Management of Tropical Storms (AQA GCSE Geography): Revision Note

Monitoring, prediction & planning of tropical storms

• Some countries are more vulnerable to tropical storms than others

• Three types of vulnerabilities affect monitoring, prediction, and planning:

Physical 

• Steep slopes increase the risk of landslides

• Areas where tropical storms form are hit more frequently, as they are in the path of the storm

• Low-lying coastlines are vulnerable to storm surges, flooding and high winds

Economic

• Developing countries are economically vulnerable due to lack of money

• Financial cost of repairs can be too much for some countries; some people may not have insurance

• The cost of repairs for developed countries will be higher as the infrastructure and buildings are more complex and damage more intense

Social 

• In developing countries, buildings tend to be of poorer build quality and easily damaged

• Harder to rescue people if infrastructure is damaged or is non-existent in some poorer countries

• Health and well-being are impacted regardless of wealth, but poorer countries struggle to treat injuries and provide basic support

Monitoring – forecasting / prediction

• Weather charts, computer software, radar and satellites are used to track the development and approach of a tropical storm in HICs

  • The USA, has an effective hurricane monitoring system

  • The National Hurricane Centre, Florida, monitors all hurricane activity over the Eastern Pacific and Atlantic oceans

  • The National Weather Service will announce a 'hurricane watch' when storm winds are detected to alert people and give them time to prepare

• Many LICs are less able to monitor tropical storms, as the equipment is very expensive, plus the ability to communicate any information may be limited

• Wind strength can be monitored by measuring its wind speed against the Saffir-Simpson 5-point scale

Saffir-Simpson 5-Point Scale of Wind Strength

• Monitoring systems allow for several days of warnings to be given

  • Supercomputers can now often give five days’ warning and a more accurate location

• This allows people time to prepare and/or evacuate their homes and businesses

• However, despite advances in scientific methods, accurate prediction is not always easy because the strength and path of a tropical storm can change quickly, and the cone of uncertainty is large

Planning

• Governments can develop storm evacuation routes to get people out fast and safely

• People should store up on food and water because they may not leave their homes for days after a storm

• Tropical storm education and leaflets prevent injuries

• Blocking windows, doors, etc. reduces flying debris

• Emergency services can train and prepare for disasters through practicing at regular intervals

• Early warning systems can be used to reduce the number of people killed – Bangladesh has a loudspeaker system in villages and designated emergency shelters on high ground or stilts to stop floodwaters from entering the building

Protection

• Protection means that buildings are less likely to be destroyed, so less people will die from collapsing buildings and falling debris

• Building seawalls and levees along the coast can prevent damage from storm surges

• Buildings can be designed to withstand tropical storms:

  • Building on stilts to avoid floodwaters

  • Building with reinforced concrete

  • Fixed roofs rather than tiles

  • Have windows covered either with metal shutters or wooden planks

• Protection can be expensive to put in place but will save money in the long term, as there is less need for rebuilding