DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)

LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION

STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2

(3) typhoon (wind speed greater than 118

kph-called "hurricane" in northeast Pacific
MAIN
and northern Atlantic regions); and
SUB-TOPIC (4) super typhoon (wind speed exceeding
220 kph).
EXTRA (MISC)
The Philippines is the country most
frequently visited by tropical cyclones-with a
6.1 TYPHOONS
yearly average of 19 entering the Philippine
Area of Responsibility (PAR) and six to nine
➢ A typhoon is a severe weather making landfall. The areas in the Philippines
disturbance characterized by strong that are usually most affected by the action
winds and heavy rains, which of tropical cyclones are: (1) northern and
revolve around a central low central Luzon and (2) the eastern Visayas
pressure area. It is the most islands.
powerful type of tropical cyclone that
forms in the northwestern Pacific
Ocean. SEASONAL VARIABILITY OF
TROPICAL CYCLONE ACTIVITY
➢ The word "typhoon" is most likely
derived from the Chinese term "Tai
Fung," which can be broken down ● Tropical cyclone activity is usually
into "to, which means big and "fung," lowest in May and increases
which means wind. gradually through June. Activity then
➢ It is locally known as "bagyo," a greatly increases from July until
term coined after Baguio City in September, with the level of activity
Benguet Province where the wettest reaching its peak in August. Come
known tropical cyclone way back in November, activity level eventually
1911 hit and dropped approximately dies off.
2200 mm of rain for about three ● Notable, however, is the fact that
days. typhoon Haiyan (locally known as
Yolanda), which is possibly the
strongest typhoon in Philippine
TYPES OF TROPICAL CYCLONES
history, struck in November 2013.
The death toll allegedly reached
➢ can be distinguished according to more than 6000 according to the
their maximum sustained-wind (National Disaster Risk Reduction
speed (over 10-minute periods), and Management Council
include the following major types: (NDRRMC).
(1) tropical depression (wind speed up to
62 kph);
(2) tropical storm (wind speed ranging
from 63-118 kph);
DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)
LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION
STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2

WHY DO TROPICAL CYCLONES

TROPICAL CYCLONE STRUCTURE FORM?

➢ A tropical cyclone, on average, has ➢ Tropical cyclones form as a result of

a total diameter of 550 km but can the atmosphere's natural tendency
be more than 2000 km wide. Its to maintain equilibrium by
basic structure consists of an eye, redistributing heat through wind from
an eye wall, and surrounding rain the equatorial regions to the polar
bands. regions. This mechanism prevents
○ The eye is the area of lowest the tropical areas from becoming too
atmospheric pressure in the hot and the polar regions from
structure of a tropical becoming too cold.
cyclone.
○ The eye wall, the region IMPORTANCE OF TROPICAL
immediately surrounding the CYCLONES
tropical cyclone's center and
can reach as high as 15 km
➢ Rainfall brought about by tropical
above mean sea level, brings
cyclones replenishes groundwater
the strongest winds, heavy
and surficial water.
rains, and turbulence shortly
➢ Flora and fauna in the Philippines
after the passage of the eye.
are heavily reliant on tropical
○ Rain bands are spiraling
cyclones as a source of water. In
strips of clouds in the fringes
fact, almost 50% of the average
of tropical cyclones which are
annual rainfall in the country is
associated with rainfall.
derived from typhoon-related rainfall.
➢ The winds of a tropical cyclone blow
counterclockwise in the Northern
Hemisphere and clockwise in the HOW DO TROPICAL CYCLONES
Southern Hemisphere due to the FORM?
Coriolis effect. The Coriolis effect
describes the deflection of an ➢ Tropical cyclones form both in the
object's motion due to the Earth's Northern and Southern Hemisphere
rotation about its axis. In the at latitudes 5° to 30° away from the
Northern Hemisphere, the air equator (trade-wind belt) in parts of
deflects to the right. In the Southern the open ocean, where water
Hemisphere, the deflection is to the temperatures reach at least 26°C to
left. depths of more than 60 m. Toward
the end of summer, when
temperature difference between air
at high altitude and the ocean
surface is greatest, the largest
DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)
LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION
STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2

amount of warm moist air forms. The above the predicted astronomical
air mass eventually increasingly tide level, occur primarily due to
heats up and rises, causing the intense winds and reduced
atmospheric pressure beneath to atmospheric pressure that
drop. accompany intense tropical cyclones
➢ At the same time, drier air from moving from sea to land. People
higher altitudes is sucked into the living near the coast and rivers,
center of the tropical cyclone where water from the sea could
preventing the formation of clouds potentially encroach, are
and, therefore, rainfall. This explains encouraged to flee inland as far and
why the "eye" of the tropical cyclone as high as possible, as early as the
is so calm. first warning of possible landfall.
➢ The cyclone continuously grows in ● Heavy rains. unlike strong winds
diameter ranging from 150-500 km, and storm surges, actually occur in
and height ranging from 15-20 km. tropical cyclones of lower intensity.
But when the tropical cyclone Flooding due to heavy rains is
reaches land, it is cut off from its usually worse during tropical
source of energy. depressions and tropical storms.
➢ A tropical cyclone typically has a life
span of nine days and can travel
MEASURES FOR MITIGATING THE
more than 10,000 km. Tropical DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF
cyclones that form in the Pacific TYPHOONS
Ocean tend to travel in a more west
or west- northwest direction,
1. Determining areas prone to
frequently affecting the Philippines.
typhoon-related disasters - Certain
routes can be observed to be more
EFFECTS OF TROPICAL CYCLONES or less consistently traversed by
typhoons. Observation of these
Tropical cyclones bring with them very typhoon tracks allow typhoon paths
strong winds, heavy rains, and can cause to be established. While some
flooding and storm surges. allowance should be made for
● Strong winds. which cover a much exceptions to the rule, like typhoons
larger area during tropical cyclones, that make U-turns, typhoon paths
cause the most obvious damage. are considerably reliable and can be
Because the winds are strongest in used in devising plans to mitigate
the eyewall meteorologists watch out their destructive effects.
for the locations where the eye (and a. Geohazard maps prepared
consequently the eyewall) will make by the MGB of the
landfall. Department of Environment
● Storm surge. localized unusual and Natural Resources
increase in sea water level way (DENR) can be consulted to
DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)
LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION
STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2

determine which areas prone one of the six worldwide Tropical

to landslides and flooding Cyclone RSMCs in charge of issuing
coincide with the paths of official warnings for the entire
typhoons. Western Pacific Ocean and South
2. Implementing legislation China Sea region.
involving land use planning, The Tropical Cyclone Regional
zoning, and building standards - Specialized Meteorological
Areas which were determined to Centre/Tropical Cyclone Warning
have a high risk to typhoon-related Center has been agreed upon at the
disasters (e.g., flooding, landslides, United Nations' World
storm surges) through review of Meteorological Organization (WMO)
historical accounts, inspection, and as the entity responsible for
assessment by geohazard "detecting tropical cyclones, and
specialists on physical and/or providing basic information about the
geological conditions suggesting systems present and forecast
vulnerability, and computer-assisted position, movement, and intensity
multiple-scenario typhoon information on tropical cyclones in its
simulations should be prohibited designated area of responsibility."
from being used for purposes that 4. Effective public typhoon warning
could compromise the safety of the systems - PAGASA is the country's
community and preservation of the official weather bureau. It monitors
environment. storms, typhoons, and other weather
3. Weather forecasting and disturbances in the country.
monitoring - Effective forecasting PAGASA releases tropical cyclone
and monitoring of tropical cyclones warnings in the form of Public Storm
give ample time for communities to Warning Signals (PSWS).
prepare and secure their property
and seek refuge, if necessary. It also Current storm warning signals are:
gives lead time for the different PSWS #1 - Tropical cyclone winds of
businesses involved, for example, in 30-60 km/h are expected within the
agriculture, transportation, and next 36 hours. The winds are
energy generation to make decisions expected to cause zero to minimal
and necessary arrangements to damage.
minimize potential losses. PSWS #2 - Tropical cyclone winds of
PAGASA plays a very important role 61-120 km/h are expected within the
in operating a nationwide network for next 24 hours. Light to moderate
forecasting and observing tropical damage.
cyclones that could enter or affect PSWS #3- Tropical cyclone winds of
the PAR while the Regional 121-170 km/h are expected within
Specialized Meteorological Center the next 18 hours. Moderate to
(RSMC) Tokyo-Typhoon Center of heavy damage.
the Japan Meteorological Agency is
DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)
LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION
STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2

PSWS #4 - Tropical cyclone winds of

171-220 km/h are expected within
12hours. Heavy to very heavy
damage.
PSWS #5 - Tropical cyclone winds of
more than 220 km/h are expected
within 12 hours. Very heavy to
widespread damage.

Listed below are the tropical cyclone

categories based on the maximum
sustained winds:
-tropical depression: winds up to 61 kph
-tropical storm: winds from 62 to 88 kph
-severe tropical storm: winds from 89 to
117 kph
-typhoon: winds from 118 to 220 kph
-super typhoon: winds exceeding 220 kph