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THE YEAR OF THE FLOOD, WILDFIRE, AND UN REPORT ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. DISASTER RISK REDUCTION. REMEMBERING 2OO7 . A PRIMER OF KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN MULTIPLY AND SPILL OVER FOR THE BENEFIT OF MILLIONS. Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA.
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THE YEAR OF THE FLOOD, WILDFIRE, AND UN REPORT ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION. REMEMBERING 2OO7 A PRIMER OF KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN MULTIPLY AND SPILL OVER FOR THE BENEFIT OF MILLIONS Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA
ALONG WITH SOCIETAL IMPACTS FROM:EARTHQUAKES,VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, AND TSUNAMIS; HURRICANES, TYPHOONS AND TORNADOES; LANDSLIDES, DROUGHTS AND WILDFIRES; HEAT WAVES, AND GLOBAL WARMING FRAGILE PLANET EARTH HEAT AND WARM AIR: A PRESCRIPTION FOR DISASTER
Thousands killed and injured. Hundreds of thousands of homes inundated or destroyed. Infrastructure damaged and destroyed. Toxic materials released into the air, water, and soil. Health care needs sharply increased everywhere. Millions evacuated and hundreds of thousands displaced. Livelihoods of hundreds of millions adversely affected. $ Tens of billions in insured and uninsured economic losses.. SOCIETAL IMPACTS DURING 2007
We must consider the possible impact of global climate change on the global distribution of floods, landslides, droughts, and wildfires. Hurricanes and typhoons are seasonal, Earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes have tectonic origins. Warmer air and warmer water are a Rx for tornadoes, hurricanes, and typhoons. Warmer air can hold more water and will unleash more energy, making wind fields and storms stronger, surges higher, and rainfall heavier. This mechanism may explain an observed increase during 2007 in flash floods and riverine floods in Europe and Asia.. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
GLOBAL WARMING: AN EMERGING ISSUE THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE ENTIRE PLANET AND FUTURE GENERATIONS “UNEQUIVOCAL EVIDENCE” OF A WARMING PLANET EARTH UN REPORT NOVEMBER 2007
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: A CONTINUING AND IRREVERSIBLE PROCESS? • Small European glaciers are already melting as evidence of the effects of global warming.
EARTHQUAKES, VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, AND TSUNAMIS EVIDENCE OF A RESTLESS PLANET EARTH
M 7.7 QUAKE IN CHILE DESTROYS 40 % OF TOCOPILLA’S HOUSING: NOVEMBER 14, 2007
CARIBBEAN EARTHQUAKENOVEMBER 29, 2007 The strongest in the region in over 50 years.
2007 Regional Seismicity Seismicity map showing earthquake activity in the eastern Caribbean from January-August 2007
The Earthquake The epicenter: 14.9° north 61.2° west [east of Martinique] Magnitude: 7.4 Depth: about 121 km lasted for approximately 20 seconds No tsunami warning was issued
Impacts Massive fear among the population. 0 dead 0 homeless 2 injured damaged buildings Martinique Credit: BBC.com 24
LANDSLIDES EVIDENCE OF A RESTLESS PLANET EARTH
LANDSLIDE CAUSED BY UNSTABLE SLOPE: LA JOLLA, CA: OCT 3, 2007
HURRICANES, TYPHOONS, CYCLONES, TIDAL SURGES, NOR’EASTERS, SANTA ANAS, AND TORNADOES EVIDENCE OF PLANET EARTH’S WILD WEATHER
CYCLONE SIDR OVER BAY OF BENGAL ENROUTE TO BANGLADESH: NOVEMBER 14, 2007
SUPER TYPHOON WIPHA WITH WINDS OF 180 KI/HR: SEPTEMBER 18, 2007