Catastrophe!

Few people are unfamiliar with the devastating sinking of the supposedly unsinkable luxury liner the Titanic. However, most people do not know that it was far from the worst maritime disaster in history. This riveting book offers readers a review of the most disastrous shipwrecks, from the Mary Rose in 1545 to the Princess of the Stars in 2008. Students explore the causes and circumstances of these calamities at sea, and through eyewitness accounts and striking detail, learn about the wider impact of the tragedies. This chronicle is a must-read for nautical buffs and landlubbers alike.

Volcanic eruptions are among the most violent and spectacular natural events on Earth. Accompanied by red-hot rivers of lava, towering clouds of ash, and thick flows of mud, they can devastate the landscape along with people's lives. This dramatic volume gives readers a detailed look into the formation of volcanoes, their magma chambers, and famous eruptions around the world. Readers learn about the cataclysms of Pompeii, Skaptarjorkul, Mt. Pinatubo, Mt. Pelée, and Soufriere, and gain insights into the evolution of the science of volcanology.

In vivid detail, this engrossing volume describes the experiences of people who have witnessed some of history's most powerful earthquakes. Readers will learn about the reasons that earthquakes happen, and examine the tragic and devastating impact that Japan's 2011 earthquake had on the country. Among the historic beyond-belief earthquakes studied are those in Haiti, China, Italy, Kashmir, Armenia, and the United States. Sidebars and a timeline make this volume a dramatic must-read for those intrigued by natural disasters.

Severe tropical storms, heat and energy, and surging ocean waters all combine to form hurricanes that can cause hugely destructive consequences. This fascinating story of how hurricanes happen follows some of the most historic examples of hurricanes around the world, including Katrina, Galveston, Mitch, Wilma, Andrew, Ike, and Typhoon Vera. Readers discover the tools meteorologists use to predict hurricanes and the lessons people have learned from the social upheaval caused by these severe storms. Sidebars include eyewitness accounts of personal experiences and behind-the-scene perspectives on why the disasters happened.

From the worst plane accident in history on Tenerife to America's worst air crash at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, this engrossing volume covers many of the most famous aircraft disasters in history and their investigations. Readers also learn about other disasters, including an Antarctic air crash into Mount Erebus, a mid-air collision, one over Lake Constance, a Concorde disaster, a mountain crash, and the September 11 hijackings and terrorist attacks of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Who can forget the horrific images of the disastrous tsunami, triggered by a massive earthquake, in Japan in March 2011? This gripping volume reveals some of the most dramatic and devastating tsunamis throughout history, including Japan, Sumatra in 2004, and Chile in 1868. It also studies the strides scientists have made in improving their ability to predict such catastrophes. Sidebars feature eyewitness accounts and how people have responded to these devastating natural disasters.