03  

natural hazard

"Numerous natural events represent a risk for the living, built and natural environment as they threaten human and animal life and may cause serious damages to settlements. For that reason, human settlements have to be protected, as far as possible, against natural risks through adapted prevention measures.
According to their intensity, impacts and damages, these natural events (or hazards) may be considered as natural disasters. A natural disaster is therefore the consequence of the combination of a natural hazard and human activities.
Main natural hazards are: avalanches, drought, earthquakes, floods, land slides, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, tornados, cyclones, wildfires etc. Recent decades witnessed a significant increase in the occurrence, severity and intensity of natural disasters. There is considerable scope for the reduction of risk through the application of disaster prevention and mitigation efforts based, for instance, on modern forecasting technology in terms of the development of early warning systems as well as improved land-use and settlement planning and safer building practices."
[also natural risk/ natural desaster]

CEMAT Glossary of key expressions used in spatial development policies in Europe; 14 CEMAT (2006) 6, Strasbourg 24 January 2007, p. 10

CEMAT Glossary Jan 24th 2007.pdf

http://www.coe.int

  Latvia -> bīstamība