NH
Natural Hazards

Vale Cigala

Valeria Cigala currently works as a Math and Science teacher in a middle school in Milan. She has a PhD in experimental and physical volcanology and worked for some years on explosive volcanic eruptions and related hazards. She is very interested in science outreach.

The CRED presents the bill: the socio-economic cost of natural hazards.

March 20, 2019
The CRED presents the bill: the socio-economic cost of natural hazards.
Fig. 1 Flood at Trans-en-Provence (Var - France) June 2010, photo credit: Dimitri Defrance (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

Which type of natural hazard is the most frequent? And which one causes the largest economic losses? Which populations are mainly affected? What are the necessary steps to reduce natural hazards’ impact? If you have ever wondered about any of these questions, you’d be interested to know that there is an institute answering all of them with a series of reports and ad hoc publications. We are ...[Read More]

The collapse of Anak Krakatau volcano: a scenario envisaged

February 4, 2019
The collapse of Anak Krakatau volcano: a scenario envisaged
Anak Krakatau August 2018. Photo credit: James Reynolds (EarthUncutTV) with permission.

The volcano ID Krakatoa or Krakatau, in Indonesia, is part of the Ujung Kulon National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage property, and among the most (in)famous volcanoes in the world. From a geological point of view, it is part of the Indonesian island arc system generated by the north-eastward subduction of the Indo-Australian plate (Figure 1). Krakatau is now a caldera type of volcano thanks to the ...[Read More]

The (un)usual suspect: how the environment affects human health.

November 5, 2018

If you have been regularly following our blog for this (almost) past year, you may have noticed that the field of natural hazards is coloured by many different shades. One more that I would like to present to you today is about how the natural environment can affect human health. It is a recognized fact that geo-materials can pose a threat to our health. One of the most striking examples is asbest ...[Read More]

Heavy metals in industrial wastewater: hazardous waste or secondary resource?

August 13, 2018

Not long ago on the blog, we have talked about natural groundwater quality triggered by geogenic factors and related hazards such as a high concentration of heavy metals. Today’s topic concerns the anthropogenic input of heavy metals into the water and how to tackle its effects efficiently.   Industrial processes can lead to heavy metal-bearing wastewater, which is commonly treated by ineffi ...[Read More]