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Earthquakes, tsunamis among disasters to be studied at new centre
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June 7, 2005
A new research centre at SFU will focus on assessing and possibly reducing the impact of potential natural hazards in BC, such as earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, floods and tsunamis.
The Centre for Natural Hazard Research will conduct research on geophysical processes that are a threat to the inhabitants and economic infrastructure of the region, says earth sciences professor John Clague.
Sixteen SFU researchers -- including geologists, geographic information systems specialists, geophysicists, biologists, and social geographers -- are involved in the centre, along with scientists from the University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Waterloo, the Geological Survey of Canada, and the US Geological Survey.
Clague says researchers want to better understand hazardous geophysical processes in order to lessen the toll of natural disasters. Possible research topics include an analysis of the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes; landslide hazard and risk assessment; evaluation of hazards posed by active volcanoes such as Mount Baker and Mount Meager; and flood risk analysis. “Ten billion dollars in infrastructure lies on the Fraser River floodplain, at risk from catastrophic floods,” Clague notes.
Besides researching specific hazards, CNHR hopes to increase public awareness and influence public policy regarding natural hazards. For example, the centre will collaborate with the Canadian Avalanche Association in organizing public meetings to educate winter recreation seekers on the dangers of avalanches, which kill 15 people, on average, every year in western Canada.
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The Centre for Natural Hazard Research will conduct research on geophysical processes that are a threat to the inhabitants and economic infrastructure of the region, says earth sciences professor John Clague.
Sixteen SFU researchers -- including geologists, geographic information systems specialists, geophysicists, biologists, and social geographers -- are involved in the centre, along with scientists from the University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Waterloo, the Geological Survey of Canada, and the US Geological Survey.
Clague says researchers want to better understand hazardous geophysical processes in order to lessen the toll of natural disasters. Possible research topics include an analysis of the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes; landslide hazard and risk assessment; evaluation of hazards posed by active volcanoes such as Mount Baker and Mount Meager; and flood risk analysis. “Ten billion dollars in infrastructure lies on the Fraser River floodplain, at risk from catastrophic floods,” Clague notes.
Besides researching specific hazards, CNHR hopes to increase public awareness and influence public policy regarding natural hazards. For example, the centre will collaborate with the Canadian Avalanche Association in organizing public meetings to educate winter recreation seekers on the dangers of avalanches, which kill 15 people, on average, every year in western Canada.
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