Geomorphic hazards / Геоморфологические опасности

A geomorphic hazard results from any landform change that adversely affects the geomorphic stability of a site (Schumm, 1988) and that intersects the human use system with adverse socioeconomic impacts (White, 1974). The hazard is commonly defined by geomorphologists as the probability of a change of a given magnitude occurring within a specified time period in a given area; the associated risk is the consequent damage or loss of life, property and services (Vames et al., 1984). Whyte and Burton (1980), on the other hand, define risk as the product of the probability of occurrence of a hazard and its societal consequences. In both definitions, hazards and risks are connected: in the former, the hazard assessment is central and is perceived as an objective scientific discipline; in the latter, the focus is on risks as societally evaluated phenomena, and the concept of risk supersedes that of hazard. Geomorphologists have made little contribution to risk studies, though engineers have recognized the importance of the field (e.g. Morgan, 1992). Recent discussions (Bobrowsky, 1992; Gardner, 1993) have confirmed the central interest of geomorphologists in hazard assessment. <...>