physical geography f763 atmospheric hazards - issue

global warming 

hurricanes / typhoons / cyclones - storm surge 

tornadoes 

+ves 

• yields will increase (timber / crops)
• milder winters + warmer summers (reduced energy demands)
• grow mediterranean crops 
• higher plant + fish diversity 

-ves 

• inc rainfall = loss of land from flooding = less access 
• inc crop pests due to milder winters 
• cost of inc coastal defences 
• recuded water supply 
• more forest fires 
• collapse of gulf stream (4   sea temp increase) 

Sea levels rise

• thermal exapnsion of water 
• TERRESTIAL ice melt 

MEDC's + NIC's produce most GHG's (Europe is now steady) 

• more developed using industry 

Unequal nature of temp change

• poles inc 6 
• low latitudes inc 2 
• Albedo (darker surface after ice melt) 
• Release of gases rom permafrost (methane + HYDROUS methane) 

Coral bleaching 

• inc CO2 = temp inc = algae inc photosynthesis = coral expels too much algae = coral dies 

International 

• UN
• Kyoto Protocol 
• reduce GHG's and based on presumption that man has caused global warming)

National  - UK

• London waste managament - 
• London transport management - red routes, LEZ, barclays, conjestion charges, catalytic C
• smoke controlled areas - Kensington 
• flue gas desulfurisation + scrubbers in factories - reduces SO2 by 90%
• update greener infrastructure
• tax incentives + fines  

Individual 

• recycle 
• energy saving - bulbs, thermostat, insulate 
• smarter driving 

Saffir simpson index 

• 1-5 

High winds 

• structural damage / poor communication / debris 

Storm surge 

• salinisation / pollution / drowning 

Rainfall 

• landslides / silt addition / property damage / sewage inc 

background 

• 29th August 2005 
• Saffir simpson index Cat 1 in SE bahamas 
• gulf 2  warmer waters 
• 130 mph winds and 12 ft storm surge hit coast of USA as Cat 4

New Orleans -

• 500,000 people below sea level
• 80% 20ft under water 
• Mississippi river and lake pontchartrain overflowed on both ends of New Orleans 
• 2 holes in roof of Super Dome 

Economic 

• $81Bn
• Biloxi bridge destroyed 
• 2 levees failed 
• no structures left standing 2 miles inland 

Environemental 

• 217 miles saline water 
• 20% marshes permanenlty overrun by water 
• 16 national wildlife refuges closed 

Social 

• 1500 people died 
• 2 holes in Super Dome roof 
• looting / emergency services stretched / insurance inc. 

Interntional 

• 70 coutries assisted 
• $100's millions donated 
• supplies - water pumps / medicine / hygiene / blankets 

National -

Evacuation 

• poor / ill / elderly were forced to stay 
• Super Dome 800 people capacity however stored 30,000 
• New Orlean's civic centre 25,000 people 

Emergency 

• 11,000 national guard 
• 6 months - year major services / buildings repaired 

Education and Training

• disaster preparedness / prevention / response 
• schools / uni's / workplaces informed and trained on how to cope 
• every year - 2 day training session - risk reduction / simulation exercises 

Civil defence + Meteorological insitute 

• people taught how to interpret infor by meteorology institute 
• television and radio inform public on level of alert 
• local authorities know who requires special care and most vulnerable 
• schools to shelters + tranport organised 

Prepare 

• forecast + warning systems 
• education + training 
• stockpiling of supplies 
• emergency legislation 
• evacuation plan 
• shelters

Protect 

• buildings raised above sea level 
• improve building design 
• legislative controls restricting development on high risk flood plain 
• man made coastal defences 
• research into improving protection measures 

Background

• 15th November 2007 
• Bangladesh - North end of Bay of Bengal 
• densely populated / 1m below sea level / food supply fishing / farming
• 140km/h winds / 5m storm surge / Cat 4 

Impacts

Economic - $1.7 Bn / 500,000 houses / 1.1 M livestock / 1,500 km roads / 250,000km roads 

Social-  3500 died / 7M lives affected / 650,000 evacuated / cholera 

Environmental - World Heritage Site - Sunderbans (25% damaged) / 2M acres crop land 

Prepare 

• satellite warnings 
• mobile texts 
• remote areas warned by police cars 
• 10s of thousands evacuated inland 
• rail services stopped 

Short term 

• relief crews 
• aid by emergency services took days - angered people 

Long term 

• paddy fields unstable 
• water + power supplies slow to return 
• relief was slow - blocked raods / very little insurance cover 

Background

• 18th March 1925 
• longest uninterrupted paths 219 miles / 3.5 Hour duration
• before the first Tornado forecast (1948)

Impacts 

Economic - $16.5 M /  $1.5Bn (today) /  15,000 homes

Social - 689 lives / 2,027 injured / no shelter / fires / looting  

Environmental 

Causes

• unknown precise details - super cell development / trailing edge location 

Effects 

• Economic - housing cost / insurance boom / powerlines / crops / schools
• Social - deaths / injuries / pop. displacement / stress 
• Environemental - soil erosion / trees / habitats 

Strategies 

• Informed evacuation - Met Office gives 20 min shelter time 
• Building design - brick + stone materials 
• More research - analysing rainfall patterns