Government Should Be Responsible for Forecasting Tornado - Term Paper Example

ZIYING MO EbruGobsel-Demir Esll 26 Research Paper Final Draft 03/19 Government should be responsible for forecasting Tornado A tornado is a column of massive air that is violent and occurs in contact with both ground and the cumulonimbus cloud. At some rare areas, it is in contact with the base of a cumulus cloud. Sometimes the tornadoes are also called the twisters or the cyclones due to their viral manner. However, the term cyclone is used in wider terms in meteorology to mean a closed low pressure circulation. These tornadoes appear in different shapes and sizes depending on the magnitude but mostly they appearing in the form of visible condensation funnel. The narrow end always touches the earth surface while the wider end touches the cumulonimbus clouds. Tornadoes can have a maximum wind speed of about 483km/h and a minimum wind speed of 177km/h (Byars and Doron 23). Tornadoes are too dangerous, and they cause damages and they can lead to death. It is unfortunate that no one except the weather forecasters and other organizations know when a tornado will come. In the case that a tornado begins without the knowledge of people, major losses are usually experienced i.e. loss of, property damages and even loss of lives. With this in mind forecasting is necessary for such situations. There should be an organization to forecast and see what is going before the occurrence of a tornado so that people are warned in advance in regard to its occurrence. This will help citizens take precautions and defend themselves against the tornado (Weems 21). Even though it is not a perfect system, government should take the responsibility of forecasting tornadoes and alarming people. The United States of America is one country that has experienced incidences of tornadoes more than other nation in the world. This is has been attributed to the clash between arctic winds and tropical winds that occur in the Midwestern states. Many Americans have lost their lives majorly due to lack of prior information of tornadoes that would occur (Kunreuther, pg. 24) Therefore, it’s important that government be responsible for forecasting and giving warnings to people that is about tornadoes. Forecasting can help people to be prepared for the upcoming disaster, and here is an example that shows us forecasting can reduce the amount of people died.In 1953, the National Weather Service started giving direct warnings about coming of tornadoes. This information came after they had predicted, and they were sure of the place and time of when the tornado will occur. The Weather Service began using tornado warning systems to create awareness to the public and hence make them prepare for a tornado. As a result of this, it managed to reduce the number of deaths from 230 to approximately less than 100. In the year 1962, the number of individuals who had died as a result of tornadoes was reduced to around 62 individuals which was a great drop as compared to the other years. For once, the issue of tornado was fully accounted for with the National Weather Service (Watts 445). Sociologists and other stakeholders have cited various reasons why governments should be involved actively in forecasting the occurrence of tornadoes within their territories as well as other surrounding regions (Kunreuther, pg. 29). The first reason that has been provided to indicate the importance of the government to forecast tornadoes is the fact the governments has the full responsibility to protect the lives of their citizens. The essence of protecting the lives of citizens is not only based on other aspects of insecurities such as terrorism, but also from natural disasters, tornadoes inclusive. Due to the fact that governments have been charged with protecting the lives of their citizens, they have the proper capacities to undertake actions directed towards forecasting the occurrence of natural disasters i.e. tornadoes to ensure that various losses are prevented (http://www.windows2universe.org/earth, n.p). The losses experienced during the incidence of tornadoes as well as other natural disasters usually compel governments and other stakeholders to utilize huge amount of resources such as: Financial resources, food staffs, clothing, and material for shelter as well as transportation facilities during the process of evacuation. In some cases, governments may be compelled to provide compensation to the affected persons in regard to the loss of their property, loss of lives of relatives and friends et cetera. These actions require huge amount of financial resources for effective implementation (http://www.windows2universe.org/earth, n.p). Such financial resources may be directed towards other aspects of development i.e. provision of appropriate education, health services, proper shelter, infrastructural development as well as social development. It is therefore imperative for governments to ensure that incidences of natural disasters such as tornadoes that may entail utilization of huge financial resources are prevented through forecasting. This will ensure that associated costs of mitigation are prevented and used in other aspects of development. Additionally, the forecasting of tornadoes requires the use of sophisticated technological equipment and resources for example; it requires specialized persons in GIS, meteorology as well as proper geographical and mathematical knowledge. Moreover equipment, specifically weather instruments such as conventional radars, weather balloons et cetera. This equipment is expensive for ordinary citizens and in most cases may not be afforded (Kruneuther, pg. 31). Governments on the other hand have the financial capacities to purchase such equipment and even train personnel charged with the responsibility to project future occurrences of natural disasters hence are in a better position to efficiently and effectively implement forecasting actions. Therefore, governments are encouraged to participate actively in forecasting tornadoes as well as other natural disasters. Forecasting of tornadoes and other natural disasters also allows governments and other stakeholders to plan and budget on how they can utilize their financial resources as well as other resources. This is important as it facilitates reduction of incidences of poor financial resource use among the governments. It also creates a scenario whereby incidences of shortage in terms of resources is prevented thus increasing the efficiency of the government in mitigating such disasters as well as other natural phenomena that threatens the well-being of their citizens (Kruneuther, pg. 31). The other reason why governments should participate in forecasting natural tornadoes is ascribed to the fact that forecasting and prevention of the effects of tornadoes and other natural disasters requires the essence of inter-governmental cooperation. This occurs in the sense that one government may sought the assistance of expertise from a neighboring country for instance; meteorologists, security personnel and permission to cross certain borders for purposes of study. This creates the need for governments to participate in forecasting of tornadoes and other natural disasters. It is apparent that such cooperation between governments in the process of forecasting cannot be undertaken by ordinary citizens, especially if they do not have permissions from their governments (http://www.windows2universe.org/earth, n.p). Apart from losses such as; loss of lives, loss and damage of property, tornadoes are also associated with occurrence of water borne diseases especially during flooding. These diseases can be prevented by proper forecasting leading to proper planning and early evacuation of the people that might be affected by tornadoes in their residential places. Conclusion However, some governments have argued that. They indicate that forecasting will cause panic among individuals in the state, and then they rules out the idea that government should take up such responsibility. This is referred to the 1870 tornado that happened and killed 100 unprepared individuals in the United States. The government had taken over the responsibility but instead of warning the individuals about the coming tornado, they withheld information. This was after a statement that the warning would strike a particular area and cause panic amongst the individuals in the state. On the other hand, they are to be blamed for the killings in the United States. People would not have been dead if the government took full responsibility and warned the individuals about the tornado and give them strategies on how to prepare for the tornado. In order to avoid such losses, it is imperative that governments engage and participate in forecasting of tornadoes. This will facilitate the effective planning of ways to mitigate the effects of tornadoes. Forecasting is an important aspect of managing various effects of weather; therefore it should not only be applied in incidences of tornadoes, but also in projection of other natural disasters such as hurricanes, heavy rainfall, sunshine et cetera. This also facilitates proper mitigation planning as well as planning for resources to be used in disaster mitigation. Works cited Bradford, Marlene. Scanning the skies: a history of tornado forecasting. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2001. Print. Byars, Betsy Cromer, and Doron Ami. HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"TornadoHYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/". New York: HarperCollins, 1996. Print. Choy, Barry K., and Scott M. Spratt. HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"A WSR-88D approach to waterspout forecastingHYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/". HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"Fort Worth, Tex.: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service,HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/" Scientific Services Division, Southern RegionHYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/",HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/" 1994. Print. Fishman, Jack, and Robert HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"KalishHYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/". HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"The weather revolution: innovations and imminent breakthroughs HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"in accurateHYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/" forecastingHYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/". New York: Plenum Press, 1994. Print. Watts, Alan. HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"Instant storm forecastingHYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/". London: HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"AdlardHYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/" Coles Nautical, 2009. Print. Weems, John Edward. HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"The tornadoHYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/". HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"College Station: Texas A HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"&HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/" M University Press, 1991.HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/" Print. Winston, Jay HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"S..HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"Forecasting tornadoes and severe thunderstormsHYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/". HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/"Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Commerce,HYPERLINK "http://www.bibme.org/" Weather Bureau, 1956. Print. Wikipedia, Tornado https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado Kunreuther, Howard. The economics of natural hazards. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Pub., 2004. Print. "Tornado Forecasts." Tornado Forecasting. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. . Read More