AGU’s Position on Meeting the Challenges of Natural Hazards: Comments Invited
The panel considering updates to this position statement has been asked to review recent scientific progress in our understanding of natural hazards. The panel will also be considering evidence on how human activities may have made our society even more vulnerable to the impacts of natural hazards. AGU members are invited to provide comments to be considered in updating this policy statement.
As published in Eos | Position Statement | Procedures for Developing Union Positions
September 7th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
The current statement relating to the impact hazard describes “meteors”, which are typically centimeter-sized. Please use the words “asteroids and comets” instead. Meteors pose little danger, whereas asteroids and comets can cause mass extinctions.
We do not have the technology to prevent large earthquakes or large volcanic eruptions, but we do have the technology to prevent large impacts. Please consider mentioning our responsibility to prevent those natural hazards that can be prevented in the position statement.
Some natural hazards have an impact on local or regional scales. Others can have global impacts. Please consider describing these facts in the position statement.