Perspective Chapter: A Global View of Natural Hazards Related Disasters

Natural hazards have become an increasingly prevalent threat to the world, with the frequency of recorded disasters rising in the recent years. Analyzing global data on natural hazards, identifying the most common and deadly events, and prioritizing decision-making on safe constructions, settlements, and factories are crucial to respond effectively to this trend. Using the EM-DAT database, this study examined primary natural hazards worldwide from 1900 to 2022, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, droughts, wildfires, storms, and extreme temperatures. Statistical data show that storms have the highest frequency of occurrence (38%), droughts are the deadliest (53%), floods affect the most people (50%), and storms cause the most economic losses (41%). Asia has experienced the highest frequency, most deaths, and most total affected people due to natural hazards, followed by North America and Africa, respectively. North America has also seen the highest economic losses, followed by Asia and Europe. The study emphasizes the importance of databases like EM-DAT in advancing our knowledge of natural hazards worldwide, and supporting informed decision-making in risk assessment, disaster management, and mitigation efforts

GIVETIAN–FRASNIAN BOUNDARY CONODONTS FROM KERMAN PROVINCE, CENTRAL IRAN

The Middle - Late Devonian boundary is investigated based on twenty-two conodont species and subspecies from three sections in the north and west of Kerman, southeastern central Iran. Upper Givetian - lower Frasnian carbonates of the basal part of the Bahram Formation transgressively overlie the sandstone beds of the top of (?) Early - Middle Devonian Padeha Formation. These massive skeletal limestones encompass the G-F boundary. The base of Frasnian is identified by the appearance of early forms of Ancyrodella rotundiloba . It helps to compare our biozones to those of global stratotype in southern France. A new species, Polygnathus hojedki n. sp. is described here. New range is suggested for P. praepolitus