Natural Disasters in Thailand - Coursework Example

Natural Disasters in Thailand Natural Disasters In Thailand Located at the center of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia, Thailand is one of the beautiful countries in the world. Tourism is one of the major revenue sources for Thai people because of the natural beauty of this country. It is one of the biggest countries as well as the heavily populated countries in the world. Thailand is believed to be one of the rapidly emerging economies in the world along with its counterparts in Asia. However, Thailand is a country which is vulnerable to many types of natural disasters such as cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, floods & tsunami, landslide volcanic eruption etc. Thousands of people were killed in the 2004 tsunami attack in Thailand. Moreover, plenty of people lose their life every year because of unexpected floods. Cyclone is another catastrophe which is common in Thailand. Earthquakes and droughts are comparatively less in number in Thailand. Disasters; natural or manmade, can cause huge psychological impacts upon the victims. It should be noted that 9/11terrorsit attacks on World trade center have caused panic and psychological trauma among thousands of Americans. Same way, natural disasters also can cause psychological problems among the victims. According to Dr.V.D.Swaminathan (N.d.), “Psychological effects of disasters may persist for many months; from acute phase if they move onto chronic phase, they tend to suffer from posttraumatic syndrome (p.10). This paper analyses various natural disasters in Thailand and its psychological impacts upon the people. Natural disasters in Thailand and their definitions A cyclone is an area that is surrounded by a wind system and has a low atmospheric pressure. In the southern hemisphere, the winds blow in a clockwise direction. An area that has a high atmospheric pressure and winds blowing in a counterclockwise direction is known as an anticyclone. In the northern hemisphere, a cyclones winds blow counterclockwise and an anticyclones winds blow clockwise. (Cyclones/Typoons, N.d.) Cyclone is a kind of circular fluid motion and hence it occurs in a closed area. Since it occurs in a closed area, the extent of damage caused by it will be huge. On the other hand, drought is a situation in which summer extends beyond its normal period. In other words, drought causes deficiency in water supply both at the surface level and underground level. As a result of that agricultural yields will be reduced considerably and all the living things may struggle to find enough water for drinking purpose. Floods are the opposite phenomenon of drought. In this case, Monsoon extends beyond the normal period and hence floods may occur. Flood refers to overflow of water and it may drown agricultural lands. As in the case of drought, floods are causing huge damages to agriculture. It can also cause many casualties in the form of accidents. Along with excessive rains, storms can also cause floods. “Earthquakes are the vibrations caused by rocks breaking under stress. The underground surface along which the rock breaks and moves is called a fault plane” (What is an Earthquake?, 2012). Earth consists of different layers such as inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust as shown in the illustration below. “The core is composed mostly of iron (Fe) and is so hot that the outer core is molten, with about 10% sulphur (S). The inner core is under such extreme pressure that it remains solid”(Louie, 1996) (Louie, 1996) These layers slide one over the other because of the geothermal pressure generated by various processes. It should be noted that geothermal processes produce huge amount of energy which will force the sliding of different earth layers; one over the other. These sliding of earth layers continue until an equilibrium is reached. However, such sliding of earthly layers may cause huge damages at the surface level of earth. It can not only cause huge landslides and collapsing of building, but also tsunami like terrific disasters. If the magnitude of earthquake crosses certain limit, the chances of tsunami cannot be rule out. Land slide on the other hand is a type of land movement which is often referred as mass wasting. “Mass wasting is down slope movement of soil and/or rock under the influence of gravity. A landslide is a movement of mass rock, debris, or earth down a slope. The failure of the slope happens when gravity exceeds the strength of the earth materials”(What is landslide?, n.d.) Cyclones Signs and symptoms Cyclone diameter usually ranges from 200km to 2,000km.In other words; a cyclone can cause damage to areas from 200 km to 2000 km. Cyclone wind speed will be within the range of 60km per hour to 110km. When the wind speed exceeds over 119 km/hour, it is referred as a hurricane instead of cyclone. Cyclones are usually formed from Thunderstorms in conjunction with ocean and atmosphere. Warmer ocean water is contributing heavily to the formation of cyclone. When the temperature of ocean water increases beyond 26.5 degree Celsius; chances of cyclone cannot be ruled out (Natalie, 2008, p.3). Above the warm ocean, water evaporates and form clouds. If there is low air pressure where the clouds are formed, it pulls them in and they begin to rotate. It is the Earth’s rotation and spinning on its axis that causes the cyclone’s clouds to rotate. Clouds will continue to form and begin spinning more. This is the stage when it can develop into a mature cyclone, or lose its momentum. Even if it has developed into a mature cyclone, it can still grow in size and increase its wind speed (Cyclone facts, n.d.) Prevention, Control and recovery measures Since cyclone is a natural phenomenon, it is difficult to prevent the formation of it. It is impossible for us to control the temperature of ocean or the temperature of solar radiations. However, it is possible for us to predict cyclone and take necessary recovery measures or disaster management measures. Modern technologies are capable of predicting cyclone even weeks before its occurrence. “Satellite images can spot the development of low pressure zones, doppler radars can track them down and instrumented aircrafts can reach the cyclone eye, eye walls and spiral bands to transmit data on wind velocity, pressure and moisture contents of the low pressure zones”(Cyclone, n.d., p.4). “Powerful doppler radar systems can now track the movement of atmospheric depression and accurate early warnings can be issued 48-72 hours in advance about the probability of cyclone, its intensity and wind speed, direction and possible location of the land fall” (Cyclone, n.d., p.9). Plenty of computer software are currently available to analyze these data and predict the occurrence of cyclone accurately. These software can forecast the intensity, direction and location of the cyclone perfectly so that the rescue operations or disaster management operations can be started well before the cyclone hits a particular area. People may get ample time to escape from the destructive power of cyclone. Before the beginning of cyclone, it is better to switch off the electricity, gas and water connections. All the power equipment should be removed from plug hole. Cyclone normally hits the coastal areas. Most of the people living in coastal areas are usually not much wealthy to construct good quality homes. Their shelters are usually not strong enough to withstand the striking power of cyclones. Therefore, it is necessary to evacuate the people staying near coastal areas to safer shelters once the warning of cyclone is given by the meteorologists. Examples of Cyclone episodes in Thailand Southern Thailand was hit by “Baby Cyclone” in November 2010. The 2010 Cyclone Jal also caused major problems in Thailand. The Giri cyclone Thailand in 2010 made more than 25 victims in October 2010 (Thailand cyclone, 2011). In 1989, Typhoon Gay, or Kavali Cyclone caused big damages in Thailand. More than 800 people lost their lives because of this cyclone. In 2012 also, Thailand faced many threats from different cyclones such as Gaemi, Sonamu etc . However, the damages caused by these cyclones were negligible. Cyclones have the ability to cause long lasting psychological problems in the minds of victims. According to a study conducted in New Zealand among 118 victims of cyclone in 1988, 12% of the victims were found to be affected by post-traumatic stress disorder and 17% were found to be affected with high psychological distress scores (Eustace et al., 1998, p.285) Droughts Signs and symptoms The symptoms of draughts can be identified from the study of trees and plants. “Trees growing on shallow, gravelly, or sandy soils will show symptoms early in drought conditions. Younger trees become affected earlier than older trees, since the former have a smaller root system” (Drought Damage, 2004). Plants wilt, plant death or damage, decrease in growth or no growth, wrinkles in the body of plants, thin canopy, absence of leaf etc are some of the symptoms of drought. “One of the first symptoms of drought-stressed plants is the loss of turgidity. Plants or plant parts become limp and droopy”(Small, 2010). Moreover, leaves may become smaller and brown or yellow in color during drought season. Recovery measures It is difficult to implement effective recovery measures after the occurrence of drought. However, plenty of precautions can be taken before the occurrence of drought. Securing of water in an effective manner before the occurrence of drought is very much important. In drought prone areas, water should be conserved as much as possible during rainy reasons. People living in drought prone areas should be educated and empowered well with respect to the importance of water conservation and the avoidance of water wastage. Moreover, water pollution should be avoided as much as possible during drought season. Laws should be implemented to reduce underwater exploitation in drought prone areas. Measures such as linking local water supply with wide area water supply for stable water supply, building small scale reservoir for drinking water, and developing water source in rural areas and islands, and water saving measures including installation of water saving devices and waste water reuse system etc can reduce the drought problems up to certain extent (Republic of Korea, n.d., p.2) Examples of Drought episodes in Thailand From 2010, onwards Thailand is undergoing a severe and long lasting drought season. Experts have already warned the people and the government that this drought may cause severe problems in the agricultural sector. Since agriculture is a major revenue source in Thailand, economic growth of Thailand could be drastically affected by this drought. “Experts are of the view that the drought this year caused by global warming, the worst El Nino phenomenon encountered in the past 10 years and the falling level of the Mekong River could have dire effects for the whole country, with water reserves already at a critically low point and cultivation affected in the Central Region of the country”(Thomas, 2010). The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department in Thailand has designated 50 provinces as drought disaster zones, in 2012 May (50 Provinces Declared Drought Disaster Zones, 2012). Psychological problems associated with drought are mainly with respect to the fear of loss of revenue. Since agriculture is the major revenue source of many of the Thai people, destruction of agriculture may cause distress among the people. Hopelessness, feeling of insecurity, anxiety etc are other problems generated from drought. Earthquakes Signs and symptoms Unlike many other natural disasters, it is difficult to predict earthquake well in advance. Only after the occurrence of small tremors or big earthquakes, scientists are capable of warning the people about the possibilities of further earthquakes. Earthquake intensity is measured with the help of Richter scale. Seismologists are more concerned with the earthquakes with the magnitude or intensity of 4.7 or above on Richter scale. The destructive power of earthquakes below the magnitude of 4.7 is less. Before the beginning of earthquakes, it is quite possible hear unusual sounds from the interiors of earth. Moreover, the temperature of an area increases abnormally before the occurrence of earthquake. Moreover, water levels in wells will be increased and decreased abnormally before the beginning of an earthquake. Analysis of seismic gaps may help the scientists in predicting earthquake. “A seismic gap is a zone along a tectonically active area where no earthquakes have occurred recently, but it is known that elastic strain is building in the rocks.  If a seismic gap can be identified, then it might be an area expected to have a large earthquake in the near future”(Nelsen, 2011) “If old wives tales are to be believed, strange animal behavior is a sign of an impending earthquake. Many modern reports detail some peoples claims that their pets ran away or otherwise acted out of character before an earthquake”(Lathan, n.d.). It is believed that animals are capable of hearing sounds from the interiors of earth and recognize the possibilities of earthquake better than human. It should be noted that human is capable of hearing the sound within the range of 20 Hz - 20000Hz. On the other hand, dogs can hear sounds within the range of 40Hz- 60000Hz. Bats can hear the sounds within the range of 20 Hz-1500000Hz. In short, animals have superior abilities in hearing sounds. Animals can hear the sound produced from earth’s interiors before the earthquake and hence observation of animal behavior is important in predicting earthquake. Emission of Radon Gas is reported from well water before the occurrence of earthquake from many places. Deformation resulting from strain may force the Radon out and lead to emissions of Radon that show up in well water.  The newly formed microcracks discussed above could serve as pathways for the Radon to escape into groundwater.  Increases in the amount of radon emissions have been reported prior to some earthquakes (Nelsen, 2011) Control and recovery measures As in the case of many other natural disasters, controlling of earthquake is quite difficult. It is believed that human is responsible for the occurrence of earthquake. Injudicious exploitation of natural resources is believed to be the major cause of earthquake. For example, in plenty of countries, huge rocks are destroyed and exploited for the construction of buildings. It should be noted that rocks are capable of resisting the sliding of earth layers which cause earthquake. Hydroelectric power projects also believed to be another contributor to earthquake. In many countries, water is stored at big heights using dams to produce electricity. While enormous amount of water accumulate at a place, earth’s interiors may experience huge stress and earthquake may occur. “For ten years after construction of the Hoover Dam in Nevada blocking the Colorado River to produce Lake Mead, over 600 earthquakes occurred, one with magnitude of 5 and 2 with magnitudes of 4” (Nelsen, 2011). Nuclear experiments and poor waste handling mechanisms can cause earthquake. “In the late 1960s toxic waste injected into hazardous waste disposal wells at Rocky Flats, near Denver apparently caused earthquakes to occur in a previously earthquake quiet area”(Nelsen, 2011). In short, human activities are contributing heavily to the occurrence of earthquake. Exploitation of natural resources should be done in a controlled manner to reduce the threats of earthquake. Most of the damages occurred as a result of earthquake are from building collapses. Normal buildings are incapable of resisting the destructive power of earthquakes. While constructing buildings in earthquake prone areas, following points should be kept in mind; Ground acceleration - Can be up to 1.8 g Duration of shaking - Can last up to several minutes Frequency of seismic waves and resonance with building, including factors related to the geologic materials underlying the structure. Horizontal shaking - Causes different parts of building to move in different directions Strength of materials - Ductile Materials like wood and steel or brittle materials like concrete (Nelsen, 2011). Scientific principles say that avoidance of resonance is important in reducing the casualties caused by earthquakes. It should be noted that seismic waves vibrate in a particular frequency. If that frequency happens to be similar to that of the vibrating frequency of the building, resonance may occur and the building may collapse. In order to avoid that, the height, shape and foundations of the building should be adjusted. Moreover the larger portion of the weight of the entire building should be concentrated in the lower floors. Upper floors should be constructed with light materials and the lower floors should be constructed with heavy and stronger materials. Examples of Earthquake episodes in Thailand Earthquakes are common in Thailand. According to Phuket Gazette (2012, ‘major earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude struck central Myanmar this morning, around 60 km (37 miles) northwest of the city of Mandalay. Residents in Bangkok, the capital of neighboring Thailand, also said they felt the strong quake” (Phuket Gazette, November 11, 2012). Even though the damages were minimal, this earthquake planted panic in the minds of the people of Bangkok. “The west sumatra earthquake on boxing day 26th December 2004 which killed over 6000 people in Thailand is the biggest disaster an Earthquake has ever caused Thailand”(Chris, 2011). Traumatic stress is usually associated with Earthquake. The fear of repeated earthquake incidents may create fear and agony in the minds of people. It is difficult for the victims of earthquake to sleep properly during night because of the fear of another incidence of earthquake. Feelings of insecurity, uncertainty, loss of trust in scientific information etc are some of the other psychological problems developed among the victims as a result of earthquake. Floods Signs and symptoms Continuous rain often results in floods. Some floods develop slowly whereas other floods develop rapidly. If continuous rain is the cause of slowly developing floods, storms are the reason for the rapidly developing floods. When the amount of water in rivers and streams exceeds beyond the capacity, floods usually occur. The excessive water from the rivers and streams will drown flat or low-lying areas. In most cases, coastal areas are affected seriously by floods. Control, recovery and recommendations Proper maintenance of drainage system is important in the control and recovery measures of flood. Coastal areas should have adequate drainage system to avoid accumulation of water at specific areas. Electric connections should be switched off when flood occurs. It should be noted that electricity can conduct through water and cause huge casualties when flood occurs. The possibility of collapsing of electric posts during floods cannot be ruled out. In such cases, electric wires may come in contact with water and huge damages can take place. Floods may pollute wells which are used for taking drinking water. After the occurrence of flood, well water should be tested properly to make sure that contamination or pollution does not occur. Food items may also become contaminated once flood water comes in contact with it. Therefore, all suspected food items should be tested thoroughly before using it. Contacts with flood water should be limited as much as possible. It should not be forgotten that the flood water contains all the waste and toxic elements disposed on normal and agricultural lands. Dredging or gravel removal is often suggested as a recovery measure from floods. Walls should be constructed and strengthened periodically near coastal areas to reduce the chances of overflow of water from rivers and streams to agricultural lands. Roads near coastal areas should be raised as much as possible to avoid traffic blockage during flood seasons. Examples of Flood episodes in Thailand As in the cases of other natural disasters, Thailand is vulnerable to flood problems also. Every year, Thailand experiences serious and moderate flood mishaps. Fresh flood incidents in Northern Thailand in 2012 have intensified the concerns of people. James Hookway& Phisanu Phromchanya (2012) reported for Wall Street Journal that “Concerns about Thailands antiflood defenses are growing after parts of a city in the countrys north were inundated by as much as a meter (around three feet) of floodwater in 2012, nearly a year after parts of Bangkok and other important industrial sites were struck by some of the worst flooding in the countrys history” (Hookway & Phromchanya, 2012). Several severe and moderate floods occurred in Thailand during the Monsoon season of 2011. Northern, Northeastern and Central Thailand along the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins were affected severely by these floods. Hundreds of people died in the 2011 flood incidents in Thailand. “The flooding that swamped central Thailand in 2011 was the worst the country had experienced in half a century. It killed nearly 800 people, and, according to the World Bank, cost the country an estimated $45bn (£28bn)”(Head, 2012) Landslides Signs and symptoms Landslides are usually co-occurred along with floods, rain and earthquake. Weaker land areas may not have the strength to resist the threats of floods or earthquakes. Landslides may occur in many forms such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows. It can cause huge damage to property and life. Gravity is the major reason for landslides. Gravity is force of attraction between any two objects in the universe. Geologists use the term mass wasting to describe the spontaneous movement of Earth material down a slope in response to gravity. Mass wasting is the gradual wearing away of Earth surfaces through the action of wind and water. Through mass wasting, material from higher elevations is moved to lower elevations where streams, glaciers, and wind pick it up and move it to even lower elevations. The general term landslide is used to describe all relatively rapid forms of mass wasting (Landslide and other gravity movements, 2013) Control, recovery measures and recommendations Since gravity is responsible for landslide, measures should be taken to reduce gravity in landslide prone areas. The geometry and shape of the land should be changed as much as possible to reduce gravity and to reduce landslide. Planting of trees and herbs may prevent landslide incidents. It should be noted that the roots of plants, trees, and herbs have the ability to hold the soil underneath together. Ground water is another major contributor of landslide. In other words, while water accumulates on a particular area for a longer period, landslides may occur. In order to avoid that, hydrology and geotechnical engineering practices should be implemented. “Another man-made cause of landslides is undercutting the toe of a slope that plays a critical roll in keeping the upper portion stable. Landslide prevention in this case entails soil berms. These counterweight fills are placed at the toe of the slope to provide additional resistance to the potential movement of the upper part of the slope” (Slope Stability - Landslide Prevention, 2010) Examples of Landslide episodes in Thailand Since floods and earthquakes are common, landslide episodes are also common in Thailand. Plenty of people are losing their lives every year as a result of landslides in Thailand. In one of the most devastating landslide incidents in recent times, the 1988 landslide in Thailand has killed as many as 700 people. The following table provides a rough idea about the landslide incidents in Thailand between the period of 1970-2006. (Mairaing & Thaiyuenwong, 2010, p.2) Conclusion Thailand is a country which is vulnerable to many kinds of natural disasters such as earthquake, floods, landslides, cyclones, drought etc. Thai people are experiencing severe psychological trauma because of these natural disasters. Long lasting post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety and tension, mild and moderate psychological problems are generally occurring among Thai people as a result of the repeated incidents of various types of natural disasters. References 50 Provinces Declared Drought Disaster Zones, (2012), Retrieved from http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/552281-50-thai-provinces-declared-drought-disaster-zones/ Cyclones/Typoons, (N.d.). Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01027/cyclones.html Cyclone facts, (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ema.gov.au/www/ema/schools.nsf/Page/Get_The_FactsCyclones Cyclone, (n.d.), Retrieved from http://saarc-sdmc.nic.in/pdf/cyclone.pdf Chris, (2011). EarthQuakes In Thailand Retrieved from http://www.livingthai.org/earthquakes-in-thailand.html Dr. Swaminathan V.D. (N.d.), Psychological Impact of Disasters – Clinical and General Approaches. Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/CMUDLP/Resources/Day2-3-Swaminathan.pdf Drought Damage, (2004) Retrieved from http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/publications/00198/drought.htm Eustace K. Macdonald C & Long N. (1999). Cyclone bola: A study of the psychological after- effects. Anxiety, Stress & Coping: An International Journal Volume 12, Issue 3, 1999 Head J. (2012). Has Thailand learned from last years floods?. BBC News. 4 September 2012. Hookway J & Phromchanya, P. (2012). Fresh Floods in Northern Thailand Renew Fears. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443884104577644873746801852.html Landslide and other gravity movements, (2013). Retrieved from http://www.scienceclarified.com/landforms/Faults-to-Mountains/Landslide-and-Other-Gravity-Movements.html Lathan Z. (n.d.). Signs of an Impending Earthquake Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_8423138_signs-impending-earthquake.html Louie, J. (1996). Earths Interior. Retrieved from http://crack.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/class/100/interior.html Mairaing W & Thaiyuenwong, S. (2010), Dynamic Landslide Warning from Rainfall and Soil Suction Measurement Retrieved from http://www.gerd.eng.ku.ac.th/Paper/Paper_Other/SlopeConference2010/SP3_Dynamic%20Landslide%20Warning_Warakorn.pdf Natalie B. (2008). How cyclones are formed? Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/allstars/how-cyclones-are-formed Nelsen, S.A (2011). Earthquake Prediction control and mitigation. Retrieved from http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/geol204/eqprediction&cntrl.htm Phuket Gazette (November 11, 2012). Strong earthquake felt in Bangkok this morning; no reports of tremors in Phuket. Retrieved from http://www.phuketgazette.net/thailandnews/2012/Strong-earthquake-felt-in-Bangkok-this-morning-no-reports-of-tremors-in-Phuket-19408.html Republic of Korea, (n.d.), Retrieved from http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/repkorea/drought.pdf Small M (2010). Recognizing Drought Injury Symptoms on Plants. Retrieved from http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Garden/drought6.htm Slope Stability - Landslide Prevention, (2010). Retrieved from http://www.geotechnical-engineer.com/landslide-prevention.html Thailand cyclone (2011), Retrieved from http://www.thailand-th.net/thailand_cyclone.html Thomas, B. (2010). Upcoming drought predicted to be Thailand’s worst in several years. Retrieved from http://carbon-based-ghg.blogspot.in/2010/03/upcoming-drought-predicted-to-be.html What is an Earthquake?, (2012). Retrieved from http://www.ga.gov.au/hazards/earthquakes/earthquake-basics/what.html What is landslide?, (n.d.) 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