Severe Weather in Southeastern US

Severe storms and tornadoes traveled through the southeastern United States causing death and destruction.    Powerlines, homes, and trees were all damaged by strong winds in the states of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.  In the four states, four people died, 20 people were injured, and over 30 homes or businesses were severely damaged.  This is an area of the country that is exposed to many different storms every year, so this is nothing new for these people to experience.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15768616
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/11/17/1651091/deadly-storms-pound-southeast.html

Arctic Storm Hits Alaska

A large Arctic snow storm hit Alaska, affecting an area about the size of Colorado.  The storm brought an estimated 18 inches of snow, 40 foot waves on the ocean, and 60 mph winds.  The storm ripped the roofs of houses off and caused other damage in 37 villages, but no injuries were reported.  There was a report that one man was missing.  The lack of injuries to people can largely be attributed to weather forecasts and the ability of people to prepare for the storm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15661484
http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/alaska-superstorm-aftermath_2011-11-11

High Radiation Levels Found in Rice in Japan

Japanese authorities have stopped the shipment of rice from farms located 36 miles northwest of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after high radiation levels were found in the rice.  The rice was found to have radioactive levels 25% higher than government regulations allow.  Although officials said there is a slight possibility for long term risk to human health, they said that the level of radioactivity would pose no immediate threat to health.  This shipment of rice is the latest of other produce and livestock that was contaminated after the earthquake that caused the plant to spew radioactive particles into the environment.  To deal with the contamination in the environment, workers are scraping off up to two inches of topsoil.  

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/17/world/asia/japan-fukushima-rice/index.html?iref=allsearch

Worsening Floods in Bangkok

Thailand continues to experience dangerous flooding.  Flood waters north of the city are slowing draining and passing through Bangkok on its way to the sea.  So far, over 500 people have died from the floods, and approximately one-third of the city has been evacuated.  The water has reached the outskirts of the inner city, and more water pumps are being ordered to try and prevent the water from reaching the heart of the city.  The situation could continue to get worse if communities living among the increasingly dirty water experience health effects.  The flooding is also shutting down many industrial centers, putting people out of work for the time being.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15615876

http://www.thaitravelnews.net/thailand-floods/bangkok-floods-flood-monitoring-centre-set-minburi/

Deadly Mudslides in Columbia

Columbia has been experiencing one the wettest rainy seasons in recent memory.  These heavy rains have forced over 250,000 to be evacuated, and were responsible for triggering two mudslides in western Columbia on Sunday.  The mudslides buried 18 homes and have killed 24 people.  Officials said that there are 30 people missing, and rescue crews are searching for them.  The heavy rains are expected to continue for the next month or two, meaning that more mudslides can be expected.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15613951

Early Snow Storm on the East Coast

An early snow storm hit the east coast of the United States, bringing up to 30 inches in some areas.  The storm has left more than three million people without power for an extended amount of time, and has been responsible for as many as 23 deaths.  Due to the mild October temperatures, the snow was of a heavier consistency.  The snow caused a large number of tree branches to break, leading to more damage and clean up.  The unusual storm was caused by an area of high pressure over southeastern Canada funneled cold air south towards the US.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15523992
http://iphone.france24.com/en/20111030-weather-rare-october-snowstorm-hits-usa-northeast-NY

Sever Flash Floods in Italy

Northern Italy received an estimated 20 inches of precipitation in the past 24 hours.  The downpour has led to flash flooding and mudslides in the region, anywhere between six and nine people dead, and many others still missing. The rain and floods have blocked roads, swept away bridges, and caused large amounts of damage to cities.  People were being evacuated from coastal cities by the Coast Guard.  I believe that if this amount of flooding occurred in a lesser developed country, the death toll would have been much higher.  Italy's government was able to warn people about the flooding, and evacuate others to safety.

http://hypervocal.com/news/2011/severe-flash-floods-in-italy-kill-at-least-six-destroy-cinque-terre-villages/

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E90-9f2OOg4

Earthquake in Eastern Turkey

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Turkey, leading to many deaths and extensive amount of damage.  An estimated 279 people have died, while another 1,300 have been injured.  It was also estimated that almost 1,000 buildings were damaged.  Because eastern Turkey is among the poorest areas in the country, these people were more susceptible to experience extensive amounts of damage and casualties from a hazard.  The structures in this area were probably not built very well, or are built to withstand earthquakes.  Immediately following the earthquake, people were subject to near freezing temperatures, making survival before rescue workers arrived even that more challenging.                

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/24/world/europe/turkey-quake/index.html?iref=allsearch

Hurricane Rina

The newest hurricane in the Caribbean is Hurricane Rina. The hurricane has grown into a Category 2 storm as it heads towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.  The storm is expected to become a major storm in the next few hours, and should hit the coast of Mexico on Thursday.  Warnings have already been issued for the area, including the popular tourist city of Cancun.  The hurricane formed off of the coasts of Honduras and Nicaragua.  The hurricane's path moved away from other Central America countries that have already experienced huge amounts of rain and flooding.  This relates to the Swiss Cheese Model discussed in class.  These countries are very lucky that the hurricane is not going to be affecting them because of the extensive damage that they have already experienced.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15443540

Central America Floods

A week long torrential downpour caused by two low pressure systems in the Pacific and Caribbean has led to the deaths of 80 people in Central America.  Heavy rainfall has triggered flooding and landslides which have washed out highways, villages, homes, and crops.  Some places in El Salvador have experienced over four feet of rain so far, even with current forecasts predicting the rain to last for at least one more day.  With over 100,000 people being affected by the rains, the country's emergency response system is being put to the test.  So far, over 20,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.  People were also being removed from an area around a volcano where hundreds of people died in landslides after Hurricane Mitch.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15331290

Dangerous Flooding in Thailand

Due to a mid-summer tropical storm followed by heavy monsoon rains, the country of Thailand is experiencing severe flooding.  Reservoirs are at full capacity and rivers are overflowing, leading to more than 252 deaths, affecting 10 million people, and causing 40,000 people to evacuate from their homes.  The flooding is affecting many historical sites, and is flights and tourists.  The flooding is also submerging farmland, which will most likely lead to a food shortage in the coming months.  The government is looking into devising better preventative measures and a better emergency alert system to cut down on the number of deaths and injuries from significant flooding.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15178872
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15217984
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12971141
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12971141

Water Shortage in the South Pacific (Lab 4)

A water shortage is occurring in the south Pacific, causing nations to declare a state of emergency.  The island nation of Tuvalu, and Tokelau, a nation of New Zealand, are severely low on drinking water and have begun rationing water supplies.  People are unable to wash their clothes and do household chores, public restrooms are shut off, and most people are bathing in lagoons. 

Engineering Approach
The main cause behind this water shortage is due to a lack of rainfall from the current La Nina weather pattern.  La Nina is triggered when there are large differences in water temperatures across the Pacific Ocean that cause trade winds to increase in strength and push rainfall to the west, leaving places such as Tuvalu and Tokelau dry.  Reports say that there has not been any precipitation in seven months.  These islands are not able to use ground water because their reserves have become spoiled by saltwater from rising sea levels.  Many scientists have linked these rising levels to climate change.  Because of this, the areas are almost entirely reliant on precipitation collected on the tops of houses and government buildings. 

Behavioral Approach
People who live in these areas experience La Nina and El Nino weather patterns every year.  The current drought has left these areas virtually uninhabitable with the complete lack of water available.  Although not likely a viable option for most people, they may want to consider living in another area where they are not so susceptible to water shortage.  The climate change that has caused sea levels to rise and contaminate underground water reserves could also be related to increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere stemming from human industrialization.

Development Approach
The islands of Tuvalu and Tokelaun are very small and have populations of 11,000 and 1,400, respectively.  They are not very wealthy nations, and when they are faced with a desperate situation like this, they must reach out to other nations for assistance.  The Red Cross is currently sending large quantities of bottled water and desalination units to the areas.  It is a proven fact that people need water to survive.  As the world's population grows, it is putting more and more stress on the world's freshwater supply.  This makes many people vulnerable to water shortages, particulary during droughts.  In the future, places like Tuvalu and Tokelaun might have to make agreements with countries who possess large quantities of freshwater for water.  They also might want to look into permanent desalination facilities to convert salt water into freshwater.   

Complex Approach
The water shortages are having great consequences on the interactions between nature and society.  For example, people are having to leave schools and businesses to go home and use the bathroom because public facilities are shut down.  Due to the severe drought brought about by La Nina weather patterns, crops being grown on the island are in very poor shape, which will likely lead to a food shortage as well.  The process of collecting water on the tops of buildings is not working because of the drought, and groundwater reserves are contaminated.  Water sources are being heavily rationed, and the people of these islands are completely dependent on outside sources for freshwater and medical supplies at the moment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15163543
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/04/south-pacific-water-crisis-rainfall
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/south-pacific-water-shortage-means-some-islands-have-only-a-weeks-worth-of-water-left/2011/10/04/gIQAosZALL_blog.html
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110908_lanina.html

Typhoon Nesat Hits Philippines

A powerful Typhoon has hit the Philippines, causing flooding, power loss, and halting work in many cities.  The storm registered winds up to 105 mph, and is now heading across the country.  Projections show the storm leaving the country and heading towards China by Thursday.  The storm caused over a 100,000 people to evacuate their homes, one death, and four others reported missing.  Due to warning systems, people were able to evacuate before the storm struck, greatly decreasing the chance for injuries or loss of life.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15070550

Himalayan Earthquake

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Himalaya Mountains, affecting India, Nepal, and Tibet.  Thousands of people were left homeless after an estimated 100,000 homes were destroyed during the earthquake.  To make matters worse, heavy rains led to mudslides in the mountainous region and made circumstances much harder for rescue workers.  Many of these villages were cut off because of the earthquake and mudslides so helicopters were used to airlift supplies to the villages and provide medical care.  Over 6,000 troops were called in to clear roadways and provide assistance.  A day after the disaster, the death toll has risen to 81 people.  I would classify this as a disaster due to the number of people dying as well as the very high number of homes destroyed.  Most small villages located high up in the mountains probably do not have very much money or houses that are built to withstand an earthquake.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iX2jeXsAw-L5eNjWO_uWTss_glhA?docId=1fbea8b8514845efb5e0372d048c4412

Wildfires in Texas

Wildfires have been burning in central and eastern parts of Texas since Labor Day and have created an estimated $250 million in damage.  In Bastrop Country alone, 1,550 homes have been burned to the ground over an area of about 45 square miles.  The blaze has been labeled as one of the most destructive wildfires in the history of the country.  The fires were largely due to the fact that Texas has had the driest ten months in its history since 1895.  Unfortunately for them, the next three month forecast for Texas and its surrounding countries continues to be warm and dry.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/tx-fires-latest_2011-09-12

http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110915/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_weather_outlook