The Science of Disasters: Climate Disruptions, Heart Attacks, and Market Crashes - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3642625312 ISBN 13: 9783642625312

Publisher: Springer, 2012

Synopsis

 This book tackles these questions by applying advanced methods from statistical physics and related fields to all types of non-linear dynamics prone to disaster. It gives readers an insight into the problems of catastrophes and is one of the first books on the theories of disaster. Based on physical and mathematical theories, the general principles of disaster appearance are explained.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Are there universal laws governing the persistence of weather, and is it possible to predict climate transitions as generated by natural or man-made perturbations? How can one quantify the roller-coaster dynamics of stock markets and anticipate mega-crashes? Can we diagnose the health condition of patients from heartbeat time-series analysis which may even form the basis for infarct prevention? This book tackles these questions by applying advanced methods from statistical physics and related fields to all types of non-linear dynamics prone to disaster. The transdisciplinary analysis is organized in some dozen review articles written by world-class scientists.

Review

From the reviews:

"This impressive collection is a result of an international conference on ‘Facets of Universality in Complex Systems’, which was held in June 1999 at the University of Giessen, Germany. ... What is found in and through this book are ... 14 sophisticated examples of advanced modelling of non-linear processes, systems and systemic interdependencies. ... My personal recommendation: A stimulating book ... ." (Wolf Dombrowsky, Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, Vol. 12 (4), 2006)

"The book considers the non-linear dynamics of complex systems, with examples drawn from climatology, biodynamics and economics. ... I would like to congratulate the editors and the publisher. Publishing a book covering state-of-the-art analysis in three disciplines cannot be easy. This is a beautifully presented work ... . The diagrams are of a consistently high standard with liberal use of colour, and always enhance the discussion. ... In short, this is a very good book, bursting with ideas ... ." (Tom Holt, The Holocene, Vol. 14 (2), 2004)

"This monograph grew from a 1999 Giessen workshop entitled ‘Facets of Universality in Climate, Biodynamics and Stock Markets’. It is interdisciplinary by intent. ... The book delivers an invitation to explore new tools and an introduction to the application fields mentioned above which I found stimulating, with its breadth of coverage and wealth of references." (Greg Doherty, The Physicist, Vol. 41 (1), 2003)

About this edition

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 3642625312
• ISBN 13: 9783642625312
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 473
• Editor: Bunde Armin, Kropp Jürgen, Schellnhuber Hans-Joachim