The problems natural hazards cartography. Contributions to the definition of geomorphological susceptibility from the observation of various mass movements occurred in north of Portugal

Abstract

The winter of 2000/2001, at North of Portugal, developed a large quantity of mass movements. The study of those movements, specially the geographic factors of its occurrence, is an important source of information to define the main criteria of geomorphological susceptibility to mass movements. Both, direct or indirect cartography of natural hazards cannot be built without a deep knowledge of these factors. In this paper are presented several of this movements and are analysed the geographic factors that contributed to their occurrence. The importance of human activity on the environment is discussed and the changes that contribute for the occurrence of mass movements are analysed, as well as its importance to the elaboration of the cartography of natural hazards.