Version of 27 September 2010

EAR801
NATURAL HAZARDS AND SOCIETY

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this course the students should be able to

• Describe natural hazards (using examples) and explain why they occur when and where
they do
• Describe the effects of natural hazards on human lives, economies and livelihoods;
• Demonstrate a basic comprehension of how risks from natural hazards are assessed and
can be managed and how our attitudes and actions can influence the impact of natural
hazards

CONTENTS
This course examines the natural and human dimensions of hazards such as earthquakes,
tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, tropical storms, floods, landslides, soil erosion and
desertification. Course work focuses on the causes of major natural hazards -- such as
climate change, sea-level rise, and tectonics – as well as their spatial and temporal
distribution. Moreover, students will be exposed to the assessment of risks posed to
society and possibilities for sustainable adaptation.

ASSESSMENT
This course will be assessed through a combination of two 50 minute mid term tests (50%
weighting) and a final exam (50% weighting).
(Note: You should attend all classes and failure to do so may make you ineligible to sit the final examination.
Mid term exams are held during lecture times and make up tests for the mid terms will only be given in
VERY exceptional circumstances)

LECTURES
Wednesday 1:30 — 4.30pm, Lecture Theatre 1
TEXTBOOK AND REFERENCES
Textbook: Hyndman and Hyndman - Natural hazards and disasters (Thomson, 2008).
Additional references may be given in classes and students should read these materials
prior to the next class.
COURSE STAFFING
Lecturers: Prof Kerry Sieh* N2-01a-10 – email: sieh@ntu.edu.sg
Dr Adam Switzer N2-01a-04 - email: aswitzer@ntu.edu.sg
Mr Andreas Schaffer N2-01a-02 - email a.schaffer@ntu.edu.sg
General inquiries: EAR801@ntu.edu.sg
* Co-ordinator
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Course Syllabus 2010, NATURAL HAZARDS AND SOCIETY

WEEK 1 SEPT 1 SETTING THE STAGE
 Essential reading: Hyndman and Hyndman Ch. 1
Lecture 1 - Kerry
 Some practical matters regarding this course
 Humanity and the dynamic Earth in the 21st century
Lecture 2 - Kerry
 Humanity and the dynamic Earth in the 21st century (continued) Lecture 3 - Andreas
 Introduction to Economic and Policy Impacts
 Basic Economic Concepts

WEEK 2 SEPT 8 EARTHQUAKES AND TECTONICS

 Essential reading: Hyndman and Hyndman Ch. 2,3,4
Lecture 4 - Kerry
 The plate-tectonic machine
Lecture 5 - Kerry
 Earthquake landscapes
Lecture 6 - Kerry
 Measuring earthquakes

WEEK 3 SEPT 15 EARTHQUAKES AND HAZARDS

Lecture 7 - Kerry
 Earthquakes hazards (shaking, ground deformation, landslides, liquefaction)
Lecture 8 - Kerry
 Important and exemplary earthquakes and forecasts
 Mitigating earthquake hazards
 Earthquakes and humanity in the coming century

WEEK 4 SEPT 22 COASTAL HAZARDS I - Storm surges, coastal erosion and waves
 Essential reading: Hyndman and Hyndman Ch. 13, 14.
Lecture 9 - Andreas
 Social and Economic Impacts of Earthquakes
 Real Estate Sector / Insurance Sector and Case Study
Lecture 10 - Adam
 Dangerous coastlines
 Waves and beaches
 Erosion
 Tropical cyclones
Lecture 11 - Adam
 Storm surges
 Typhoons in Asia
 Case study - Cyclone Nargis - Myanmar

WEEK 5 SEPT 29 COASTAL HAZARDS II - Tsunami

 Essential reading: Hyndman and Hyndman Ch. 5
Lecture 12 - Adam
 Tsunami
 The main causes of tsunami
 Case study – 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
Lecture 13 - Adam
 Palaeotsunami studies - estimating tsunami risk using geological records
 Case studies – Western Thailand and southeast Australia
Lecture 14 - Andreas
 Social and Economic Impacts of Tsunamis
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 Tourism Sector and Case Study
 CAT Bonds

WEEK 6 Oct 6 MID TERM TEST I (25%)
 50 mins
 Mid term test on first 14 lectures of material, worth 25% of your assessment
 60 multiple-choice questions

WEEK 6 Oct 6 VOLCANOES I

 Essential reading: Hyndman and Hyndman Ch. 6.
Lecture 15 - Kerry
 Two very big eruptions in the SE Asian neighbourhood
 “Species” of volcanoes
 Volcanic neighborhoods
Lecture 16 - Kerry
 The overwhelming importance of two little molecules
 Measuring eruptions
 Volcanic deposits

WEEK 7 Oct 13 VOLCANOES II

 Essential reading: Hyndman and Hyndman Ch. 7.
Lecture 17 - Kerry
 A few case histories
 Volcanic submarine landslides
Lecture 18 – Guest lecturer, Isaac Kerlow (ADM)
 Living with volcanoes: EOS-ADM documentary on Mayon volcano, The Philippines
Lecture 19 - Andreas
 Social and Economic Impacts of Volcanoes
 Airline Industry Sector and Case Study
 Global Supply Chains

Week 8 Oct 20 RECESS WEEK - NO LECTURE.

WEEK 9 OCT 27 LANDSLIDES, LANDSCAPES AND CLIMATIC HAZARDS

 Essential reading: Hyndman and Hyndman Ch. 8
Lecture 20 - Adam
 Landslides and risk minimalisation
 Case study - Hong Kong - Po Shan landslide 1972
Lecture 21 - Adam
 Sinkholes
 Land subsidence
 Case study - Sinking deltas of Asia
Lecture 22 - Adam
 Wildfires and droughts
 Case study - Australian bushfires of 2008

WEEK 10 NOV 3 WEATHER HAZARDS

 Essential reading for lectures 23 and 24: Hyndman and Hyndman Ch. 10, 11, 12
Lecture 23 - Adam
 Thunderstorms and lightning
 Case study - Lightning in Singapore
Lecture 24 - Adam
 Floods
 Case study - Flash flooding in Singapore June 2010
 Essential reading for lecture 25: Manuscript chapters from edveNTUre EAR801 site
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Lecture 25 - Kerry
 A quick history of Homo sapiens and of climate
 The Little Ice Age: grapes, sleighs and revolutions

Week 11 Nov 10 MID TERM TEST II (25%)

 Mid term test on material from material in lectures 1 through 24 worth 25% of your
assessment
 60 multiple choice questions

WEEK 11 NOV 10 CLIMATE AND HUMANKIND I

 Essential reading: Hyndman and Hyndman Ch. 10 and manuscript chapters from edveNTUre EAR801 site
Lecture 26 - Kerry
 The last big ice age (the early discoveries and their impact on culture and religion)
 Ice ages of the past million years: What amazing things plankton and ice have revealed
Lecture 27 - Kerry
 The future of sea-level rise
 The impact of river deltas and coastal cities

Week 12 NOV 17 NO LECTURE HARI RAYA HAJI HOLIDAY.

WEEK 13 NOV 24 CLIMATE POLICY AND IMPACTS

 Essential reading: Hyndman and Hyndman Ch. 18.
Lecture 28 - Andreas
 Policy Frameworks
 Climate Change Economics
Lecture 29 - Andreas
 Business Responses and Strategies
 Case Studies
Lecture 30 – Andreas
 Carbon footprinting
 Case study: EOS and others

WEEK 14 DEC 1 REVIEW

1:30 – 4:30 PM - Kerry, Adam and Andreas
 Bring you questions about any of the lecture or reading materials

ASSESSMENT FOR 2010

Mid term exam I

- 25% of total assessment (based on lectures 1-15 and readings)
- 60 multiple choice questions and a map and labelling exercise.
Mid term exam II
- 25% of total assessment (based on lectures 1-24 and readings)
- 60 multiple choice questions and a map and labelling exercise.
Final exam
- 50% of total assessment (based upon all lectures and readings)
- 120 multiple choice questions