1.1 Introduction
Scope, definitions and terminology (OAS/DRDE, 1991; Coch, 1995)
Historical records show that a number of earth processes have led to undesirable consequences, adversely affecting citizenry, their property, social and economic activities and physical environment.
Geohazard is a natural earth process that adversely affects humans and /or their property. (syn. geologic hazard, natural hazard)
Figure 1 summarizes the natural hazards in the Caribbean and Central American region.
Munich Re, a major re-insuring company, has prepared this figure.
It reflects how insurance industry views the Caribbean Region.
(See also Natural hazards and insurance industry in the Caribbean, p xvi to xix in Ahmad, 1997).

In this course, the term natural hazard refers to all atmospheric, hydrologic, geologic (especially landslide, seismic & volcanic processes) and wildfire phenomena that, because of their location, severity and frequency have the potential to affect humans, their structures, or their activities adversely.

Scientific management of some these hazards from a geological perspective and within the Caribbean context is the objective of this course. However, it should be understood that hazard management is a multidisciplinary science and geological information is one of the key factors in designing successful response to hazards and loss reduction. A detailed description of the various processes is beyond the scope of this course and students are encouraged to also enroll in courses dealing with engineering geology and hydrogeology and geophysics.