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This book analyzes the experiences of energy, sustainability and resilience issues from different Asian countries and puts forward a futuristic vision of an energy sector for sustained development. Energy is at the core of development, but in energy generation, there are severe environmental implications in many cases. This clearly affects development and causes significant challenges to sustainability. Climate change and disasters have an effect on energy infrastructures and also make significant impacts on humans in terms of both shocks and stresses. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand the linkage of energy, sustainability and resilience. Asia is a hotspot of climate change and disasters, suffering from severe damages to the energy infrastructure of the countries there. At the same time, being a core of world development trajectories, Asia produces and consumes more energy in different sectors than any other part of the world. Also, however, Asia serves as a core region of innovative ideas in energy and related sectors.

Tropical cyclones (including hurricanes) are becoming more destructive. Rising seas are resulting in greater storm surge inundation. More moisture-laden, warmer air is leading to heavier rains. There is also mounting evidence for more powerful winds and a greater incidence of the strongest storms. Do we fully understand these changes, and what will these changes mean for society? Arising from the 2024 Symposium on Hurricane Risk in a Changing Climate, this book contains new research on hurricane behavior, our vulnerability, and how we communicate the risk. This book is essential reading to understand the future of tropical cyclone risk and what it means for society.

This book collects the selected papers of the XIV Congress of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment held in Chengdu, Sichuan, China from September 21st - 27th, 2023, with the theme of Engineering Geology for a Habitable Earth. The meeting proceedings analyses the dynamic role of engineering geology in our changing world. The congress is expected to enhance the inter-disciplinary research development of international engineering geology and the environment, and contribute to the advancement of major projects, ecological progress, and habitable earth with in-depth discussion in the area of engineering geology and global climate change, geological hazard assessment and prevention, geotechnical properties of rock and soil mass, engineering geology and the environmental issues concerning marine, transportation, urban and ecological environment protection, engineering geology and resilience engineering construction, intelligent engineering geology, and new theories, methods, and techniques in engineering geology.

This book explores spatiotemporal analysis and impact assessment of agricultural drought in China and investigates the correlation coefficient between meteorological drought and agricultural drought. It then conducts multivariate frequency analysis of drought events using drought indices and copula functions. It aims to reveal spatiotemporal characteristics and impacts of agricultural drought in China both on vegetation phenology and productivity. The book assesses the performances of drought indices for better predicting multi-year droughts and return periods and drought risk assessment.

This book focuses on cloud-based platforms, advanced programming, machine learning models and programming approaches to assess water and other natural resources, flood impact, land use land cover (LULC), global forest change, global forest canopy height and pantropical nation-level carbon stock, among other areas. Sustainable management of natural resources is urgently needed, given the immense anthropogenic pressure on the environment and the accelerated change in climatic conditions of the earth; therefore, the ability to monitor natural resources precisely and accurately is increasingly important. To meet this demand, new and advanced remote sensing tools and techniques are continually being developed to monitor and manage natural resources effectively. Remote sensing platforms use various sensors to record, measure and monitor even minor variations in the earth's surface features as well as atmospheric constituents. This book shows how environmental and ecological knowledge and satellite-based information can be effectively combined to address a wide array of current natural resource management needs. Each chapter covers the different aspects of a remote sensing approach to effectively monitor natural resources and provide a platform for decision making and policy. The book is a valuable resource for researchers, scientists, NGOs and academicians working on climate change, environmental sciences, agriculture engineering, remote sensing and GIS, natural resources management, hydrology, soil sciences, agricultural microbiology, plant pathology and agronomy.

This book includes the insights of a seminar that was held at IUAV University of Venice, on May 29th and 30th featuring 10 speakers. 8 speakers, 2 moderators, and 1 organizer from the seminar, plus 10 other authors contributed to this book. The writers'expertise spans from local climate adaptation planning, public policy analysis, climate and environmental finance, and climate adaptation advocacy to multi-risk analysis, GIS, disaster risk management, ecosystem services assessment, urban geography, art, and civic engagement. The book contents address adaptation and flood risk mitigation along the Science-Policy-Action path - both theoretical and operative perspectives are discussed. EU climate adaptation policy and finance, climate adaptation implementation, flood risk analysis, nature-based solutions, blue ecosystem services, regional adaptation planning, and critical infrastructure adaptation are the topics investigated in depth by the writers.

This book collects the selected papers of the XIV Congress of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment held in Chengdu, Sichuan, China from September 21st - 27th, 2023, with the theme of Engineering Geology for a Habitable Earth. The meeting proceedings analyses the dynamic role of engineering geology in our changing world. The congress is expected to enhance the inter-disciplinary research development of international engineering geology and the environment, and contribute to the advancement of major projects, ecological progress, and habitable earth with in-depth discussion in the area of engineering geology and global climate change, geological hazard assessment and prevention, geotechnical properties of rock and soil mass, engineering geology and the environmental issues concerning marine, transportation, urban and ecological environment protection, engineering geology and resilience engineering construction, intelligent engineering geology, and new theories, methods, and techniques in engineering geology.

This book provides a snapshot of the manifestations of the climate emergency in the Philippines from a wide array of disciplines including physical sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, management, and law. Researchers and faculties at the University of the Philippines contributed to this compilation, where each chapter provides policymakers and the public a clear picture of why climate change must be confronted with a sense of urgency and near-desperation.Divided into three main parts, the first one zeroes in on climate-vulnerable sectors such as water, food and agriculture, health, and coastal communities in the Philippines to introduce readers to the current pressing impacts of the climate emergency. The second part presents case studies of local experiences from the country's three island regions, namely, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and it situates the readers in different environments and contexts. The third part features transdisciplinary responses to the climate emergency, including salient challenges in relation to planning, financing, communication, and education. The concluding chapter highlights eight areas for action to tackle the climate emergency. Each chapter comes with an overview and a Summary for Policymakers, which provides clear guidance for action to be taken by both local and national policymakers.

This book collects the selected papers of the XIV Congress of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment held in Chengdu, Sichuan, China from September 21st - 27th, 2023, with the theme of Engineering Geology for a Habitable Earth. The meeting proceedings analyses the dynamic role of engineering geology in our changing world. The congress is expected to enhance the inter-disciplinary research development of international engineering geology and the environment, and contribute to the advancement of major projects, ecological progress, and habitable earth with in-depth discussion in the area of engineering geology and global climate change, geological hazard assessment and prevention, geotechnical properties of rock and soil mass, engineering geology and the environmental issues concerning marine, transportation, urban and ecological environment protection, engineering geology and resilience engineering construction, intelligent engineering geology, and new theories, methods, and techniques in engineering geology.

In a compelling scholarly journey, this book unfolds the intricate narratives of human progress and its environmental repercussions catalyzed by the Industrial Revolution. It thoughtfully contrasts the exploitative environmental ideologies stemming from colonization and industrialization against the profound yet often marginalized indigenous ecological philosophies, urging a pivotal shift in environmental stewardship. The narrative meticulously traces the arc of scientific discovery and environmental policy evolution, from Eunice Foote's groundbreaking hypothesis on the greenhouse effect to the landmark achievements of the Paris Agreement, encapsulating over a century of environmental activism and scholarly debate. The discourse extends beyond traditional environmental concerns, exploring the intersection of climate change with public health, food security, and gender disparities, underscoring the urgency of sustainable agricultural practices and the pivotal role of women in food systems. It introduces the transformative potential of digital health innovations and renewable energy technologies as crucial tools in climate mitigation, highlighting the need for an integrated socio-technical governance model that includes community resilience and biopsychosocial health. The book critically addresses the dynamics of climate finance, advocating for inclusive green growth through strategic renewable energy investments, and revisits the ‘Tragedy of the Commons'to challenge conventional views on communal resource management. It advocates for a justice-oriented approach to tackling the multifaceted environmental, social, and economic challenges, with a particular lens on the adverse impacts borne by marginalized communities in the Global South. Furthermore, it explores the untapped potential of wild genetic resources in bolstering food security. It aligns with the United Nations'Sustainable Development Goals, advocating for integrating Indigenous wisdom into urban development strategies. This book is a call to action, serving as a comprehensive scholarly examination that addresses the multifaceted challenges of climate change, health, and sustainability and champions a collective approach towards forging a sustainable and equitable future.

This book collects the selected papers of the XIV Congress of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment held in Chengdu, Sichuan, China from September 21st - 27th, 2023, with the theme of Engineering Geology for a Habitable Earth. The meeting proceedings analyses the dynamic role of engineering geology in our changing world. The congress is expected to enhance the inter-disciplinary research development of international engineering geology and the environment, and contribute to the advancement of major projects, ecological progress, and habitable earth with in-depth discussion in the area of engineering geology and global climate change, geological hazard assessment and prevention, geotechnical properties of rock and soil mass, engineering geology and the environmental issues concerning marine, transportation, urban and ecological environment protection, engineering geology and resilience engineering construction, intelligent engineering geology, and new theories, methods, and techniques in engineering geology.

An award-winning text introducing the latest operational hydrometeorological forecasting and warning techniques for flood, drought, reservoir, hydropower, irrigation, water supply and water pollution applications. Hydrometeorology: Forecasting and Applications is the latest edition of this award-winning book intended for practicing engineers and scientists. It also provides useful background for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in engineering, earth sciences, environmental sciences, geography, meteorology and hydrology. Operational examples include applications from the USA, UK, the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Nepal. Throughout, there is a focus on end-to-end warning systems, forecast uncertainty and risk-based and impact-based approaches. Hydrological forecasting topics include rainfall-runoff, flow routing, data assimilation, forecast verification and ensemble techniques. There are also updates to the text on weather radar, satellite precipitation estimates, hydrometry, low cost monitoring, numerical weather prediction, demand forecasting and dissemination of warnings, including the role of social media and citizen science. Applications include national and community based flood warning systems, flash flood guidance, famine and drought early warning systems, reservoir operations, and surface water, debris flow, ice jam, bathing water and harmful algal bloom alerts. Seasonal forecasting, land surface and global hydrological models are now discussed in more detail, including the opportunities from ‘Big Data'and artificial intelligence, and a new chapter discusses approaches to predicting the hydrological impacts of climate change. The extensive sets of references have been revised and updated. “There are few books that have ever attempted to discuss all aspects of hydrometeorology in one volume. This one does so.” From a review of the 1st edition in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Kevin Sene FRGS, FRMetS, CEng (MICE) is a scientist and writer with wide experience in flood risk management, water resources and hydrometeorology. His previous publications include books on flood warning, forecasting and emergency response and flash flood forecasting and warning (Springer, 2008, 2013).

The International Conference on Water, Energy, and Environment for Sustainability (IC-WEES) 2022 is a flagship conference of National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan. With the growing global concerns about environmental degradation, depletion of freshwater resources, and climate change-induced disasters, this year the IC-WEES is focused on climate change, water, environment, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) and their interrelationship with each other. Given the continuous evolution of contemporary scientific research work, it is progressively encouraging that there must be strong collaboration between experts, researchers, and research sharing platforms. Believing in this, the IC-WEES 2022 aims to bring expert individuals and diverse research groups to exchange and share R&D updates and discuss sustainable solutions to challenges in climate change, DRR, environment and water resources management, and respective nexuses between these fields. The conference proceedings consists of multi-disciplinary topics on the themes. As with every passing day, the climate change impacts are becoming visible, there is a dire need to understand the complex inter-relationships of climate changes, environment, water, and energy nexuses in order to lead to more sustainable solutions for our future generations. Our region is presently suffering from unprecedented heat waves, and prospective readers will be quite curious to know about the latest researches being carried out in this region with regard to environment, climate change, and water in order to reduce the disaster risks the continent is likely to face in near future.

This book summarizes contemporary research on land degradation, desertification, and how such issues relate to socioeconomic growth in developing countries. With a focus on local and regional levels, the book offers an in-depth analysis of aeolian action as a physical process, causes of land degradation, and desertification. The causes and effects of land degradation were investigated by utilizing multiscale and multidisciplinary methodologies, merging spatial socioeconomic data with remote sensing data, and using multiple levels and disciplinary approaches. The book also describes how to combine GIS with cutting-edge technologies such as remote sensing, geostatistics, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis, and analytical hierarchy approaches, among others. Included is a thorough case study of the unusual but understudied semi-arid Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, South India. This book encourages the participation of all socioeconomic groups in decision-making and assists authorities and planners in developing suitable plans for the sustainable agricultural growth of an area. The book is an invaluable resource to comprehend and resolve issues about sustainable environmental planning and management.

This book clarifies the climatic variations in Japan from the historical period to the present based on documentary sources and meteorological data. Japanese society has suffered from various kinds of natural disasters since ancient times, such as floods and high tides caused by torrential rainfall and strong winds. They were described in large numbers of historical documents including official local weather diaries. However, all these documents were written in Japanese or Chinese languages, which prevents non-readers of those languages from accessing them. Also, Japan is a Far Eastern island country, and the unique features of Japanese climate and natural disasters would be unfamiliar and unimaginable to them without being able to read those documents. How is the climate of Japan, and how was the climate during the Little Ice Age in Japan as compared with conditions in Europe and America? When did meteorological observations start, and who (which country) introduced them to Japan?Why did so many natural disasters occur in Japan, and what caused them? This book answers these questions as specifically and objectively as possible using both figures and photographs, which are beneficial to students and the general public who are interested in historical and current climatic change in Japan, as well as professional climate scientists.

In this book, we proposed velocity-free localization methods for acoustic and microseismic sources. This method does not require predetermination of wave velocity, which is a dynamically adjusted free real-time parameter. These methods solve the problem of large localization error caused by the difference between measured wave velocity and actual wave velocity in the source area and greatly improve the positioning accuracy. They are suitable for complex structures where the wave velocity changes dynamically in time and space, such as mines, bridges, buildings, pavements, loaded mechanical structures, dams, geothermal mining, oil extraction, and other engineering fields. This book includes progress in the development of localization methods, factors affecting the accuracy of source localization, analytical methods without the pre-measured wave velocity, velocity-free numerical methods for localizing acoustic sources, combined optimal velocity-free localization methods, velocity-free source localization considering complex paths of spatial structures, and theories as well as some cases of engineering applications of these methods.

Science of Weather, Climate and Ocean Extremes presents an evidence-based view of the most important ways in which the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is affecting both our atmosphere and the oceans. The book provides compelling reasons why concerted action is required to slow the rate at which the atmosphere and oceans are changing. It not only covers longer-term changes in extremes and their causes, but also considers the drivers and attribution of extreme events, including relevant methods and techniques. Members of the Royal Meteorological Society are eligible for a 35% discount on all Developments in Weather and Climate Science series titles. See the RMetS member dashboard for the discount code. Provides an evidence-based understanding of a significant risk to the future performance of human and natural systems Includes assessments, advice and recommendations of extreme weather and climate events Features case studies from around the globe to provide further context to the research

This book focuses on the impact of climate change on India, addressing environmental problems and conducting an analysis of the climate change impact on mitigation processes. It examines crucial factors such as soil capability, soil erosion, soil salinity, and watershed planning, as well as the influence of climate change on water resources, including groundwater. The book explores the interconnections between climate change, soil erosion, natural resources, and agricultural practices, emphasizing their direct or indirect effects on water, vegetation, irrigation planning, and the environment.Furthermore, it delves into various aspects of soil erosion, soil compaction, soil nutrients, aquifers, and the impact of climate change on vegetation, crops, pests, moisture, and sustainable yield. These factors contribute to the development of climate change-related factors within the agricultural sector, ultimately fostering sustainable development and management practices for the future. The book also highlights the significance of parameters such as land use change analysis, rainfall, water resources, crop yield, sustainable agricultural development, pest management, and disease control in accurately assessing the impact of climate change. The insights gained from these analyses can inform future development and planning strategies. Therefore, this book serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scientists, NGOs, and academics interested in understanding the impact of climate change on natural resources and ecological systems.

This book is a comprehensive resource on lightning and describes the unique roles which the state of Arizona has with regard to lightning. Not only is it spectacular, it is also admired, feared, and misunderstood, but its knowledge has come of age in the last two decades.This book describes why Arizona can be called the “Lightning Photography Capital of the U.S.”, how the general public and Native Americans in Arizona have viewed lightning, and when and where lightning occurs and impacts people and resources in Arizona. It contains summaries of interviews with current and former University of Arizona staff who invented real-time lightning detection in the late 1970s and how subsequent lightning research in Arizona has been globally significant. The authors are very well acquainted with and up to date on these topics. The style of this book is active and somewhat scholarly but readable by the nonprofessional with a general interest in lightning.What is lightning? How does lightning affect Arizona? Why do photographers come to Arizona for lightning photographs? What is unique about Arizona lightning? How is lightning detected in Arizona and around the world? This book tells you answers to these questions.This book is intended for a broad audience comprised of visitors, interested lay public, a variety of scientific disciplines, media, medicine, lightning safety, and fire weather. It is suitable for readers desiring a general overview of lightning, especially in Arizona, but also for those who want to know specifically about the topic.

This book identifies, evaluates and reports the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical, biological and socioeconomic environment, using the science and technology of geoinformatics. It encourages the environmental considerations in the future city and policy planning and decision-making. For example, according to the World Health Organization, 80% of people living in cities are exposed to polluted air that exceeds healthy levels. City planners have applied the developing concepts of sustainability to modern debates over how cities and regions should be reviewed, regenerated and reformed since the introduction of the concept in developmental science. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a remarkable drop in air pollution has been observed in India and other countries, which has accelerated the shift to green and sustainable development. Geoinformatics can provide solutions and resources for local, sustainable activities in education, health, sustainable agriculture, resource management and related fields. This book serves researchers in a variety of areas, including hazards, land surveys, remote sensing, cartography, geophysics, geology, natural resources, environment and geography.

​To monitor multi-hazards, Remote Sensing and GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques have been extensively used in recent years worldwide. Since natural hazards cannot be eliminated, only quantification of these events and reliable forecasting can alleviate their detrimental effects, through which we can build more resilient and safe societies. Moreover, cultivating the proper knowledge of the multi-hazards and their monitoring and management can fill the gap between science, policy, and the community concerned. In an endeavor to understand and characterize the various hazards, Monitoring and Managing Multi-hazards: A Multidisciplinary approach presents a synthesis of what cross-disciplinary researchers know about these hazards and indigenous adaptation strategies.The book therefore focuses on the use of precision techniques, Remote Sensing, and GIS technologies to quantify various natural, environmental and social hazards along with the capacity building and sustainable mitigation strategies towards resilient societies. It encompasses both thematic and regional case studies to highlight the dynamicity of climate change, change of natural resources, landscape, water, river, agricultural, and social ecosystems at various spatio-temporal scales, including theoretical and applied aspects. The book gives readers an overview and analysis of traditional and advanced geospatial technologies on atmospheric, lithospheric, hydrosphere, biospheric and socio-economic contexts, on all spatial and temporal scales regarding hazards and disasters and sustainable development and management for the future.

This open access book focuses on an issue only marginally tackled by this literature: the still existing gap between adaptation science and modelling and the possibility to effectively access and exploit the information produced by policy making at different levels, international, national and local. To do so, the book presents the proceedings of a high-level expert workshop on adaptation modelling, integrated with main results from the “Study on Adaptation Modelling” (SAM-PS) commissioned by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) and implemented by the CMCC Foundation – Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change, in collaboration with the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Deltares, and Paul Watkiss Associates (PWA).What is the latest development in adaptation modelling? Which tools and information are available for adaptation assessment? How much are they practically usable by the policy community? How their uptake by practitioners can be improved? What are the major research gaps in adaptation modelling that needs to be covered in the next future? How? This book addresses these questions presenting the results of a study on adaptation modelling commissioned by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) enriched by the outcomes of a high-level expert workshop on adaptation also part of the research. This book aspires to provide a useful support to academics, policy makers and practitioners in the field of adaptation to orient them in the expanding adaptation modelling assessment literature and suggest practical ways for its application. This book, mainly addressed to academics, policy makers and practitioners in the field of adaptation, aims to providing orientation in the large and expanding methodological/quantitative literature, presenting novelties, guiding in the practical application of adaptation assessments and suggesting lines for future research. This open access book focuses on an issue only marginally tackled by this literature: the still existing gap between adaptation science and modelling and the possibility to effectively access and exploit the information produced by policy making at different levels, international, national and local. To do so, the book presents the proceedings of a high-level expert workshop on adaptation modelling, integrated with main results from the “Study on Adaptation Modelling” (SAM-PS) commissioned by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) and implemented by the CMCC Foundation – Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change, in collaboration with the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Deltares, and Paul Watkiss Associates (PWA).

This book is open access and illustrates the spatial distribution of the global change risk of population and economic systems with the maps of environment, global climate change, global population and economic systems, and global change risk. The risks of global change are mapped at 0.25 degree grid unit. The risk results and their contribution rates of the world at national level are unprecedentedly derived and ranked. The book can be a good reference for researchers and students in the field of global climate change and natural disaster risk management, as well as risk managers and enterpriser to understand the global change risk of population and economic systems.

This book offers a comprehensive description and analysis of natural hazard warnings, drawing on perspectives from the social sciences, physical sciences, and interdisciplinary fields such as disaster studies to articulate a distinction between traditional warnings and what might be called interdisciplinary warnings. Traditional warnings approach warning technology, design, and application from a principally scientific and technical perspective. Human factors, while considered, often are of secondary concern. Interdisciplinary warnings, on the other hand, maintain a critical emphasis on the technical merits of warning systems, but also ask, “Will psychological and community factors such as culture and structure shape how the system is used, and, if so, can this information be incorporated into system design preemptively to make it more effective?” Given the absence of systematic work on interdisciplinary warnings, a book-length monograph discussing and synthesizing knowledge from the various fields focused on warnings and warning response is of critical importance to both academics and practitioners. Broadly conceived, the book presents readers with an in-depth overview of warnings, interdisciplinary research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The book holds appeal for a very broad audience: scholars; practitioners; and academic, vocational, and technical instructors both in University and non-University settings. It is of interest to academic scholars due to the interdisciplinary treatment of warnings as well as the general presentation of up-to-date scholarship on warning theory. Additionally, scholars interested in interdisciplinary work in general and those focusing on disaster warnings find within the volume a framework for developing collaborative research partnerships with those from other disciplines. As well, the book offers practitioners --emergency managers, mitigation specialists, planners, etc. --a more comprehensive perspective on emergency response in practice, allowing for better development and application of warning policy. Finally, the book appeals to instructors both inside and outside the academy. The authors envision the book useful to professors teaching both graduate and undergraduate-level courses in Sociology of Disaster, Emergency Management Planning, Homeland Security, Disaster Response, Disaster Mitigation, and Business Continuity and Crisis Management. A robust market also exists among professional organizations, perhaps most notably FEMA, which offers countless online and in-person training courses via the National Training Program, Emergency Management Institute (EMI), and other venues.

This edited book summarizes numerous research studies on remote sensing and GIS of natural resource management for the Himalaya region done by Indian Institutions and Universities over the last decade. It gives an overview of hydrometeorological studies on Himalayan water resources and addresses concerns in the development of water resources in this region, which is dealing with an increased pressure in population, industrialization and economic development. While the source of some of the major rivers of India are found in the Himalayas, the glaciers and water bodies in the region are continuously shrinking leading to a depletion of water and deterioration of water quality. This is affecting a population of up to 2.5 billion people. The ecosystems have been under threat due to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, expansion of agriculture and settlement, overexploitation of natural resources, habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, mining, construction of roads and large dams, and unplanned tourism. Spaceborne remote sensing with its ability to provide synoptic and repetitive coverage has emerged as a powerful tool for assessment and monitoring of the Himalayan resources and phenomena. This work serves as a resource to students, researchers, scientists, professionals, and policy makers both in India and on a global level.

This book, for the first time, introduces comprehensively all main topics of lifeline earthquake engineering, including the structure analysis, network evaluation, and network design. The distinctive features involved in this book are the construction of theories and methods for stochastic analysis of structures based the physical idea, probability analytical algorithms for network evaluation by employing Boolean Algebra, functional evaluation of water distribution networks using hydraulic analysis, and network design methods by employing genetic, simulated annealing, and hybrid algorithms.

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license.This book takes an in-depth look at Louisiana as a state which is ahead of the curve in terms of extreme weather events, both in frequency and magnitude, and in its responses to these challenges including recovery and enhancement of resiliency.Louisiana faced a major tropical catastrophe in the 21st century, and experiences the fastest rising sea level. Weather specialists, including those concentrating on sea level rise acknowledge that what the state of Louisiana experiences is likely to happen to many more, and not necessarily restricted to coastal states. This book asks and attempts to answer what Louisiana public officials, scientists/engineers, and those from outside of the state who have been called in to help, have done to achieve resilient recovery. How well have these efforts fared to achieve their goals? What might these efforts offer as lessons for those states that will be likely to experience enhanced extreme weather? Can the challenges of inequality be truly addressed in recovery and resilience? How can the study of the Louisiana response as a case be blended with findings from later disasters such as New York/New Jersey (Hurricane Sandy) and more recent ones to improve understanding as well as best adaptation applications – federal, state and local?

This book offers an in-depth case study on the leading international refugee agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and its approach to environmentally displaced persons. The author examines the UNHCR on the basis of expert interviews and content analysis in order to highlight why and how the organization is addressing the issue. The analysis draws on organizational as well as security theory, offering readers a better understanding of the connection between the two. The book appeals to scholars in the fields of migration and organizational studies, as well as policymakers and professionals working in international organizations.

Hydrometeorological prediction involves the forecasting of the state and variation of hydrometeorological elements -- including precipitation, temperature, humidity, soil moisture, river discharge, groundwater, etc.-- at different space and time scales. Such forecasts form an important scientific basis for informing public of natural hazards such as cyclones, heat waves, frosts, droughts and floods. Traditionally, and at most currently operational centers, hydrometeorological forecasts are deterministic, “single-valued” outlooks: i.e., the weather and hydrological models provide a single best guess of the magnitude and timing of the impending events. These forecasts suffer the obvious drawback of lacking uncertainty information that would help decision-makers assess the risks of forecast use. Recently, hydrometeorological ensemble forecast approaches have begun to be developed and used by operational hydrometeorological services. In contrast to deterministic forecasts, ensemble forecasts are a multiple forecasts of the same events. The ensemble forecasts are generated by perturbing uncertain factors such as model forcings, initial conditions, and/or model physics. Ensemble techniques are attractive because they not only offer an estimate of the most probable future state of the hydrometeorological system, but also quantify the predictive uncertainty of a catastrophic hydrometeorological event occurring. The Hydrological Ensemble Prediction Experiment (HEPEX), initiated in 2004, has signaled a new era of collaboration toward the development of hydrometeorological ensemble forecasts. By bringing meteorologists, hydrologists and hydrometeorological forecast users together, HEPEX aims to improve operational hydrometeorological forecast approaches to a standard that can be used with confidence by emergencies and water resources managers. HEPEX advocates a hydrometeorological ensemble prediction system (HEPS) framework that consists of several basic building blocks. These components include:(a) an approach (typically statistical) for addressing uncertainty in meteorological inputs and generating statistically consistent space/time meteorological inputs for hydrological applications; (b) a land data assimilation approach for leveraging observation to reduce uncertainties in the initial and boundary conditions of the hydrological system; (c) approaches that address uncertainty in model parameters (also called ‘calibration'); (d) a hydrologic model or other approach for converting meteorological inputs into hydrological outputs; and finally (e) approaches for characterizing hydrological model output uncertainty. Also integral to HEPS is a verification system that can be used to evaluate the performance of all of its components. HEPS frameworks are being increasingly adopted by operational hydrometeorological agencies around the world to support risk management related to flash flooding, river and coastal flooding, drought, and water management. Real benefits of ensemble forecasts have been demonstrated in water emergence management decision making, optimization of reservoir operation, and other applications.

Solar energetic particles (SEPs) emitted from the Sun are a major space weather hazard motivating the development of predictive capabilities. This book presents the results and findings of the HESPERIA (High Energy Solar Particle Events forecasting and Analysis) project of the EU HORIZON 2020 programme. It discusses the forecasting operational tools developed within the project, and presents progress to SEP research contributed by HESPERIA both from the observational as well as the SEP modelling perspective. Using multi-frequency observational data and simulations HESPERIA investigated the chain of processes from particle acceleration in the corona, particle transport in the magnetically complex corona and interplanetary space, to the detection near 1 AU. The book also elaborates on the unique software that has been constructed for inverting observations of relativistic SEPs to physical parameters that can be compared with space-borne measurements at lower energies. Introductory and pedagogical material included in the book make it accessible to students at graduate level and will be useful as background material for Space Physics and Space Weather courses with emphasis on Solar Energetic Particle Event Forecasting and Analysis.This book is published with open access under a CC BY license.

This book aims to help students, researchers and policy makers understand the latest research and development trends in the application of WebGIS for Disaster Management and Emergency Response. It is designed as a useful tool to better assess the mechanisms for planning, response and mitigation of the impact of disaster scenarios at the local, regional or national levels. It contains details on how to use WebGIS to solve real-world problems associated with Disaster Management Scenarios for the long-term sustainability. The book broadens the reader understanding of the policy and decision-making issues related to Disaster Management response and planning.

This volume provides preliminary recommendations on ways to educate and develop experience-based expertise among disaster response, security and other professionals from diverse backgrounds, whose current and future interests relate to crisis management.The book takes a multidisciplinary approach to improving regional security cooperation and to addressing the complex issues of climate change and disasters on military activities.The main aims of this proceedings volume are: -to provide an Education and Individual Training Activity Common Core Curriculum, whose main purpose is to support increased awareness of the implications of Climate Change;-to identify broad issues on climate change and disasters, particularly those with the highest importance and relevance to regional security. The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) conducted an Advanced Research Workshop “Climate Change Implications on Military Activities in the Balkans Region” between 05-07 July, 2016. The event was supported by the NATO Science for Peace (SPS) Program and gathered distinguished experts from various international organizations and civil-military agencies.

This volume provides in-depth coverage of the latest in remote sensing of hydrological extremes: both floods and droughts. The book is divided into two distinct sections – floods and droughts – and offers a variety of techniques for monitoring each. With rapid advances in computer modelling and observing systems, floods and droughts are studied with greater precision today than ever before. Land surface models, especially over the entire Continental United States, can map the hydrological cycle at kilometre and sub-kilometre scales. In the case of smaller areas there is even higher spatial resolution and the only limiting factor is the resolution of input data. In-situ sensors are automated and the data is directly relayed to the world wide web for many hydrological variables such as precipitation, soil moisture, surface temperature and heat fluxes. In addition, satellite remote sensing has advanced to providing twice a day repeat observationsat kilometre to ten-kilometre spatial scales.We are at a critical juncture in the study of hydrological extremes, and the GPM and SMAP missions as well as the MODIS and GRACE sensors give us more tools and data than were ever available before. A global variety of chapter authors provides wide-ranging perspectives and case studies that will make this book an indispensable resource for researchers, engineers, and even emergency management and insurance professionals who study and/or manage hydrological extremes.

This book is a collection of papers presented at the International Workshop on Geotechnical Natural Hazards held July 12–15, 2014, in Kitakyushu, Japan. The workshop was the sixth in the series of Japan–Taiwan Joint Workshops on Geotechnical Hazards from Large Earthquakes and Heavy Rainfalls, held under the auspices of the Asian Technical Committee No. 3 on Geotechnology for Natural Hazards of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. It was co-organized by the Japanese Geotechnical Society and the Taiwanese Geotechnical Society. The contents of this book focus on geotechnical and natural hazard-related issues in Asia such as earthquakes, tsunami, rainfall-induced debris flows, slope failures, and landslides. The book contains the latest information and mitigation technology on earthquake- and rainfall-induced geotechnical natural hazards. By dissemination of the latest state-of-the-art research in the area, the information contained in this book will help researchers, designers, consultants, government officials, and academicians involved in the mitigation of natural hazards. The findings and other information provided here is expected to contribute toward the development of a new chapter in disaster prevention and mitigation of geotechnical structures.

This book analyses the links between climate change adaptation, resilience and the impacts of hazards. The contributors cover topics such as climate change adaptation in coastal zones, the evaluation of community land models, climate change considerations in public health and water resource management, as well as conceptual frameworks for understanding vulnerabilities to extreme climate events. The book focuses on a variety of concrete projects, initiatives and strategies currently being implemented across the world. It also presents case studies, trends, data and projects that illustrate how cities, communities and regions have been striving to achieve resilience and have handled hazards.

Gisela Kutzbach has provided an unparalleled account of the mainstream of meteorological thought during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This book takes us from the era of attempts to describe disturbances as mechanistic interactions of air currents, through Espy's introduction in the 1830's of the proposition that cyclones are convective systems driven by heat of condensation in central rainy areas, up to the distinctively different polar front theory of 1920, often considered as the birth of modern meteorology. Follies and controversies as well as successes are recounted, and in the tale the cast of characters, many of them acute observers or experimenters as well as theoreticians, and some crusty and dogmatic, are brought to life. The period was one in which basic concepts of thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, and energy conversions emerged with parallel accommodations to the special needs of meteorology. Influences of the development of synoptic meteorology and early aerology are thoroughly treated, essential mathematical expositions are presented in their original forms with explications, and theories and analyses are illuminated by numerous well-chosen figures and quotations. Concise but complete, and written in a style easy to comprehend, the treatise is a lively account of a lively time in the development of science. Kutzbach has succeeded well in her objectives, to provide'an insight in the particular problems and methods of problem solving in nineteenth century meteorology'and to illustrate'that science is a human activity and that its development is an open-ended process involving the constant testing of hypotheses.'

The objectives of the American Meteorological Society are'the development and dissemination of knowledge of meteorology in all its phases and applications, and the advancement of its professional ideals.'The organization of the Society took place in affiliation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science at Saint Louis, Missouri, December 29, 1919, and its incorporation, at Washington, D. C., January 21, 1920. The work of the Society is carried on by the Bulletin, the Journal, and Meteorological Monographs, by papers and discussions at meetings of the Society, through the offices of the Secretary and the Executive Secretary, and by correspondence. All of the Americas are represented in the membership of the Society as well as many foreign countries.

This volume presents a unique interdisciplinary approach, drawing on expertise in both the natural and social sciences. A primary goal is to present a scientific and socially integrated perspective on place-based community engagement, extreme weather, and health. Each year extreme weather is leading to natural disasters around the world and exerting huge social and health costs. The International Monetary Fund (2012) estimates that since 2010, 700 worldwide natural disasters have affected more than 450 million people around the globe. The best coping strategy for extreme weather and environmental change is a strong offense. Communities armed with a spatial understanding of their resources, risks, strengths, weaknesses, community capabilities, and social networks will have the best chance of reducing losses and achieving a better outcome when extreme weather and disaster strikes.

This book deals primarily with monitoring, prediction and understanding of Tropical Cyclones (TCs). It was envisioned to serve as a teaching and reference resource at universities and academic institutions for researchers and post-graduate students. It has been designed to provide a broad outlook on recent advances in observations, assimilation and modeling of TCs with detailed and advanced information on genesis, intensification, movement and storm surge prediction. Specifically, it focuses on (i) state-of-the-art observations for advancing TC research, (ii) advances in numerical weather prediction for TCs, (iii) advanced assimilation and vortex initialization techniques, (iv) ocean coupling, (v) current capabilities to predict TCs, and (vi) advanced research in physical and dynamical processes in TCs. The chapters in the book are authored by leading international experts from academic, research and operational environments. The book is also expected to stimulate critical thinking forcyclone forecasters and researchers, managers, policy makers, and graduate and post-graduate students to carry out future research in the field of TCs.

This book presents the expanded versions of invited papers presented at the International Symposium on the Life Cycles of Extratropical Cyclones, held in Bergen, Norway, 27 June–1 July 1994. It is of particular interest to historians of meteorology, researchers and forecasters. The material can be used for advanced undergraduate and undergraduate meteorology courses, and it represents a useful source of references to extratropical cyclones. The book provides the historical background of extratropical cyclone research and forecasting from the eighteenth to the mid-twentieth century. It also presents extratropical cyclone theory, observations, analysis, diagnosis and prediction.

This highly illustrated book is a collection of 13 review papers focusing on convective storms and the weather they produce. It discusses severe convective storms, mesoscale processes, tornadoes and tornadic storms, severe local storms, flash flood forecast and the electrification of severe storms.

To better understand the various processes and interactions that govern the Earth system and to determine whether recent human-induced changes could ultimately de-stabilise its dynamics, both natural system variability and the consequences of human activities have to be observed and quantified. In this context, the European Space Agency (ESA) published in 2006 the document “The Changing Earth: New Scientific Challenges for ESA's Living Planet Programme” as the main driver of ESA's new Earth Observation (EO) science strategy. The document outlines 25 major scientific challenges covering all the different aspects of the Earth system, where EO technology and ESA missions may provide a key contribution. In this framework, and aiming at enhancing the ESA scientific support towards the achievement of “The Challenges”, the Agency has launched in 2008 a new initiative – the Changing Earth Science Network – to support young scientists to undertake leading-edge research activities contributing to achieve the 25 scientific challenges of the LPP by maximising the use of ESA data. The initiative is implemented through a number of research projects proposed and led by early-stage scientists at post-doctoral level for a period of two years which are summarized in this SpringerBrief. These projects undertake innovative research activities furthering into the most pressing issues of the Earth system, while exploiting ESA missions data with special attention to the ESA data archives and the new Earth Explorer missions.

One of the fundamental goals of earth system science research is to adopt a more holistic view of the earth as a ‘system'comprising different domains. The Society of Earth Scientists has brought out this multidisciplinary publication to emphasize the need of an integrated approach to understand the Earth system. It focuses on natural disasters and, in particular, on climate change and its effects in Asia and understanding the significance of these developments within the context of the paleo-climatic record. The later sections of the book then focus on other types of natural disasters as well as those induced by human interaction with our environment.

Designed with researchers, students, and weather observers and enthusiasts in mind, Northeast Snowstorms takes the unique approach of utilizing conventional weather charts and detailed descriptions of individual storms to analyze storms in a multi-disciplinary way. The most comprehensive treatment of winter storms ever compiled, this two-volume set includes case studies, insights, historic photos, and 200 color figures. The extra material on the SpringerExtras server contains five days of complete reanalysis data at 35-km grid resolution and 64 vertical levels for each of the cases. This allows everyone from enthusiasts to students to conduct their own diagnostic studies or research projects for any of the 70 historic cases, from a PC or workstation environment. Instructors take note: this is an excellent tool for creating classroom exercises.

This special volume contains a selection of papers that were presented as part of the Seventh International Symposium on Natural and Man-Made Hazards (HAZARDS-98), held in Chania, Crete Island, Greece, during May 1998. The Symposium attracted broad international interest because many cases of natural disaster events, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, storm surges, forest fires, etc., that occurred in several parts of the world during the 1990s were presented not only for their physics but also from the point of view of their impact on society and their environmental consequences. Among these cases are the 1997 Red River Valley flood in Canada and the large earthquake of 18 November 1997, in Zakynthos, Greece. In addition, the volume contains contributions that apply advanced statistical methods and artificial intelligence techniques, such as GIS, and systems analysis to approach the description of physical processes, the discrimination of experimental data and the assessment and management of risk. Audience: This volume forms an excellent reference for scientists, students, engineers, the insurance industry, authorities specializing in public safety and natural hazards preparedness and mitigation plans.

The odds of being hit by lightning each year are only about 1 in 750,000 in the U.S. And yet this rare phenomenon has inspired both fear and fascination for thousands of years. In this groundbreaking, brilliantly researched book, journalist John S. Friedman probes lightning's scientific, spiritual, and cultural roots. Blending vibrant history with riveting first-hand accounts of those who have clashed with lightning and lived to tell about it, Out of the Blue charts an extraordinary journey across the ages that explores our awe and dread in the face of one of nature's most fearsome spectacles.Herman Melville called it “God's burning finger.” The ancient Romans feared it as the wrath of God. Today we have a more scientific understanding, so why our eternal fascination with lightning? Out of the Blue attempts to understand this towering force of nature, exploring the changing perceptions of lightning from the earliest civilizations through Ben Franklin's revolutionary experiments to the hair-raising adventures of storm chasers like David Hoadley, who's been chronicling extreme weather for half a century. And Friedman describes one of the most treacherous rescues ever attempted in American mountain climbing.Friedman profiles a Virginia ranger who was struck by lightning seven times—and dubbed the human lightning rod—along with scores of others who tell astonishing tales of rescue and survival. And he charts lightning's profound, life-altering effects on the emotional and spiritual lives of its victims.Combining captivating fact with thrilling personal stories, Out of the Blue tells a remarkable true tale of fate and coincidence, discovery and divine retribution, science and superstition. As entertaining as it is informative, it is a book for outdoor adventurers, sports enthusiasts, science and weather buffs, nature lovers, and anyone who has ever been awed or frightened by the sight of lightning.

Earthquakes and Atmospheric Hazards contains a selection of papers that were presented as part of the Sixth International Symposium on Natural and Man-Made Hazards (HAZARDS-96) held in Toronto, Canada during July, 1996. The Symposium was very timely, given the large number of natural disasters that have occurred in various parts of the world during the 1990s, the United Nations'International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). The human reaction to these disasters has varied widely from one event to the next and the economic and social costs have been immense with damage running into billions of dollars. Having in everyone's mind the Northridge, California (1994) and the Kobe, Japan (1995) earthquakes, the volcanoes in the Philippines, the cyclones and related storm surges in Bangladesh, and the floods in North America and Europe caused by heavy rains, the Symposium attracted more than one hundred papers covering various aspects of these events. The eleven papers included in this volume deal with the scientific and management issues of those earthquakes and atmospheric hazards that occurred during the late 1990s, with emphasis on the preparedness aspects. A summary report of the HAZARDS-96 Symposium and recommendations adopted by the participants is also included. Earthquakes and Atmospheric Hazards forms an excellent reference for scientists, students, engineers, the insurance industry, authorities specializing in public safety and natural hazards preparedness and mitigation plans.

The General Assembly of the United Nations passed a resolution on December 11, 1987, designating the 1990s as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. This resolution has served as a catalyst in promotion of international cooperation in the field of natural disaster reduction; in initiation of wide-ranging research activities on natural and man-made disasters; in development of tech­ nologies for assessment, prediction, prevention, and mitigation through technical assistance, technology transfer, demonstration projects, and education and training; and in dissemination of information related to measures for assessment, prediction, prevention, and mitigation of natural disasters. Disasters are manifestations of environmental extremes. Depending upon the type of disasters, their occurrence may have short-term andlor long-term detri­ mental environmental consequences. Disasters cannot be prevented altogether, but their impact can be mitigated. This book is an attempt to provide a discussion of hydrological aspects of the various types of natural disasters. It is hoped that others will be stimulated to write more comprehensive texts on this subject of enormous importance.

In the last three years, there have been three large tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, most notably the notorious one which struck on 26 December 2004 and killed more than 238,000 people. It was generated by one of the largest recorded earthquakes in the last 100 years. Such events occur about four times per century, mainly in the Pacific Ocean. Few scientists were aware that the Indian Ocean was vulnerable: only Thailand had been warned of the potential for such an event. However, tsunami are also insidious local hazards. Since 1990, at least eleven events have impacted on the world's coastlines, causing devastation and loss of life. Tsunami are underrated as major hazards, mainly due to the misconceptions that they occur infrequently compared to other natural disasters and happen along some distant shoreline, most likely in a developing country. Evidence for past great tsunami, or'mega-tsunami'has also recently been discovered along apparently aseismic and protected coastlines, such as those of Australia and Western Europe. These mega-tsunami are caused by either huge submarine landslides or the impact of meteorites and comets with the ocean. With a large proportion of the world's population living on the coastline, the threat from tsunami cannot be ignored.

Significant, and usually unwelcome, surprises, such as floods, financial crisis, epileptic seizures, or material rupture, are the topics of Extreme Events in Nature and Society. The book, authored by foremost experts in these fields, reveals unifying and distinguishing features of extreme events, including problems of understanding and modelling their origin, spatial and temporal extension, and potential impact. The chapters converge towards the difficult problem of anticipation: forecasting the event and proposing measures to moderate or prevent it. Extreme Events in Nature and Society will interest not only specialists, but also the general reader eager to learn how the multifaceted field of extreme events can be viewed as a coherent whole.