Global Catastrophes: A Very Short Introduction

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OUP Oxford, Jan 26, 2006 - Nature - 152 pages
Life on earth will come to an end. It's just a matter of when. Global Catastrophes: A Very Short Introduction focuses on the many potential catastrophes facing our planet and our species in the future, and looks at both the probability of these events happening and our chances of survival. Coverage extends from discussion of the likely consequences of the current global warming to the inevitable destruction of the earth in the far future, when it is enveloped by our giant, bloated sun. In between, other 'end of the world scenarios' will be examined, including the New Ice Age, asteroid and comet impact, supervolcanoes, and mega-tsunami. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

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About the author (2006)


Bill McGuire is Benfield Professor of Geophysical Hazards at University College London, Director of the University's Benfield Hazard Research Centre, and a member of the Natural Hazard Working Group, established by the UK government in the wake of the Asian tsunami disaster.

A volcanologist by training and inclination, he has published over three hundred papers, books and articles on volcanoes and other natural hazards. Bill regularly contributes to newspapers, television and radio, and his popular science books include Volcanoes of the World, Apocalypse: A Natural History of Global Disasters, Raging Planet: The Tectonic Threat to Life on Earth, and Surviving Armageddon: Solutions for a Threatened Planet.

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