HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS
Occurs when sea surface
UNESCO- United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organizations is a worldwide organization that has many programs
focusing on the study of the natural hazards brought about
hydrometeorological processes.
Hydrometeorology- involving the study of tropical depressions, super
typhoons, droughts and desertification, among others. Centered in
weather patterns involving in hydrologic cycle.
Difference between Hydrometeorological and other disciplines
Climatology- study of earth’s climate.
Oceanography- dynamics of ocean waters and marine life.
Cloud Physics- concerned with the formation, growth of clouds and
precipitation.
Hydrology- study of water cycle processes, water quality and
sustainability of water.
Hydrometeorology – deals with energy affecting water movement, its
impacts to the people. Determining probability of rainfall, super
typhoons formation.
*Hydrometeorologists- scientists studying
hydrometeorology.
Hydrometeorological Weather Systems
1. TROPICAL CYCLONE (BAGYO OR HURRICANE)
- November 2013, when super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) onslaught
the province of Leyte. Officially declared as the strongest typhoon in
the world in 2013. 5th strongest in the world history, with wind speed
reaching 350 km/hour. Generated a storm surge with waves around
seven meters tall, as high as a 2-storey building.
-Philippines experience the average of 20 typhoons in each year
during rainy seasons.
Classification of Tropical Cyclone:
A. Tropical Depression- wind speed less than 64kph. Low pressure
occurring over warm seas and oceans and made up of merging
thunderstorms.
B. Tropical Storm- wind speed at 64kph to 118kph. The weather
system takes on a more definite circular form as the winds rotate
around a center.
C. Typhoon- wind speed greater than 118kph. The ‘eye’ is formed, a
relatively calm area at the center surrounded by the spinning winds.
Small, circular cloud-free spot at the center of a typhoon.
2. SOUTHWEST MONSOON (HABAGAT)
Moisture- laiden winds and rains affect the Philippines during what is
commonly known as rainy season. July-October. Heavy rains, strong
winds and flooding.
-Ex. Typhoon Ondoy (Aug.2012)
3. NORTHEAST MONSOON (AMIHAN)
Cool wind, much drier. November-March. Brings moderate
temperature to our shores and little rainfall. Covers post-Christmas
season, air is colder and weather is undisturbed by storms.
4. TAIL END OF COLD FRONT
Interaction of a cold and hot air mass, differences in temperature and
faster movement of the cold air lead warm air mass to rise and
replaced by cold air mass. Occurs in the middle of the latitude or near
equator. Light to moderate rain showers or isolated thunderstorms,
can trigger landslides and flashfloods. Aurora and Quezon.
5. INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE (ITCZ)
Low-pressure area with high humidity forms a band of clouds across
the equator. Trade winds from north and south hemisphere. ITCZ
cause the wet and dry seasons in the Philippines.
*Thunderstom (kidlat-kulog)- Cumulonimbus clouds and the
presence of lightning and thunder. Similar to tropical but without the
high wind speed. Formation of water, ice or hail.
*El Niño (Drought)- “Tagtuyot” Occurs every three to five
years. Currently, science can predict the occurrence of El Niño from
six to nine months ahead of its occurrence. Department of Agriculture
(DA) and local government units (LGU).
*La Niña- counterpart of El Niño.
temperature (SST) of the Pacific Ocean changes to lower than usual.
Takes place near the equator. Occurs every three to five years for 9 to
12 months. Makes the rainy season even wetter.
WHAT ARE HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS?
Acc. to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
(UNISDR), hydrometeorological hazards are processes of atmospheric,
hydrological or oceanographic nature, causing lives, injury, health
impacts, damages to property and loss of livelihood.
1. Lightning- occurs during thunderstorms and electrical storms. Bolt
of electricity, often blue-white in color, caused by extreme heat.
Sudden flow of electricity travels from cloud to cloud, or from
thundercloud to the surface of the earth.
*Typhoon Yolanda 2013- a person died from a lightning.
*Typhoon Glenda 214- two people died from lightning.
2. Hail- form of balls or irregular lump of ice which is caused by
thunderclouds. Hail is different from sleet (Smaller ice pellets in
winter countries) Hail storm is made of water turned to ice, ranging
from 5 to 6 inches in diameter, tend to fall on top of mountain ranges.
Normal occurrence in Rizal and Quezon City.
3. Tornado (Buhawi)- violent rotating funnel-shaped cloud which
descends from a thundercloud to the ground. May occur in land or in
water. Can travel the distance of around 90 meters to four kilometers,
moving on average speed of 50km/hr. Most of the tornadoes
dissipate before reaching 10 sec. With a calm center like the eye of
the storm. Can lift even 20 tons into the air. An ave. of 12 to 24
tornadoes hit the country every year acc. to PAGASA.
4. Strong winds- brought by tropical cyclones, can be experienced
during tornadoes. Can be as fast as 486km/hr.
5. Flood (Baha)- large amount of water covering a land area which is
often dry. Flooding is a result of water overflowing from natural
bodies of water, such as rivers or lakes, or man-made structures, such
as dams and reservoirs, due to high amount of rainfalls.
6. Flashfloods- generally happen six hours from the onset of its
immediate cause. Heavy rains or sudden release of water from dams
can cause flashfloods. This can turn streams into raging rivers. Can
turn river into a 10ft deep river in a matter of minutes.
7. Storm surge- rising of waters above normal water level in coastal
areas, caused by low pressure weather systems, such as tropical
cyclones.
8. Wind shear- sudden change in wind speed and direction at over a
short distance in the atmosphere. Vertical wind shear is the sharp
change in wind speed and direction. Post as a threat to airplanes
causing crash and deaths.
9. Snowmelt (Snow run-off)- water produced by melting snow and ice
in western countries.
10. Desertification- land degradation in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid
areas. Land becomes dry, resulting absence of vegetation. Main cause
are: overgrazing and deforestation for fuel or construction materials,
natural drought and strong winds that increase the rate of erosion. A
once fertile land can undergo desertification.
11. Sand Storm (Dust Storm)- occur in dry or arid regions, deserts of
the Middle East and China. When strong winds of a cold front blow on
loose particles of sand without any moisture, it can vibrate and spiral
upward to sweep across urban areas and continue for days. The dust
can be as high as 20,000ft in the air and reducing visibility to zero. Can
be a cause to health hazards such as respiratory ailments.
12. Heat wave- excessively hot and humid weather which occurs in a
certain area over a prolonged period of time.