Geological Sciences

Natural Disasters

Geology 158


Natural Disasters (GEOL158) is a 4-unit General Education course designed to improve student awareness of the geological hazards that we all face. The course satisfies the B3 block of the General Education requirements. The course is taught for General Education students and is intended to improve their understanding of natural disasters so that they may make wiser decisions in the future. It is not an exaggeration to say that this course could save your life.	This 1973 eruption in Heimay, Iceland shows that volcanic eruptions can destroy homes and lives. You will learn about the much more dangerous qualities of volcanoes in Natural Disasters.

These cars were crushed by during the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Natural Disasters will teach you to recognize and avoid unsafe housing.	Natural Disasters is a lecture-only course. Students meet for 100 minute class periods twice a week. Student grades are typically determined by 3 to 4 exams, a written or oral presentation, and participation.

Class periods may be used for lectures, group discussions, demonstrations, or visual presentations often taken from the Internet. Californians are exposed to numerous dangers from natural disasters. Case studies of past disasters are presented to make students more aware of what has happened and how society has reacted. Students learn how all levels of government have reacted to events to reduce the danger of natural disasters.	The 1993 floods along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers causes billions of dollars in damage and permanently changed some areas.
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This damage was done to a department store during the 1994 Northridge earthquake.	Natural disasters examined in this course include earthquakes, landslides, floods, volcanic eruptions, severe weather, fires, mass extinctions, meteor impact, tsunamis, and other events including loss of natural resources. Such recent events as the Indian Ocean tsunami, the severe hurricanes of 2005, and massively destructive earthquakes in Asia make it clear that knowledge of natural disasters is exceedingly valuable to you and society at large.
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California is an active earthquake zone. Consequently, special attention is given to natural disasters that occur repeatedly in California. The State of California developed building codes for earthquake safety after the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. More recent earthquakes have shown us the dangers of living on fault lines or in soil liquefaction areas where shaking will be especially severe. Old and poorly reinforced buildings present an exceptionally great danger. You will learn how to use the Internet to identify the areas of most serious seismic danger so that you may avoid these areas in your future choices of places to work and live.	The April 18, 1906 San Francisco earthquake caused over 1500 deaths and was followed by a fire that devastated the city. Over 25,000 buildings burned.

The La Conchita landslide of 2005 took lives and destroyed homes when the seacliff collapsed during a winter of heavy rainfall.	Landslides are also a special danger in southern California. Landslides often occur in areas where they have happened in the past. Homes can be destroyed and millions of dollars of property damage occurs especially in the years of high rainfall. You will learn what causes landslides and how to avoid this danger.
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Los Angeles County has spent many millions of dollars to control floods. Many people live adjacent to the San Gabriel or Santa Monica Mountains or on the flood plains of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers. Knowledge of flood control is valuable to residents of the Los Angeles area. This course will enable you to more accurately evaluate the flood dangers in your community.	Flooding like this is perfectly possible in many parts of California. Can it be avoided and how cost effective are prevention efforts?

The northwest side of Mt. Rainier in Washington State is gradually growing weaker and weaker and now presents a threat to the Puyallup Valley shown here.	Living in southern California, you are fortunate not to be close to volcanic dangers. In contrast, numerous communities in northern California, Oregon, and Washington are very close to active or potentially active volcanoes. The dangers are far greater in countries like Indonesia, Mexico, and Italy. Millions of people live adjacent to Mt. Vesuvius in Italy and the killer volcano Merapi in Indonesia. This course will explore why people have chosen to live with such dangers and what can be done to improve their safety.
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Hurricane Katrina and the city of New Orleans have taught us about the dangers of living below sea-level in a city that is positioned largely below the surface level of the Mississippi River. Students will learn about levees, the behavior of large rivers, hurricanes, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Lessons learned from past disasters are likely to be discussed.	Hurricane Katrina was followed by Hurricane Rita which added to the misery of the Gulf Coast in 2005.
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These homes were built on an ancient landslide and their destruction was almost certain to occur. In Natural Disasters you will learn the causes of landslides and how to recognize and avoid them.	Students who complete this course know how to prepare their homes and families for natural disasters. More importantly, they have learned how to assess the dangers of particular locations and make intelligent decisions that result in avoiding hazards. They learn how to use the Internet and the resources of government agencies such as the United States Geological Survey and the California Geological Survey to evaluate the natural hazards that could threaten particular properties. This knowledge will serve you well.
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Students often report that the course has reduced their fears of earthquakes, improved their ability to avoid natural disasters, and made them more aware of their natural environment. Faculty work toward these results with enthusiasm and love for their field.	The 1971 San Fernando earthquake produced surface rupture on Foothill Blvd. The nursing home shown above was destroyed and one person died. Locations such as this one are easily avoided when you choose a home. Take GEOL158 and learn how.

Natural Disasters Will Answer Questions Like These
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This dog was killed when an ashflow destroyed Pompeii in 79 AD.	Are modern cities threatened by volcanic explosions and is there anything we can do to plan for such an event?

Is it possible that the soil will behave like a liquid (liquefy) during an earthquake in the area where you live? This course will help you recognize the natural hazards that occur in the areas where you live and work. The green area on this map to the west and northwest of CSLA has a higher potential to liquefy during an earthquake.	This is a California Geological Survey map of areas with soil liquefaction potential near Cal State LA. The green areas on this map have the potential to experience soil liquefaction during an earthquake.
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The 1971 San Fernando earthquake occurred at 6:00 a.m. How would you liked to have been in the bed in that top corner apartment?	Tens of thousands of buildings such as this one are still in use in California. A recent Los Angeles Times report said that thousands of unsafe schools are still in daily use.

The flood control system in southern California prevents sand from reaching the coast. As a result, beaches are eroding even as more construction is occurring in the coastal zone. Is it possible to prevent floods, protect beaches, and continue building homes so close to the ocean?	These San Diego County homes are protected from the ocean by riprap, walls and others expensive efforts.
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Scientists are working on ways to prevent something like this from happening.	Impact by a large meteor is a rare event and may seem unimportant to most people. Rare as it is, meteor impacts in the past have resulted in mass extinctions. Impact of a massive meteor 65 million years ago resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs. Could this hazard be recognized in advance and prevented?

Geology is fun but it is also important. Geology provides you with the natural resources that your modern life requires. It also provides environmental understanding that is required to avoid natural disasters. Take GEOL158 and have fun learning how to provide greater safety for you and your family. Recent events show how important this is.	CSLA student sampling hot lava in Hawaii.

Contact us for more information about Geology 158 Natural Disasters Geology Office Physical Sciences Room 216 Telephone (323) 343-2400
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General Education Courses in Geology B2 Block Courses in Geology Geology 150 Earth Revealed Geology 155 Oceanography B3 Block Courses in Geology Geology 158 Natural Disasters Under Division Theme Courses in Geology Theme A: The Challenge of Change in the Developing World Geology 351 Environmental Geology of Developing Nations Theme D: Urban Life and Environment Geology 357 Urban Geology Are you thinking of a career in geology or natural science? Click here. Geology GE Homepage Geology Home

Thank you for visiting this webpage. Please go to the University Homepage and look in the University Catalog to learn more about the General Education Program including the Upper Division Theme requirements.

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