Floods: Physical Processes and Human Impacts

In developed countries, the pervasive view of floods is that science and technology have largely brought these unpredictable disasters under safe control. This book shows that this is simply not so, and that floods are anything but controlled. Written by two experienced and widely respected environmental authors, this book covers the causes and impacts of river and coastal floods and discusses appropriate ways to respond to flood hazards. An authoritative yet highly readable survey, Floods presents a balanced overview of all aspects of flooding, from complex natural causes and technological problems to recent societal responses.