In the
subject Environmental Managements (E.M), we discussed on tropical cyclones in
general, but most specifically hurricanes. With the information that we
gathered after answering a set of questions, the teacher told us to produce a
summary including all the questions.
To begin
with, a tropical cyclone is a rotating storm that has a low-pressurized center,
strong winds, and heavy thunderstorms. There are three different names given to
tropical cyclones depending on where these occur. If they occur in the
Northwestern Pacific Ocean, around the South China sea, they are called
typhoons. When they occur in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean they are referred
to as cyclones, and if they happen in the Atlantic and Northeastern Pacific
Ocean, in the areas around the Caribbean Sea, they are named hurricanes.
So as to
identify hurricanes, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) develops a
list of names, both male and female, that are assigned in alphabetical order to
hurricanes as they happen in each hurricane season. Names can be repeated after
six years. However, some names are never used again if the destruction of that
hurricane was too big.
For
hurricanes to develop, there must be certain conditions. First, they only form
in areas within the tropics. Second, water temperatures should be around
27°Celsius. These temperatures only occur during the end of summer and the
beginning of autumn. Moreover, there must be a low air pressure. When these
conditions occur at the same time in the same geographic place, hurricanes may
form. Warm air near the water rises and forms clouds, leaving an area with a
lower air pressure below. When this warm air can´t hold any more moisture, it
starts to rain. At the same time, cold air, sinks in this low air pressured
area.That is called the eye. In the eye, it does not rain and we can appreciate
a nice weather. However, the parts around the eye are the ones where there is
the most turbulence, as it is the place where warm and cold air get in contact
with each other. If wind speeds get up to 150 km/h, it can be called a
hurricane, and winds speeds can rise up to 600 km/h.
The effects
of hurricanes are different depending on where do they occur. In developed
countries, the effects are less hard or devastating than in the developing or
non-developed ones. Developed countries are more prepared for these hurricanes
attacks, since they may have the newest technology to know when will they
occur. They also have a better infrastructure, which is more prepared for high
speed winds and the reparations of the affected houses or buildings would take
less time. The effects of the hurricanes can be short-term or immediate, or
long-term. Short-term effects includes deaths, big destruction of city, and
floods which may occur. Long-term effects mostly refer to economic troubles,
the rebuilding of the cities and acquiring the medicine needed. Finally, it
involves the pollution of water and the treatment of diseases if someone drank
that polluted water.
Effects may
also be reduced by predicting these hurricanes. There are two main ways so as
to predict them. The first and more efficient one is the use of satellites. The
other and easiest way of predicting them is by being prepared to them depending
on which season is. To measure them, we have the Saffir-Simpson scale, from 1
to 5, it measures hurricanes based on their wind speed. Hurricanes which are
categories 3 or higher are considered major because of their huge damages and
loss of lifes.
In
conclusion, I am going to write a little bit about “The Great Miami Hurricane”.
This one ocurred in September 1926, and it affected Miami and Florida. The
hurricane caused massive flooding, with water from the Atlantic Ocean extending
into land and covering several blocks of Miami. There were 372 deaths, and over
6.000 injuries. Its intensity was 4, comparing it with the Saffir-Simpson scale
and its reparations costed $105 million, which would be over $164 billion
nowadays.
