| Abstract |
The Natural Hazards Review project will develop a framework and best practice approach to characterise natural hazards and seek to improve methodologies where current approaches are inefficient. This is to improve energy system infrastructure design and the project is intended to share knowledge of natural hazards across sectors. The project will be completed in three stages. Phase one will focus on a gap analysis. Phase two will look at developing a series of improved methodologies from the gaps identified in phase one, and phase three will demonstrate how to apply these methodologies. Finally, phase 3 will develop a “how to” guide for use by project engineers.
The UK is generally an area of low seismic activity. Seismic design may not be considered for facilities that are classed of low importance by stakeholders, where safety or damage are not critical, or thefacilities/contents are not considered sensitive to seismic vibrations. However, small earthquakes occur on a regular basis, and certain structures (e.g. nuclear power plants) require design to withstand earthquakes regardless of the perceived level of threat. The UK is no longer volcanically active but remains subject to the influence of distant volcanic eruptions due to atmospheric dispersion of air-borne erupted fine particulates (ash), which may remain in atmospheric suspension or be deposited at ground level. Geological instability, where there is a loss of ground support, may be caused by natural or man-made hazards. The potential for geological instability is widespread within the UK.
This technical volume addresses:- Introduction
- Description of the main phenomena; seismicity, volcanicity, geological instability including landslides, ground dissolution, shrink-swell clays, mining
- Observations, measurements techniques and modelling tools
- Methodologies
- Related phenomena; seismicity, volcanicity, geological instability
- Regulation
- Emerging trends
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