Solomon Islands Floods April 2014
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Tropical Cyclones in the Great Barrier Reef Region
Tropical cyclones and climate change in the Great Barrier Reef region Tropical cyclones can devastate coastal and marine ecosystems in the Great Barrier Reef region. Reef image: Matt Curnock > The annual number of Tropical cyclones have the potential to generate extreme winds, tropical cyclones in the heavy rainfall and large waves that can devastate agriculture Great Barrier Reef region and marine infrastructure and ecosystems in the Great Barrier shows large year-to-year Reef (GBR) region. Powerful wind gusts, storm surges and variability, primarily due coastal flooding resulting from tropical cyclones can damage to the El Niño-Southern tourism infrastructure, such as damage to Hamilton Island Oscillation phenomenon. from cyclone Debbie in 2017, and the combination of wind, flooding and wave action can uproot mangroves. > There is no clear trend Wave action and flood plumes from Global temperatures continue in the annual number river runoff can devastate seagrass to increase in response to rising (e.g. central GBR, cyclone Yasi, concentrations of greenhouse gases of observed tropical 2011) and coral reef communities in the atmosphere. In response, the cyclones impacting (e.g. southern GBR, cyclone impacts associated with extreme the Great Barrier Reef Hamish, 2009 and northern GBR, weather hazards and disasters, since 1980. However, cyclone Nathan, 2015). Waves in including those caused by tropical particular can damage corals even cyclones in the GBR region, are during this time impacts when cyclones are several hundred likely to change. Understanding how from other stressors kilometers away from the reef. these changes to extreme weather hazards will manifest in the GBR have increased in Recovery of ecosystems from this region in the future is critical for damage can take years to decades, frequency and severity. -
Australian Journal of Emergency Management, Volume 31, Number
Presented at AFAC16 - the annual conference of AFAC and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Research CRC in Brisbane, August 2016. ABSTRACT This paper presents research Building community from collaboration between the Cyclone Testing Station (CTS) cyclone resilience at James Cook University and insurer Suncorp over the last two years. A key outcome of through academic and this work has been an insurance premium reduction program by Suncorp known as the insurance industry ‘Cyclone Resilience Benefit’. Background research conducted for the program by the CTS partnership is discussed and its details are briefly reviewed. Insights Jon Harwood, Suncorp Group Limited, and Dr Daniel J. Smith and from the program delivery to Dr David Henderson, Cyclone Testing Station, detail an academic- over 14 000 homeowners to industry partnership to bring cost benefits to cyclone-prone date are discussed. Although still in preliminary stages, the communities. development of this industry program based on academic research demonstrates the benefits of strategic Introduction partnerships in the field of Australia’s annual insured losses due to natural disasters exceed $480 million natural disaster risk mitigation. on average (ICA 2014), continuously highlighting the need for well-designed Figure 1: Insurance losses by natural hazard (ICA 2014). homes and infrastructure. Cyclone and severe storm events are particularly costly, contributing to nearly half of all nominal natural hazard insurance losses over the period from 1970–2013 (see Figure 1). While cyclone events are relatively infrequent, the resulting losses are excessive and the risk associated with insuring properties in cyclonic regions of Australia (e.g. Queensland) has led to affordability issues. -
Severe Tropical Cyclone Glenda 27 - 31 March 2006
Severe Tropical Cyclone Glenda 27 - 31 March 2006 Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre Bureau of Meteorology A. Summary Severe Tropical Cyclone Glenda was a small and intense system that developed very rapidly after moving off the northwest Kimberley coast. Glenda reached category 5 intensity but weakened as it approached the Pilbara coast. Although threatening to cross the coast near the populated Dampier/Karratha region as a Category 4 system close to the time of high tide, Glenda took a more SW course towards Onslow and weakened before finally crossing the coast near Onslow at 2200 WST 30 March as a marginal category 3 system. Very destructive winds were recorded on the coast at Mardie prior to crossing. A total of 206 mm of rain fell at Onslow in the 24 hours to 0900 WST 31 March, representing the sixth wettest day on record for the town. Other centres in the Pilbara also recorded cumulative totals of over 200mm, and although in general Glenda produced less than average rainfall for a landfalling tropical cyclone, rainfall was sufficient to cause problems for transport. The weakening of TC Glenda prior to impact on Onslow, together with the preparedness of the town helped to avert major damage. B. Meteorological Description A weak low developed in the Gulf of Carpentaria during the middle of March and slowly progressed westwards over the Northern Territory. On 24 March it moved temporarily into the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf north of Wyndham, then accelerated across the Kimberley overnight. On 26 March vertical wind shear eased and by about 1200 UTC the system moved off the coast and developed rapidly. -
6. Annual Review and Significant Events
6. Annual Review and Significant Events January-April: wet in the tropics and WA, very hot in central to eastern Australia For northern Australia, the tropical wet season (October 2005 – April 2006) was the fifth wettest on record, with an average of 674 mm falling over the period. The monsoon trough was somewhat late in arriving over the Top End (mid-January as opposed to the average of late December), but once it had become established, widespread heavy rain featured for the next four months, except over the NT and Queensland in February. One particularly noteworthy event occurred towards the end of January when an intense low (central pressure near 990 hPa) on the monsoon trough, drifted slowly westward across the central NT generating large quantities of rain. A two-day deluge of 482 mm fell at Supplejack in the Tanami Desert (NT), resulting in major flooding over the Victoria River catchment. A large part of the central NT had its wettest January on record. Widespread areas of above average rain in WA were mainly due to the passages of several decaying tropical cyclones, and to a lesser extent southward incursions of tropical moisture interacting with mid-latitude systems. Severe tropical cyclone Clare crossed the Pilbara coast on 9t h January and then moved on a southerly track across the western fringes of WA as a rain depression. Significant flooding occurred around Lake Grace where 226 mm of rain fell in a 24-hour period from 12 t h to 13 t h January. Tropical cyclone Emma crossed the Pilbara coast on 28 th February and moved on a southerly track; very heavy rain fell in the headwaters of the Murchison River on 1s t March causing this river’s highest flood on record. -
Summary of 2005/6 Australian-Region Tropical Storm Season and Verification of Authors’ Seasonal Forecasts
Summary of 2005/6 Australian-Region Tropical Storm Season and Verification of Authors’ Seasonal Forecasts Issued: 15th May 2006 by Professor Mark Saunders and Dr Adam Lea Benfield Hazard Research Centre, UCL (University College London), UK. Summary ¢¡¤£¦¥¨§¨§¨© £¨¨ £¨£¨ ¨£"!$#%¨&('(¨)¨'*+%,¨-'(.¨&/%¨01¨.%'23'(%546¨7+£¨ ¤£¨ ¨£8!$#%¨&('(¨9&*¨¤7:¨&(&*'( ;¨.%'23'*%54=<3 ¢¡¤'*>.¨¤%¨%?@'(%¡9%¡£A:B¨#A-,£C3'(¨#/!$#%¨&('(¨ %,¨-¤'*.¨&%¨0D£¨¨E@¡'(.¡F¨&(&3¡¤¨7F)£&(,@£¨ ¨£"¨.%'23'(%54¨<G ¢¡£" ¢HIJ%£,.'(&(£K-,¨)¤¨)'(&*'(%54 :B¨,£.¨%¦:L¨M%¡¤£¥¨§¨§¨© N £¨¨O¡,@£7P£Q¨.£&*&(£%$R¤'*&(&(ST-,£7'(.%'( :,¨0VUW 4X¥¨§¨§¨©+%¡¨% !K#%¨&('*¨ )¨'( ¨7 &(¨7¤:¨&*&('( Y¨.%'Z3'(%54Y[¨#&(7 )£\.&*¨£\%Y£¨ ¨£<X ¢¡¤£] ¢H¤I 7¤£%£0^'*¤'*%'*.¦:B¨,£.¨%A¡,@£76 ¨¨¨76R¤'*&(&_:B¨;)¤¨'(`¨.%'23'(%54a¨76:B¨¦&*¨¤7:¨&(&*'( M%,¨-'(.¨& %¨0b¤#0^)£_:,¨0bUc 4d¥¨§¨§¨©¨< egf3hejilk m3n(opqsr=t k iu1vKn(wyxOze{r|vK}$ok ~3wk it nZ¨u1m¨ilhwh~¨tNw@pFwy¨u[upiOk¨st(f3h¨¨¨ ^"3wyt(ilpq(n*p~3 ilh,¨n(k ~;t*ilk m3n(opqwtNk iyuwhpwk ~9p~3¦p8gpq(n(¨pt n(k ~k¨t(f3hniwhpwk ~3pqm¨ilk 3p3n(q*n(wyt n(oAp~3¦¨ht hiunZ~3n(wyt n*o k ilhopwyt w>k i?t(f3n(w>potNn 3nZt*¨¤egf3hwh$k ilhopwyt w{@hilh$n*wwy3hKuk ~¨t(f3qZ95ilk ut*f3h$ t(f¦Wp9¨¨¨ "tNk"t*f3h t(f@hohu[3hi8¨¨¨ p~3nZ~3oqZ3¨hKwhm3pilptNhTm¨ilh¨n(otNn(k ~3wsk i{~¨¨u3hilwsk¨¤t*ilk m3n(opqwyt k iuw~¨¨u[3hilw k¨¢wh¤hilh t(ilk m3n(opq¡oC3oq(k ~3hw"p~3¢t(f3h A£E¤¥z5@oo¨u3q(ptNh^£E3oq*k ~3h¦¤¡~3hi 3}snZ~3¨h§3egf3h[q*pt(tNhiKn(w ¨n ¤h~dk i¨t*f3h/"f3k¨q(h/"3wyt(ilpq*n(p~35ilh ¨n(k ~3 Features of the 2005/6 Australian-Region Season • The 2005/6 Australian-region tropical storm season featured 11 storms of which 7 made severe tropical cyclone strength (U.S. -
Cyclone Factsheet UPDATE
TROPICAL CYCLONES AND CLIMATE CHANGE: FACTSHEET CLIMATECOUNCIL.ORG.AU TROPICAL CYCLONES AND CLIMATE CHANGE: FACT SHEET KEY POINTS • Climate change is increasing the destructive power of tropical cyclones. o All weather events today, including tropical cyclones, are occurring in an atmosphere that is warmer, wetter, and more energetic than in the past. o It is likely that maximum windspeeds and the amount of rainfall associated with tropical cyclones is increasing. o Climate change may also be affecting many other aspects of tropical cyclone formation and behaviour, including the speed at which they intensify, the speed at which a system moves (known as translation speed), and how much strength is retained after reaching land – all factors that can render them more dangerous. o In addition, rising sea levels mean that the storm surges that accompany tropical cyclones are even more damaging. • While climate change may mean fewer tropical cyclones overall, those that do form can become more intense and costly. In other words, we are likely to see more of the really strong and destructive tropical cyclones. • A La Niña event brings an elevated tropical cyclone risk for Australia, as there are typically more tropical cyclones in the Australian region than during El Niño years. BACKGROUND Tropical cyclones, known as hurricanes in the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, typhoons in the Northwest Pacific, and simply as tropical cyclones in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, are among the most destructive of extreme weather events. Many Pacific Island Countries, including Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga, lie within the South Pacific cyclone basin. -
1 World Health Organization Department of Communications Evidence Syntheses to Support the Guideline on Emergency Risk Communic
World Health Organization Department of Communications Evidence Syntheses to Support the Guideline on Emergency Risk Communication Q10: What are the best social media channels and practices to promote health protection measures and dispel rumours and misinformation during events and emergencies with public health implications? Final Report Submitted by Wayne State University, 42 W. Warren Ave., Detroit, Michigan 48202 United States of America Contact Persons: Pradeep Sopory, Associate Professor, Department of Communication (Email: [email protected]; Ph.: 313.577.3543) Lillian (Lee) Wilkins, Professor, Department of Communication (Email: [email protected]; 313.577.2959) Date: December 21, 2016 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents . 2 Project Team, Acknowledgments, Authors . 3 1.0 Introduction . 4 2.0 Existing Reviews . 7 3.0 Method . 12 4.0 Results . 23 5.0 Discussion . 48 6.0 Funding . 52 7.0 References . 53 8.0 Appendixes . 62 2 PROJECT TEAM, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, AUTHORS Wayne State University The project team was Pradeep Sopory, Lillian (Lee) Wilkins, Ashleigh Day, Stine Eckert, Donyale Padgett, and Julie Novak. Research assistance provided by (in alphabetical order) Fatima Barakji, Kimberly Daniels, Beth Fowler, Javier Guzman Barcenas. Juan Liu, Anna Nagayko, and Jacob Nickell. Library assistance provided by Damecia Donahue. We acknowledge the assistance of staff (in alphabetical order) Mary Alleyne, Robin Collins, Victoria Dallas, Janine Dunlop, Andrea Hill, Charylce Jackson, and Angela Windfield. World Health Organization Methodology assistance provided by consultant Jane Noyes, library assistance provided by Tomas Allen, and general research assistance provided by Nyka Alexander. We acknowledge the assistance of staff Oliver Stucke. Project initiated and conceptualized by Gaya Gamhewage and Marsha Vanderford. -
The Bathurst Bay Hurricane: Media, Memory and Disaster
The Bathurst Bay Hurricane: Media, Memory and Disaster Ian Bruce Townsend Bachelor of Arts (Communications) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2019 School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry Abstract In 1899, one of the most powerful cyclones recorded struck the eastern coast of Cape York, Queensland, resulting in 298 known deaths, most of whom were foreign workers of the Thursday Island pearling fleets. Today, Australia’s deadliest cyclone is barely remembered nationally, although there is increasing interest internationally in the cyclone’s world record storm surge by scientists studying past cyclones to assess the risks of future disasters, particularly from a changing climate. The 1899 pearling fleet disaster, attributed by Queensland Government meteorologist Clement Wragge to a cyclone he named Mahina, has not until now been the subject of scholarly historical inquiry. This thesis examines the evidence, as well as the factors that influenced how the cyclone and its disaster have been remembered, reported, and studied. Personal and public archives were searched for references to, and evidence for, the event. A methodology was developed to test the credibility of documents and the evidence they contained, including the data of interest to science. Theories of narrative and memory were applied to those documents to show how and why evidence changed over time. Finally, the best evidence was used to reconstruct aspects of the event, including the fate of several communities, the cyclone’s track, and the elements that contributed to the internationally significant storm tide. The thesis concludes that powerful cultural narratives were responsible for the nation forgetting a disaster in which 96 percent of the victims were considered not to be citizens of the anticipated White Australia. -
Post Tropical Cyclone Ita Assessment of Intertidal Seagrass Status in Dugong and Green Turtle Feeding Grounds ‐ Jeannie River to Cape Bedford (Cape York)
Extreme Weather Incident Response Post Tropical Cyclone Ita assessment of intertidal seagrass status in dugong and green turtle feeding grounds ‐ Jeannie River to Cape Bedford (Cape York) Len McKenzie, Rob Coles, Louise Johns & Jessica Leech Report No. 14/25 May 2014 i Information should be cited as: McKenzie, LJ., Coles, R., Johns, L. and Leech, J. 2014, ‘Post Tropical Cyclone Ita assessment of intertidal seagrass status in dugong and green turtle feeding grounds ‐ Jeannie River to Cape Bedford (Cape York)’. Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) report 14/25. Cairns, James Cook University, Cairns. 20 pp. For further information contact: Len McKenzie Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) James Cook University [email protected] PO Box 6811 Cairns QLD 4870 This publication has been compiled by the Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University. Email: [email protected] Web: www.jcu.edu.au/tropwater/ © James Cook University, 2014. Except as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, no part of the work may in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any other means be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or be broadcast or transmitted without the prior written permission of TropWATER. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The copyright owner shall not be liable for technical or other errors or omissions contained herein. The reader/user accepts all risks and responsibility for losses, damages, costs and other consequences resulting directly or indirectly from using this information. Acknowledgments: This project was funded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Cairns. -
Declines of Seagrasses in a Tropical Harbour, North Queensland, Australia, Are Not the Result of a Single Event
Declines of seagrasses in a tropical harbour, North Queensland, Australia, are not the result of a single event SKYE MCKENNA*, JESSIE JARVIS, TONIA SANKEY, CARISSA REASON, ROBERT COLES and MICHAEL RASHEED Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia *Corresponding author (Email, [email protected]) A recent paper inferred that all seagrass in Cairns Harbour, tropical north-eastern Australia, had undergone ‘complete and catastrophic loss’ as a result of tropical cyclone Yasi in 2011. While we agree with the concern expressed, we would like to correct the suggestion that the declines were the result of a single climatic event and that all seagrass in Cairns Harbour were lost. Recent survey data and trend analysis from an on-ground monitoring program show that seagrasses in Cairns Harbour do remain, albeit at low levels, and the decline in seagrasses occurred over several years with cyclone Yasi having little additional impact. We have conducted annual on-ground surveys of seagrass distribution and the above-ground meadow biomass in Cairns Harbour and Trinity Inlet since 2001. This has shown a declining trend in biomass since a peak in 2004 and in area since it peaked in 2007. In 2012, seagrass area and above-ground biomass were significantly below the long-term (12 year) average but seagrass was still present. Declines were associated with regional impacts on coastal seagrasses from multiple years of above-average rainfall and severe storm and cyclone activity, similar to other nearby seagrass areas, and not as a result of a single event. [McKenna S, Jarvis J, Sankey T, Reason C, Coles R and Rasheed M 2015 Declines of seagrasses in a tropical harbour, North Queensland, Australia, are not the result of a single event. -
Disaster Assistance
Q R A Monthly Report August 2014 www.qldreconstrucon.org.au Monthly Report ‐ August 2014 1 Document details: Security classificaon Public Date of review of security classificaon August 2014 Authority Queensland Reconstrucon Authority Author Chief Execuve Officer Document status Final Version 1.0 Contact for Enquiries: All enquiries regarding this document should be directed to: Queensland Reconstrucon Authority Phone the call centre ‐ 1800 110 841 Mailing Address Queensland Reconstrucon Authority PO Box 15428 City East Q 4002 Alternavely, contact the Queensland Reconstrucon Authority by emailing [email protected] Licence This material is licensed under a Creave Commons ‐ Aribuon 3.0 Australia licence. The Queensland Reconstrucon Authority requests aribuon in the following manner: © The State of Queensland (Queensland Reconstrucon Authority) 2011‐2014 Informaon security This document has been classified using the Queensland Government Informaon Security Classificaon Framework (QGISCF) as PUBLIC and will be managed according to the requirements of the QGISCF. 2 Monthly Report ‐ August 2014 www.qldreconstrucon.org.au Message from the Chief Execuve Officer Major General Richard Wilson AO Chairman Queensland Reconstrucon Authority Dear Major General Wilson It is with pleasure that I present the August 2014 Monthly Report – the 42nd report to the Board of the Queensland Reconstrucon Authority (the Authority). The Authority was established under the Queensland Reconstrucon Authority Act 2011 following the unprecedented natural disasters which struck Queensland over the summer months of 2010‐11. The Authority is charged with managing and coordinang the Government’s program of infrastructure renewal and recovery within disaster‐affected communies, with a focus on working with our State and local government partners to deliver best pracce expenditure of public reconstrucon funds. -
Launching the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
210 91NA ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BANGKOK, THAILAND NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTION IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC: LAUNCHING THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTION VOLUME I WATER-RELATED NATURAL DISASTERS UNITED NATIONS December 1991 FLOOD CONTROL SERIES 1* FLOOD DAMAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL ACnVITlHS IN ASIA AND THE FAR EAST United Nations publication, Sales No. 1951.II.F.2, Price $US 1,50. Availably in separate English and French editions. 2* MKTUODS AND PROBLEMS OF FLOOD CONTROL IN ASIA AND THIS FAR EAST United Nations publication, Sales No, 1951.ILF.5, Price SUS 1.15. 3.* PROCEEDINGS OF THF. REGIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON FLOOD CONTROL IN ASIA AND THE FAR EAST United Nations publication, Sales No. 1953.U.F.I. Price SUS 3.00. 4.* RIVER TRAINING AND BANK PROTECTION • United Nations publication, Sate No. 1953,TI.I;,6. Price SUS 0.80. Available in separate English and French editions : 1* THE SKDLMENT PROBLEM United Nations publication, Sales No. 1953.TI.F.7. Price $US 0.80. Available in separate English and French editions 6.* STANDARDS FOR METHODS AND RECORDS OF HYDROLOGIC MEASUREMENTS United Nations publication, Sales No. 1954.ILF.3. Price SUS 0.80. Available, in separate. English and French editions. 7.* MULTIPLE-PURPOSE RIVER DEVELOPMENT, PARTI, MANUAL OF RIVER BASIN PLANNING United Nations publication. Sales No. 1955.II.I'M. Price SUS 0.80. Available in separate English and French editions. 8.* MULTI-PURPOSE RIVER DEVELOPMENT, PART2A. WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN CF.YLON, CHINA. TAIWAN, JAPAN AND THE PHILIPPINES |;_ United Nations publication, Sales No.