Prerequisite:

Finished second Bologna level in the appropriate field or University degree VII.

Content (Syllabus outline):

Presented are different approaches to the study of natural hazards, in particular: modern methods of studying natural hazards (fieldwork, geographical information systems, morphographical analysis, laboratory methods, sedimentological analysis, hydrological analysis, meteorological research), the application of these methods in selected cases in the form of fieldwork and cabinet work, the latter with a focus on the use of geographic information systems. The emphasis is on the scientific justification and estimates of hazard and risk and their use in land-use planning. Social aspects of natural disasters are also presented.

Readings:

• Clifford, N. et al. (ur.) 2016: Key methods in geography. Sage. Los Angeles.
• Keller, E. A., DeVecchio, D. E., Blodgett, R. H. 2019: Natural hazards: Earth’s processes as hazards, disasters, and catastrophes. London, New York. Routledge.
• Zorn, M., Komac, B. 2015: Naravne nesreče kot razvojni izziv. Globalni izzivi in regionalni razvoj. Ljubljana.
• Walker, G., Whittle, R., Medd, W., Watson, N. 2010: Risk governance and natural hazards. http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/49475/1/WP2_final.pdf
• Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., Davis, I. 1994: At risk – natural hazards, people’s vulnerability and disasters. Routledge.

Objectives and competences:

Students are acquainted with the main properties of natural disasters, especially in terms of their causes and influencing factors and the underlying mechanisms and processes. They study the scheme of the influential factors in terms of geography and are able to analyze the landscape in terms of its susceptibility to natural disasters. The risk is analyzed in terms of spatial and temporal distribution of dangerous phenomena and the development of the society and its responses to natural processes.

Intended learning outcomes:

• Knowledge of the properties of different types of natural disasters, including their causes, effects and spatio-temporal distribution dependent on a number of influencing factors, climate change which changes the interaction of different processes is particularly considered
• Knowledge of the basic methods of studying natural disasters
• – Knowledge of the risk and threat analysis with geographic information systems

Assessment:

Oral exam (100 %).