Hazards - Tropical Storms

Question 1

What are the 3 types of tropical storm and describe their nature + distribution

Answer 1

• Hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons
• In the tropics(5 degrees – 20 degrees N + S) with water temperatures warmer than 26.5 Degrees, if they are sufficiently away from the equator the Coriolis effect occurs spiralling the air and accelerating its speed making the storm stronger – supplied by moisture so dissipate when hit land.

Question 2

What is the impact of Climate change on tropical storms?

Answer 2

Gradual increase in average intensity storms, substantial increase in most powerful storms

Question 3

What are the responses taken to tropical storms?

Answer 3

• Preparedness – weather satellites give real time views to track storms + sources from previous storms which help evacuate in good time – hurricane drills are practised in Florida + awareness courses are run regularly.
• Prevention – various unsuccessful strategies like cloud seeding + using hydrogen bombs to explode a storm apart
• Adaption – land use planning to access which areas are at the most risk, sea defences like walls and suspended housing, limiting investment in high-risk areas to deter population, retrofitting buildings to make them more secure from wind

Question 4

Recent Hurricane Event - Hurricane Katrina 2005

Answer 4

• Hit Louisiana + Mississippi, killed 1,800, 80% of New Orleans flooded due to levee failure, 1 million people displaced and costed $125 billion

Response:
- Short term – evacuations ordered, still 60,000 people were rescued (e.g. elderly and less physically mobile), the Superdome stadium housed 26,000
- Long term - $20 billion spent on rebuilding sea defences in New Orleans, $60million spent rehousing and feeding victims

Question 5

Recent Cyclone Event - Cyclone Nargis 2008

Answer 5

• Social impacts – killed 138,000, 2.5 million severely effected as housing destroyed, outbreak of water bourne diseases like Cholera
• Economic Impacts – cost $10billion, rice fields destroyed and led to severe food shortages, mangrove forests destroyed

Response:
- Short term – delayed response from military government and restricted aid, lack of warning due to underdevelopment although the Indian government did warn them 48hrs prior
- Long term / International aid – UN + NGOs (Red Cross) acted quicky, but access was limited, a temporary ‘Tripartite group’ was formed between Myanmar, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the UN