Please keep in mind that all of your posts should be about current natural hazard events. These
include any of the natural hazards that are covered in the course. Topics such as earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions and tsunamis are appropriate. I also encourage you to post on environmental
topics such as global warming, air pollution, groundwater and surface water contamination.
The first person to post on a new topic should include a link to an appropriate news source and a
brief 2-3 sentence description of the event. Follow-up posts from classmates are also
encouraged as long as they pertain to the original event. Both new posts and follow-up posts
are considered appropriate efforts for earning class credit. I have already created quite a few
threads that should cover most of your discussion topics. Please use the appropriate thread for
your posts. Do not create a new thread any time you post something. You do not have to
create new threads for your posts to be counted towards your grade.
I have included a few links at the bottom of this page to help you in the unlikely scenario of no
hazard events over the entire semester. The USGS (United States Geological Survey) link is
probably your best bet to find obscure events that are not reported in the mainstream media.
You can also use regular news sources such as CNN or the BBC. Here are a few links to get you
started:
The USGS hazard page is usually the best place to start: http://www.usgs.gov/natural_hazards/
NOAA also has a good web site: http://www.noaa.gov/
The NWS National Weather Service: http://www.weather.gov/
This one is from Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/us/disasters/index.html
Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/natural_disasters/
Also, keep an eye out for discussion threads which I start myself. I will try to keep abreast and
share interesting geology/geohazard-related news with you. I will join your discussions to
point out something I may find important or to ask stimulating questions. I do not intend to
quiz you with my discussion questions/posts. Please do not feel intimidated!
Please remember that this is an academic discussion group so your behavior here should be the
same as in any normal classroom situation. Avoid making any posts that may be regarded as
inflammatory or insulting by your classmates. In most cases there is no right or wrong opinion
when it comes to natural hazards. We just don’t know enough about these events to be positive
Geog-1110 — Guidelines for Hazard Discussion Group Posts
our ideas are correct. That means everyone here has a valid opinion and we should all make an
effort to respect those opinions.
