The significance of understanding geomorphological hazards can be clearly recognized by looking at the number of disasters associated to hazards such as volcanic activity, landsliding, flooding and earthquakes, and so forth, that take place on daily basis in our planet. According to a database developed by the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Université Catholique de Louvain (
OFDA-CRED), from 1900 to 2004, there were 8157 disasters related to natural hazards. Therefore, it is indeed our task as geomorphologists, not only to provide a better comprehension of the phenomena per se, but also to develop the most appropriate means to analyze and model scenarios of likely occurrence in order to increase the awareness of authorities and decision makers, as well as to decrease the impact on populations.
