METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER

Guided by: Prof. Apeksha Jain

AKANSHA AWASTHI

(14ARCH001)

MOHINI AGARWAL

(14ARCH015)

RAGINI SAHU

(14ARCH010)

2016-2017

Department of architecture

Anand College of Architecture, Keetham

1

Certificate

This is to certify that the Architecture Research on the topic “Meteorological Disaster” is submitted by ‘Akansha Awasthi, Mohini Agarwal and Ragini Sahu’ as a part of five years graduate programme in architecture at Anand College of Architecture, Agra is a record of original work carried out by her under professional guidance. The content included in this dissertation report has not been submitted to any other University or Institute for award of any other degree or diploma programme.

Guided by:

Prof. Apeksha JainAnand College of Architecture

Akansha Awasthi14ARCH001

Mohini agarwal14ARCH015

Ragini Sahu14ARCH010

(Student)

Anand College of Architecture, Agra

Date: 17-09-16

2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all those who provided us the possibility to complete this report. A special gratitude to our Prof. Ms. Apeksha Jain who continuously guided our group, encouraging us and giving us suggestions regarding our report presentation.thank you for your comments and advices.

AKANSHA AWASTHI

MOHINI AGARWAL

RAGINI SAHU

Department of architecture

Anand College of Architecture, Keetham

3

ABSTRACT

Meterological Disasters are violent and sudden change in earth’s environment related to or caused by earth’s atmosphere.It is a hazard caused by short-lived, micro- to meso-scale extreme weather and atmospheric conditions that last from minutes to days.The report discusses about meteorological disasters (CYCLONES, HURRICANES, TORNADO, BLIZZARDS AND HAIL STORM), their generation, types, major happenings in and outside India and mitigation methods that can be adopted.

CONTENTS –

4

1-METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER…...........................................................................8

TYPES OF METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER……………………………………………………………………………………..8

2-CYCLONE……………………………………………………………………………………………..9

2.1- ETYMOLOGY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9

2.2- GENERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS…………………………………………………………………………………9

2.3- TYPES OF CYCLONES…………….……………………………………………………………………………………………10

2.4- MAJOR CYCLONE IN INDIA……………………………………………………………………………………………11

2.5- MAJOR CYCLONE OUTSIDE INDIA ……………………………………………………………………………………12

2.6- FACTORS OF VULNERABILITY………………………………………………………………………………………12

2.7- MITIGATION METHODS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………12

3- TORNADO…………………………………………………………….……………………………...16

3.1- ETYMOLOGY……………………………………………………..….…………………………………………………………..16

3.2- GENERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS……………………………………………………………………………….16

3.3- TYPES OF TORNADO…………………………………………………….……………………………………………………16

3.4-MAIN REGIONS OF OCCURRENCE…………………………………….………………………………………………..17

3.5- MAJOR TORNADO IN INDIA……………………………………………………………………………………………….17

3.6- MAJOR TORNADO OUTSIDE INDIA …………………………………………..……………………………………….17

3.7- MITIGATION METHODS FROM TORNADO…………………………………..…………………………………….17

4- HAIL STORMS……………………………………………………………………………………...18

4.1- GENERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS………………………………………………….……………………………18

4.2-DETECTION OF HAIL STORM………………………………………………………………..…………………………….18

4.3-HAZARDS DUE TO HAIL STORM…………………………………………………………………..……………………..18

4.4- MAJOR HAILSTORM IN INDIA ……………………………………………………………………………………………18

4.5- MAJOR HAILSTORM IN WORLD…………………………………………………………………………………………19

5

4.6 MITIGATION METHODS……………………………………………………………………………………..………………19

5-HURRICANE………………………………………………………………………………………….20

5.1ETYMOLOGY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..........20

5.2- PARTS OF HURRICANE……………………………………………………………………………………………….………20

5.3 HOW STORMS BECOME A HURRICANE.…………………………………………………………………………….20

5.4 HOW ARE HURRICANE FORMED…………………………………………………………………………….…………..20

5.5 HOW ARE HURRICANES NAMED………………………………………………………………………………..………20

5.6 CATEGORIES OF HURRICANES…………………………………………………………………………………………….20

5.7 EFFECTS OF HURRICANES……………………………………………………………………………………………………21

6.BLIZZARDS…………………………………………………………………………………………..22

6.1 DEFINITION……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….22

6.2 WHY IS BLIZZARD DANGEROUS………………………………………………………………………………………….22

6.3 FORMATION OF BLIZZARD……………………………………………………………………..…………….…………….22

6.4- NOR' EASTER BLIZZARDS………………………………………………………………………………………..…………22

6.5- AMERICAN BLIZZARDS………………………………………………………………………………………………………23

6.6- IMPACTS OF BLIZZARDS……………………………………………………………………………………………….……23

6.7- PREVENTION FROM BLIZZARDS…………………………………………………………………………………………23

WEBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………………………….24

6

SYNOPSIS:

NEED OF STUDY:

Studying about various meteorological disasters, what impact they have on human, animal and plant life as well as finding out the various mitigation methods that can help us for disaster preparedness and rehabilitation after it has occurred.

AIM OF STUDY:

To know what is a meteorological disaster, its types, the loss it causes to environment and the measures e can use to protect ourselves from it.

OBJECTIVES OF STUDY:

1- To study about meteorological disaster and its types.2- To study its impact on environment.3- To find out the mitigation measures of protecting ourselves when disaster occurs.

SCOPE OF STUDY:

This report covers ‘Meteorological disaster and its types: Hurricane, cyclone, tornado, hailstorm, and blizzard. It discusses about the loss and how it affects the society.it also discusses about the measures we can use for disaster preparedness and also what we should do when disaster occurs and after it has passed away.

LIMITATION:

The report relies on the secondary sources available like books and internet and does not involves any case study in it.

7

CHAPTER- 1

METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER-

Violent and sudden change in earth’s environment related to or caused by earth’s atmosphere.

It is destructive and is caused by extreme weather. The study of processes resulting from climate change is based not only on the analysis of

air temperature, precipitation and snow cover, but also on extreme weather events (high and low temperatures, sandstorms, heavy snowfall and rainfall, floods, mudflows, avalanches, hailstone falls).

A hazard caused by short-lived, micro- to meso-scale extreme weather and atmospheric conditions that last from minutes to days.

TYPES OF METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER

1- Cyclone2- Tornado3- Hailstorm4- Hurricane 5- Blizzard

8

CHAPTER 2- CYCLONE

Source: en.wikipedia.org

2.1- ETYMOLOGY—

The word Cyclone is derived from the Greek word Cyclos meaning the coils of a snake. It was coined by Henry Paddington because the tropical storms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea appear like coiled serpents of the sea.

The name changes acc. to the region of occurrence:

- Hurricane in Atlantic Ocean and Northeast Pacific

- Typhoon in Northwest Pacific

- Tropical cyclones in South Pacific and Indian Ocean

2.2- GENERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

Fig: Tropical cyclones form when the energy released by the condensation of moisture in rising air causes a loopover warm ocean waters.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

9

Cyclones are caused by atmospheric disturbances around a low-pressure area distinguished by swift and often destructive air circulation. Cyclones are usually accompanied by violent storms and bad weather. The air circulates inward in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.

The low-pressure center is also referred to as the 'eye' of the storm, the ‘Eye’ of the storms has three basic shapes: (i) circular;(ii) concentric; and (iii) elliptical.

If the water in the cloud builds up enough, it may fall back to the ground as rain and draw cool air down with it as a downdraft. When they work together, that warm updraft and cool downdraft create a storm cell. As this process continues, the cloud grows and we eventually get a large thunderstorm cloud.

This thunderstorm cloud is now ready to diversify into other storms like tropical cyclones and tornadoes. But this can't happen unless the air in the cloud starts spinning horizontally. If this occurs over the tropical ocean, this is called a tropical depression

Cyclogenesis describes the process of cyclone formation and intensification

2.3- TYPES OF CYCLONES:

Cyclones are classified as:

(i) Polar cyclones- These cyclones occur in polar regions like Greenland, Siberia and Antarctica. They are usually stronger in winter months. They mainly occur in areas that aren't very populated, so any damage they do is usually pretty minimal.

(ii) Tropical cyclones.- These cyclones occur over tropical ocean regions i.e. the regions between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.

The criteria below has been formulated by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), which classifies the low pressure systems in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea on the basis of capacity to damage.

Type of Disturbances Wind Speed in Km/h

Low Pressure Less than 31

Depression 31-49

Deep Depression 49-61

Cyclonic Storm 61-88

10

Severe Cyclonic Storm 88-117

Super Cyclone More than 221

Source: www.ndma.gov.in/

They are further divided into the following categories according to their capacity to cause damage:-

Cyclone Category Wind Speed in Km/h Damage Capacity

01 120-150 Minimal

02 150-180 Moderate

03 180-210 Extensive

04 210-250 Extreme

05 250 and above Catastrophic

Source: www.ndma.gov.in/

Cyclones vary in diameter from 50 to 320 km but their effects dominate thousands of square kilometers of ocean surface and the lower atmosphere. The perimeter may measure 1,000 km but the powerhouse is located within the 100-km radius nearer the Eye.

2.4- MAJOR CYCLONE IN INDIA In India more cyclones occur in the Bay of Bengal than the Arabian Sea and the ratio is

approximately 4:1. Tropical cyclones occur in the months of May-June and October-November

Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Hudhud[nb 1] was a strong tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage and loss of life in eastern India and Nepal during October 2014.

Hudhud originated from a low pressure system that formed under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation in the Andaman Sea on October 6. Shortly before landfall near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on October 12, Hudhud reached its peak strength

11

with three-minute wind speeds of 175 km/h (109 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 960 mbar (28.35 inHg). The system then drifted northwards towards Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, causing widespread rains in both areas and heavy snowfall in the latter.

Hudhud caused extensive damage to the city of Visakhapatnam and the neighbouring districts of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh.

2.5- MAJOR CYCLONE OUTSIDE INDIA

Two tropical cyclones hit central and southern Mozambique around Jan 11 2015. Tropical storm Dando hit the southern African country with gusts of up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour and rainfall of over 200 millimetres (nearly eight inches). According to the National Institute of Meteorology , Funso, another cyclonic storm had winds exceeding 195 kilometres per hour causing heavy rainfall and much damage to life and property.

The impact from cyclones extends over a wide area, with strong winds and heavy rains. However, the greatest damage to life and property is not from the wind, but from secondary events such as storm surges, flooding, landslides and tornadoes.

2.6- FACTORS OF VULNERABILITY

Man made factors:

Settlement located in low lying coastal areas (direct impact); Poor building design, or construction; Insufficient lead time for warning and evacuation; Non compliance with evacuation procedures; Inadequate shelter.

2.7- MITIGATION METHODS :

If the building begins to break up, immediately seek shelter under a strong table or bench or under a heavy mattress.

Do not use electrical appliances which have been wet until they are checked for safety Boil or purify your water until supplies are declared safe Stay away from damaged powerlines, fallen trees and flood water

12

`

Choose the location carefully to avoid the full force of the wind or flood Use building layout with a simple regular

shape,to avoid concentration of pressure.

Build the roof at an angle of 30° to 45° to prevent it being lifted off by the wind.

Avoid wide roof overhangs; separate the veranda structure from the house.

13

Make sure the foundations, walls, and roof structure are all firmly fixed together.

Reinforce the  bracing in the structure; strengthen walls and joints/ junctions to increase stiffness.

Make sure the roof covering is firmly attached to the roof structure to prevent it from lifting.

If doors & shutters cannot be shut, make sure there are opposing openings to reduce pressure build up.

Use doors and shutters that can be closed.

14

Plant trees around the house as wind breaks and reduce flow of water, but not too close.

Source: www.dwf.org

CHAPTER 3-

TORNADO

15

A Twirling Funnel Tornado Generation Of Tornado

Source: en.wikipedia.org

3.1- ETYMOLOGY-

Originated from Spanish word ‘TRONADA’ meaning thunderstorm. Generated due to occurrence of different temperature and humidity at a time.

3.2- GENERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

When cold air meets warm air, it traps warm air beneath it hindering upward motion of warm air.

Warm air starts rotating as it is unable to move upwards, the warm air then pushes the cold air below it giving rise to a tornado.

It is always in contact with ground as well as cloud base (cumulonimbus cloud- dark cloud of great vertical extent charged with electricity).

Tornadoes can last from 3 hours to just few minutes and appear like funnel whose wider end is cloud base and the shorter end touches ground.

Contains cloud of dust and debris which also makes it visible. The wind sped can vary from 100km/h- 500km/h, diameter 0.8- 3 km and can travel up to

hundreds of kilometers.

3.3- TYPES OF TORNADO

Three main types- 1- Land spout

2- Water spout

3- Vortex tornado

3.4-MAIN REGIONS OF OCCURRENCE

16

Mainly occurs in tropical ‘areas close to equator’ and the areas of Tornado Alley of United States. It is never reported in ‘Antarctica’.

It can also be seen in areas of south, central and eastern Asia, east- central and northern South America, north-west and south- east Europe, southern Africa, southeastern and Western Australiaand New Zealand.

3.5- MAJOR TORNADO IN INDIA

Happened in Sylhet district, Assam on 7May, 1934. 200 people died, 500 injured and many went missing. Death roll was heavier in remote areas and bodies of humans and animals were seen

floating in River Surma.

3.6- MAJOR TORNADO OUTSIDE INDIA

Happened on 18 March, 1925 travelling 7 km in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. 695 people died and thousands injured, rated F 5 on Fujita scale.

3.7- MITIGATION METHODS FROM TORNADO

Take shelter in basement or any underground area or under a table on opposite direction of moving of tornado.

Avoid corners of room, stay in center. Take shelter in room made of RCC or brick with heavy floor or roof. Establish an alarm system.

CHAPTER 4-

HAIL STORMS

4.1- GENERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

17

Thunderstorm producing hail when shower on ground is known as hail storm. Formed when strongly moving air meets with low level of freezing water droplets in cloud

with temperature below 0 Solid form of precipitation, contains irregular balls of ice (5 mm in diameter) called

hailstone. Hailstone is made of alternative thin (white and opaque) and thick layer and gives

appearance like onion in cross section.

A Hailstorm Hailstone with Rings

Source: en.wikipedia.org

4.2-DETECTION OF HAIL STORM

Detected by weather radar which is complemented by data of current climatic conditions. METAR code is used to determine the size of hailstones or they are generally measured by

comparing with small stones or coins.

4.3-HAZARDS DUE TO HAIL STORM

It causes harm to crops, glass or shingled roofs, skylights of aircraft, automobiles etc. Aircrafts face maximum damage caused by hail when the hailstones cross the diameter of

13 mm. Hail also cause fatal head trauma to humans.

4.4- MAJOR HAILSTORM IN INDIA

Happened on 13 April, 1888 in Uttar Pradesh. Killed 230 humans and nearly 1600 goats and sheeps. Size of hailstones was of size of an orange.

4.5- MAJOR HAILSTORM IN WORLD

18

Happened on 13 April, 1360 in France. 1000 soldiers died. Day is known as ‘Black Monday’.

4.6 MITIGATION METHODS

Install a hail net made of wires. Move to a covered area or shading. Establish an alarm system.

CHAPTER 5-

HURRICANE

5.1-ETYMOLOGY

19

The word hurricane has been derived from Spanish word 'huracán' which is derived from the name of Taino stormgod 'Jurácan who is belived tosend strong winds to the Tainos to rain upon them when he is upset.

Hurricanes are large spiralling storms. They are fastest than cheetah and can damage buildings and trees.

They are formed over warm ocean waters. It is a powerful spiral weather that results from low pressure systems.

5.2- PARTS OF HURRICANE Eye is the center of the storm where the wind is light. Eyewall is the ring of thunderstorms which swirls around the eye. It has the strongest wind

and heaviest rainfall. Rain bands go far out from the eyewall and stretch for hundreds of miles

5.3 HOW STORMS BECOME A HURRICANE

A tropical depression becomes a tropical storm if its winds reach 63 km/hr (39 mph). A tropical storm becomes a hurricane if its winds reach 119 km/hr (74 mph).

5.4 HOW ARE HURRICANE FORMED

Warm ocean waters provide the energy a storm needs to become a hurricane. 26oC surface temperature is needed for a storm to become a hurricane. Winds also contribute in formation of hurricane.

5.5 HOW ARE HURRICANES NAMED

Names make it easier to keep track of hurricanes. Hurricanes are named in alphabetical order. There are six list of names which are reused every year. Hurricanes are also called typhoons or cyclones in other parts of the world.

5.6 CATEGORIES OF HURRICANES

Category 1: Winds 119-153 km/hr (74-95 mph) - faster than a cheetah Category 2: Winds 154-177 km/hr (96-110 mph) - as fast or faster than a baseball pitcher's

fastball Category 3: Winds 178-208 km/hr (111-129 mph) - similar, or close, to the serving speed of

many professional tennis players Category 4: Winds 209-251 km/hr (130-156 mph) - faster than the world's fastest

rollercoaster

20

Category 5: Winds more than 252 km/hr (157 mph) - similar, or close, to the speed of some high-speed train.

5.7 EFFECTS OF HURRICANES

Storm surge is the fast uprising of sea level that happens when a hurricane approaches the coast.

Heavy Rainfall is produced by hurricanes. Tornadoes are often produced by hurricanes. Hurricanes can cause high winds.

Source: pmm.nasa.gov Source: eo.ucar.edu

CHAPTER 6-

BLIZZARDS

6.1 DEFINITION

Blizzards are dangerous wind storms which can result in very low visibilities.

21

Officially, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm which contains large amounts of snow OR blowing snow, with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibilities of less than 1/4 mile for an extended period of time (at least 3 hours).

The word blizzard was first used by a newspaper to describe a dangerous snowstorm.

6.2 WHY IS BLIZZARD DANGEROUS It creates life threatening conditions. travelling by automobile becomes impossible due to whiteout i.e. more powdery snow. Wind chill factor which means the amount of cold one feels due to combination of wind and

temperature is also very dangerous effect of blizzards and can result in frostbite or hypothermia.

Power outrages can occur pipes may freeze and regular fuel sources may be cut off. www.accuweather.com

It had been used to describe a canon shot or a volley of musket fire. Blizzards last for typically three hours or more. Ground blizzards occur when loose snow or ice is lifted by strong winds

6.3 FORMATION OF BLIZZARD

Three things are needed to form a blizzard- cold air, moisture and warm rising air. For snow to fall the temperature at clouds and ground must be cold otherwise it wall

change to rain or freezing rain. Blowing air evaporates water and the cold air is not able to hold much water For a blizzard to form, warm air must rise over cold air. Wind pulls cold air towards equator and brings warm air towards ple which results in

precipitation or blizzards when warm and cold air meet causing blizzard.

6.4- NOR' EASTER BLIZZARDS

They are macro scale storm from east coast of US and Atlantic Canada.

6.5- AMERICAN BLIZZARDS

When cold, moist air from the Pacific Ocean moves eastward to the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains, and warmer, moist air moves north from the Gulf of Mexico

When the rapidly moving cold front from Hudson Bay area in Canada collides with warmer air coming north from the Gulf of Mexico, strong surface winds, significant cold air advection, and extensive wintry precipitation occur.

22

Rocky Mountains onto the Great Plains is particularly vulnerable to blizzards due to few trees or other obstructions to reduce wind and blowing

6.6- IMPACTS OF BLIZZARDS

Whiteout where there is no visible horizon and multiple reflection allows the sense of direction and distance to be lost.

wind chill factor Inundation and Flooding- after blizzards the snow melts and there is a risk of flooding in the

coastal areas. It destroys plant and animal population. Water cycle gets destabilized. Quick drop in temperatures can damage forests and the vegetation can die. The on-going wet and damp conditions encourage the spread of mold and fungi. Transportation is impossible, electrical wires go down, property ids damaged and economy

is hurt

6.7- PREVENTION FROM BLIZZARDS

Check the Forecast and Watch the Weather. Do not travel much during winter weather and make sure the vehicle is in good working

condition.

Source: extremeweatherwars.weebly.com

source: eo.ucar.ed

WEBLIOGRAPHY

Cyclones:

http://www.ndma.gov.in/en/media-public-awareness/disaster/natural-disaster/ cyclones.html

https://earth.esa.int/web/earth-watching/natural-disasters/cyclones

23

http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/ems/tropical_cyclones/en/ http://www.disaster.qld.gov.au/EA/cyclone.asp http://www.dwf.org/en/content/ten-key-principles-cyclone-resistant-construction

Tornado and hailstorms:

"Hallam Nebraska Tornado"   .  National Weather Service. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2005-10-02. Retrieved 2009-11-15.

"Tornado: Global occurrence"   . Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-13. Edwards, Roger et al. (May 2013). "Tornado Intensity Estimation: Past, Present, and

Future."Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. pp. 641-653. Retrieved 2013-12-18. Glossary of Meteorology (2009).  "Hail".  American Meteorological Society. Retrieved  2009-

07-15. Glossary of Meteorology (2009).  "Hailstorm".  American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 

2009-08-29. Meteorological   Service  of   Canada   (November   3,   2010).  "Severe   Thunderstorm   criteria". 

Environment Canada. Retrieved 2011-05-12.

Hurricanes :

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/hurricanes/ https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-hurricanes www.webbins.com/blog/hurricane-safety http://whyfiles.org/2012/horrific-hurricanes/ http://www.yikudo.com/diagram/diagram-of-large-hurricane-storm

Blizzards:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard www.accuweather.com http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/ http://extremeweatherwars.weebly.com/ eo.ucar.ed

24