Reducing Disaster Risks

Understanding threats and reducing risks to human wellbeing

Thousands of lives and billions of dollars have been lost in recent natural disasters such as the 2010 Haiti and 2015 Nepal earthquakes and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Not to mention the hurricanes that struck Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Geohazards have shaped and reshaped the planet for millennia. Now climate change is adding to the threats, even as urban centers are expanding and more people are living in vulnerable locations.

We study Earth processes—what causes them and how to predict where and when they will happen—but we also seek to reduce the risks to human wellbeing, especially in increasingly populated and vulnerable cities worldwide. Our expertise in both subsurface-originating hazards and the surface changes brought about by shifts in climate and land use provides a unique vantage point from which to analyze a new breed of potential hazards and risks.

Jenny Suckale

Assistant Professor of Geophysics

Simon Klemperer

Professor of Geophysics

Tiziana Vanorio

Assistant Professor of Geophysics

Greg Beroza

Professor of Geophysics

Eric Dunham

Associate Professor of Geophysics

Howard Zebker

Professor of Geophysics and Electrical Engineering

Paul Segall

Professor of Geophysics

See all faculty

Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Foundations of Contemporary Geophysics

Reflection Seismology

Disasters, Decisions, Development in Sustainable Urban Systems

Physical Volcanology

Earthquake Seismology, Deformation, and Stress

Predicting Volcanic Eruptions

Man vs Nature: Coping with Disasters Using Space Technlogy

Crustal Deformation and Fault Mechanics

Earthquake Seismology

Crustal Geophysics

Stanford Center for Induced and Triggered Seismicity

Rock Physics Lab

A "billion sensors" earthquake observatory with optical fibers

The same optical fibers that deliver high-speed internet and HD video to our homes could one day double as seismic sensors for monitoring and studying earthquakes.

New tool to reduce risk of triggering manmade earthquakes

A new software tool can help reduce the risk of manmade earthquakes by calculating the probability that oil and gas injection activities will trigger slip in nearby faults.

News related to Reducing Disaster Risks

Q&A: Designing a better local tsunami warning system

New research outlines a more accurate and consistent way to warn coastal residents when and where tsunami waves are likely to hit.

Editor's picks: Top 10 stories of 2018

From revelations about the hidden messages in burbling lakes of lava to the staggering costs of runaway climate change, these 10 stories shed light on our planet and how we're changing it. They include our editor's picks and some our best-read stories for the year.

Data helps us prepare for 'The Big One'

Data is reshaping our knowledge about many things, including earthquakes: how we measure them, what causes them and how we can better prepare for them.

Wildfires destroying California bring questions about health and climate

California’s wildfires have destroyed homes and communities, and even people hundreds of miles away are feeling the effects of smoke. Stanford faculty weigh in on the health effects and increasing frequency of fires.