DOCSLIB.ORG

Forest-Related Disasters Three Case Studies and Lessons for Management of Extreme Events

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Forest-Related Disasters Three Case Studies and Lessons for Management of Extreme Events Forest-related disasters Three case studies and lessons for management of extreme events FORESTRY WORKING PAPER 17 ISSN 2664-1062 Forest-related disasters Three case studies and lessons for management of extreme events FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 2020 Required citation: van Hensbergen, H. and Cedergren, J. 2020. Forest-related disasters – Three case studies and lessons for management of extreme events. Forestry Working Paper No. 17. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb0686en The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of FAO. ISSN 2664-1062 [Print] ISSN 2664-1070 [Online] ISBN 978-92-5-133185-9 © FAO, 2020 Some rights reserved. This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO licence (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc-sa/3.0/igo/legalcode). Under the terms of this licence, this work may be copied, redistributed and adapted for non-commercial purposes, provided that the work is appropriately cited. In any use of this work, there should be no suggestion that FAO endorses any specific organization, products or services. The use of the FAO logo is not permitted. If the work is adapted, then it must be licensed under the same or equivalent Creative Commons licence. If a translation of this work is created, it must include the following disclaimer along with the required citation: “This translation was not created by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO is not responsible for the content or accuracy of this translation. The original English edition shall be the authoritative edition.” Disputes arising under the licence that cannot be settled amicably will be resolved by mediation and arbitration as described in Article 8 of the licence except as otherwise provided herein. The applicable mediation rules will be the mediation rules of the World Intellectual Property Organization http:// www.wipo.int/amc/en/mediation/rules and any arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Third-party materials. Users wishing to reuse material from this work that is attributed to a third party, such as tables, figures or images, are responsible for determining whether permission is needed for that reuse and for obtaining permission from the copyright holder. The risk of claims resulting from infringement of any third-party-owned component in the work rests solely with the user. Sales, rights and licensing. FAO information products are available on the FAO website (www.fao. org/publications) and can be purchased through [email protected]. Requests for commercial use should be submitted via: www.fao.org/contact-us/licence-request. Queries regarding rights and licensing should be submitted to: [email protected]. Cover photograph: Dominica 2017 after Hurricane Maria. Winds pushed over, snapped and defoliated many trees. However more than half of the trees remained standing and retained some branches. ©FAO/Claus Eckelmann iii Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................viii Acronyms and abreviations ...................................................................................... ix Executive summary ................................................................................................... xi 1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 About this report ....................................................................................................... 1 About disasters .......................................................................................................... 2 2 Forests, forestry and disasters ..................................................................... 7 Causal factors and their impacts............................................................................... 8 Forest fire ................................................................................................................. 10 Flood and tsunami ....................................................................................................11 Tempest .................................................................................................................... 14 Forests as victims of disaster ................................................................................... 17 Forests as providers of goods and services ................................................................... 17 Forest disasters and timber supply ................................................................................18 Forests as disaster mitigation .................................................................................. 25 Typology of forest-related disasters ....................................................................... 25 Impacts on critical infrastructure ............................................................................ 26 3 The events .....................................................................................................31 Storm Gudrun/Erwin, Sweden (2005) ..................................................................... 31 Before the storm .............................................................................................................32 Storm impact ...................................................................................................................36 Short-term response .......................................................................................................38 Long-term impacts and responses .................................................................................40 Analysis and policy implications of the storm ..............................................................44 The Tohoku tsunami, Japan (2011) .......................................................................... 46 Impact on trees................................................................................................................47 Trees as mitigation ..........................................................................................................48 The Central Chile fire (2017) .................................................................................... 51 Before the disaster ..........................................................................................................52 Development of the fires................................................................................................53 iv Immediate response ........................................................................................................56 Impacts of the fire ...........................................................................................................57 Short-term responses ......................................................................................................59 Long-term responses....................................................................................................... 61 Analysis and policy implications ....................................................................................63 Lessons learned ........................................................................................................ 64 4 Managing forest-related disasters ............................................................. 69 Strategic approach to forest disaster ..................................................................... 73 Disaster preparedness ............................................................................................. 73 Information and communication frameworks ..............................................................73 Organizational capacity .................................................................................................. 74 Organizational interaction .............................................................................................76 Immediate response ................................................................................................ 77 Actions during the event ................................................................................................77 Actions immediately following the event .....................................................................77 Actions in the weeks after the event ............................................................................80 Long-term responses ............................................................................................... 80 Policy responses ...............................................................................................................81 Build Back Better
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Future of Midlatitude Cyclones
    Current Climate Change Reports https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-019-00149-4 MID-LATITUDE PROCESSES AND CLIMATE CHANGE (I SIMPSON, SECTION EDITOR) The Future of Midlatitude Cyclones Jennifer L. Catto1 & Duncan Ackerley2 & James F. Booth3 & Adrian J. Champion1 & Brian A. Colle4 & Stephan Pfahl5 & Joaquim G. Pinto6 & Julian F. Quinting6 & Christian Seiler7 # The Author(s) 2019 Abstract Purpose of Review This review brings together recent research on the structure, characteristics, dynamics, and impacts of extratropical cyclones in the future. It draws on research using idealized models and complex climate simulations, to evaluate what is known and unknown about these future changes. Recent Findings There are interacting processes that contribute to the uncertainties in future extratropical cyclone changes, e.g., changes in the horizontal and vertical structure of the atmosphere and increasing moisture content due to rising temperatures. Summary While precipitation intensity will most likely increase, along with associated increased latent heating, it is unclear to what extent and for which particular climate conditions this will feedback to increase the intensity of the cyclones. Future research could focus on bridging the gap between idealized models and complex climate models, as well as better understanding of the regional impacts of future changes in extratropical cyclones. Keywords Extratropical cyclones . Climate change . Windstorms . Idealized model . CMIP models Introduction These features are a vital part of the global circulation and bring a large proportion of precipitation to the midlatitudes, The way in which most people will experience climate change including very heavy precipitation events [1–5], which can is via changes to the weather where they live.
    [Show full text]
  • Estimation of Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge Risks Along the Coast of Estonia, Baltic Sea – a Tool for Coastal Management
    Littoral 2010, 12005 (2011) DOI:10.1051/litt/201112005 © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2011 Estimation of sea level rise and storm surge risks along the coast of Estonia, Baltic Sea – a tool for coastal management Ülo Suursaar, Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, [email protected] Jaak Jaagus, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, [email protected] Tiit Kullas, Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, [email protected] Hannes Tõnisson, Institute of Ecology at Tallinn University, [email protected] Abstract The aim of the paper is to present statistical analysis of the sea level data obtained from the Estonian coastal tide gauges over the period 1842–2009, to assess storm surge risks and to discuss climate change related mitigation and management issues in the coastal zone of Estonia. Long-term variations of both mean and extreme sea level values were studied in the Eastern section of the nearly tideless Baltic Sea. Influenced by postglacial land uplift, the series of relative sea level displayed slightly varying trends. The remarkably steep rise in annual maximum sea levels (2–12 mm/yr) could be explained by the local response to the changing regional wind climate. Due to its windward location, the sea level variations in the semi-enclosed study area are sensitive to the changes in cyclonic activity. Maximum value analysis revealed that in case of the south-westerly exposed Pärnu Bay, two storm surge events (253 in 1967 and 275 cm in 2005) were inconsistent with the theoretical distributions, which indicate that, in some locations, the most extreme sea level events are hardly predictable by means of return statistics.
    [Show full text]
  • Return Periods of Losses Associated with European Windstorm Series in a Changing Climate
    Return periods of losses associated with European windstorm series in a changing climate J.G. Pinto (a,b) M.K. Karremann (b) M. Reyers (b) M. Klawa (c) (a) Univ. Reading, UK (b) Univ. Cologne, Germany (c) Deutsche Rück, Germany Contact: [email protected] 1 Joaquim G. Pinto Bern 01 Sept. 2015 Motivation - European Storm Climatology, Top 15 Events Storm Storm Economic Damage Storm Name Fatalities rank Year Actual (USD) 1 1999 Lothar 137 11,350,000,000 2 2007 Kyrill 47 10,000,000,000 1990 season 3 1990 Daria 97 7,000,000,000 1999 season 4 2010 Xynthia 64 6,100,000,000 5 1999 Martin 90 6,000,000,000 6 2009 Klaus 28 6,000,000,000 7 2005 Erwin 18 5,505,000,000 8 1976 Capella 0 5,000,000,000 9 1987 Great Storm of 1987 23 4,000,000,000 10 1990 Vivian 50 3,500,000,000 11 1999 Anatol 27 3,000,000,000 12 2002 Jeanett 38 2,531,000,000 13 1995 Thalia 28 2,310,000,000 Multiple occurrences per year may be critical 14 1990 Wiebke 67 2,260,000,000 for contractual reasons 15 1990 Herta 30 1,960,000,000 Source: Perils 2 Joaquim G. Pinto Bern 01 Sept. 2015 Serial clustering of cyclones over North Atlantic / Europe Physical processes: a) Steering by large-scale patterns b) Secondary cyclogenesis (cyclone families) Jet stream, NAO++ Dispersion Dispersion statistics Ψ <0: serial regularity All P95 Ψ =0: serial randomness Ψ >0: serial clustering Sources: Pinto et al., 2009, Clim.
    [Show full text]
  • I Don't Think I Need to Remind Anyone Here What a Catastrophic Event The
    I don’t think I need to remind anyone here what a catastrophic event The Great Storm of 1987 was. In the build-up to its 30th anniversary last month we were treated to almost round the clock coverage in the media – on its meteorological back story - its violent trajectory across the southern half of the country - and everything from well-publicised and embarrassing forecasting failures - to the exponential loss of trees. I have a very personal reason for writing this book and this evening, I’d like to tell you how I came to write it, and where it all began; what I learned about storms and what this one, in particular, taught us and also how the themes of the title, Landscape, Legacy and Loss - came to define my own unique perspective - in the reframing and retelling of this powerful, collective national memory - 30 years on. 1 But let’s start with the weather… As our lifestyles change - as fewer of us work outdoors or have our livelihoods influenced by the weather – we’re much less affected by it than we used to be. This gradual disconnection from the outside world, means that weather events need to be truly exceptional before they stick in our minds - and that we quickly forget all but the most extreme, the most outrageous. If you were to ask a cross section of the population to give you their most vivid weather memories - each generation would be able to tell you about their own exceptionally hot or wet summer or their coldest, most severe winter.
    [Show full text]
  • Pension News Dec 14.Pdf
    Pearl Group Staff Pension Scheme December 2014 PENSION news INSIDE: • Club updates pages 4-6 • Lunch at High Holborn page 7 2 Pension news It is our sad duty to tell you that Lynne Coniff, who edited Pension News for the last 13 years, passed Hello… and welcome to away on 22 November 2014. As Lynne had already prepared this the December 2014 issue of Pension News. latest edition we thought it was It seems like no time at all since I The Editor, Pearl Pension News, fitting that it should be published as introduced you to the Summer issue! First Actuarial LLP, First House, Lynne had intended. Lynne will be I’m glad to report that you’re still Minerva Business Park, Lynch Wood, missed by everyone who had the enjoying stirring up old memories Peterborough PE2 6FT. privilege of working with her and of your time with the Pearl – we’ve our thoughts are with Mike, Lynne’s Wishing you a wonderful Christmas had a couple of replies to the ‘mighty husband, and the rest of her family and a happy New Year. oaks’ article in the last issue, which at this difficult time. Lynne Coniff celebrated the 150th birthday of Pearl, Editor and the 65th birthday of the Pearl 2015 pension pay dates Pension Scheme. We also have two more ‘add the name’ challenges – one The pension pay dates for 2015 in the form of a sketch, which should are as follows: prove interesting! 23 Jan 22 May 25 Sept 25 Feb 25 June 23 Oct As always, please keep your 25 March 24 July 25 Nov contributions coming: 24 April 25 Aug 22 Dec Pension news 3 Stirring up memories Mr Alan F Lankshear Allan G Cook from Halstead, Essex wrote: “I recognised several Following the article ‘From little acorns, mighty names but one in particular prompted memories of my early oaks grow’ in the last issue, we received two days at Pearl and that is of Mr Alan F Lankshear.
    [Show full text]
  • Teadusmõte Eestis (Vii)
    TEADUSMÕTE EESTIS (VII) MERI. JÄRVED. RANNIK TALLINN 2011 TEADUSMÕTE EESTIS (VII) MERI. JÄRVED. RANNIK Tarmo Soomere (vastutav toimetaja), Tiina Nõges Helle-Liis Help, Siiri Jakobson, Ülle Rebo, Galina Varlamova ISSN 1736-5015 978-9949-9203-2-7 (trükis) ISBN 978-9949-9203-3-4 (pdf) © EESTI TEADUSTE AKADEEMIA Facta non solum verba SISUKORD Sissejuhatus Tarmo Soomere, Tiina Nõges . 7 Populatsioonid, kooslused ja ökosüsteemid muutuvates loodus- ja inimmõju tingimustes Jonne Kotta, Henn Ojaveer. 13 Kuidas kliimamuutus mõjutab järvede elustikku ja aineringeid? Tiina Nõges, Peeter Nõges . 25 Ekstreemsete ilmastikunähtuste ja kohaliku inimtegevuse koosmõju Peipsi kaladele Külli Kangur, Kai Ginter, Andu Kangur, Peeter Kangur, Kati Orru, Tõnu Möls. 37 Tuulevälja muutumine Läänemere kirdeosas viimase poolsajandi jooksul Sirje Keevallik . 49 Tuulekliima muutuste mõju Eesti rannikumere veetaseme-, hoovuste- ja lainerežiimile Ülo Suursaar . 59 Läänemere lainekliima Eesti ranniku kontekstis Tarmo Soomere . 69 Eesti ranniku uurimine ja problemaatika Are Kont, Kaarel Orviku, Hannes Tõnisson . 83 Lainepõhised ohud rannavööndis Ira Didenkulova. 103 Päikesevalgus vees kui oluline mõjufaktor veekogude ökosüsteemi kujunemisel Helgi Arst . 117 Globaal- ja regionaalprobleemide lahendamine kaugseire meetoditega Tiit Kutser, Ele Vahtmäe, Liisa Metsamaa, Birgot Paavel . 137 Bakterite ökoloogia Eestiga seotud vesistes keskkondades Veljo Kisand . 157 4 Ka järvesetted kõnelevad – paleolimnoloogilistest uuringutest Eestis viimasel kümnendil Liisa Puusepp . 171 Ülemiste
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Storm of 1987: 20-Year Retrospective
    THE GREAT STORM OF 1987: 20-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE RMS Special Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Great Storm of October 15–16, 1987 hit northern France and southern England with unexpected ferocity. Poorly forecast, unusually strong, and occurring early in the winter windstorm season, this storm — known in the insurance industry as “87J” — has been ascribed negative consequences beyond its direct effects, including severe loss amplification, and according to one theory, the precipitation of a major global stock market downturn. Together with other catastrophic events of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the storm brought some companies to financial ruin, while at the same time creating new business opportunities for others. The global reinsurance industry in particular was forced to adapt to survive. In this climate, the way was clear for new capital to enter the market, and for the development of innovative ways to assess and transfer the financial risk from natural hazards and other perils. Twenty years following the 1987 event, this report chronicles the unique features of the storm and the potential impact of the event should it occur in 2007, in the context of RMS’ current understanding of the windstorm risk throughout Europe. The possible consequences of a storm with similar properties taking a subtly different path are also considered. In 1987, losses from the storm totalled £1.4 billion (US$2.3 billion) in the U.K. alone. RMS estimates that if the Great Storm of 1987 were to recur in 2007, it would cause between £4 billion and £7 billion (between US$8 billion and US$14.5 billion) in insured loss Europe-wide.
    [Show full text]
  • The Human Element in Forecasting - a Personal Viewpoint Martin V Young (Guidance Unit, UK Met Office, Exeter)
    The Human Element in Forecasting - a Personal Viewpoint Martin V Young (Guidance Unit, UK Met Office, Exeter) Introduction experienced Lead Forecasters recognise these all- important psychological aspects without necessarily “It should have been obvious all along that the fog realising it. Examples are addressed in turn in this wouldn’t clear…” paper. “Why didn’t the previous shift issue the thunderstorm warnings sooner?” Whilst a thorough underpinning meteorological “Why have we been lumbered with those snow warn- knowledge should be a pre-requisite, this paper aims ings that were clearly overdone?” to provide an insight and awareness into the all- important human factors that can influence the deci- How often have we asked such questions of sion-making process. Whilst other authors (e.g. colleagues, or even ourselves, on a forecasting shift? Doswell 2004) have addressed decision-making in And what lessons can we, as forecasters, learn, not so weather forecasting with the help of cognitive much about the meteorological science, but how we psychology, this paper uses examples (largely derived approach decision-making? from the author’s personal experience) to identify some potential pitfalls and barriers to effective deci- Even though meteorology has developed into a rigor- sion-making along with how to overcome them, there- ous science, the inherent uncertainty in many situa- by optimising the role of humans in weather tions means that a variety of different outcomes can forecasting. usually be envisaged especially in a finely-balanced situation. Therefore a judgement call is usually required. In an ideal world that judgement should Stand Back and Take Stock always be balanced and analytical, based on hard evidence as well as intuition.
    [Show full text]
  • Resilience and the Threat of Natural Disasters in Europe Denis Binder
    Resilience and the Threat of Natural Disasters in Europe Denis Binder, Chapman University, United States The European Conference on Sustainability, Energy & the Environment 2018 Official Conference Proceedings iafor The International Academic Forum www.iafor.org Introduction This paper focuses on the existential threat of natural hazards. History and recent experience tell us that the most constant, and predictable, hazard in Europe is that of widespread flooding with storms, often with hurricane force winds, slamming the coastal area and causing flooding inland as well. The modern world is seemingly plagued with the scourges of the Old Testament: earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, volcanoes, hurricanes and cyclones, wildfires, avalanches and landslides. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, have perished globally in natural hazards, falling victim to extreme forces of nature. None of these perils are new to civilization. Both the Gilgamesh Epic1 and the Old Testament talk of epic floods.2 The Egyptians faced ten plagues. The Minoans, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans experienced earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and pestilence. A cyclone destroyed Kublai Khan’s invasion fleet of Japan on August 15, 1281. A massive earthquake in Shaanxi Province, China on January 23, 1556 is estimated to have killed 830,000 persons. A discussion of extreme hazards often involves a common misconception of 100 year floods, 500 year floods, 200 year returns, and similar periods. A mistaken belief is that a “100 year” flood only occurs once a century. The measurement period is a statistical average over an extended period of time. It is not a means of forecasting. It means that on average a storm of that magnitude will occur once in a hundred years, but these storms could be back to back.
    [Show full text]
  • Smartworld.Asia Specworld.In
    Smartworld.asia Specworld.in UNIT-2 A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples include floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes. A natural disaster can cause loss of life or property damage, and typically leaves some economic damage in its wake, the severity of which depends on the affected population's resilience, or ability to recover. An adverse event will not rise to the level of a disaster if it occurs in an area without vulnerable population. In a vulnerable area, however, such as San Francisco, an earthquake can have disastrous consequences and leave lasting damage, requiring years to repair. In 2012, there were 905 natural catastrophes worldwide, 93% of which were weather-related disasters. Overall costs were US$170 billion and insured losses $70 billion. 2012 was a moderate year. 45% were meteorological (storms), 36% were hydrological (floods), 12% were climatologically (heat waves, cold waves, droughts, wildfires) and 7% were geophysical events (earthquakes and volcanic eruptions). Between 1980 and 2011 geophysical events accounted for 14% of all natural Avalanches smartworlD.asia During World War I, an estimated 40,000 to 80,000 soldiers died as a result of avalanches during the mountain campaign in the Alps at the Austrian-Italian front, many of which were caused by artillery fire.[6] Earthquakes An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by vibration, shaking and sometimes displacement of the ground.
    [Show full text]
  • A HISTORY of LONDON in 100 PLACES
    A HISTORY of LONDON in 100 PLACES DAVID LONG ONEWORLD A Oneworld Book First published in North America, Great Britain & Austalia by Oneworld Publications 2014 Copyright © David Long 2014 The moral right of David Long to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 All rights reserved Copyright under Berne Convention A CIP record for this title is available from the British Library ISBN 978-1-78074-413-1 ISBN 978-1-78074-414-8 (eBook) Text designed and typeset by Tetragon Publishing Printed and bound by CPI Mackays, Croydon, UK Oneworld Publications 10 Bloomsbury Street London WC1B 3SR England CONTENTS Introduction xiii Chapter 1: Roman Londinium 1 1. London Wall City of London, EC3 2 2. First-century Wharf City of London, EC3 5 3. Roman Barge City of London, EC4 7 4. Temple of Mithras City of London, EC4 9 5. Amphitheatre City of London, EC2 11 6. Mosaic Pavement City of London, EC3 13 7. London’s Last Roman Citizen 14 Trafalgar Square, WC2 Chapter 2: Saxon Lundenwic 17 8. Saxon Arch City of London, EC3 18 9. Fish Trap Lambeth, SW8 20 10. Grim’s Dyke Harrow Weald, HA3 22 11. Burial Mounds Greenwich Park, SE10 23 12. Crucifixion Scene Stepney, E1 25 13. ‘Grave of a Princess’ Covent Garden, WC2 26 14. Queenhithe City of London, EC3 28 Chapter 3: Norman London 31 15. The White Tower Tower of London, EC3 32 16. Thomas à Becket’s Birthplace City of London, EC2 36 17.
    [Show full text]
  • MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO Diploma Thesis
    MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO FACULTY OF EDUCATION Diploma thesis Brno 2018 Supervisor: Author: doc. Mgr. Martin Adam, Ph.D. Bc. Lukáš Opavský MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO FACULTY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE Presentation Sentences in Wikipedia: FSP Analysis Diploma thesis Brno 2018 Supervisor: Author: doc. Mgr. Martin Adam, Ph.D. Bc. Lukáš Opavský Declaration I declare that I have worked on this thesis independently, using only the primary and secondary sources listed in the bibliography. I agree with the placing of this thesis in the library of the Faculty of Education at the Masaryk University and with the access for academic purposes. Brno, 30th March 2018 …………………………………………. Bc. Lukáš Opavský Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor, doc. Mgr. Martin Adam, Ph.D. for his kind help and constant guidance throughout my work. Bc. Lukáš Opavský OPAVSKÝ, Lukáš. Presentation Sentences in Wikipedia: FSP Analysis; Diploma Thesis. Brno: Masaryk University, Faculty of Education, English Language and Literature Department, 2018. XX p. Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Martin Adam, Ph.D. Annotation The purpose of this thesis is an analysis of a corpus comprising of opening sentences of articles collected from the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia. Four different quality categories from Wikipedia were chosen, from the total amount of eight, to ensure gathering of a representative sample, for each category there are fifty sentences, the total amount of the sentences altogether is, therefore, two hundred. The sentences will be analysed according to the Firabsian theory of functional sentence perspective in order to discriminate differences both between the quality categories and also within the categories.
    [Show full text]