Weather Catastrophes Increasing Dramatically.
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Weather Catastrophes Increasing Dramatically. August 24, 2009 by mereza
Weather catastrophes are increasing dramatically, compounded by growing number of grave incidents amidst multiplying population densities resulting in greater number of people affected and property destroyed. Extreme weather events have been attributed to global warming, and recent studies through modeling showed they are becoming more intense. Global warming could eventually lead to increasing occurrence of highly destructive weather events. These linkages have been established by the World Meteorological Organization and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (i)
A flooded village in Cangnan county, eastern China Sunday Aug.9.2009 AP Photo The level of devastation in Taiwan following the onslaught of Typhoon Morakot was such that the military’s role was expanded to assist in the evacuation and rescue operations. The Taiwan leadership acknowledged that the biggest threat to the country is now extreme weather and climate change. The death toll from Typhoon Morakot exceeded 500 with hundreds buried in mudslides. In the near future the Taiwan armed forces are expected to undergo intensive disaster response training following creation of a national disaster prevention agency which will take over crisis management from the National Fire Agency. This is an emerging trend with some countries already assigning their armed forces disaster prevention and rescue as main responsibilities. “The enemy is no longer people across the Taiwan Straits, but nature” said the Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou. Relief operations involved usage of military heavy-lift helicopters and inclusion of Special Forces for rescue operations in the worst hit areas.(ii)
Cangnan county, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, August 10, 2009 . REUTERS Lang Lang The impact of climate change is expected to bring about more violent weather, altered drought and rainfall patterns, more intense storms, more temperature extremes and more intense and severe downpours. These findings are well documented in a number of studies. Research and studies into climate change and trends have drawn in numerous institutions including the World Water Council (2003). (iii) Profiling extreme weather events in 2009 revealed disturbing trends. The year started with severe deep freeze which swept through Europe, mudslides and avalanches in Washington State, prolonged drought in Kenya, a cold-snap in mid-western US, cyclones in Madagascar, and several storms in parts of Europe. While the impact varies depending on the natural disasters, the results remain horrendous. It involve those frozen to death, extremely large numbers being
evacuated, millions at risk of severe hunger, closure of airports, cancellations of hundreds of international flights, and also power cuts. Elsewhere drought devastated crops and water supplies to millions cut while wild fires destroyed farms and homes in California and Australia.
Morakot disaster Taiwan Bursts of violent weather have been noted of late with combinations of intense snow blizzards, and series of violent tornadoes in different parts of Midwestern US. July 2009 saw intense flooding in China with massive destruction and 700,000 people evacuated, while torrential downpours in India destroyed some villages and left 500,000 people homeless. Overall, the extreme weather events have significant impact, posing serious challenges to our present society in coping with the future. With continued global warming, climate change will bring about increased frequency and intensity on extreme weather. So, to what extent will the impact be from this expected extreme weather? It will be tempered to the extent that current governance takes steps to develop responses and sustain preparedness to deal with it when it happens. The Taiwan experience with disaster said it all. Natural disaster can be a political disaster. References:(i) Extreme Weather, Wikipedia.org (ii) AFP. Taipei 18 August 2009 (iii) Heatisonline.org
Weather catastrophes are increasing dramatically, compounded by growing number of grave incidents amidst multiplying population densities resulting in greater number of people affected and property destroyed. Extreme weather events have been attributed to global warming, and recent studies through modeling showed they are becoming more intense. Global warming could eventually lead to increasing occurrence of highly destructive weather events. These linkages have been established by the World Meteorological Organization and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (i)
A flooded village in Cangnan county, eastern China Sunday Aug.9.2009 AP Photo The level of devastation in Taiwan following the onslaught of Typhoon Morakot was such that the military’s role was expanded to assist in the evacuation and rescue operations. The Taiwan leadership acknowledged that the biggest threat to the country is now extreme weather and climate change. The death toll from Typhoon Morakot exceeded 500 with hundreds buried in mudslides. In the near future the Taiwan armed forces are expected to undergo intensive disaster response training following creation of a national disaster prevention agency which will take over crisis management from the National Fire Agency. This is an emerging trend with some countries already assigning their armed forces disaster prevention and rescue as main responsibilities. “The enemy is no longer people across the Taiwan Straits, but nature” said the Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou. Relief operations involved usage of military heavy-lift helicopters and inclusion of Special Forces for rescue operations in the worst hit areas.(ii)
Cangnan county, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, August 10, 2009 . REUTERS Lang Lang The impact of climate change is expected to bring about more violent weather, altered drought and rainfall patterns, more intense storms, more temperature extremes and more intense and severe downpours. These findings are well documented in a number of studies. Research and studies into climate change and trends have drawn in numerous institutions including the World Water Council (2003). (iii) Profiling extreme weather events in 2009 revealed disturbing trends. The year started with severe deep freeze which swept through Europe, mudslides and avalanches in Washington State, prolonged drought in Kenya, a cold-snap in mid-western US, cyclones in Madagascar, and several storms in parts of Europe. While the impact varies depending on the natural disasters, the results remain horrendous. It involve those frozen to death, extremely large numbers being
evacuated, millions at risk of severe hunger, closure of airports, cancellations of hundreds of international flights, and also power cuts. Elsewhere drought devastated crops and water supplies to millions cut while wild fires destroyed farms and homes in California and Australia.
Morakot disaster Taiwan Bursts of violent weather have been noted of late with combinations of intense snow blizzards, and series of violent tornadoes in different parts of Midwestern US. July 2009 saw intense flooding in China with massive destruction and 700,000 people evacuated, while torrential downpours in India destroyed some villages and left 500,000 people homeless. Overall, the extreme weather events have significant impact, posing serious challenges to our present society in coping with the future. With continued global warming, climate change will bring about increased frequency and intensity on extreme weather. So, to what extent will the impact be from this expected extreme weather? It will be tempered to the extent that current governance takes steps to develop responses and sustain preparedness to deal with it when it happens. The Taiwan experience with disaster said it all. Natural disaster can be a political disaster. References:(i) Extreme Weather, Wikipedia.org (ii) AFP. Taipei 18 August 2009 (iii) Heatisonline.org
