Research Catalog

Title

Physical aspects of natural catastrophes / by Adrian E. Scheidegger.

Author

Scheidegger, Adrian E., 1925-2014.

Publication

Amsterdam : Elsevier Scientific Pub. ; New York : American Elsevier, 1975.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xiii, 289 pages; 24 cm

Subject

• Natural disasters
• Earth sciences
• Natural Disasters
• natural disasters
• earth sciences
• Earth sciences
• Natural disasters
• Naturkatastrophe

Note

• Includes index.

Bibliography (note)

• Bibliography: p. [253]-274.

Contents

Introduction : The scope of the term “catastrophe” ; The basic physical problems : General remarks ; Stability of a system ; The motion of mass ; Hydrodynamics. The basic statistical problems : The problem of prediction ; Statistics of rare events ; The estimation of risk. Units --Earthquakes : The earthquake source : General description ; Causes of earthquakes ; Seismic source models ; Source parameters. Effects on the ground : Phenomenological description ; Intensity scales; isoseismals ; Displacement, velocity, acceleration and spectra ; Effects of local geology ; Engineering aspects. Geographic distribution of earthquakes : General remarks ; World seismicity ; Types of regions. Temporal distribution of earthquakes : Magnitude-frequency relations ; Aftershock sequences ; Earthquakes as a time series ; Strain and energy release. Seismic risk : Characterization of the seismic risk ; Seismic zoning ; Earthquake prediction -- Volcanic eruptions : Phenomenology of volcanic eruptions : Definition ; Classifications of volcanic eruptions. Volcanicity of the earth : The geographic distribution of volcanoes ; Correlation of volcanic activity with tectonics. Mechanics of volcanic eruptions : General remarks ; Intensity, energy and magnitude of eruptions ; The driving force in an eruption. Effects of volcanic eruptions : Dynamics of a lava stream ; Ash flows ; Ash falls ; Caldera formation ; Volcanic bombs. Statistics and prediction of volcanic eruptions : The problem ; Statistics of eruptions ; Attempts at predictions ; Volcanic zoning. Other volcanic effects : Description ; Lahars ; Hydrothermal effects -- Accidents on slopes : General remarks : Soil and rock ; Rheology of soil and rock: elastic range ; Rheology of soil and rock: creep range ; Rheology of soil and rock: failure range ; Progressive failure. The stability of slopes : General remarks ; Stability of soil slopes ; Stability of rock slopes ; Quasistatic adjustment of slopes ; Slopes and earthquakes. Pure rock phenomena : Description ; Tectonic stresses and rock masses ; Rock falls ; Exfoliation ; Rock bursts. Accidents on scree and talus accumulations : Description and classification ; Scree and talus creep: stability ; Debris slides ; Rolling stones ; Protective measures. Surficial phenomena : General remarks ; Skin creep ; Surface creep ; Solifluction ; Surficial slips. Deep mass movements : Description ; Deep-seated soil creep ; Rock mass creep. Landslides : General remarks ; Surficial slides ; Slides in soil and clay ; Catastrophic landslides ; Prevention of slides. External flow phenomena : Slow earth- and mud-flows ; Fast mud- and debris-flows -- Snow and ice catastrophes : Physics of snow and ice : Freezing water ; Mechanical properties of snow ; Mechanical properties of ice ; The transformation of snow to ice. Snow : Phenomenology of avalanches ; The stability of snow-covers ; Dynamics of avalanches ; Destructive forces in snow avalanches ; Statistics and forecasting of avalanches ; Protective measures against avalanches. Glacier catastrophes : Phenomenology ; The normal motion of glaciers ; Surges of glaciers ; Stability of an ice mass ; The motion of ice avalanches -- Water catastrophes : Introduction : Phenomenological classification ; The hydrological cycle. Surface-water : The hydrograph ; Statistical analysis ; Flash floods ; Catastrophic flood waves ; Lakes ; River-flood erosion ; Water erosion on slopes ; Tectonic effects of surface-water. Geomorphic effects of ground-water : Principles of seepage ; Effects of pore-water ; Consolidation ; Sink-holes ; Geodynamics effects of pore-water ; Quick sand and quick clay. Shorelines and coasts : Equilibrium condition ; Sea-level changes ; Large-scale changes on coasts ; Tsunamis. Catastrophes on the ocean-bottom : General remarks ; Physical mechanism of turbidity currents -- Air catastrophes : Introduction : Severe weather ; Physics of the atmosphere ; Vortices ; The near-ground layer of the atmosphere ; Global circulation ; Clouds. Thunderstorms : Phenomenology ; Atmospheric electricity ; Generation of thunderstorm-electricity ; Lightning ; Lightning risk and protection. Tornadoes : Phenomenological description ; Physics of tornadoes ; Statistics of tornadoes ; Physics of tornado damage. Hurricanes : Description ; Physics of hurricanes ; Physics of hurricane damage ; Hurricane statistics, risk and protection. Other types of severe weather.

ISBN

• 0444412166
• 9780444412164

LCCN

75321075

OCLC

• ocm01602772
• 1602772
• SCSB-284952

Owning Institutions

Princeton University Library