Earthquakes
Earthquakes produce vibrations that are recorded, detected and measured with the use of the seismographs. Seismographs amplify the ground motions by a million times more than the motions beneath making a zigzag transcribes that are known as the seismograms. This data is relevant for the determination of the focal depth of an earthquake the time and the epicenter of the phenomena. In addition, approximations can be complete with relative sizes and amounts of force it produced. The focus hypocenter of the earthquake is the origin of the fault where rapture initiates. The depth in kilometers and map locations in longitudes and latitudes, its date and time of occurrence, and magnitude (a measure of the amount of energy radiated as seismic waves) describe it. The point an earthquake shows on the surface is called epicenter (Sinha, 2012). The epicenter gives the direct location of the hypocenter from the surface. The description of the epicenter is the same as the hypocenter but the depth part is not included in the account.
Earthquake strengths are expressed in two ways the intensity and magnitude (Turan, 2012). Magnitude is a measure that is recorded by the seismograph, which depends on the seismic energy radiated by the earthquake. The magnitude of an earthquake is recorded in whole and decimal numbers. Intensity is the measure an earthquake has at specific locations judging by the effect on man and buildings / surroundings. Roman numbers on the other hand measures the intensity. The difference between magnitude and intensity is that the magnitude is constant and the intensity varied in different locations that the earthquakes hit on the surface (Sinha, 2012).
Earthquakes cause many landslides and damage to property and the environment. In situations where there no preparedness for such disasters there can be colossus amount of loss spread through collapsing of buildings and destruction of infrastructure. Japan is the seismic active spot in the world today. Countries like Peru, Kashmir, Kobe in Japan, Sumatra Armenia China and Iran have recorded some of the highest magnitude earthquakes in the past and researches show that Tokyo may experience an earthquake in the near future. When a community or country cannot handle a phenomenon and the effects are so adverse the event is declared a disaster (Raftari, et al, 2011).
Volcanoes
The world has many active volcanic spots USA being one of the countries that is volcanically active in the world. Volcanoes are not a daily experience to many people in the world. There are different types of volcanoes in the world, the composite, fissure volcanoes, cinder cones and shield volcanoes. Volcanoes are generally bad and good in the economic and geographical factors. It is also a great hazard to the environment if it emits many hard elements that are harmful to the communities near the volcanoes. Consequently, the world is a tenth of the world’s population lives in the potentially active volcanoes (Bapat, 2010). Records show that there have been 1500 volcanoes, which are active in the last ten thousand years. Constant monitoring greatly reduces the death toll from the occurrences of volcanic reactions. Generally, volcanoes erupt with warning on the main eruption moments. Volcano ash is very harmful to the health and jet engines. It is noted that the ash can stop the engines in planes. Major hazards are the lava flows, pyroclastic flows and flows of mud. Secondary reactions are the earthquakes and tsunamis and change the regional and global climate change. These changes brought about by the volcanoes result to famine and diseases (Turan, 2012).
Floods
Flooding is a natural occurrence in many countries around the world. In addition to posing environmental issues, it also poses a large threat to society. Flooding is typically the result of heavy rainfall. When there is a heavy rain, rivers and lake overflow, mudslides occur, and communities are disrupted. In communities where flooding is a common risk, it becomes impossible for families to settle permanently (Sinha, 2012). In areas where flooding occurs regularly due to heavy rains, farmers are unable to cultivate crops. Farming typically needs a natural agricultural schedule that involves moderate amounts of water and sunshine. When flooding is a frequent problem, excess of water that prevents crops from flourishing. Furthermore, flooding undermines the basics of creating permanent settlements. People cannot build homes when water damage is a regular problem. Mud huts, concrete structures, and wooden homes all suffer structural degeneration in the presence of stagnant water. Homes will become destroyed when flooding occurs (Turan, 2012). Furthermore, roads suffer a tremendous amount when there is heavy water due to flooding. Dirt roads will erode and become prone to mudslides. This is not only dangerous to people crossing roads, but also undermines progress in overall infrastructure development. Without an easy access route to other cities and trading centers, life becomes much more isolated and development is hindered. All these facts lead to a decrease in economic productivity of the community as a huge, encouraging people to move elsewhere (Bapat, 2010).
Flooding issues lead to health problems. In places where there is stagnant water due to flooding, the general population has much to fear. Malaria is a common issue, especially in African countries, and is spread more quickly when there is much stagnant water. Therefore, communities are less likely to develop in places where malaria is a bigger issue. Additionally, flooding leads to general sanitation issues amongst communities. When there is water everywhere, human waste is able to travel further distances and reach the drinking water sources of families in the vicinity. In places such as India, this becomes a huge problem, as diseases such as dysentery and typhoid become rapidly spread when flooding occurs (Sinha, 2012). The individual issues that flooding causeries harmful enough, but flooding also causes damage to families are displaced from their properties, leading to a disintegration of the familial unit.
Resources to Alleviate the Damage of these natural phenomena
Seismography is making large strides towards the prevention of human causalities due to earthquake and volcanic eruption. Seismology is the study of elastic wave propagation and tsunamis, oceanic, tectonic, and atmospheric occurrences (Sinha, 2012). This study measures the motion of earth over time in order to predict future occurrences. Seismographs can be installed at the earth’s surface, shallow vaults, underwater, or in boreholes. Networks of seismographs around the world can even conduct a measurement of the earth’s continuous evolution and motion over time (Turan, 2012). The rapid detection of earthquakes can enable governments to issue warnings about tsunamis to populations in order to prevent loss of human life (Bapat, 2010). This prevention is enabled because seismic waves travel more quickly that tsunami waves. In addition to measuring seismic waves, seismometers can also measure other sources of disturbance. These include other explosions such as explosions caused by oceanic waves, as well as reactions caused by glaciers and large icebergs (Ewert & Murray, 1993). These additionally detect potential terrorist attacks and industrial incidents. If more earthquake and volcano predictors are installed in oceans around the world, it will help warn communities in countries that are susceptible to these natural disasters. For example, if the community in Sri Lanka were warned about the massive underwater earthquake that occurred in affected because of the 2004, hundreds of lives could have been spared (Raftari, et al, 2011).
Sri Lanka also serves as a good example of where economic productivity was severely hindered as a result of natural disaster. After the tsunami, 259km squared were rendered unable to be cultivated for paddy farming, causing a severe downturn in economic productivity. Furthermore, agricultural mechanisms such as tractors and harvesting devices were ruined, causing a future inability to farm as well. Lastly, hotels and the tourism industry were severely affected by the tsunami. Hotels were literally destroyed and rendered unable to house tourist. Additionally, tourist viewed Sri Lanka as a dangerous area to tour with their families and simply decided not to travel to this specific destination (Bapat, 2010). Tourist shops were destroyed and closed down. Looting occurred after the tsunami and thief came to steal what could no longer be protected. The tsunami had a tremendous impact on the overall economic and political productivity in Sri Lanka (Turan, 2012). If there had been more mechanisms in place to warn the population to take action in preparation for the earthquake, perhaps some of the negative impacts could have been mitigated.
In order to prevent causalities caused by flooding after hurricanes and tsunamis, better weather forecasting technology can be instituted and installed. While certain communities are more susceptible to flooding due to poor overall weather conditions, loss of life and economic depression can be avoided if extreme weather conditions can be forecasted in advance. Many countries around the world and international bodies are trying to raise money to install new weather predictors. If populations can be adequately warned about extreme natural phenomena, they can prepare themselves and the communities for the safety and economic implications.
There are several ways of monitoring disaster preparedness. In the case of natural phenomena such as the eruption of volcanoes and earthquakes, many countries and states have a basic protocol that populations can follow (Sinha, 2012). In Western countries, there are escape routes in every public building. In case of the need of evacuation, all leader figures are trained in evacuating the other members of the building. In places where earthquakes are more prevalent, such as California, there are procedures that can be followed to prevent loss of life. Furthermore, buildings are constructed with the understanding that earthquakes are a likely occurrence. However, in countries where infrastructure and preparedness are lacking, such as Haiti, each time there is an earthquake entire communities suffer (Turan, 2012). The houses in Haiti are not constructed to be resistant to earthquakes. Therefore, whenever an earthquake occurs, irreparable damage in inflicted upon the infrastructure of entire communities (Kerle & Oppenheimer, 2002).
When flooding is a common occurrence, protocols can also be enforced in more developed countries. In states in the USA, such as Louisiana, police and firefighters can be instructed as to how to deal with flooding. For example, the police force can own several rescue boats that go around to houses that have been affected as a rescue mission. However, in communities around the world that are less developed, this kind of rescue is rare. After the occurrence of natural flooding, tsunamis, and hurricanes, escape routes and rescue options are limited to the members in society that can afford it for them (Raftari, et al, 2011).
Summary
There are very many options to be taken in order to mitigate the negative results of natural phenomena around the world. Currently, these option are very expensive are cannot be afforded by countries that have a lower development rate. Several international non-profit groups and non-governmental agencies are trying to establish a low-cost network of support mechanisms.
The economic and political implications of natural disaster on the rate of development in communities around the world are significant. Countries and states that have less risk of natural phenomena tend to have a higher rate of development because there is a lower occurrence of damage to integral infrastructure. If there were to be established a scalable way to implement disaster prevention mechanisms around the world, many developing countries might have the opportunity to develop at a higher rate.
Even countries such as the United States have problems dealing with natural disasters. After Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana has still not recovered (Bapat, 2010). People could go on tours even up to the year 2011 and still find shanty homes supporting displaced populations, and communities that still consisted of houses with front stoops and nothing else. It becomes evident that if in countries with such developed infrastructure is still difficult to mitigate the results of natural disasters; it should be much more difficult in developing countries without infrastructure to cope with natural disasters (Bapat, 2010). Furthermore, a natural disaster has the potential of affecting much more than just the infrastructure of communities. After the tsunami in Japan, the nuclear facility faced the risk of an explosion. There are many high-risk facilities in countries that are prone to natural disasters were to occur would get significant damage. Nuclear facilities are only one example of this potential disaster.
References
Bapat, A. (2010). Disaster management plans in view of recent earthquakes. Current Science (00113891), 98(10), 1287-1288.
Ewert, J. W., & Murray, T. L. (1993). Preventing volcanic catastrophe: The U.S. International Volcano Disaster Assistance Program.Earthquakes & Volcanoes, 24(6), 270.
Kerle, N., & Oppenheimer, C. (2002). Satellite remote sensing as a tool in Lahar disaster management. Disasters, 26(2), 140-160.
Raftari, M., Mahjoub, R., & Joudaki, S. (2011). The Role of Crisis Management in Seisemic Disaster. Australian Journal Of Basic & Applied Sciences, 5(9), 1923-1927.
Satellites keeping watch on the climate. (2008). Interavia Business & Technology, (691), 8-9.
Sinha, V. T. (2012). Disaster Management: Cloudburst At Leh, India. Golden Research Thoughts, 2(6), 1-6.
Turan, M. (2012). Lessons Learnt From Van and Ercis Earthquakes 2011, Turkey: An Evaluation of Disaster Management. International Journal Of Business & Social Science, 3(22), 42-52.
