Contents

### **Preface XI**


Hans J. Scheel

Preface

socioeconomic systems.

mented by fieldwork.

nuclear waste issues.

supported by relevant geospatial tools.

from local to regional and even at a global level.

Environmental risks are a multi- and interdisciplinary topic with a great interest in current society. This book examines issues of natural hazards (e.g., typhoons, landslides, wildfires), anthropogenic activities (construction of artificial dams, the operation of nuclear power plants), and their potential risks to the environment and/or quality of life at various scales,

The book contains five chapters from worldwide contributors, and discusses concepts related to environmental risks as evidenced by the literature in the field towards relevant case studies. The first chapter (introductory chapter) performs a critical overview of risk concepts, re‐ search methodology, and local, regional, and global environmental threats for natural and

The second chapter examines the impact of typhoon Morakot, which occurred in August 2009, on hillslope stability in Taiwan (catastrophic landslides, floods, changes in topographic and morphometric features), with significant repercussions on human settlements within the Cishan watershed, with a focus on the compound-disaster perspective and its domino effect. The third chapter reveals the state of the art in wildfire suppression planning and illustrates the application of advanced planning tools on a fire-prone landscape in Colorado (USA)

The fourth chapter assesses the impacts of five dams in Limpopo Province (South Africa) on downstream river ecosystems, using data from aerial photographs and orthophotos, supple‐

The fifth chapter analyzes the nuclear accident of the Fukushima Daiichi reactors in 2011 (Japan) with significant impacts on the environment. The chapter performs a review of pos‐ sible solutions concerning the radioactive cloud, soil and water contamination, rubble, and

The book intends to discuss concepts, methods, and techniques to address environmental risks and vulnerabilities, revealing the complex interactions between nature and human communities and activities. Policies and practices for disaster risk management should be based on the best state-of-the-art methods and techniques, integration between natural

**Dr. Florin-Constantin Mihai and Prof. Dr. Adrian Grozavu**

Faculty of Geography and Geology "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University

Iași, Romania

and/or social approaches, interdisciplinary research, and multilevel cooperation.
