NATURAL HAZARDS
| 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. | |
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Multibeam 3D image of a submarine volcano with craters and locally collapsed flank. SW Pacific Ocean. Image courtesy of Dr I. Wright, NIWA.
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Climate Change |
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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. http://ipcc.ch |
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Earthquakes |
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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. http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/index.html |
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Tsunami |
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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, http://tsunami.gov/ |
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Volcanic Activity |
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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. http://eos.higp.hawaii.edu// 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. http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/ |
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Weather–Related Events |
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Many of the meteorological agencies listed under Weather
contain information on extreme weather events on and
offshore. US Geological Survey maintains several sites with information on hazards caused by extreme weather, and their impact on the seabed and coast off the US and the rest of the world. http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/ and http://marine.usgs.gov/ 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. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ |
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