Natural Hazards & Disasters

(grade 12 open)

    This is the second course offered by the Geography Department under the Interdisciplinary Studies guideline.  Natural Hazards & Disasters takes an integrated approach to studying the interaction between humans and these significant events that occur throughout the world.

     Canada finds itself relatively well off when it comes to natural hazards. In many parts of the world the potential for disasters is a part of everyday life.  Due to population growth, and other factors, increasing numbers of people on this planet find themselves living in harm's way.  As others factors such as global warming continue to influence weather patterns around the globe, Canada may find itself experiencing an increasing number of significant events such as the Ice Storm in Quebec and the Flooding at Winnipeg.

  As they delve into this topic, students will need to find the connections between the natural science behind these events, the mathematics of determining the probability and degree of hazard, the technology used to forecast or reduce the potential damage and loss of life, the social and economic impact, and the human response.