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BrandonOlsen_SCIN137_Assg3.pptxTYPHOON MANGKHUT
Brandon Olsen
Typhoons are some of the deadliest weather events on this planet.
They are also unpreventable and unstoppable just like hurricanes.
Fortunately, there are ways of mitigating them.
In my project, I researched about Typhoon Mangkhut.
INTRODUCTION
Typhoon Maghkhut formed on 7th September in 2018 and dissipated after 10 days.
Among the areas affected include Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, South China, and Vietnam.
My focus was Philippines, where it appeared on 14th September 2018.
The weather event mainly affected the native Filipinos as well as some foreigners that were in the country during the event.
I found this event relevant because it effected where I was born, and changed the lives of family and close friends.
The significance of Typhoon Mangkhut lies in the fact that it was both a national and international calamity affecting many people and destroying a lot of properties in the places it touched (Wan et al., 2018).
OVERVIEW OF THE WEATHER EVENT: Typhoon Maghkhut
Atmospheric Condition before the Typhoon
On September 5, 2018, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported tropical disturbance near the International Date Line.
The center then reported low wind shear, ample outflow aloft, high sea surface temperatures, and high ocean heat content (Wan, et al., 2018).
WEATHER JOURNAL
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Mangkhut#/media/File:PSWS_Mangkhut.png
A map of the highest Public Storm Warning Signals raised throughout the Philippines in relation to Mangkhut's passage
This weather event did not ambush Philippines. Various weather and climate agencies were able to detect and predict it thereby facilitating the mitigation of the typhoon’s impacts. JTWC was among the centers that were handy in this situation. It detected the first signal of the typhoon, the tropical disturbance near the International Date Line, which the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified as a tropical depression. Because of these early detections, Philippines and other affected countries were able to prepare for it.
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Atmospheric Condition after the Typhoon
After the typhoon, the atmospheric conditions stabilized (Conrad, 2018).
Mainly, the sea surface temperatures and ocean heat content dropped significantly (Shannon, 2018).
WEATHER JOURNAL
Sailors remove debris in Philippines following Typhoon Mangkhut
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Mangkhut#/media/File:Sailors_remove_debris_on_Naval_Base_Guam_following_Typhoon_Mangkhut._(42805966540).jpg
Typhoons occur in the North West Pacific Ocean and are caused by the same factors that cause hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean
They include pre-existing disturbances, warm ocean water, low atmospheric stability, sufficient Coriolis force, moist mid-atmosphere, and upper atmosphere divergence.
Thunderstorms are the main causes of pre-existing disturbances (Conrad, 2018).
Below are some pictures on the formation of typhoons
THE CAUSAL FACTOR
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The Formation of Typhoons
https://www.slideshare.net/Mary_aikzuna/typhoon-cyclone-hurricane
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/all-you-need-to-know-about-mangkhut-and-what-makes-it-a-super-typhoon
Short-Term Impact
Loss of lives, and
Destruction of properties
Long-Term Impact
Almost a million people were left homeless
There were landslides
Destruction of Infrastructure
Havoc and fear over similar events in the future (Shannon, 2018).
SOCIETAL IMPACT
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45537918
Impacts of the Typhoon Mangkhut
While it was detected thereby facilitating its preparedness, the Typhoon Mangkhut still managed to kill more than 134 people in the Philippines. It also destroyed crops and blocked roads besides bringing down communication and electricity lines. Buildings were also damaged and other brought down. A lot of people were left homeless as others were displaced. Hunger struck because crops were damaged. The typhoon also damaged power and communication lines and blocked roads thereby halting practices due to blackouts, and lack of transport and communication. Combined, all these impacts halted Philippines’ growth and development as all its system; social, political, and economic were damaged.
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Generally, the Typhoon Mangkhut made Philippines a hell to be for both the Filipinos and foreigners.
Many of the natives felt the place was not safe for them to be anymore.
The loss of their loved ones only helped to pile fear in them that the nightmare could also occur in the future again.
On the other hand, tourists reconsidered going to Philippines for vacations especially during the season the typhoon happened.
Economically, as already mentioned, the typhoon set the Philippines back hundreds of miles in terms of growth and development.
The typhoon destroyed the majority of its systems and infrastructures it had took millenniums to build and that meant it had to start over again.
To make it worse, before rebuilding, it had to focus on rescue and recovery of victims. Then try to manage the immediate problems the typhoon had caused such as settling the displaced and homeless people, as well as solving the food, electricity, transport, and communication problems.
THE TYPHOON IMPACT FROM A WIDER PERSPECTIVE
From these findings, it is evident that typhoons are fatal socially, politically, and economically when they occur.
Now that they cannot be stopped, how can Phillipines mitigate the likes of the Typhoon Mangkhut in the future?
By establishing typhoon detection, communication, and evacuation and recovery centers and programs.
Luckily, Philippines is already advanced in this area.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) center played a significant role in preparing the nation for the Typhoon Mangkhut.
As such, the nation should maintain and improve the station technologically to improve its accuracy and facilitate timely detection
WEATHER READINESS
PAGASA was crucial in detecting the Typhoon Mangkhut. It hoisted the tropical cyclone warning signals by September 13. Preemptive and forced evacuations were implemented, especially in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera administrative regions, the three regions widely expected to be severely affected by Mangkhut (Ompong). School class suspensions were announced as early as September 12 in preparation for the approaching typhoon. Medical and emergency response teams were placed on standby, and around ₱1,700,000,000 worth of relief goods were prepared by 13 September.
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The Typhoon Mangkhut was a super typhoon in the history of humanity.
Even when Philippines detected it in time and was able to prepare for it, it still managed to kill more than 100 people both native and foreigners and destroy the whole economy of the nation.
It was a good play from PAGASA, but for proper, effective, timely and accurate mitigation of such typhoons in the future, Philippines will have to improve the efficiency of the center.
CONCLUSION
Shannon, P. (September 25, 2018). How climate chaos: Hurts the poor. Green Left Weekly, 1197, 1197.)
Wan, C., Sum, W., Chan, C., Chan, K., Lin, D., In Ng, K., & RTHK,. (2018). Mangkhut memories. Hong Kong : RTHK.
Conrad, J. O. S. E. P. H. (2018). Typhoon. Place of Publication not Identified: Outlook Verlag.
REFERENCES
