MODULE-II
Types of Disasters –
Meteorological Disasters
Prepared by
Prof. Nagma Alam
Natural Disasters
Geological Hydrological Meteorological
• Earthquake • Flood • Cyclone
• Landslides • Tsunami • Drought
• Avalanches • Mudflow • Cloud Burst
• Volcanic • Storm
eruption • Storm surge
• Global
Warming &
Ozone
Depletion
Natural Disaster - Cyclone
Cyclone - Introduction
• Cyclones are rapid inward air
circulation around a low-pressure
area.
• The air circulates in an
anticlockwise direction in the
Northern hemisphere and clockwise
in the Southern hemisphere.
• Cyclones are usually accompanied
by violent storms and bad weather.
• The word Cyclone is derived from
the Greek word Cyclos meaning the
coils of a snake. It was coined by
Henry Peddington because the
tropical storms in the Bay of
Bengal and the Arabian Sea appear
like coiled serpents of the sea.
Eyewall: Where the strong wind
gets as close as it can is the
eyewall. The eyewall consists of a
ring of tall thunderstorms that
produce heavy rains and usually
the strongest winds. Changes in
the structure of the eye and
eyewall can cause changes in the
wind speed, which is an indicator
of the storm's intensity. The eye
can grow or shrink in size.
Eye: The hurricane's center is a
relatively calm, generally clear
Rainbands: Curved bands of
area of air and light winds that
clouds and thunderstorms that trail
usually do not exceed 24 km/h
away from the eye wall in a spiral
and is typically 32-64 km across.
fashion. These bands are capable of
An eye will usually develop
producing heavy bursts of rain and
when the maximum sustained
wind, as well as tornadoes. There
wind speeds go above 119 km/h
are sometimes gaps in between
and is the calmest part of the
spiral rain bands where no rain or
storm.
wind is found.
Storm Surge
A storm surge is a rise in sea level
that occurs during tropical
cyclones, intense storms also
known as typhoons or hurricanes.
The storms produce strong winds
that push the water into shore,
which can lead to flooding. This
makes storm surges very
dangerous for coastal regions.
Storm Surge…
A storm surge is primarily caused by the
relationship between the winds and the
ocean’s surface. The water level rises
where the winds are strongest. In
addition, water is pushed in the direction
the winds are blowing. The rotation of
the Earth causes winds to move toward
the right in the Northern Hemisphere
and toward the left in the Southern
Hemisphere—a phenomenon known as
the Coriolis effect. If a cyclone develops
in the Northern Hemisphere, the surge
will be largest in the right-forward part
of the storm. In the Southern
Hemisphere, the surge will be largest in
the left-forward part of the cyclone
Storm Surge…
Another factor contributing to
storm surge is atmospheric
pressure. Atmospheric pressure is
the force exerted by the weight of More factors contribute to the strength of a
air in the Earth’s atmosphere. The storm surge as the dome of water comes
pressure is higher at the edges of a ashore. The water level can reach as high
cyclone than it is at the centre. This as 10 meters (33 feet) if the storm surge
pushes down the water in the outer happens at the same time as high tide. The
parts of the storm, causing the slope of the land just off the coast also
water to bulge at the eye and eye plays a part: Water will more easily flood a
wall—where the winds have helped shallow coast than a steep one.
add to the rise in sea level.
Natural Disaster – Cloud Burst
Natural Disaster - Drought
Land and water temperatures cause drought. As overall temperatures increase
more water evaporates and severe weather conditions increase. Landscapes
and crops need more water to survive and overall the demand for water
increases.
Soil moisture levels also contribute to drought. When soil moisture is
depleted there is less evaporation of water to create clouds. Surface
temperatures rise, more water is needed and less is available which
contributes to a more severe drought.
Drought can also be a supply and demand of water issue. When a region is
growing rapidly the demand for water can exceed the supply.
If the timing of water doesn’t match the agricultural season you may have too
much water when you don’t need it and too little when you do need it. Proper
storage and collection of water is key to counter balancing this cycle and
clearly in the scope of human management.
Greenhouse Effect --Global Warming
Effects on sea levels
Effects on Farming
Effects on Water Effects on Weather
Effects on plants and animals
Effects on people
What is Ozone Layer?
Ozone Layer Depletion
Ozone Layer Depletion
