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PCT, 30. Asociación Regional IV – Plan Operativo sobre Huracanes para América del Norte, América Central y el Caribe (OMM-N° 1163), TCP-30
Las actividades regionales del Programa de Ciclones Tropicales de la OMM consisten principalmente en los programas que llevan a cabo grupos de países que actúan de consuno para mejorar sus sistemas de aviso. En la Región IV (América del Norte, América Central y el Caribe) existe desde hace mucho tiempo una acción colectiva cuyo objetivo específico es proteger a las personas y los bienes contra los ciclones tropicales violentos, que reciben el nombre de huracanes en la Región. La séptima reunión de la Asociación Regional IV (Ciudad de México, abril-mayo de 1977) estableció un grupo de tra ...
TCP, 30. Regional Association IV – Hurricane Operational Plan for North America, Central America and the Caribbean (WMO-No. 1163), TCP-30
The regional activities under the WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme consist mainly of the programmes pursued by groups of countries acting in concert to improve their warning systems. In Region IV (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) there is a long history of collective action specifically designed to protect people and property from the severe tropical cyclones which are called hurricanes in the Region. A working group, known as the RA IV Hurricane Committee, was established by the seventh session of Regional Association IV (Mexico City, April May 1977) to promote such activities ...
TCP, 23. Typhoon Committee Operational Manual (WMO/TD-No. 196), TCP-23 : Meteorological Component
The Operational Manual consists of the text and the appendices. Items included in the text relate to the Typhoon Committee agreement, in particular, basic information for executing meteorological operation, whilst the appendices contain national practices and procedures (it is felt that the Member concerned should have the right to be able to change without having to get prior formal agreement of the Typhoon Committee) together with detailed and technical information for meteorological operation. Information described in WMO official publications such as Manuals is only referred to and not i ...
International Workshop on Satellite Analysis of Tropical Cyclones (IWSATC-3): Final report
WMO, 2022In this report, we summarize the reported changes in TC satellite analysis techniques since IWSATC-I (2011) and highlight the continued development of existing objective analysis methods as well as the emergence of new algorithms.
Local Tropical Cyclone Precipitation Forecasting and Communication
This lesson introduces learners to the challenges in predicting and communicating localized tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall threats. The lesson discusses the key ingredients conducive for heavy TC rainfall, and the tools used by the National Weather Service to forecast it. Learners work through a TC case to practice interpreting precipitation guidance correctly and communicating the threat and impacts. The lesson also highlights the issuance of flash flood emergencies and areal flood warnings during TC events, and how to best communicate TC rainfall impacts for a local area. The lesson will tak ...
WPC Rainfall Guidance for Tropical Cyclones
This lesson introduces learners to the challenges in predicting precipitation associated with tropical cyclones (TCs). It also provides an overview of the deterministic and probabilistic rainfall guidance products issued by the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to forecast TC-related precipitation. Learners work through a TC case to practice interpreting the guidance correctly and communicating the precipitation threat. The lesson also highlights the different interpretations of probabilistic products from the WPC and National Hurricane Center, and the need for collaboration between national cen ...
SatFC-G: Tropical to Extratropical Transition
This lesson uses water vapor satellite imagery from Himawari-8 to describe the typical extratropical transition of a tropical cyclone. The Himawari-8 imager previews comparable capabilities coming online with the GOES-R ABI imager. The lesson also provides a brief overview of subtropical cyclones and their transition to tropical cyclones. This lesson is a part of the NWS Satellite Foundation GOES-R Course.
Best Practices in Tropical Cyclone Briefings
Crafting clear, concise and effective messages focused on customer needs is a crucial skill in every decision-support situation. Tropical cyclones that threaten a coastline have the potential to inflict devastating damage to communities and communicating relevant weather information will assist decision-makers in their plans and preparation work. This lesson examines how to effectively prepare for the hurricane season and then focuses on how best to support NWS partners through meteorological briefings during tropical cyclone events. Basic familiarity with probabilistic forecast guidance is re ...
TCP. WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones - Forty-third session : final report
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) - WMO, 2016
International Workshop on Satellite Analysis of Tropical Cyclones II (IWSATC-II), Report and Recommendations : final report
In this report, we summarize the reported changes in TC satellite analysis techniques since IWSATC-I (2011) and highlight the continued development of existing objective analysis methods as well as the emergence of new algorithms.
Use of Probabilistic Guidance in Local Tropical Cyclone Wind Forecasting
This lesson describes the role of forecasters in supporting emergency managers during tropical cyclones with a focus on the wind hazards. It provides an overview of the wind speed products produced by the National Weather Service, including how they are used to create local wind forecasts. Learners will practice interpreting probabilistic wind speed guidance and conveying appropriate wind speed information to decision-makers using projected scenarios of hazardous wind events. Developing messages for emergency managers and the public that include the potential wind speed, threat, and impact inf ...
Tropical Cyclone Forecast Uncertainty
This lesson introduces learners to the uncertainty and errors in forecasting the track, timing, and intensity of tropical cyclones. It provides an overview of how the National Hurricane Center’s cone of uncertainty is constructed, as well as its uses and common misconceptions. Learners will explore the influences of track, timing, and intensity forecast errors on potential tropical cyclones impacts. The lesson offers suggestions on how to communicate tropical cyclone forecasts knowing their inherent uncertainty. This online lesson is part of the Tropical Cyclone Storm Winds: Forecasting and Co ...
Determining the Onset and Risk of Tropical Cyclone Winds
This lesson introduces forecasters to the probabilistic guidance products used by the National Hurricane Center to assess tropical cyclone wind threats. It provides an overview of how these probabilistic wind speed products are created, their purposes, and how to interpret them. The lesson also provides practice in determining the total risk and timing for location-specific peak wind events. This online lesson is part of the Tropical Cyclone Storm Winds: Forecasting and Communication course.
Introduction to Climatology for the Tropical Pacific Islands
This lesson provides information on climatology—what it is, the factors that create an area's climate, and the sources and uses of climate information. Focused specifically on tropical Pacific islands, the content covers the key features influencing climate in that region and includes examples for four locations distributed across the tropical Pacific Ocean, both north and south of the equator. The lesson provides a basic introduction to tropical climatology intended for a wide range of users, from meteorology technicians, forecasters, and scientists, to those in industries or sectors influenc ...
Introduction to Tropical Cyclone Storm Surge
This lesson introduces forecasters to the physical processes and impacts of tropical cyclone storm surge. It provides an overview of the factors that affect storm surge, how it is measured, and the limitations associated with storm surge data. This online lesson is part of the Tropical Cyclone Storm Surge: Forecasting and Communication course.
Overview of Watershed and Channel Sedimentation
This lesson provides an overview of the primary influences of watershed and channel sedimentation. In a short narrated portion of the lesson, we explore a section of the Rio Grande watershed and channel in New Mexico using Google Earth imagery, river profiles, and graphic animations. We highlight features of the upland catchments, the river channel, and the Elephant Butte Reservoir. We then demonstrate how environmental factors (climate, geography, land use changes, reservoirs) impact the supply and movement of sediments for the Rio Grande and other rivers. The focus is on the three primary pr ...
Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2015: Disasters without borders - Regional resilience for sustainable development
This flagship publication of UN ESCAP provides an overview of the state of disaster resilience in Asia-Pacific region, and places disaster risk reduction at the heart of sustainable development. It identifies emerging new risks in the region and the sectors that are most at risk.
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Tropical Cyclone Pam: lessons learned workshop report
Vanuatu - Gov, 2015This report summarises the discussions and outcomes from the national debriefing workshop to identify lessons learned following Tropical Cyclone Pam (TC Pam). It reviews key aspects of coordination, including preparation, response and recovery.
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Adaptation strategies after cyclone in southwest coastal Bangladesh, pro poor policy choices: In American Journal of Rural Development, Vol. 3, No. 2
This research paper explores the ‘atlas of the locally adopted strategies’ to cope with adverse effects of cyclone Aila in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Particularly, this research has explored the community level practices in agriculture, housing, water resources, communication and employment generations. An empirical survey was undertaken with 145 respondents by using semi-structured interviews with selected social groups and their households’ assistants. Besides face-to-face interviews, this survey applied group level qualitative assessment methods i.e. FGD (focus group discussion), Social ...
DBCP Technical Document, 49. Proceedings of the Second Capacity Building Workshop of the DBCP for the North Pacific Ocean and its Marginal Seas (NPOMS-2) : Application of Regional Ocean Observations for Increasing Society’s Understanding and Forecasting of Typhoons
Tropical Cyclone Intensity Analysis
This lesson provides guidance for operational forecasters needing to combine different intensity methods to determine the intensity of a tropical cyclone. Each of the intensity methods is summarized, focusing on both strengths and weaknesses. These methods include the Dvorak technique, surface observations, scatterometry, the Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT), microwave sounders (AMSU), SATCON, and subjective interpretation of passive microwave patterns. Consideration of the previous intensity estimate and forecast is also examined. Three case studies task the learner with combining the various ...
Climate Variability and Change Lectures, July 2013
This lesson presents 13 recorded presentations from the 29 July–2 August, 2013 offering of the Climate Variability and Change Virtual Course (CVCVC). This five-day live facilitated online course provided an extensive background on a range of climate variability and change topics with an emphasis on developing communication skills for challenging climate topics. The topics covered in this course, while aimed primarily at NOAA operational climate services delivery staff will also be helpful for others who already possess a basic level of understanding of climate science. Presentations include: W ...
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Natural catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2013
This issue presents an overview, both global and regional, of the catastrophes that occurred in 2013 and their impacts in terms of number of victims and economic and insured losses. It includes a chapter on fostering climate change resilience, which argues that dealing with climate change requires a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions alongside an integrated approach to disaster risk management and describes how cost-effective adaptation measures could avoid up to 68% of climate change risks. It also focuses on Typhoon Haiyan, which was the biggest humanitarian catastrophe of the year.
Turn down the heat: confronting the new climate normal
World Bank the - World Bank, 2014This report focuses on the risks of climate change to development in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and parts of Europe and Central Asia. For each region, the report addresses the regional patterns of climate change, such as heat extremes, extreme precipitation, droughts, tropical cyclones/hurricanes, and sea-level rise.
Building on earlier Turn Down the Heat reports, this new scientific analysis examines the likely impacts of present day (0.8°C), 2°C and 4°C warming above pre-industrial temperatures on agricultural production, water resource ...
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Using ICT and social media in disasters: opportunities and risks for government
This report examines four different issue areas to analyze how social media is used in the context of risk and crisis communication, using hurricane Sandy as an example. These areas include: public safety and preparedness; emergency warnings, alerts and requests for assistance; recovery efforts; and, finally, monitoring and situational awareness. In the context of each of these areas, the report highlights the key literature and real-life examples to explore the risks vs. opportunities in the utility of social media. These four areas capture the role of engagement and strategy in both the risk ...
GOES-R ABI: Next Generation Satellite Imaging
This extension of the COMET lesson “GOES-R: Benefits of Next Generation Environmental Monitoring” focuses on the ABI instrument, the satellite's 16-channel imager. With increased spectral coverage, greater spatial resolution, more frequent imaging, and improved image pixel geolocation and radiometric performance, the ABI will bring significant advancements to forecasting, numerical weather prediction, and climate and environmental monitoring. The first part of the lesson introduces the ABI's key features and improvements over earlier GOES imagers. The second section lets users interactively ex ...
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The geography of poverty, disasters and climate extremes in 2030
The Met.Office, 2013This report examines the relationship between disasters and poverty. It concludes that, without concerted action, there could be up to 325 million extremely poor people living in the 49 countries most exposed to the full range of natural hazards and climate extremes in 2030. It maps out where the poorest people are likely to live and develops a range of scenarios to identify potential patterns of vulnerability to extreme weather and earthquakes – who is going to be vulnerable and why. These scenarios are dynamic: they consider how the threats may change, which countries face the greatest risk ...
Research priorities on vulnerability, impacts and adaptation responding to the climate change challenge
UNEP, 2013This set of research priorities was developed by the Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (PROVIA) in consultation with both experts and policymakers to respond to the demand for better coordination of research. The research priorities include new and emerging topics, the importance of which is now coming into focus, and topics that have long been recognized as important but for which research is still required. They reflect the balance between research supply from experts and research demand from policymakers.
The focus of the research ...
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Cost benefit studies on disaster risk reduction in developing countries
Shyam K.C.; Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the ; World Bank the - World Bank, 2013This note briefly surveys existing evidence in developing countries with regard to the benefits and costs of various disaster risk reduction interventions so as to provide some general lessons for disaster risk reduction (DRR) practitioners on the strengths and limitations of such existing work. In doing so, the note examines evidence on the economics of DRR in developing countries.
The note begins by providing a comparative guideline for analysis. This is followed by a summary diagnostic of seventeen case studies along five key dimensions comprising the guideline as follows: ( ...
Status of disaster risk management: plans for floods, hurricanes and drought in the agriculture sector - a Caribbean perspective
FAO, 2013This report presents the findings of a study commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to review the status of development and implementation of disaster risk management (DRM) plans for the agriculture sector throughout the Caribbean. The report is divided into four sections: (i) the first section introduces the background of the region, the Hyogo Framework for Action, and the methodology and objective of the study; (ii) section two reviews the status of disaster risk management (DRM) strategies in the agricultural sector, highlighting the participation ...
Recent trends in and preparedness for extreme weather events: final report
This document is the final report of a Senate inquiry by the Environment and Communications References Committee looking at Australia’s extreme weather and asking if the country is ready. It looks at any emerging trends on the frequency of extreme weather events. Based on evidence on future projections of such events and on global warming scenarios of between 1C and 5C by 2070, the inquiry looks at the costs of extreme weather events and their impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure and human health. It also examines the “availability and affordability” of private insurance in disaster-prone are ...
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From disaster to renewal: the centrality of business recovery to community resilience
RAI, 2013This document is the summary of the findings of Griffith University, which was commissioned by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) to examine the experiences and learnings arising from the communities that have experienced the challenges of recovering from and adapting to the impact of disasters. Four case studies were undertaken to research communities recovering from disasters such as cyclones, floods and bushfires.
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Topics geo natural catastrophes 2012: analyses, assessments, positions
Munich-Re, 2013This report shows that the natural catastrophe statistics for 2012 were largely dominated by atmospheric events, with no catastrophic earthquakes. Due to a number of major weather-related catastrophes, including severe tornado outbreaks in the spring and a record drought in the US Midwest, the USA accounted for an exceptionally high proportion of natural catastrophes. However, Russia also experienced unusually hot, dry conditions, and vast tracts of land were devastated by wildfires.
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Factsheet: overview of disaster risk reduction in the Arab region
UNDP, 2013This publication provides a short overview of disaster risk reduction in the Arab region. It focuses on the major risks, why in particular cities are at risk and what are the drivers of disaster risk in the region. Further, the factsheet provides information about the achievements and challenges for the future.
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Preparing for the rising tide
This report discusses current models prediction that Boston will experience up to two feet of sea level rise by 2050 and up to six feet by 2100, and it provides vulnerability analyses for Boston Harbor and time-phased preparedness plans for Boston’s long and central wharves and UMass Boston campus to increase their resilience to coastal flooding over time.
Investing in resilience: ensuring a disaster-resistant future
NCCARF, 2013This report examines the impacts on the built environment of increased intensities in weather-related natural hazard events, in order to identify the possibilities of using the regulatory mechanisms of building construction, housing insurance and planning in climate change adaptation. The research findings are restricted to these three aspects of the built environment, and further concentrated on adaptation responses that may be required in mitigation of the impacts of three types of hazards; tropical cyclones, floods and bushfires. Adaptation of the built environment to climate change is pred ...
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Disaster-induced internal displacement in the Philippines: the case of Tropical Storm Washi/Sendong
2013This report, from a consortium of experienced international and Filipino actors, highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the response to the Sendong disaster and the recovery process. It describes in detail the Philippines’ developing corpus of laws on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and draws out linkages between disaster preparedness, disaster impacts, responses, displacement and the subsequent, often prolonged, search for durable solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Rapport TCP, 30. Association Régionale IV - Plan opérationnel pour les cyclones tropicaux (OMM-N° 1163), TCP-30
Les activités régionales déployées au titre du Programme de l'OMM concernant les cyclones tropicaux se composent essentiellement des programmes réalisés par des groupes de pays agissant ensemble pour améliorer leurs systèmes d'avis. La Région IV (Amérique du Nord , Amérique centrale et Caraïbes ) compte à son actif une longue histoire d'efforts conjugués pour protéger les biens et les personnes des violents cyclones tropicaux qui, dans cette partie du monde, sont désignés par le nom d'ouragans. A sa septième session (Mexico, avril-mai 1977), l'Association régionale IV a créé un groupe de ...
WorldRiskReport 2012: focus - environmental degradation and disasters
UNU, 2012The WorldRiskIndex seeks answers to the following questions: How probable is an extreme natural event, and will it affect people?
How vulnerable are the people to the natural hazards? To what extent can societies cope with acute disasters? Is a society taking preventive measures to face natural hazards to be reckoned with in the future?
TC/TD, 0004. The second assessment report on the influence of climate change on tropical cyclones in the typhoon committee region
This report assesses the current state of the science on the relationship between climate change and tropical cyclone (TC) activity in the Western North Pacific (WNP) basin. It focuses in particular on identifying any possible influences of anthropogenic climate change on tropical cyclone track and impact area in this region.
TCP, 52. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Satellite Analysis of Tropical Cyclones
The first WMO International Workshop on Satellite Analysis of Tropical Cyclones (IWSATC) was organized by the WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme (TCP) in collaboration with the WMO World Weather Research Programme (WWRP), and the World Data Center (WDC) for Meteorology which is maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The main purpose of IWSATC is to increase the accuracy and reliability of satellite analyses of tropical cyclones (TCs) by sharing the latest knowledge and techniques amongst operational forecasters of the major warning centers and researchers. The or ...
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JCOMM Technical Report, 62. Proceedings: 7th TCP-JCOMM Workshop on Storm Surge and Wave Forecasting (SSW-7)
The Seventh TCP/JCOMM Workshop on Storm Surge and Wave Forecasting was held at Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG), Macao, China, from 10 to 14 October 2011.
This series of workshop is co-organized by the Tropical Cyclone Programme (TCP) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) that is jointly supported by WMO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), with a view to enhancing capacities of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) for reduction of mari ...
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Special Evaluation Study on ADB's Response to Natural Disasters and Disaster Risks
Asian Development Bank (ADB) - ADB, 2012Four of five cities classified as extreme risks among the world’s fastest growing urban areas are in Asia. The region accounts for half of the estimated economic cost of disasters over the past 20 years. By one estimate, floods and landslides cost the People’s Republic of China some $18 billion in 2010 alone, and Thailand an estimated $45 billion in 2011. Policymakers need to recognize that investments in disaster risk management are an essential means to sustain growth.
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Reducing risk of future disasters: priorities for decision makers
This report offers a strategic overview of the present and future potential of science to inform and enhance disaster risk reduction (DRR) over the next three decades. It considers disasters whose primary causes are natural hazards. Its focus is on disasters that occur in developing countries, but lessons from past disasters in developed countries are also drawn upon. It explores the diversity of impacts, and the extent to which these are, or should be, considered by decision makers but does not review in detail the scale of past and present disasters.
Recovery from disaster: resilience, adaptability and perceptions of climate change
NCCARF, 2012Focused on four disaster-impacted communities in Australia - Beechworth, Bendigo, Ingham and Innisfail, this report makes recommendations for emergency management and local government policies. It presents a study that used Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory to analyse individual and, by proxy, community resilience to disasters. The theory provided a comprehensive framework to evaluate the interacting factors that support resilience across different disaster sites and communities. While Bronfenbrenner’s theory has been used extensively, the authors believe that this is the first tim ...
Satellite Feature Identification: Atmospheric Rivers
The Satellite Feature Identification: Atmospheric Rivers lesson presents the global moisture transport phenomenon known as the Atmospheric River (AR). ARs are responsible for transporting the majority of maritime moisture from low to middle latitudes. Advanced satellite products, including Integrated Water Vapor and Total Precipitable Water, provide excellent observations of AR development and evolution. This lesson demonstrates the usefulness of these products in forecasting the impacts of ARs, especially when they are combined with numerical weather prediction products. Several AR case studi ...
MJO, Equatorial Waves, and Tropical Cyclogenesis
This case study focuses on monitoring of the MJO and equatorial waves and their role in tropical cyclogenesis. Learners will use conceptual models to understand the structure of the MJO and equatorial waves. They will identify and monitor those circulations using geostationary satellite images. 850-hPa synoptic analysis is used to track equatorial Rossby and mixed Rossby-gravity waves. Focus is on May 2002, a period when an MJO and associated equatorial waves spawned sets of twin cyclones over the Indian Ocean. This case study is similar to a synoptic meteorology laboratory exercise but is des ...
Satellite Feature Identification: Cyclogenesis
This lesson, Satellite Feature Identification: Cyclogenesis, uses water vapor satellite imagery to present a satellite perspective of basic features associated with the formation and development of extratropical cyclones. First, through an initial case study, the precursor elements leading to cyclogenesis are identified. Then three conceptual views of different ways cyclogenesis can evolve are presented along with additional examples to illustrate the concepts. Finally a series of exercises, again using real case studies, are used to emphasize the important points and provide realistic scenari ...
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JCOMM Technical Report, 68. 8th JCOMM-TCP Workshop on Storm Surge and Wave Forecasting (SSW-8): proceedings
The Eighth JCOMM-TCP Workshop on Storm Surge and Wave Forecasting (SSW-8) was held at the Institute for Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR), Nairobi, Kenya, from 19 to 23 November 2012.
This series of workshop is co-organized by the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) and the WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme (TCP), with a view to enhancing capacities of the National Hydrological and Meteorological Services (NMHSs) in providing necessary forecasting and warning services against natural marine hazards that complement b ...
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Pounds of prevention, a disaster risk reduction story: focus on Mozambique
This edition travels to Mozambique and presents a cyclone early warning system that combines technology with community organization and mobilization, which enables people in Mozambique to be better prepared to take the right action at the right time every year when the cyclone season arrives and flooding threatens the countryside. The paper asserts that countless lives have been saved and that the resources spent mounting a humanitarian response have decreased.
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Disaster risk financing and insurance in Sub-Saharan Africa : review and options for consideration
World Bank, 2012This report is a preliminary effort to present a body of knowledge on the state of disaster risk financing and insurance in Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to contribute to a strengthened understanding and collective knowledge within Sub-Saharan Africa on disaster risk financing and insurance, and to encourage open dialogue between stakeholders on how strategies can best be developed to increase financial resilience against natural disasters. It is targeted at policy-makers and actors in the international community with an interest in this agenda. In the context of this report, disaster risk finan ...
Environmental legislation for disaster risk management: module 1
Gupta Anil K.; Nair Sreeja S.; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); et al. - India Government, 2012“Environmental Legislation for Disaster Risk Management”, training module is based on the analysis of global context of environmental laws, policies and approaches of integrating environment and disaster risk management. This module cites examples of legal and policy framework from across the world, along with special references to the Indian legal framework and disaster management.
Turn down the heat: why a 4°C warmer world must be avoided
This report spells out what the world would be like if it warmed by 4 degrees Celsius, which is what scientists are nearly unanimously predicting by the end of the century, without serious policy changes. It provides a snapshot of recent scientific literature and new analyses of likely impacts and risks that would be associated with a 4° Celsius warming within this century, ranging from sea-level rise to increases in tropical cyclone intensity, unprecedented heat waves, severe drought, and major floods in many regions, with serious impacts on ecosystems and associated services.
TCP. WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones - Thirty-ninth session : final report
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) - WMO, 2012
An exploration of the link between development, economic growth, and natural risk
This paper investigates the link between development, economic growth, and the economic losses from natural disasters in a general analytical framework, with an application to hurricane flood risks in New Orleans. It concludes that where capital accumulates through increased density of capital at risk in a given area, and the costs of protection therefore increase more slowly than capital at risk, (i) protection improves over time and the probability of disaster occurrence decreases; (ii) capital at risk -- and thus economic losses in case of disaster -- increases faster than economic growth; ...
Coastal communities and climate change: maintaining future insurability
Lloyd's, 2012This report looks at the impact of climate change on flood risk at a number of coastal locations around the world, considering sea-level rise, the effect of wind speed on storm surges and, at one location, changes in land use. It investigates the impact on: (i) an unprotected property with no flood defences on a Caribbean island, the coasts of which are exposed to hurricanes and their associated storm surges; (ii) a building on the coast of a northern European country protected by flood defences against up to a 1-in-100 year storm surge event; (iii) a property on the coast of a northern Europe ...
Multi-hazard business continuity management guide : Guide for small and medium enterprises
ILO, 2012This document is intended to contribute to increase constituents’ resilience, mitigate risks and enhance preparedness for crisis and business recovery. The scope covers different types of major-scale, natural hazards, i.e. geophysical, hydrological, meteorological, climate and biological, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, tropical storms, over-floods, flash flows, mud flows, droughts, desertification and landslides. It aims to inform and guide decision makers and technical service providers on how to manage business continuity vis-à-vis the multiple hazards that may threat t ...
Disaster risk reduction in school curricula: case studies from thirty countries
Selby David; Kagawa Fumiyo; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); et al. - UNESCO, 2012This publication captures key national experiences in the integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the curriculum, identifying good practice, noting issues addressed or still lacking, and reviewing learning outcomes. The study researched DRR related curriculum development and integration, pedagogy, student assessment, teacher professional development and guidance, learning outcomes and policy development, planning and implementation aspects covering thirty countries.
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Annual disaster statistical review 2011: the numbers and trends
In 2011, 332 natural disasters1 were registered, less than the average annual disaster frequency observed from 2001 to 2010 (384). However, the human and economic impacts of the disasters in 2011 were massive. Natural disasters killed a total of 30 773 people and caused 244.7 million victims worldwide (see Figure 1). Economic damages from natural disasters were the highest ever registered, with an estimated US$ 366.1 billion [...]
Climate change education for sustainable development in Small Island Developing States : report and recommendations
UNESCO, 2012This report summarizes the key outcomes of a three-day meeting which discussed and reflected on the challenges that climate change poses to education systems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and on the role that education must play in adaptation to climate change. Acknowledging that SIDS are already confronted with the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and changes in weather and climate extremes such as droughts, floods and tropical cyclones/hurricanes, it considers the need for them to reduce their vulnerability to climate change by strengthening their adaptive c ...
Bangladesh: a sustainable and disaster resilient future
This document addresses how people in disaster prone areas of Bangladesh are at risk to lose their lives, land, and livelihoods due to floods, cyclones, earthquakes and drought, and how sustainable development and effective risk reduction can help prevent these risks. It also discusses how disasters in Bangladesh hamper the country's long-term ability to effectively tackle poverty. The document acknowledges the growing awareness among citizens that disaster risk reduction (DRR) is necessary to assist vulnerable communities; and that there needs to be a coordinated effort to undertake intensive ...
Community disaster preparedness guide
This document contains practical information on preparing and recovery from the effects of disaster events which may affect the British Virgin Islands. It includes hazard-specific safety tips and information on personal, family, business and community preparedness and protection. It considers the following hazards: flood, hurricane, including tides and surge, earthquake and tsunami, extreme heat and drought, as well as climate change.
This document is a revision of the 2005 Community Disaster Preparedness Handbook with updated information, pictures and with more colour. Its pro ...
Tackling exposure: placing disaster risk management at the heart of national economic and fiscal policy
As a follow-up to a first paper A preliminary analysis of flood and storm disaster data in Viet Nam, this Quang Binh case study provides a more in-depth disaster profile of one particular province in Viet Nam, including specific temporal and spatial distribution patterns while using district aggregated data. It also looks deeper into the relationship between disasters and poverty through analysis of various indicators: number of deaths, impact on housing and agricultural produce, poverty rate and the percentage of poor households.
The first part of this paper examines the disas ...
Learning lessons: intense climate-related natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific
ADB, 2012This synthesis addresses the global increase in frequency of intense floods and storms in Asia and the Pacific amid the spectre of climate change, and points to the need for better mitigation and adaptation to natural disasters. It presents the lessons drawn from evaluations of information sourced from publicly available databases
Safari's encounter with coastal and marine hazards : UNISUNISDR Africa educational series, vol. 4, issue 1:
UN/ISDR, 2012This booklet targets primary school children to sensitize them to the causes, impacts and mitigation of coastal and marine hazards, such as cyclone, tsunami, storm surge and flood, as well as other natural hazards such as drought, oil spill, ‘red tide’ and ‘brown tide’, and city fire.
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Mejora en la alerta de ciclones. Caso práctico: Filipinas
Mejorar la predicción de los ciclones es uno de los objetivos de la investigación meteorológica internacional. Este caso práctico de un tifón de 2009 que estuvo a punto de impactar sobre Filipinas ofrece una perspectiva del alcance de la predicción por conjuntos.
WWRP, 2011-1. 7th International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (IWTC-VII)
Since November 1985, WMO has organized a series of quadrennial International Workshops on Tropical Cyclones (IWTCs), the latest of which took place in La Reunion (France) from 10 to 15 November 2010. It is noteworthy that this seventh WMO International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (IWTC-VII) has been the first held in WMO Regional Association I (Africa). The Workshop primary objectives were to review progress in tropical cyclone research and operational practices since IWTC-VI and to contribute in identifying future research and operational priorities. The six-day meeting set the scene for ex ...
A disaster resilient future: mobilising communities and institutions for effective disaster risk reduction - Baseline study for the sixth DIPECHO action plan
NARRI, 2011This study intends to identify the baseline reference points to depict the existing scenario of the community people in light of all the indicators set forth in the sixth DIPECHO Action Plan for South Asia in Bangladesh undertaken by NARRI Consortium. It clusters three zones based on prominent hazards and highlights significant differences in the knowledge and practice of preparedness and mitigation measures, awareness and responses to warning signals in cyclone, flood-prone and earthquake prone areas. The study presents a set of recommendations in order to strengthen the programme and project ...
TCP. WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones - Thirty-eighth session : final report
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) - WMO, 2011
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The impact of climate change on global tropical storm damages
This paper constructs an integrated assessment model of tropical cyclones in order to quantify the impact that climate change may have on tropical cyclone damages in countries around the world. The paper relies on a tropical cyclone generator in each ocean and several climate models to predict tropical cyclones with and without climate change. A damage model is constructed to compute the resulting damage when a cyclone strikes each country. Economic development is expected to double global tropical cyclone damages because more will be in harm's way. Climate change is expected to double global ...
Development of a Nonhydrostatic Version of the Mesoscale-Convection-Resolving Model and its Application to the Eyewall and Spiral Rainbands of Tropical Cyclones
Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan, Vol. 88. No 4. Yamasaki Masanori - Meteorological Society of Japan, 2010A numerical model in which the effects of cumulus convection are incorporated as the subgrid-scale and mesoscale organized convection is resolved by the grid (mesoscale-convection-resolving model, MCRM) was developed in the 1980s with an intention of improving the parameterization schemes for moist convection, which had been used since the 1960s. As in many numerical models with parameterization in the 1980s, hydrostatic equilibrium was assumed. The present paper describes a nonhydrostatic version of the MCRM, with some modifications of the subgrid-scale effect formulation used in the hydrosta ...
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Further Study of Typhoon Tracks and the Low-Frequency (30-60 Days) Wind-Field Pattern at 850 hPa
Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters, Volume 3 Number 6. Tian Hua; Li Chong-Yin - Science Press, 2010The association of typhoon tracks over the western Pacific with the low-frequency wind-field pattern of atmospheric intraseasonal (30-60 days) oscillation at 850 hPa is further studied by using observational data analyses. Comparative analyses of the composite wind fields at 850 hPa, contrasting the atmospheric intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) with the original circulation, show that the typhoon tracks are closely related to the wind pattern of the ISO but are not obviously related to the original wind fields. Case studies of two typhoons in 2006 also show that the low-frequency wind-field patt ...
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Preliminary Study of Sensitive Areas for Several Tropical Cyclone Track Prediction Cases in 2007
Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters, Volume 3 Number 6. Tan Xiao-Wei; Wang Dong-Liang - Science Press, 2010Conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP) obtained by the ensemble-based calculation method is employed to find possible sensitive areas for improving 48-h or more than 48-h tropical cyclone (TC) track predictions in several cases affecting China in 2007. These sensitive areas are examined by observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs). Results show that these sensitive areas improve TC track predictions for 48 h or more to different extents. Further analysis is performed to determine the distribution characteristics of sensitive areas in these cases. Results show that areas south ...
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Vol. 88. No 3 - June 2010
is an issue of Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan. Meteorological Society of Japan, 2010Contains:
- Mechanisms of Temporary Improvement and Rapid Changes in Visibility in Fogs
- Changes in Potential Intensity of Tropical Cyclones Approaching Japan due to Anthropogenic Warming in Sea Surface and Upper-Air Temperatures
- Convective Boundary Layer above a Subtropical Island Observed by C-band Radar and Interpretation using a Cloud Resolving Model
- Role of Large-Scale Circulation in Triggering Foehns in the Hokuriku District of Japan during Midsummer
- Diurnal Variations in Lower-Tropospheric Wind over Japan ...
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Tropical Cyclone Initialization with Dynamical Retrieval from a Modified UWPBL Model
Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan, Vol.88 No.5. Ma Lei-Ming; Tan Zhe-Min - Meteorological Society of Japan, 2010A new scheme, termed Vortex Initialization with the Assimilation of Retrieved Variables (VIRV), is presented to improve the initialization of regional numerical model for Tropical Cyclone (TC) prediction. In this scheme, the horizontal winds in Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) and the sea level pressure (SLP), retrieved from Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) data obtained using a modified University of Washington Planetary Boundary Layer (UWPBL) model, are assimilated with a cycled three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) technique to produce the initialized analysis. The procedures of retrieval are i ...
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A Comparison Study of the Contributions of Additional Observations in the Sensitive Regions Identified by CNOP and FSV to Reducing Forecast Error Variance for the Typhoon Morakot
The sensitive regions of conditional nonlinear optimal perturbations (CNOPs) and the first singular vector (FSV) for a northwest Pacific typhoon case are reported in this paper. A large number of probes have been designed in the above regions and the ensemble transform Kalman filter (ETKF) techniques are utilized to examine which approach can locate more appropriate regions for typhoon adaptive observations. The results show that, in general, the majority of the probes in the sensitive regions of CNOPs can reduce more forecast error variance than the probes in the sensitive regions of FSV. Thi ...
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Volume 3 Number 3 - 16 May 2010
is an issue of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters. Science Press, 2010Contains:
- Analysis of a Beijing Heavy Snowfall Related to an Inverted Trough in November 2009
LI Jin,ZHAO Si-Xiong,YU Fei
- Comparative Studies of Different Mesoscale Convection Parameterization Schemes in the Simulation of Mei-Yu Front Heavy Rain
PING Fan,LUO Zhe-Xian
- An Improved Atmospheric Vector Radiative Transfer Model Incorporating Rough Ocean Boundaries
FAN Xue-Hua,CHEN Hong-Bin,HAN Zhi-Gang,LIN Long-Fu
- A Case Study of the Impacts of Dust Aerosols on Surface Atmospheric Variables and Energy Budgets in ...
Introduction to Tropical Meteorology, 2nd Edition, Chapter 8: Tropical Cyclones
Tropical cyclones are the deadliest tropical weather systems. This chapter describes their seasonal and geographic variability and controls, decadal cycles, and history of naming conventions. Tropical cyclogenesis is explored in depth and the core and balance solutions for regions of the cyclone are examined. Intensity is considered in terms of inner-core dynamics, large-scale environmental controls, limits on potential intensity, satellite interpretation techniques, and classification by wind speed. Factors that influence motion are investigated. Extratropical transition is described in terms ...
Hurricane Strike!™
Designed primarily for middle school students and funded by FEMA and the NWS, this module creates a scenario to frame learning activities that focus on hurricane science and safety. Versions are also available for hearing, motor, and visually impaired students, as well as Spanish-speaking students. Over the course of seven days, Hurricane Erin forms in the Atlantic Ocean, crosses the Florida peninsula, and then makes another landfall at Fort Walton Beach. During these days, the learner is introduced to many basic concepts of atmospheric science, climate, and geography, while also learning some ...
A Forecaster's Overview of the Northwest Pacific
This module provides an introduction to the northwest Pacific for weather forecasters. It touches on major aspects of the geography, oceanography, and climatology. Geography looks at plate tectonics, topography, and human population. Oceanography examines ocean currents, coastal tidal ranges, and sea ice distribution. Climatology briefly discusses jets streams, distribution of synoptic features, storm tracks of tropical and extratropical cyclones, the fronts, and sensible weather associated with the Northeast and Southwest Monsoons.
WWRP 2010-2 - 1st WMO International Conference on Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change
Contains: Inter-annual Variation of Frequency of Cyclonic Disturbances Landfalling over WMO/ESCAP Panel Member Countries; Toward Improved Projection of the Future Tropical Cyclone Changes; An Assessment of Climate Change Impact on Cyclone Frequency and Design Wave Height in the Oman Sea; Long-Range Prediction of Tropical Cyclones for Bangladesh; On Developing a Tropical Cyclone Archive and Climatology for the South Indian and South Pacific Oceans; International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Synthesizing Global Tropical Cyclone Best Track Data; Simulation of Track and In ...
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