An introduction to the scientific principles behind various geological processes to explain how and why they can sometimes be dangerous to humans, this sourcebook contains numerous examples of famous or recent geological disasters. The text provides contemporary scientific information on all major types of geological disasters, such as volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunami, as well as on such less common events as sinkholes and asteroid impacts. Each chapter contains a list of additional resources including books, journal articles, web sites and contact information for relevant organizations.