Even though natural disasters often seem inexplicable, this text takes these destructive events caused by forces of nature and describes the fundamental science behind their occurrences. Captivating diagrams and photographs show what natural disasters such as volcanoes, hurricanes, and avalanches look like, while text boxes encourage readers to compare and contrast the causes and outcomes of these devastating incidents. Information about historic natural disasters, as well as preparedness and rescue methods, benefits any reader who seeks to understand these global happenings.