteorological disasters, biological disasters, and disasters from outer space.