Since antiquity, on every continent, human beings in search of attractive landscapes and economic prosperity have made a Faustian bargain with the risk of devastation by an earthquake. Today, around half of the world's largest cities - as many as sixty - lie in areas of major seismic activity. Many, such as Lisbon, Naples, San Francisco, Teheran, and Tokyo, have been severely damaged or destroyed by earthquakes in the past. But throughout history, starting with ancient Jericho, Rome, and Sparta, cities have proved to be extraordinarily resilient: only one, Port Royal in the Caribbean, was abandoned after an earthquake.  Earth-Shattering Events seeks to understand exactly how humans and earthquakes have interacted, not only in the short term but also in the long perspective of history. In some cases, physical devastation has been followed by decline. But in others, the political and economic reverberations of earthquake disasters have presented opportunities for renewal. After its wholesale destruction in 1906, San Francisco went on to flourish, eventually giving birth to the high-tech industrial area on the San Andreas fault known as Silicon Valley. An earthquake in Caracas in 1812 triggered the creation of new nations in the liberation of South America from Spanish rule. Another in Tangshan in 1976 catalysed the transformation of China into the world's second largest economy. The growth of the scientific study of earthquakes is woven into this far-reaching history. It began with a series of earthquakes in England in 1750.  Today, seismologists can monitor the vibration of the planet second by second and the movement of tectonic plates millimeter by millimeter. Yet, even in the 21st century, great earthquakes are still essentially "acts of God," striking with much less warning than volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, and even tornadoes and tsunamis.

Growth of population, communication and interdependence among countries has sharpened the impact of natural disasters. Not only have calamities and miseries been given wider publicity, but the realization has grown that through rational study and foresight much can be done to mitigate these hazards to life and social wellbeing. In this book we present a summary account of hazards which nowadays are usually classified as geological: earthquakes, faulting, tsunamis, seiches, vol­ canoes, avalanches, rock and soil slides, differential settlement and liquefaction of soil, and inundation. The book is aimed first at the general reader who is interested in studying the history of such hazards and examining ways that risk can be reduced even if all dangers cannot be eliminated. We also hope that the book will be useful to college students in introductory courses in geology, engineering, geography, country and urban planning, and in environmental studies. We have tried to bring dut for the students the problems that remain to be solved.

Unless the geological, tectonic, seismological and engineering aspects of earthquakes are mastered, constructions will never be safe. A thorough knowledge of earthquake geodynamics is also vital if the safety/cost ratio of all constructions is to be increased. experience, this book discusses various aspects of earthquake geodynamics in seismically active regions. The chapters include lessons learnt from earthquakes that have struck urban areas during the past two decades and cover a wide variety of topics including the analysis of seismic sequences, the study of surficial deformation and geophysical techniques for microzonation purposes.

Every day parts of the surface of the Earth are rattled by earthquake tremors, and occasionally, some regions are shaken violently during earthquakes, resulting in widespread damage and destruction. Earthquakes in Iran, Turkey, and Japan have demonstrated how the motion of the Earth's tectonic plates can suddenly make apparently safe environments dangerous and even deadly.""Earthquakes"" focuses on the furious power of nature unleashed and the massive devastation that is often a result of the relentless forces that build up within the Earth. Presenting the main ideas of plate tectonics, this comprehensive and insightful reference provides readers with an understanding of how, why, and where most earthquakes occur. Coverage includes what happens during an earthquake, using many examples of hazards such as landslides, passage of seismic-earthquake waves through the ground, and other phenomena that people have encountered during real earthquakes. Black-and-white photographs and line illustrations, an index, a glossary, and a geologic timescale enhance this in-depth resource.Chapters include: General Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics; Divergent Plate Boundaries; Transform Plate Boundaries and Transform Faults; Convergent Margins; Earthquakes; Earthquake Hazards; Earthquake Prediction, Preparation, and Response; and, Descriptions of Earthquake Disasters.

Disasters are not natural. Natural events such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, etc. become disasters because of the fragile relations that exist between the natural, human and built environments. Sadly, major disasters will always occur in towns and cities in the developing world where resources are limited, people are vulnerable and needs are particularly great. The prevailing state of emergency challenges thoughtful and sustainable planning and construction. Yet it is possible, in theory and in practice, to construct them in a way that provides a sustainable environment and improved conditions for current and future generations. Rebuilding After Disasters emphasizes the role of the built environmentnbsp; in the re-establishment of lives and sustainable livelihoods after disasters. Expert contributors explain the principal challenges facing professionals and practitioners in the building industry. This book will be of great value to decision makers, students and researchers in the fields of architecture, social sciences, engineering, planning, geography, and disaster recovery. nbsp;

The theory of plate tectonics transformed earth science. The hypothesis that the earth's outermost layers consist of mostly rigid plates that move over an inner surface helped describe the growth of new seafloor, confirm continental drift, and explain why earthquakes and volcanoes occur in some places and not others. Lynn R. Sykes played a key role in the birth of plate tectonics, conducting revelatory research on earthquakes. In this book, he gives an invaluable insider's perspective on the theory's development and its implications. Sykes combines lucid explanation of how plate tectonics revolutionized geology with unparalleled personal reflections. He entered the field when it was on the cusp of radical discoveries. Studying the distribution and mechanisms of earthquakes, Sykes pioneered the identification of seismic gaps--regions that have not ruptured in great earthquakes for a long time--and methods to estimate the possibility of quake recurrence. He recounts the various phases of his career, including his antinuclear activism, and the stories of colleagues around the world who took part in changing the paradigm. Sykes delves into the controversies over earthquake prediction and their importance, especially in the wake of the giant 2011 Japanese earthquake and the accompanying Fukushima disaster. He highlights geology's lessons for nuclear safety, explaining why historic earthquake patterns are crucial to understanding the risks to power plants. Plate Tectonics and Great Earthquakes is the story of a scientist witnessing a revolution and playing an essential role in making it.

Modern seismology has faced new challenges in the study of earthquakes and their physical characteristics. This volume is dedicated to the use of new approaches and presents a state of the art in historical seismology. Selected historical and recent earthquakes are chosen to document and constrain related seismic parameters using updated methodologies in the macroseismic analysis, field observations of damage distribution and tectonic effects, and modelling of seismic waveforms. A critical re-evaluation of historical accounts and early seismograms provides us with the basis for a realistic seismic hazard assessment. This book is dedicated to the memory of Jean Vogt (1929 - 2005). Audience: This book is of value to seismologists, earthquake geologists, engineering seismologists, earth scientists and historians of catastrophes.

Introduction to Volcanic Seismology, Third Edition covers all aspects of volcano seismology, specifically focusing on recent studies and developments. This new edition expands on the historical aspects, including updated information on how volcanic seismology was handled in the past (instrumentation, processing techniques, number of observatories worldwide) that is compared to present day tactics. Updated case studies can be found throughout the book, providing information from the most studied volcanoes in the world, including those in Iceland. Additional features include descriptions of analog experiments, seismic networks, both permanent and temporal, and the link between volcanoes, plate tectonics, and mantle plumes. Beginning with an introduction to the history of volcanic seismology, the book then discusses models developed for the study of the origin of volcanic earthquakes of both a volcano-tectonic and eruption nature. In addition, the book covers a variety of topics from the different aspects of volcano-tectonic activity, the seismic events associated with the surface manifestations of volcanic activity, descriptions of eruption earthquakes, volcanic tremor, seismic noise of pyroclastic flows, explosion earthquakes, and the mitigation of volcanic hazards.

Providing the first worldwide survey of active earthquake faults, this book focuses on those described as 'seismic time bombs' - with the potential to destroy large cities in the developing world such as Port au Prince, Kabul, Tehran and Caracas. Leading international earthquake expert, Robert Yeats, explores both the regional and plate-tectonic context of active faults, providing the background for seismic hazard evaluation in planning large-scale projects such as nuclear power plants or hydroelectric dams. He also highlights work done in more advanced seismogenic countries like Japan, the United States, New Zealand and China, providing an important basis for upgrading building standards and other laws in developing nations. The book also explores the impact of major quakes on social development through history. It will form an accessible reference for analysts and consulting firms, and a convenient overview for academics and students of geoscience, geotechnical engineering and civil engineering, and land-use planning.