ESCI 1085 - Natural Disasters Laboratory

1. Geographic location and natural disasters
2. Determining earthquake location and magnitude
3. Sun angles and solar radiation
4. Severe weather and weather mapping
5. Hurricane tracking
6. Climate change
7. Acid precipitation across the nation
8. Topographic map interpretation
9. Regional floods
10. Plate tectonics and volcanic hazards
11. Worldwide earthquake activity and distribution
12. Mega disasters
    1. Tsunami
    2. Impact from space

1. analyze U.S. EPA air emissions data and acidification patterns in the Continental U.S. and predict their long-term environmental impact.
2. describe climate trends and patterns based on analysis of long-term data records.
3. explain the change in seasons and weather patterns based on Earth¿s orbit and changes in incident solar radiation for a given latitude and longitude.
4. explain the current regional weather predictions based on National Weather Service Website Data and Frontal Maps.
5. identify factors indicating severe weather potential both by sky observation and analysis of on-line National Weather Service radar patterns.
6. identify factors that influence probability of landfall for Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Tropical Storms and Cyclones.
7. identify regions of the earth where geologic disasters occur with greatest frequency.
8. predict the long-term probability of recurring geologic natural disasters for geographic regions based on trends in data from seismological, sediment core, pyroclastic flow, and ground elevation records.
9. determine development feasibility for locations in the St. Croix River Valley based on topographical map analysis and US Army Corps of Engineer¿s flood plain data.
10. draw a cross-sectional profile of a transect on a USGS Topographic map and assess suitability of development of a land area based on slope analysis and drainage patterns.
11. develop a tsunami evacuation plan for a given coastal municipality based on coastal topography.

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