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Natural Hazards
Updated Tuesday 17 February 2015
Multibeam 3D image of a submarine volcano with craters and locally collapsed flank. SW Pacific Ocean.
Image courtesy of Dr I. Wright, NIWA.
Observations and research into natural hazards, affecting the ocean and coast, are carried out by a range of agencies and institutions, some of which are listed under the Oceans/Seabed subsection. Major governmental organisations in Europe and the US have exhaustive websites with historical and near-real time information on a range of hazards.
Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the main point of contact relating to hazards predicted under the present phase of global warming. A number of reports based on the Third Assessment of Climate Change, 2001, are available on the web; the Fourth Assessment being scheduled for 2007.
Earthquakes
National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) is set up to rapidly determine the location and size of all destructive earthquakes world-wide. These data are immediately disseminated to relevant national and international agencies, scientists and the general public.
Submarine Landslides and Turbidity Currents
Insights into Submarine Geohazards from Breaks in Subsea Telecommunication Cables (published in Oceanography 2014)
Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 1.26 MB
The original discovery of active submarine landslides and turbidity currents in the deep ocean was made in the 1950s through analysis of breaks in transoceanic communications cables. Further insights regarding the causes, frequency, and behavior of damaging submarine flows are presented here, based on recent disruptions of modern communications cables in the Strait of Luzon off southern Taiwan. Authors: Lionel Carter (Antarctic Research Centre, New Zealand and ICPC Marine Environmental Advisor), Rachel Gavey (OMV New Zealand Ltd), Peter J. Talling (National Oceanography Centre, UK), James T. Liu (National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China).
The original discovery of active submarine landslides and turbidity currents in the deep ocean was made in the 1950s through analysis of breaks in transoceanic communications cables. Further insights regarding the causes, frequency, and behavior of damaging submarine flows are presented here, based on recent disruptions of modern communications cables in the Strait of Luzon off southern Taiwan. Authors: Lionel Carter (Antarctic Research Centre, New Zealand and ICPC Marine Environmental Advisor), Rachel Gavey (OMV New Zealand Ltd), Peter J. Talling (National Oceanography Centre, UK), James T. Liu (National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China).
Tsunami
National Weather Service (NOAA) operates two tsunami warning systems; the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (Hawaii), as well as the International Tsunami Information Center in conjunction with UNESCO. The following address is a direct link to the 3 centres.
Volcanic Activity
NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Interdisciplinary Science (IDS) Volcanology presents a global assessment of active volcanoes and associated hazards/effects including inputs to the atmosphere, as seen from the satellite-based Earth Observing System.
US Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program is a highly informative site that includes a weekly synopsis of active volcanoes world-wide, and an evaluation of hazards and their mitigation.
Weather-Related Events
Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms Our research focuses on understanding the magnitude and variability of the impacts of hurricanes and extreme storms on the sandy beaches of the United States. The overall objective is to improve the capability to predict coastal change that results from severe storms. Such a capability will support management of coastal infrastructure, resources, and safety.
National Hurricane Center (NOAA) gives warnings, forecasts and analyses of hazardous tropical weather. The web pages have much data on Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes and severe storms, including forecasts, satellite watches and historical records.
USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program The USGS coastal and marine geologic research supports understanding of coastal and marine environments, through technology, tools, data and mapping products.