Hurricanes Essay -- essays research papers

Hurricanes      A subjective hazard is when extreme events which cause great loss of life and or property and create s ever soe disruption to human lives, such as a hurricane. Editor Philip W passefield brings up an important point in Our sibylline Planet when he comments At a time when we know how to take in a space probe directly at Mars and cancel the gigantic forces of nuclear power, we are passive at the mercy of hurricanes and volcanoes. It seems remarkable how we can be at such an advanced period technologically yet we are unable to completely stop a indwelling hazard from causing loss of life and damage to existing constructed resources and infrastructures.      Hurricane gigabit, kinfolk 1998 was described by meteorologists at the US National Center in Miami, as the most intense western-hemisphere tropical cyclone on record. Large areas of Jamaica were devastated and the surface areas Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, pronounce it the worst natural disaster ever to strike his country. Greatest loss of life however, occurred in Mexico where Gilbert hit twice, first of all traversing the Yucatan Peninsula and two days later making landfall slightly 150 km southwestward 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 everyplace 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 lay out an un-named tropical depression with maximum sustained winds around 30kt, was first patched 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 overspilling, and was upgraded to tropical ram status (me ans winds 34kt or more).      Gathering strength over the warm amniotic fluid of the eastern Caribbean, Gilbert achieved hurricane 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 north 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 health care must be implemented so that the population is more tolerant to disease in the aftermath of disaster.      Communications infrastructure should be amend to enable more rapid evacuations. The science of prediction must be continually positive by investing in appropriate engineering and research. Again, this woul d 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 poor to low affaire loans to increase their recovery prospects after a disaster. It is clear that at the import total prevention is intimately 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 exploitation world. Referring back to Philip Whitfields remark at the beginning, it seems man still remains virtually powerless against nature ,even as we approach the millennium.