How to Monitor Our Planet Earth - Essay Example

Monitoring Our Home Planet Natural phenomena are not man-made events they occur naturally on the earth. There are several examples of natural phenomena that include sunrise, weather, biological processes (germination, decomposition) and physical processes (conversion of energy, erosion). However, the paper will focus more on natural phenomena that are responsible for natural disasters. Natural disasters happen because of natural processes that have an adverse effect to human. These events are naturally occurring processes that operate throughout the earth’s history. These naturally occurring processes cannot be prevented; however, they can be predicted thus we can prepare for them. Natural disasters are classified in the nature of occurrence however geographical processes are said to be the most hazardous. Geographical processes occur quite often on the earth; they however became noticeable when they cause loss of properties. Natural phenomena have continued to operate throughout the history of the earth; however, they became natural disasters when they have negatively affected human. Therefore, if human beings did not inhabit the earth then there would be no natural disasters. Just like said above these natural processes cannot be eliminated, however, a clear understanding of the processes can help in minimizing the hazards that occur. This can be done by developing actions that minimize the risk. The minimization of the hazard is known as hazard minimization. Natural disasters are classified as follows: Geographical hazards: These are the main subject of this discussion. They include: Earthquakes Tsunami Floods Landslides Volcanic eruptions Subsidence Atmospheric hazards: These hazards are influenced by processes operating in the atmosphere. They are: Tropical cyclones Tornadoes Droughts Severe thunderstorms Lightening Anthropogenic Hazards: These hazards occur because of human interference with the environment. They occur as a due exposure of hazardous substance, thus contaminating the atmosphere or surface water. This can lead to acid rain or global climate change or global warming. Other hazard: These hazards are considered as other because they do not fall into any of the above categories. There are not considered to be of any great extent; they are: Insects infestation Disease epidemics Wildfire Natural disasters cause effects in three different ways: Primary effects: it occurs because of the process. For example collapses of building as a result of earthquake or hurricane Secondary effects: they occur because of the occurrence of the primary effect. For example, fire ignited by the occurrence of earthquakes. Tertiary effects; they are long-term effects influenced by primary effects. They include loss of habitat because of floods. Over the years, natural disasters have been reported to rise compared to the past three decades. Every year disaster related to hydrology; meteorology and climate hazards cause loss of life and derail the social and economic development. The paper looks at three most common natural disasters in the world, and that is earthquakes, volcanoes, and climate change. Earthquakes Earthquake is as results of a sudden release of energy o the earth crust thus creating seismic waves, it usually occurs when the underlying rock suddenly breaks along a fault. The sudden release of energy is what causes seismic waves thus making the ground shake (Hamilton, 2012). The point at which the underground break is called the focus, while the point right above the focus is known as the epicenter and that is where the earthquake is first felt. Therefore, at that point it as very strong and can cause much destruction if that place is a human settlement. Earthquakes are not easy to predict as volcanic eruptions. However, there are still ways that are used to monitor the chances of an earthquake occurrence. Laser beam: it can be used to detect the movement of plates. Seismometer: this is used to pick vibrations in the earth crust. Increased in vibration there are chances that an earthquake might occur. Radon gas: it escapes from the cracks of the earth’s crust; therefore, an increase of radon gas can suggest an earthquake. Additionally, earthquake early warning provides advance announcement of the estimated seismic intensity and the expected occurrence of the principal motion when earthquake occurs. The estimation is based on the prompt analysis of earthquakes magnitude and focuses using waveform data that is taken from seismographs near the epicenter. This monitoring is meant to mitigate that the damages related to earthquakes, by allowing countermeasures. Additionally, the use of GPS has also been marked to be successful, it provide provides accurate and rapid estimates of the amount and location of fault slip. It was first demonstrated by NASA, and it supported research on the 2004 earthquake around Indonesian island of Sumatra. Areas that are prone to earthquake are countries at the edge of pacific, where the pacific plate, which is thinner, is forced under the continental crust (thicker) along subduction zones. It is said that 75 percent of the world’s seismic energy is released there. The 40,000 km band of seismicity stretches up to the Central America, through west coast of South America and from the northern USA to Japan, china, Philippines and the Aleutians. Therefore, apart from those named countries others that fall along the stretch include Indonesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Mexico. Volcanoes Volcano is a natural process that the earth uses to cool itself. It erupts because of density and pressure. Therefore, a volcanic eruption occurs when molten rock, steam and ash rises to the earth surface. The molten rock is known as magma when it is beneath the earth but when it is on the surface is known as lava. Volcanoes are described as active (eruptive) and dormant (not erupted at the recent present) and extinct (no longer active). Volcanoes occur as a way of the earth to release pressure and heat. There are three theories that explain it occurrence. They are: Due to density-difference in magma Pressure of releases gasses Injections of new magma Understanding the behaviors of eruption is imperative in predicting the occurrence of volcanoes, which is important to warn people living close to the vulnerable areas. Meaningful prediction calls for careful monitoring of volcanoes vital signs. Seismometer can be used to identify earthquake that will help in tracking the rise of magma and it movement. Measuring of it is another way that provides that information on the about the breathing of volcano as magma moves inside it. Instruments that can recognize the presence of CO2 and SO2 and other gasses can signal changes in the volcano. It is however important to know those volcanoes are different, and each is unique in it own way such that as volcano may change it eruptive behavior any time other than what was predicted. Therefore, this call for volcanologist to use different methods, with the advancement in technology some are suing satellites to monitor active volcanoes while others are combing several methods to track the status of volcanoes. The integrated methods are seismic monitoring, deformation studies and gas monitoring. An example of a technology that is used to predict a volcanic eruption is: Radar mapper: they are carried by aircrafts and satellites showing a detailed 3D map of the earth surface. They help the scientist to predict where lava might flow or the path of the dangerous mudslides that occurs a result of the volcanic eruption. Remote sensing is also another tool that can be used in risk modeling, vulnerability analysis and disaster management (Li, et al.2007). Countries that are vulnerable to the volcanic eruption are countries located at the ring of fire at the pacific some of those countries include Japan, Hawaii Kamchatka and peninsula. The ring of fire is located at the borders of pacific palate and other tectonic plates. Research indicates that places that experience earthquake are also highly vulnerable to volcanoes. Tsunamis There occur because of sudden movement of the ocean floor. This sudden movement can be because of earthquakes, underwater landslides, volcanic eruption, and impact of large meteorites (Wendorff, 2009). Tsunamis travel across the open oceans at a very high spread by the time it has gotten to the shoreline it is enormous and deadly. The effects of tsunami range from very destructive to unnoticeable, it depends with the magnitude of the seismic events that causes a tsunami. Large tsunamis are very destructive and have been said to rise up to 100 feet. This tsunami can lead to death, disease, destruction of properties and adverse environmental impacts (effects on animals, insects, plants, and other natural resources). The three discussed natural disaster are related in one way, thus they occur at the same region. The occurrence on one in most cases leads to the occurrence of the other. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration) has the responsibility of providing in tsunami warning to people; there have been technologies that are used to monitor tsunami. The deep- ocean assessment and reporting tsunami (DART) system, has been used by NOAA for almost three decades now. It is used to detect and measure tsunami as small as 1 centimeter in 6,000 meters (Li, et al.2007). NOAA has several websites with comprehensive tsunami information and activities. The web has the section of tsunami basic preparedness, warnings, hazard, assessment, education, animation and the role and responsibilities of NOAA in relation to the tsunami. There has been politics surrounding disaster –preparedness technology considering that developing countries are not able to afford such technologies hence relying on the information from developed countries (Awasthy, 2009). As much as they are given the information there do not have adequate resources to be able to set in place measures to deal with the disaster when it occurs. Furthermore, developing countries are affected by so much corruption such that the money allocated to deal with disaster management is embezzled by few people in power. Countries that have the technologies to detect the impending disasters are very much ahead of those countries that do not have a system in place. First and for most, they do not have to spend a lot of money in rehabilitating the destruction caused by this natural disasters. This is because they had in place the necessary measures to decrease the impact of the disaster or to adequately mitigate any cause of destruction. Therefore, the country’s economy will not be affected unlike countries where they do not have these systems in place where every time they have to set aside money for rehabilitation. Therefore, disaster undermines development. One thing it is time wasting and very expensive. In general, developing countries are more vulnerable to natural hazard because of lack of proper understanding, inadequate infrastructure, building codes, and lack of education. Poverty also plays a significant role; this is poverty leads to unplanned urbanization, increased population, lack of infrastructures and communication (Awasthy, 2009). In summary, by understanding and anticipating future occurrence of hazardous events, public authorities, communities and development authorities can minimize the risks that can hinder social, economic development. Understanding these processes is important since one gets to be aware of interactions between projects and environmental hazards thus ensuring on sustainable development. The negative effects that arise in the laying out of projects that tackle disaster is that people are forced to change the way they live, work and relate with each other. There are also cultural impacts such as change of norms, values and beliefs Social impact Assessment (SIA) is responsible for determining both the negative and positive consequences that arise from disaster management (Mechler, 2004). The primary aim of disaster management is to motivate the society to be more involves in the conscious management of risk and reduction of vulnerability in different communities. It demands for participation at all levels by public authorities, inter-sectorial and policy coordination. References Awasthy, A. (2009). Disaster management: Warning response and community relocation. New Delhi: Global India Publications. Hamilton, S. L. (2012). Earthquakes. Minneapolis, Minn: ABDO Pub. Co. Li, J., Fabbri, A. G., & Zlatanova, S. (2007). Geomatics solutions for disaster management. New York: Springer. Mechler, R. (2004). Natural disaster risk management and financing disaster losses in developing countries. Karlsruhe: VVW. Wendorff, A. (2009). Tsunamis. Minneapolis, MN: Bellwether Media. Read More