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| Course
Description |
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| Number of Units: |
3 |
| Lecture Hours: |
3 hours/week |
| Course Teachers: |
Prof. CHEN
Yongqin, David |
(ydavidchen@cuhk.edu.hk) |
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Prof. Ng Sai Leung |
(slng@cuhk.edu.hk) |
| Language of
instruction: |
Cantonese |
| Course
Outline |
| This course examines the physical and human
dimensions of natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons,
floods and landslides, soil erosion and desertification. The focus will be
on the causes of major natural hazards, their geographical distribution,
risk and disaster to human society, and human response to prepare, prevent
and mitigate negative impacts. Study of the interaction between society and
natural hazards will help students better understand the man-environment
relationship. An issue-based approach will be adopted to address a wide
variety of geological, meteorological, hydrological, ecological, and
technological hazards. While the coverage will be broad and global, case
studies of threats, occurrence and consequences of natural hazards in Hong
Kong and Mainland China will be emphasized.
Students are expected to develop a general
understanding of the causes and consequences of extreme natural events and
thus to appreciate the impacts on the lives and properties of people around
the world. The course will discuss natural hazards from dual perspectives of
physical and human geography. Therefore, students will not only gain basic
knowledge of geophysical concepts and rules of natural hazards, but also
learn how environmental risk arises from the complex interaction between the
physical environment and human society. As concerned world citizens,
students will need to be equipped with these capabilities and knowledge in
order to better understand the challenges and potential calamities posed by
natural hazards. |
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| Course
Highlights |
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| 1. |
Definition,
classification, and global distribution of natural hazards |
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| 2. |
Vulnerability
of society: prevention, mitigation and preparedness |
| 3. |
Geological
hazards - earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, avalanches and
landslides |
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4. |
Meteorological hazards - typhoons, tornadoes, and rain storms |
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Hydrological hazards - floods, droughts and famines |
6. |
Ecological hazards - soil erosion, desertification |
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| 7. |
Major
catastrophic natural hazards in history and human responses in the Greater
China |
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| 8. |
Natural hazards of significant local and regional relevance
for Hong Kong |
| 9. |
Planning and emergency action in developing and developed
countries |
Please also refer to the information in the Office of University General Education and CUHK Undergraduate Handbook
(Select Curriculum and then Course Details)
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