Geography Critical Review, Essay Example

Natural disasters can be considered to be the uncontrollable natural hazards that continue to plague the earth. They culminate in a level of financial, environmental or even the human losses. In some cases the losses tend to be in a high volume depending on the type and magnitude of the natural disasters. The natural disasters include tornados, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruption, landslides and even heat waves. These natural hazards have proven over the years to be problematic as well as quite drastic regarding the aftermath of their occurrence. Below is a list of references that serve to illustrate the aspects or elements of natural disasters.

Floods

Floods are an overflow of water on a land that is usually dry. The cause of floods can be blamed on a number of means and ways. The common ways in which they occur is from an overflow of streams or rivers causing their banks to burst, an excessive downpour of rain, a sudden burst or destruction of dams and levees, sudden melting of ice or even a beaver dam can cause a river spread onto the nearby land.

The development of floods takes hours and even in some cases days, which allows the residents in the areas that will be affected to vacate before they become prey to the floods. In some cases the floods can develop quickly without warning and they are the most dangerous as they usually involve fast flowing water in tones and they have the impact of a speeding brick wall (National Geographic, n.d.)   . The outcome of such floods results in sudden death, destruction of property as well as instant displacement of individuals.

According to experts, there are classifications of floods based on the recurring factor (time period it takes for floods to reoccur). One such flood is the hundred-year flood; as the name suggests it occurs after every hundred years, but it is a hypothetical estimation as to the frequency in which the flood occurs. The actual classification of floods only have the probability of one percent of the flood occurring at the theoretical time or day of occurrence, which proves that it is difficult to tell when the next flood can really occur. (National Geographic, n.d.)

Floods tend to cause a lot of damage. According to the research carried out in the United States, it is revealed that the floods tend to cause annual damages worth $6 billion and the death of 140 people. China’s yellow river valley is considered to be the haven in which is considered to be the locations susceptible to the worst floods. It is the locations that have lost millions of lives in the last century. The aftermath of floods result in the area being covered in silt and mud. The water and landscape become contaminated and the consumption of the water is hazardous to an individual’s health and even life. Flooded areas can facilitate the diseases such as typhoid, cholera and Hepatitis A.

Hurricanes

In the case of hurricanes, they are considered to be large spiraling tropical storms that contain winds that reach speeds of 160 miles or 257 kilometers per hour, which are accompanied by 9 trillion liters of rain on a daily basis. In the matter of tropical storms, they are referred to as cyclones that occur on the North of the Indian; another title is the typhoon, which is used to classify the hurricanes that occur in the Western Pacific Ocean. (National Geographic, n.d.)

The Hurricanes start off as tropical disturbances on warm ocean water where the surface temperature is at 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 26.5 degrees Celsius. The low pressure systems are catalyzed by the energy obtained from the warm seas. At the point when the storm reaches a speed of 38 miles or 61 kilometers per hour, it is referred to as a tropical depression. A tropical depression develops into a tropical storm, it is given a name at the point the winds reach speeds of 39 miles or 63 kilometers per hour. At the point in which the storm reaches a speed of 74 miles or 199 kilometers per hour, the storm has evolved into a hurricane; and it is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 according to the Saffir-Simpson scale. (Drye, 2011)

Hurricanes are large heat energies, which generate energy on an n enormous scale. The heat is established from the warm, moist ocean air. The heat is released through the condescension of water vapor during the thunderstorms. The circular motion of the hurricane creates a low pressure point at the center, which is referred to as the ‘eye’. The eye is usually 20-30 miles in width, and the area is deceptively calm. The Hurricane usually occurs in two waves, which is due to its circular formation. The first wave hits land, which is followed by the eye and the final wave hits land. The level of devastation of hurricanes tends to be quite serious. The storm surges tend to reach a height of 20 feet or 6 meters, and they are the cause of 90 percent of all hurricane deaths.  (National Geographic, n.d.)

The article is a scientific and informative article that is an explanation of the phenomenon behind hurricanes, as well as their features and impact in which they have in the specific areas in which they occur and the actual impact of this particular natural disaster (Drye, 2011). The article can be considered to be fairly similar to the other articles as it is also informative and data based on providing the understanding of the impact and the general formulation of hurricanes.

Japan Earthquake Shortened Days, Increased Earth’s Wobble

The article is an outlook at the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that hit Japan in early 2011. It illustrates the impact of the earth quake in that it shortened the day by 1.8 milliseconds. Based on the data the earthquake managed to move the Earth’s figure axis by about 10 meters. The data provides the actual impact of the Earthquake and how it managed to move and influence the time and position of the earth. (Lovett, 2011)

This article is an indication of how much impact an earthquake can have on the earth. The article does not provide an indication of the losses incurred, but it provides a geographical understanding of the capability of an earthquake; especially one that has a magnitude of the one that struck Japan. The article provides the general understanding of the capabilities of an earth quake. The article compares the earthquake to the ones that occurred in Sumatra (2004) and Chile (2010), in which each managed to reduce the days of their occurrence by 6.8 seconds. (Lovett, 2011)

The article is relevant on the basis of the impact that it had on the earth as a whole. The reduction in time in the daily time by as little as a second or two is an indication that the impact of an earthquake can span further than just the loss of materials, finances and even human beings; it can also be considered to be culpable for a loss of time in a day.

Tornados

Tornados are defined as vertical funnels that consist of spinning air at a rapid rate. Te winds that are part of the tornados may reach a speed of 250 miles or 400 kilometers per hour. Tornados can wipe out an area that is a mile in width and 50 miles in length. They are usually created or formed from thunderstorms and usually include hail. In the case of large and persistent storms, they create the most destructive tornados, which create a great deal of havoc.

This article gives an accurate account of tornados and the actual impact and historical background of tornados. The information provided serves to provide an essential understanding of how tornados are formed and how they have proven to be adversely troublesome especially in regions that are highly prone to tornados such as South Dakota, Nebraska and Oklahoma among other areas that are consider or referred to as the “Tornado Alley”.

In comparison to the previous article, this is more ideal as it provides the important and relevant data that will give an ideal perspective of how tornados have a negative influence on the livelihoods of individuals that live in the “Tornado Alley”, and how destructive the Tornados have proven to be over the years. The article provides the data that will illustrate how it is not possible to establish measures that will prevent the aspect of the Tornados occurring in a particular area. It is the ideal article that illustrates the impact of natural disasters and how they cannot be avoided.

Tsunami

It is a collection of ocean waves that cause a surge of ocean water, which can reach heights of 100 feet or 30 meters onto the land. They can be related to the floods but in the case of the tsunami, the primary source of the flood phenomenon is based on the ocean waves and sea water alone. The water forms a wall of destruction that is similar to a flood and the casualties and repercussions are also similar in nature.

The cause of the tsunami waves are caused by undersea earthquakes, which occur at the boundaries of the tectonic plates. When one of the tectonic plates causes the ocean floor to rise or fall, there is a displacement of water, which results in the increase of waves resulting in a tsunami. Majority of the Tsunamis occur in the Pacific Ocean, in a location that is termed as the “Ring of Fire”. The location is the area in which there is frequent movement of the tectonic plates and it is the epicenter of the majority of the tsunamis.

Tsunamis are also caused by volcanic eruptions or landslides. Another probable cause is the plunge of a meteorite into the ocean. Tsunamis move along the sea at a speed of 500 miles or 805 kilometers per hour, which is the same speed of a jet aircraft; In other words, at that speed, a tsunami can move one side of the Pacific Ocean to the other in less than a day, and in the process will not lose a lot of energy meaning that it will still have the same destructive impact upon hitting land. (National Geographic, n.d.)

Based on the impact and possible, the best solution in terms of dealing with a tsunami is setting up a warning that will be able to detect any movement underwater of the tectonic plates. The system will allow individuals to vacate the area of impact long before the tsunami hits land (National Geographic, n.d.)   . The impact and the possible destruction of the area it will affect cannot be avoided based on the volume of water of the tsunami and the velocity in which the ‘wave train’ moves. That is why it is highly advisable to establish warning systems that will effectively provide a warning that will save lives.

Volcanoes

Volcanoes are termed as the fascinating developments based on the fiery power that is located deep within the Earth. They are formed through vents on the earth’s crust; here molten rock, gases and debris from the inner core of the earth are emitted and they facilitate the formation of mountains and hills based on their location and the level of emissions from the earth (on land or deep in the sea). The emissions are pushed by the buildup of thick magma and large amounts of gases, which forces the debris up towards the crust and as a result they are pushed through vents on the earth surface forming a volcano. (Lange, n.d.)

This article is informative on the formation and the number of volcanoes that exist on earth both on land and in the sea. The data and the facts on volcano provide an educative perspective on the impact and the detailed matter of the formation of volcanoes and other natural structures such as mountains and hills; both on land and in the sea. The article is short but concise on the information that is relevant to understanding the matter and aspects of volcanoes. (National Geographic, n.d.)

In comparison to the other articles, it has the least data; however it is not an indication of an insufficient level of data regarding the volcanoes. The information is well detailed and informative on the factual content that involves the development and the genesis of volcanoes and the different factors that are evident in the formation and regular occurrence of volcanoes.

Conclusion

The natural disasters illustrated are evidence of the impact as well as the destruction of the natural phenomenon and how they have proven to be the global headaches that do not seem to ever go away. In most situations, there is a cure for a headache, but these are unavoidable as well as unpreventable disasters. The general reason that they cannot be stopped is due to the magnitude of the natural disasters and their unexpected occurrence. The impact of the natural disasters have proven to match the general magnitude of the disasters, and it is an occurrence that cannot be stopped but it is a factor that can be limited in terms of human casualties. Warning systems have proven to be life savers, and they are the only variable that can be influenced in the case that a natural disaster should occur. Things such as property damage cannot be averted and therefore it is only probable to limit the casualties should a disaster occur. Though a warning system may not apply in all natural disasters as some occur in an unexpected manner. In the case of the unexpected or undeterminable disasters, they best thing is to hope that one is not at the wrong place at the wrong time.

References:

Lovett. A. R (15^th March 2011) Japan Earthquake Shortened Days, Increased Earth’s Wobble, National Geographic, retrieved from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110316-japan-earthquake-shortened-days-earth-axis-spin-nasa-science/

Lovett. R. A (14^th March 2011) Japan Earthquake not the “Big One”, National Geographic, retrieved from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110315-japan-earthquake-tsunami-big-one-science/

Lange. K. E (n.d.) Inside Tornados, National Geographic, retrieved from: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/inside-tornadoes/

National Geographic (n.d.) Tornadoes: Killer Wind Funnels, retrieved from: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/tornado-profile/

National Geographic (n.d.) Volcanoes: Earth’s Fiery Power, retrieved from: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/volcano-profile/

Obli. D (26^th October 2010) Mount Merapi Erupts, National Geographic, retrieved from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/10/photogalleries/101026-indonesia-mount-merapi-volcano-eruption-world-science-pictures-photos/

National Geographic (n.d.) Tsunamis: Killer Waves, retrieved from: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/tsunami-profile/

Drye. W (29^th August 2011) Why Irene Was More Dangerous Than if should have Been, National Geographic, retrieved from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/08/1109829-hurricane-irene-damage-science-weather-nation-path-tracker-storm/

National Geographic (n.d.) Hurricanes: Engines of Destruction, retrieved from: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/hurricane-profile/

National Geographic (n.d.) Floods, retrieved from: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/floods-profile