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  • Few subjects have caught the attention of the entire world as much as those dealing with natural hazards. The human losses (some 225,000 people) associated with the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the economic costs (exceeding 100 billion USD) of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the collective social impacts of tragedies experienced during the 2008 Sichuan, China earthquake and landslides, all provide repetitive reminders that we are all but temporary guests occupying a very dynamic planet. Few subjects share the true interdisciplinary dependency that characterizes the field of natural hazards. From geology and geophysics, to engineering and emergency response, to social psychology and economics, the study of natural hazards draws input from an impressive suite of unique and previously independent specializations. Natural hazards provide a common platform to reduce disciplinary boundaries and facilitate a beneficial synergy in the provision of timely and useful information on the critical subject matter. As social norms change regarding the concept of acceptable risk and human migration leads to an explosion in the number of megacities, coastal over-crowding and unmanaged habitation in precarious environments such as mountainous slopes, the vulnerability of people to natural hazards increases dramatically. Coupled with the concerns of changing climates, the subject of natural hazards remains on the forefront of issues that affect all people, nations and environments. In the first two months of 2010 alone a magnitude 7 earthquake near Port au Prince, Haiti killed an estimated 230,000 people, exposed the inadequacies of their infrastructure and emergency response capacity and virtually crippled an entire nation; whereas in contrast a month later a significantly larger magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast of Chile provided a sober lesson that those areas with a long history of exposure to natural hazards are indeed much more capable to cope with the consequences of unexpected events. "The Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards" effectively captures and integrates contributions from an international portfolio of specialists whose range of expertise address some 330 topics pertinent to the field of natural hazards. Disciplinary barriers are overcome in this comprehensive treatment of the subject matter. Clear illustrations and colour images enhance the primary aim to communicate and educate. The inclusion of a series of 'classic case study' events interspersed throughout the volume provides tangible examples linking concepts, issues and solutions.