Contemporary World Issues #: Hurricanes (3rd Edition)

- Blurb -

Now in its third edition, Hurricanes: A Reference Handbook discusses the history and science of hurricanes, as well as the sometimes devastating impacts they have had on coastal communities. Hurricanes: A Reference Handbook provides background information on issues, people, organizations, statistics, and publications related to hurricanes, as well as guidance on where additional information can be obtained about the topic. The concise combination of this information-all of which is based in scientific research-is the unique attribute of the book, a useful reference for students, the general public, emergency managers, public officials, journalists, meteorologists, and anyone in a hurricane-sensitive region. The volume opens with a background and history of hurricanes, followed by a chapter about problems, controversies, and solutions. Five additional chapters follow, in addition to a glossary and index. The perspectives chapter comprises ten original essay contributions, which are followed by profiles of the leading actors and organizations in the hurricane discourse. The data and documents chapter presents governmental data and excerpts of primary documents on the topic, and the resources chapter provides an annotated list of key books, scholarly journals, and non-print sources. The volume closes with a detailed chronology of major hurricane events. Informs readers about hurricane formation, their lifecycle, storm structure, and naming proceduresDiscusses the destructive behavior of hurricanes as well as their forecasting procedures, societal issues, and annual variation in hurricane activityAddresses controversial topics such as potential global warming issues and weather modification attemptsDescribes in detail the nuances of hurricane preparation, insurance, and mitigation procedures