History and knowledge of extreme conditions of natural phenomena

Abstract

The knowledge of natural hazards can be improved by the use of historical information. History of representations, town and country planning, and crises can give insight into the report of past extreme natural events. So, the collaboration between historical and geophysical sciences is intended to give methodological advances by ensuring continuity of information between past and present, and exhaustiveness of data collection. The 19th and 20th centuries have been chosen as the reference period of investigation to carry out these objectives. Two operational studies, concerning floods (HISTORISK) and avalanches (HISTOVAL), give experience about the interest of historical information, taking into account the quality of data collection, the technical data processing, and their use for promoting risk population sensitiveness.