Weather and climate Gateway 3

Tropical cyclones are Weather system created over warm oceans in the tropics. The size of
cyclones ranges from 150 km to 1,000 km in diameter.
Tropical Cyclones have two key characteristics:
- Strong winds due to the very low central pressure. The huge difference in pressures
creates strong winds. This causes winds to spiral inwards and upwards at high speeds of
119 km/h.
- An area of low central pressure is formed in the middle of the tropical cyclone (called the
eye). The eye is characterised by calm conditions and the absence of clouds.

They are found between latitude 8° and 15° N and S of Equator due to the conditions needed
for cyclone formation:
- High ocean surface temperatures of above 26.5°C.
- Sufficiently high Coriolis force to cause the winds to rotate (NH-anticlockwise and
SH – Clockwise).
Tropical cyclones are also known as hurricanes and typhoons.

Describe the hazards associated with tropical cyclones.

Point Storm surges
Elaboration  A storm surge is a sudden rise of sea level in which water is piled up
against a coastline beyond normal conditions at high tide.
 It is formed when low atmospheric pressure causes sea level to rise;
 And strong winds push water towards the coast and create huge waves.
 Storm surges cause extensive coastal flooding and are responsible for
most of the deaths (90%) associated with tropical cyclones.

Example Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 had storm surges from 5 – 6 m above normal tide
level in the Philippines. It caused widespread devastation in the city of
Tacloban with many buildings destroyed, trees knocked over and cars piled
up. Many people living along the coast were drowned along with many
people in the city that had been caught off-guard by the fast rising water.
Point Wind damage
Elaboration The strong winds that accompany cyclones can destroy infrastructure and
buildings, injure people and causes loose debris to fly and hit
people/buildings.

Example Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 had sustained wind speeds over 150 km/h and
gusts as high as 380 km/h that destroyed buildings and homes leaving 1.9
million people homeless and more that 6 million people displaced.
Thousands of trees were uprooted leading to the loss of habitat and effects
on wildlife.

Point Torrential rain

Elaboration The large amount of rainfall causes flooding inland and also cause rivers to
overflow.
The flooding destroys farmlands and causes huge financial losses to
farmers.
The excess water in the soil can destabilise slopes causing landslides.
The landslides can cause rivers to flood, destroy homes and roads.

Example During Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 some areas experienced up to 280mm of

rainfall under 12 hours. This caused a lot of flooding of rice, corn and sugar
cane fields which led to the destruction of 71,000 ha of farmland and
contributed to an economic loss of about $6 billion dollars.
Describe the impacts of tropical cyclones?
Point Physical impacts
Elaboration • Damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges hamper rescue
and relief efforts as authorities are unable to transport emergency
supplies such as food, medicine, water.
• Houses and buildings are also damaged from flooding or high winds
making them uninhabitable.

Example  Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 destroyed the main airport at Tacloban City,
washed away many roads slowing down the delivery of aid to many of
the worst affected areas.
 1.9 million people were left homeless by the typhoon.

Point Economic impacts

Elaboration  The economic impacts include the cost of repairs to buildings, roads
and other infrastructure.
 The loss of income due to inability to work during period of tropical
cyclone or damaged crops and,
 Also includes the cost of repairing or rebuilding homes and businesses
destroyed by the typhoon.

Example • Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 had an economic impact of around $6

billion.
• 6 million workers lost their sources of income.
• About 71,000 Ha of farmlands were affected by the typhoon.
Point Social Impacts
Elaboration  Social impacts include the disruption to water supply due to burst
sewage pipes which will contaminate water supplies as well as damage
to infrastructure disrupting supply of fresh water to people.
 Another impact is the Spreading of diseases due to stagnant water,
which allows mosquitoes to breed, aiding the spread of malaria and
dengue, as well as dirty water, which results in water-borne diseases
such as cholera and typhoid fever.
 People are also displaced from their homes due to rising floodwaters.

Example  Over 7,000 people were killed by Typhoon Haiyan with 1.9 million
people being left homeless and having to live in cramped relief shelters.
 After Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, there were outbreaks of disease due to
the lack of sanitation, food, water, shelter and medication.
 Widespread looting took place in the city of Tacloban as people broke
into shops and warehouses to get needed supplies.
Responses to tropical cyclones (evaluation of these responses included in some cases)

Point Emergency action: Evacuation of people

Elaboration Governments can evacuate people to cyclone shelters when a tropical
storm is approaching.

Example Community cyclone shelters in Bangladesh are built near homes of people
to protect them from tropical cyclones and provide them a place to live
temporarily.
Success The use of community cyclone shelters has greatly reduced the number of
causalities in Bangladesh.
Limitation In developing countries, it is difficult to warn people, especially those in
rural areas of the approaching danger due to lack of communication; e.g.
TV, radio, phones.

Point Emergency action: Provision of emergency aid

Elaboration Provision of emergency aid by the government, neighbouring countries and
non-governmental organisations of clothes, shelter, food, medicine and
money to repair damage to infrastructure

Example After Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013, the UK government
provided affected residents with food packages, shelter and hygiene kits for
up to 800,000 victims.
The UN launched an international aid appeal raising about $600 to finance
the humanitarian relief effort.
Success Affected residents are provided with medical aid, food and shelter
immediately following the disaster and also with financial aid to help rebuild
their homes.
Limitations It may be difficult to get aid into the affected areas due to damage to
infrastructure. Also the amount of aid may not be sufficient to provide for all
residents.
Point Mitigation measures: Prediction and warning

Elaboration Analysing long-term climate records, scientist can establish the pattern and
severity of past cyclones to predict future cyclones.
They can also analyse path of current cyclone through computer modeling
to establish the likely path the cyclone will take based on weather
information to allow people to evacuate in time.
Example Japan and America has advanced prediction and warning systems, which
tracks cyclone formation and development. They have also instituted
necessary measures to be taken when cyclones are approaching.
Success These systems allow people to secure their property and evacuate way
before tropical cyclones arrive.
Limitations The predicted paths of the cyclones are based on the weather information
available and weather conditions may change quickly. The accuracy of the
prediction gets more accurate as the cyclone approaches land decreasing
the amount of time that people have to evacuate the affected areas.

Point Mitigation measures: Land use control

Elaboration  Governments can regulate the use of land along vulnerable areas of the
coast by placing restrictions on how the land can be used.
 Developers pay higher taxes for use of land to discourage development
in those areas.
 Making laws which prohibit building along areas of high storm risk.
Example NA
Success Land that is vulnerable to tropical cyclones are used only for recreation and
can act buffer zones against storm surges.
Limitations Land use controls are only successful if properly enforced. Squatter
settlements in developing countries are built in such areas due to poor
enforcement.
Also some buildings and settlements pre-date land use controls and people
may be reluctant to move.
It will be costly for governments to acquire property in these areas to
convert them into recreational areas.
Point Mitigation measures: Floodplain management
Elaboration • Floodplain management refers to a master plan to reduce the flood
damage potential
• Mapping risk levels of areas allows planners to:
 - Ensure new developments on floodplains are not prone to
flooding
- Reduce flood damage potential in already developed
floodplains
- Ensure people are able to evacuated quickly during floods.
• Also the construction of storm water drains and pumps to quickly
divert water away from urban areas.

Example The Cairns Regional Council, Queensland, Australia has a floodplain

management plan based on models of storm surges. The plan shows areas
of highest, high and moderate risk of flooding and indicates the primary
evacuation routes for residents to take in case of an approaching cyclone.
Success During Cyclone Yasi in 2011, the flooding in the Central Business District of
Cairns was limited and damage to property was reduced due to the storm
water drains.
Limitations The constructions of storm water drains are expensive and many
developing countries cannot afford to build them.
The storm water drains may not be able to cope and flooding may still
occur.
Point Mitigation measures: Reducing vulnerability of infrastructure
Elaboration  Making infrastructure less vulnerable to the hazards associated with
cyclones, such as strong winds and storm surges.

Example  This can be achieved by making wind and water resistant buildings.
o Galvanised steel hurricane ties that are nailed to roof to secure it
prevent it from being blown off during typhoons.
o Secondary water resistant layers added to roof to prevent leaking
should roofs be blown off
 Also by creating protective barriers along river embankments and
coastal dykes to prevent water from overflowing river banks and also
prevent surging waves from moving inland.
 Utility lines for power, telecommunications and water supply can be
placed underground to avoid them being damaged by strong winds.
This is to ensure services are maintained during the emergency.

Success Effectiveness seen in when houses with these improvements in Florida,

USA, survived Hurricane Wilma with little damage in 2005.
Construction of a protective barrier along the coast of Apia, Samoa,
protected the coastline and harbor when it was hit by a cyclone in 1991.
Without the barrier in 1990, the harbor was destroyed.

Limitations Reinforcing roofs and houses can be very costly and many developed
countries do not have to resources to accomplish this.
Regular inspection against erosion and expensive maintenance are needed
for protective barrier measures to be effective