12. Management of Tropical Storms

Question 1

Monitoring

Answer 1

• Satellites
• Aircraft
• Supercomputers
• Track cone

Question 2

Satellites

Answer 2

• There’s a classic cloud pattern associated with tropical storms that satellites monitor
• 1997 - accidentally discovered the appearance of rain clouds which reach approx 16km in altitude are more likely to indicate that a tropical storm will intensify within 24 hrs.
• 2004 - Global Precipitation Measurement satellite launched

Question 3

Aircraft

Answer 3

• Specifically equipped aircraft frequently fly through tropical storms at 10,000 feet to collect air pressure, rainfall and wind speed data
• Release dropsondes which send measurements every second by radio
• Used to improve forecasting models

Question 4

Supercomputers

Answer 4

Can give 5 days warning + more accurate location within 400km

Question 5

Track cone

Answer 5

Used by National Hurricane Centre in Florida to predict path and intensity - 70% success

Question 6

Mitigation of tropical storms

Answer 6

• Disaster aid
• Insurance
• Galveston, Texas
• Mangroves

Question 7

Disaster aid

Answer 7

• Immediate humanitarian relief in the form of search and rescue, food, water, medicine, shelter
• Longer term reconstructional aid that seeks to support recovery and reconstruction

Question 8

Insurance

Answer 8

• Widely used to mitigate effects of tropical storms
• USA - people encouraged to take out insurance against wind damage and to follow building codes
• Social issues regarding insurance - rich can afford high premiums, whereas poorest can’t

Question 9

Galveston, Texas

Answer 9

• 5m sea wall built for over 5km along the coast
• Furthest proposals made to extend the wall and put in place flood gates due to rising sea levels

Question 10

Mangroves

Answer 10

Being replaced to act as a first line of defence