Geophysical and Climate Hazards: A Very Short Introduction

Bill McGuire examines the causes and consequences of what was once considered natural hazards, such as storms, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, through the lens of planetary heating and the destabilizing of our climate. He argues that the debate about whether there is such a thing as a truly natural disaster has shifted to whether the hazards that cause them can any longer be described as entirely natural. The damaged climate has driven an explosion of extreme weather, and the fingerprints of global heating can be detected even in individual events that would have been extremely unlikely to have happened in its absence. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions continue to plague communities and take lives, and there are links with a changing climate that have the potential to magnify their occurrence and impacts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The world has always been a dangerous and deadly place, with storms, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic blasts taking an enormous toll on lives and livelihoods throughout recorded history and before. In the past, such events were regarded as acts of God or gods, and later as simply a consequence of hazardous natural phenomena that are a normal part of how our planet works. In recent decades, however, this picture has changed.

Relentless global heating, arising from the 2.4 trillion tonnes of carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere as a result of human activities, has completely altered the natural hazard landscape. There has long been a debate about whether there is such a thing as a truly natural disaster. Now, the debate has moved on to whether or not the hazards that cause them can any longer be described as entirely natural.

Our damaged climate has driven an explosion of extreme weather, which has become ever more apparent in recent years via the super-charging of storms, floods, heatwaves, and wildfires. The fingerprints of global heating can be detected even in individual events that would have been extremely unlikely to have happened, or even been impossible, in its absence. Meanwhile, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions continue to plague communities and take lives, while even here there are links with a changing climate that have the potential to magnify their impact.

The causes and consequences of what used to be thought of as natural hazards are explored in this Very Short Introduction by Bill McGuire. He examines the role of planetary heating and the ongoing destabilising of our climate in understanding the causes and consequences of these events. McGuire also discusses the debate about whether or not the hazards that cause them can any longer be described as entirely natural, and the impact of global heating on extreme weather events.

In conclusion, the world has always been a dangerous and deadly place, and the causes and consequences of natural hazards have been a topic of debate for centuries. However, the relentless global heating caused by human activities has completely altered the natural hazard landscape, leading to an explosion of extreme weather events and the potential for even more devastating consequences. It is essential that we take action to mitigate the impact of global heating and reduce the risk of natural disasters in the future.

Weight: 136g
Dimension: 111 x 173 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192874535
Edition number: 3 Revised edition