Heritage destruction, natural disasters, and the environment: geological disasters

Natural events become disasters when they have a significant negative impact on the things that humans value. There is evidence that these natural catastrophes are becoming more common, and the widespread devastation can kill many thousands of people and destroy entire settlements. Natural disasters and longer-term environmental processes present some of the most widespread threats to heritage discussed in this volume. This chapter will focus on geological disasters, such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis, which often cause rapid and catastrophic damage. Cultural heritage encompasses many different things, ranging from objects to landscapes to traditions. These cultural heritage assets are important for many reasons and their destruction can have ramifications that are greater than the loss of individual structures or objects. The impacts of natural processes on heritage sites will be discussed, and past examples of disasters will highlight what has already happened, providing an insight into what may yet occur.