Environmental Hazards

Code: FIS12544M

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Physics

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

This curricular unit aims to contribute to personal and scientific training, in general, and in particular to provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of environmental hazards, particularly in the fields of meteorology, climatology, seismology and volcanology.

Sustainable Development Goals

2. Erradicar a fome - Acabar com a fome, alcançar a segurança alimentar e melhoria da nutrição e promover a agricultura sustentável.

4. Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

6. Água potável e saneamento - Garantir disponibilidade e manejo sustentável da água e saneamento para todos.

7. Energias renováveis e acessíveis - Garantir acesso à energia barata, confiável, sustentável e renovável para todos.

11. Cidades e comunidades sustentáveis - Tornar as cidades e os assentamentos humanos inclusivos, seguros, resilientes e sustentáveis.

13. Ação climática - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

Learning Goals

Acquire advanced knowledge on climate, extreme weather and climate change. Provide tools for analysis, understanding and prediction of major meteorological phenomena, their hazards and risks. Encourage the scientifically grounded discussion on climate change and global warming.
Acquire advanced knowledge on seismic risk assessment methods, seismic risk, and volcanic risk and prevention measures. Know the seismic risk and the seismic hazard in Portugal

Climatic system. General Circulation of the Atmosph and Oceans, global cycles of energy, water and ang. momentum and climates on Earth. Normal and climatic classif. Variability, predictability and almost periodic oscillations. Condensation, clouds, fog, precipitation, thunderstorms and lightning. Extreme weather events. Dry. Meteorology and pollution. Meteorology and wildfires. Greenhouse effect. Radiative forcing and climate change. Future climate scenarios.
Basic concepts of seismol (propagation sources, and inelastic effects. Historical and instrumental seismicity, scales of intensity and magnit., site effect, VS30, transfer functions. Probabil. and determin. methods in the evaluation of seismic: hazard, engineering, vulnerability, risk and risk in Portugal.
Introduction to volcanology, characterization of volcanic activity and hazards. History of volcanism in the world and in Portugal. Prediction and monitoring of seismic and volcanic activity. Prevention systems and early warning.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes with frequent use of projected presentations and meteorological and geophysical charts. Theoretical-practical classes with computer problem solving, carrying out numerical experiments with simplified models of climate and seismic movements and discussion of various topics in the context of environmental hazards. Seminars throughout the semester, each dedicated specifically to a type of environmental risk and which may vary from year to year depending on the profile and interests of students.
The assessment can follow the continuous or final assessment regime.
In the case of continuous assessment, 4 works distributed throughout the semester are proposed, 2 in the meteorology and climate area and 2 in seismology and volcanology (25% each).
In the case of final assessment, a theoretical assessment test is carried out at the end of the semester (100%).