Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the economic and social impact of major destructive geological events and relate them with
the dynamics of the Globe.
2. Identify geological hazards associated with volcanic regions.
3. Understand the dynamics of seismic and volcanic phenomena resulting from the performance of geological
processes.
4. Understand the variability, intensity and magnitude of various geological hazards.
In this course students will acquire knowledge about the main concepts applied to the study of natural hazards as well as how society is affected by the natural hazards of geological origin. The occurrence of more than one hazard (cascade) is also analyzed for a broader risk assessment. The scale of impacts at local, regional and global levels are exemplified by historical cases. The geological processes associated with each of the hazards are introduced in the light of the various specific points. For each hazard, the trigger mechanisms, the effects caused by the specific vulnerabilities and the associated damages will be analyzed. Students will study the following topics:
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Natural disasters and history.
1.2 Notions on peril and risk
1.3 Notions on multirisk
2. GLOBAL TECTONICS AND MAGMATISM
2.1 The origin of the Earth and its internal structure
2.2 Geographical distribution and characterization of plate boundaries
2.3 Geographic distribution and geostructural framework of volcanism
2.4 The geological cycle and the main types of rocks
2.5 Geological background of the Azores archipelago
3. VOLCANIC HAZARDS
3.1 Introduction to volcanology
3.2 Volcanic hazards
3.3 Eruptive history
3.4 Monitoring and prediction
4. SEISMIC HAZARD
4.1 Introduction to seismology
4.2 Quantification of seismicity
4.3 Paleoseismology and historical seismicity
5. LANDSLIDES HAZARD
5.1 Introduction to landslides
5.2 Triggering mechanisms
5.3 Monitoring and forecasting
6. TSUNAMI HAZARD
6.1 Introduction to tsunamis
6.2 Mechanisms for triggering
6.3 Paleotsunamis