ERTH 1060
Natural Disasters
Earthquakes, meteorite impacts, rapid climate change, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, landslides, solar flares, and floods are natural disasters that affect our economy, public policy, and safety. Where, why and how frequently do natural disasters occur? Are predictions possible? Are media portrayals of risk and damage realistic? This course, aimed at the nonspecialist, investigates these intriguing questions. Excerpts of “disaster films”, in conjunction with lectures and discussions are used to identify the causes, consequences and sometimes erroneous perceptions of natural hazards. Examples from Atlantic Canada and contemporary disasters are used to assess local risk and real-time events worldwide.
Sections
From the syllabus
From the Winter 2026 syllabus by John Gosse and Mike Young. Open the PDF
Grading
Textbook
- Natural Disasters, 12th edition, Patrick Abbott
Course rules
- Homework
- Assignments close at 11:30 pm Atlantic Time on the due date; late submissions are not accepted.
- Assignment 0
- Complete Assignment 0 with at least 80% to access Assignments 1–5.
- Homework drops
- The lowest score or one unsubmitted assignment among Assignments 1–5 is dropped.
- Question sets
- Question sets close at 11:30 pm on the due date, with no late submissions accepted.
- Tests
- The midterm and final are compulsory, closed-book, and allow no technology other than pencil and eraser.
- Missed test
- Email John Gosse by the scheduled test time with an explanation to arrange a make-up test.
- Google Earth
- Use Google Earth Pro on desktop; the web and mobile versions lack tools needed for assignments.
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