Climatic features of sea and coastal regions of North and South America, the Far East, Southeast Asia are the reason of annual formation of natural hazards (hurricanes, storm, typhoons, storms) in these areas. Such weather cataclysms leave behind large-scale destructions and the human victims, for a long time being late in memory of people. What hurricanes remembered last decade?
What is a hurricane
Hurricane – one of names of such weather phenomenon as a tropical cyclone. Represents vortex air mass with the lowered area of pressure in the center. All this system has the extent of 300-800 km in the diameter. Winds in a tropical cyclone blow on a spiral, meeting to the central part with the low pressure which is called an eye of a storm or an eye of a hurricane. Diameter of an eye, on average, is 30-60 km.
In this area of a cyclone usually there is good weather, the sky clear though also big waves are possible. The main danger is constituted by an eye wall – a ring of storm clouds around the central part. Here the strongest precipitation and winds, and blowing at small heights are concentrated.
Hurricane formation – difficult process in which mechanisms of evaporation and condensation of water vapor and also solar radiation, rotation and an attraction of Earth are involved. Existence of tropical cyclones is possible only over the extensive water surface therefore when calling on the land they quickly lose force. The peak of their activity usually is the share of the end of summer though in different parts of the planet there are seasonal features.
Northern Atlantic is in power of tropical cyclones from June to November, the North of the Indian Ocean is subject to them from April to December. Most of all a northwest part of the Pacific Ocean which hurricanes do not leave alone all the year round was not lucky, calming down from February to March only a little. In the Southern hemisphere, on the contrary, these vagaries of the weather fall on November-April.
It is remarkable that the same weather phenomenon in different parts of the world is given different names because of what there is a small confusion. In South and North America the tropical cyclones call hurricanes whereas in Asia and in the Far East – typhoons.
What the hurricane is dangerous by
On statistical data, the destructive effect of tropical cyclones became a cause of death of nearly two million people in 200 years. At the sea the hurricanes seriously complicate navigation and can lead to ship-wrecks. But they cause the most extensive damage on the land, destroying infrastructure of coastal areas and claiming the human lives. Though on the continent very quickly weaken and cannot promote deep into more, than on 40 km. The tropical cyclone is followed by several destructive factors:
- storm inflow – the most dangerous effect as leads to the greatest number of the victims;
- heavy rains – drop out with a speed several centimeters an hour, leading to floods on the plain and provoking landslides in mountainous areas;
- wind according to Beaufort's scale is recognized as a hurricane at a speed of 28 m/s, and average values about 55 m/s are characteristic of cyclones;
- the tornado or tornado arises at friction and shift of vortex masses on a land surface.
According to classification of tropical cyclones the highest category is the typhoon or a hurricane with a speed of wind higher than 33 m/s. They have a wall of an eye 15-80 km wide. Own names which can periodically repeat are appropriated to all weather phenomena of such force. In some cases, when it comes to especially destructive hurricanes, their names cease to use, assigning to the unique weather phenomenon. So was in a case with the hurricane "Katrina" - the strongest for all history of observations.
The strongest hurricanes of 2009-2013
The hurricane "Rick" ranks third on intensity in the Pacific region. It began to be formed on October 15, 2009, and two days later reached the highest 5th category of danger (on Saffira-Simpson's scale) with a speed of wind of 285 km/h. At approach to the land weakened to a storm of the 2nd category. In coastal areas of Mexico just in case closed beaches, ports and also warned inhabitants. As a result 3 persons died, more than 300 evacuated because of flood threat. Downpours provoked landslides, and wind gusts led to break of the power line. The Mexican authorities assessed damages from Rick at $15 million. In the USA the weakened tropical cyclone brought pouring rains, thunderstorms and also served as the cause of 7 tornadoes. Most of all the State of Louisiana suffered.
The hurricane "Seliya" was formed in east part of the Pacific Ocean at the end of June, 2010. Reached the maximum force at a speed of wind of 260 km/h and in two days gradually weakened to a tropical storm. Passed the way of Seliya far from sushi, having brought only precipitation to coastal areas of Mexico.
The typhoon "Megi" stormed in a northwest part of the Pacific Ocean in October, 2010. Made two exits to the land – on Philippines and in the coastal area of China. Also MEGA caused serious damage – over $40 million - to Taiwan and led to death of 38 people. On Philippines the victims of a typhoon became 31 persons, and called a material loss (about $250 million) one of the biggest in the history of the country. On continental China the harvest of crops most strongly suffered.
The typhoon "Sanba" is one more powerful tropical cyclone which affected Japan and South Korea. It was formed on September 10, 2012, and in 3 days reached peak. In South Korea damaged roads and acreage, killed six people. The damage was $378 million. In Japan caused a loss rural and to forestry, caused landslides, floods. Total losses reached $20 million.
The hurricane "Sandie" is recognized as the most destructive and killing in the Atlantic Ocean for 2012. Mentioned the East of the USA and Canada, the Caribbean country. Led to death of 233 people. Till 2017 was considered as the second in the history of the USA on the sum of the caused damage which was nearly $70 billion.
The typhoon "Haiyan" (or Iolanda) passed across Southeast Asia in November, 2013, having become the most killing in the history of Philippines. Speed of wind reached 315 km/h. In Vietnam on November 10-11 from coastal areas evacuated over 500 thousand people, air traffic and classes at schools were suspended. But all the same it was not succeeded to do without the victims: two dozen people died and more than 80 suffered. The typhoon "Haiyan" caused to China and Taiwan total damage of $800 million. About 50 people died, and the number of victims exceeded 1 million. But the most difficult situation developed on Philippines. According to different data, from 6000 to 10000 locals became disaster victims. Some provinces were almost completely destroyed. The storm setup at which waves reached 5-6 meters became the main reason for damage. The government estimated economic losses at $3.6 billion.
The strongest hurricanes of 2014-2018
The hurricane "Patricia" began to gain strength in the middle of October, 2015 in east part of the Pacific Ocean. Affected Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua. Most of all the coast of Mexico where strong wind destroyed infrastructure was damaged and destroyed all vegetation. The flood provoked by Patricia affected the American State of Texas. The general damage from a hurricane was $460 million.
The typhoon "Vongfong" became the strongest in the world in 2014, affected Philippines, Japan and Taiwan. 9 people died, economic losses estimated at $58 million.
In the southern part of the Pacific Ocean during March 6-22, 2015 there passed the heavy tropical TEM cyclone. It is considered one of the most terrible natural disasters in the history of Vanuatu and also affected Fiji, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands. In Vanuatu the cyclone damaged 90% of buildings, telecommunications are destroyed, problems with drinking water began. 16 people became disaster victims, damages were assessed at $360 million.
In the northwest of the Pacific Ocean for 2015 the typhoon "Hanna" which affected the Northern Mariana Islands, Taiwan and east part of China was recognized as the most powerful. 59 people died, economic consequences made $4 billion.
For northern Atlantic 2017 was rich in terrible hurricanes. At first during August-2 17 of September Harvey fell upon the region, then on August-13 30 September Irma stormed, and in the middle of September it was succeeded by Maria.
The hurricane "Harvey" became the first since 2005, to the USA which got on the territory. Intensive precipitation in Texas and Louisiana provoked the floods which flooded hundreds of thousands of houses. More than 100 people died, over 30000 were homeless. The hurricane led to emergence of 54 dangerous tornadoes. Harvey cost the USA to $125 billion, having set a record on the amount of damage for all history of observations.
Caribbean countries and the American State of Florida most strongly suffered from a hurricane. The maximum winds reached 285 km/h. The number of the victims made 134 person, damages were assessed at $64 billion.
The hurricane "Maria" left behind over 3000 dead, put catastrophic destructions to Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. Also it aggravated the serious consequences left "By Irma who passed a little earlier in Caribbean countries. In the southeast of the USA Maria led to serious interruptions in electricity. The general damage was $90 billion that corresponds to the third place among the most expensive tropical cyclones in the history.
In 2018 the season of hurricanes came in east part of the Pacific Ocean. With small intervals in this region there passed three hurricanes of the 5th (highest) category: "Lane", Valaka, "Villa". The Hawaiian Islands most seriously suffered from the first two, the third mentioned Mexico, Central America and the State of Texas. Caused most of all damage "Villa" - $560 million, isolated cases of death of people were recorded.