2.2 Atmospheric disturbances

Question 1

Causes of Haiyan

Answer 1

• November 2013, Category 4/5
• Area of low pressure developed off coast of Philippines
• Tracked westward into tropical depression
• Strong winds of 195mph
• Warm deep water and low wind shear created intense and compact system
• Made 5 landfalls on different islands
• Fast and strong, no cold water to take energy out

Question 2

Impacts of haiyan

Answer 2

• 6000 died
• 45ft storm surge
• 28k injured
• 2000 missing
• 16m impacted
• 1.1m houses destroyed
• 4m displaced
• Flooding 1km inland
• No clean water, electricity or food
• Storm surge 5.2m high, destroyed airport ships and vehicles

Question 3

What was the management?

Answer 3

• Low level warning 2 days before expecting high winds
• Military and planes deployed
• Convention centres designated as storm sheltered
• 1000s evacuated from small islands ahead
• EU comissioned released $4m in funds and UK provided $8m
• 100,000 still in evac centres, 4m in temporary homes a month on
• 300k homes given materials to rebuild
• 21,000 families in evac shelters 2 months later
• rebuilt homes, reduced disease outbreaks.`

Question 4

What were the causes of Hurricane Katrina

Answer 4

August 2005
-Category 1 in 48 hours
-Speed 75mph
-Moved westwards into Mexico, became category 5 with speeds of 175mph and gusts 215mph
Gulf of mexico roughly 28 degrees perfect for hurricanes

Question 5

What were the impacts of Katrina

Answer 5

Winds up to 175mph
-Category 5 hurricane
Waves 3-10m
-Storm surge battered coastal settlements
-Strong winds destroyed buildings
-600k evacuated
-11 died
-$1bn damage
-1m without electricity
-Contaminated water
-Levees poor quality - scientist knew inadequate and caused more flooding
-Water flooded up to 8 metres

Question 6

Management at Katrina

Answer 6

• State of national emergency
• Shelters opeened up
• Policy and emergency services
• Compulsory evacuation order
• Superdome opened to 15,000 people - roof ripped apart and 100mph winds
• Sanctary in Houston but far away
• REd cross shelters
• Emergency services and authorities
• $10bn in aid
• Military airlift and help escape - helped evacuated 120,000 people

Question 7

Irma, Mitch

Answer 7

Irma - 300km/h winds, $77bn damage, 84 fatalities passed through Cuba

Mitch - 11,000 deaths, cat 5, 1900mm of rainfall, floods and landslides

Question 8

Tornado hazards

Answer 8

Precipitation:
-Colarado - 40m hailstorm, 2000 homes and 25000 cars damaged, 25 injured

Ivan:
-Category 5, $26bn damage, 123 deaths, winds over 200km/h, 90% of agricultural production halted