Hurricanes Essay -- essays research papers

Hurricanes A natural hazard is when extreme events which cause great tone ending of life and or property and create severe disruption to human lives, such as a hurricane. Editor Philip Whitefield brings up an important point in Our Mysterious Planet when he comments At a time when we know how to aim a space probe directly at Mars and activate the gigantic forces of nuclear power, we are still at the mercy of hurricanes and volcanoes. It seems peculiar how we can be at such an advanced stage technologically thus far we are unable to completely stop a natural hazard from causing loss of life and damage to existing constructed resources and infrastructures. Hurricane Gilbert, September 1998 was described by meteorologists at the US National Center in Miami, as the most intense occidental-hemisphere tropical cyclone on record. Large areas of Jamaica were devastated and the countrys Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, enunciate it the worst natural disaster ever to strike his country. Gr eatest loss of life however, occurred in Mexico where Gilbert hit twice, first of all traversing the Yucatan Peninsula and two old age later making landfall some 150 km south of the border with the USA, finally dissipating near the city of Monterrey. During its most intense phase at the western end of the Caribbean Sea, Gilbert was estimated to have central pressure of 885mbar, and maximum sustained winds in its circulation over 150kt (knots) with highest gusts in excess of 175 kt. The central pressure outrivalled the 899 mbar of the Florida Keys hurricane of 1935. Gilbert, at that stage an un-named tropical depression with maximum sustained winds around 30kt, was first spotted on Thursday 8 September some 300km east of Barbados. It napped past Barbados and St Lucia the following day with limited wind-damage and some flooding, and was upgraded to tropical storm status (means winds 34kt or more). Gathering strength over the warm waters of the easterly Caribbean, Gilbert achieved hurr icane status (means winds 64kt or more) , with gale force winds brushing the south coasts of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The island was swept by the full force of the storm , first from the newton and then from the south, Central pressure at this stage was estimated at 960mbar, wi... ...ive in the paths of approaching storms. Development policies that diversify the economy so that the poor do not need to live near flood prone land for a livelihood should be encouraged. Similarly, primary healthcare must be implemented so that the population is more resistant to disease in the aftermath of disaster. Communications infrastructure should be improved to enable more rapid evacuations. The science of vaticination must be continually developed by investing in appropriate technology and research. Again, this would only be possible in more economically developed countries as only they have the necessary funding. Perhaps it would be a good idea to increase the access of the poo r to low spare-time activity loans to increase their recovery prospects after a disaster. It is clear that at the moment total prevention is virtually impossible. While in EMDCs hazards may be just an inconvenience (even if it is a very expensive one), whilst it is still a matter of life or death in the developing world. Referring back to Philip Whitfields cite at the beginning, it seems man still remains virtually powerless against nature ,even as we approach the millennium.