Description
Around the globe, natural disasters are a seemingly daily occurrence. This course provides an overview of the different types of catastrophic forces of nature and their impact on the populations that they strike. The course gives students a greater understanding of the causes and effects of natural disasters; students also investigate what can be done to prevent such disasters. The first unit covers land-based events, detailing how scientists predict and react to avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mudslides, and fires. The second unit focuses on catastrophic events that begin in the ocean and atmosphere, describing the impact of flooding, hurricanes, blizzards, and droughts. In the third unit, students learn how disease spreads and how quickly it can impact the worlds population. The final unit looks skyward for potential catastrophic impacts from comets and asteroids.
