Includes index.; Natural disasters and the human population -- Energy flows in earth history and natural disasters -- Plate tectonics and earthquakes -- Earthquake geology and Seismology -- Tsunami -- Some earthquakes in western North America -- More U.S. and Canadian earthquakes -- Volcanic eruptions : plate tectonics and magmas -- Volcano case histories : killer events -- Mass movements -- Atmosphere, oceans, and long-term climate change -- Short-term climate change and severe weather -- Hurricanes and the coastline -- Floods -- Fire -- The great dyings -- Impacts with space objects.;