Events & Courses

A geological hazard (geohazard) is the consequence of an adverse combination of geological processes and ground conditions, sometimes precipitated by anthropogenic activity. The term implies that the event is unexpected and likely to cause significant loss or harm. To understand geohazards and mitigate their effects, expertise is required in the key areas of engineering geology, hydrogeology, geotechnical engineering, risk management, communication and planning, supported by appropriate specialist knowledge of subjects such as seismology and volcanology. There is a temptation for geoscientists involved in geohazards to get too focused on the ‘science’ and lose sight of the purpose of the work, which is to facilitate the effective management and mitigation of the consequences of geohazards within society.

The study and assessment of geohazards into the wider social context, will help the engineering geologist to better communicate the issues concerning geohazards in the UK to the client and the wider public.

Course overview

This course is ideal for geoscientists who are geoengineers, geotechnical experts or those who work in contaminated land. It is also useful for those who are in parallel sectors.

This course series comprises of fifteen modules, providing a comprehensive understanding of various Geological hazards, typically UK hazards. Modules can be booked individually or as a full programme package.

Each module is structured to give a presentation which sets the scene for the specific hazard, followed by discussion to develop understanding of the monitoring and the various elements which contribute to possible mitigation.

Each module is focused on a particular Geohazard.

Course module

Module 13. Seismic and Tsunami

The United Kingdom is an area of low to moderate earthquake activity and as such there is a requirement for the assessment of seismic hazard for some elements of infrastructure. A good historical catalogue of events dating back to 13th Century allows a reasonable understanding of the distribution of seismicity both spatially and temporally, although the precision of epicentral locations is poorly constrained for older events. This limitation is in common with other earthquake catalogues. While, the location and recurrence of earthquake activity is a key input to the assessment of seismic hazard, it is not what engineers typically use for design purposes. 
During the presentation, I will focus on the distribution of seismic activity in the United Kingdom and explore the controlling processes that are likely to control hazard over the design life of critical infrastructure. The limitations on data will be discussed along with some of the uncertainties in terms of magnitude and epicentral determinations in the UK catalogue. The challenges associated with understanding the impact of small magnitude nearfield events will also be outlined. Considerations of triggered/induced earthquakes will also be included. In addition to the broad UK seismicity distribution, site conditions will be discussed to allow the practitioner to recognise potential problems relating to soil or topographic amplification. Earthquake induced ground failure will be discussed to allow the recognition of when such phenomena need to be considered as a hazard. The characterisation of ground motions will be discussed as will tools available to make preliminary considerations of shaking. 

Tsunami present a significant geohazard to coastal and water-body marginal communities worldwide. Tsunami describes a series of waves that, once generated, travel across open water with exceptionally long wavelengths and with very high velocities before shortening and slowing on arrival at a coastal zone. Upon reaching land, these waves can have a devastating effect on the people and infrastructure in those environments. With over 12 000 km of coastline, the British Isles is vulnerable to the tsunami hazard. A significant number of potential tsunami source areas are present around the entire landmass, from plate tectonic boundaries off the Iberian Peninsula to the major submarine landslides in the northern North Sea to more localized coastal cliff instability which again has the potential to generate a tsunami.

Speakers

Dr Ilaria Mosca - BGS Earthquake & Hazards Researcher (Further details to follow)

Dr Dave Giles - Technical Director & Digital Imagery Consultant at CGL (Card Geotechnics Limited)

Registration

Registration will close 24 hours before the session takes place.

Concessionary Rates & Student Registration

We offer students a generous discount, please verify your student status by either registering with your student email address, or upload a photograph of your student identification/ acceptance letter.

The society offers a limited number of concessionary rates for those in financial hardship. Please contact [email protected] (please note you may be required to provide details/evidence to support your application for this rate).

Book the full course series

Book all 15 modules as a package with the Full Course option and enjoy a discount.

Book the full course series plus Special Publication

Book all 15 modules as a package plus Special Publication Geological Hazards in the UK: Their Occurrence, Monitoring and Mitigation by registering for the Full Course option and selecting the book package on the registration form.

Fellow	£60
Non Fellow	£80
Student	£12

We can offer bespoke discounts on group registrations of 5 or more. Please email [email protected] to enquire.

Alternatively, if you book all 15 modules it includes a discount.

Venue

These courses will be held virtually over Zoom between 16.00 GMT and will run until approximately 17.30 GMT depending on audience participation.

Delegates will receive joining instructions the day before they take place.

Register now