Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Weather & Climate
- Hurricane Mitch Case Study
(LEDC Effected)
- In October 1998 a tropical storm developed
to the east of Central America and began
moving towards Nicaragua and Honduras.
- on 22 October 1998, Mitch had grown
into a Category 5 hurricane - the highest
level on the Saffir Simpson Scale.
- winds of 155 knots (180 mph)
and gusts well over 200 mph
- Hurricane effects in Honduras
- Final death toll was over 19,000
- Around 600,000 people
forced to live in makeshift
shelters.
- Over 70% of the year's
crops ruined, leading to
food shortages.
- half a million people had
lost their homes
- Schools, roads,
bridges and power
lines lost.
- On steeper slopes, flash-floods and mudslides
buried some areas under thousands of tons of mud,
rocks and vegetation.
- Hurricane effects in Nicaragua
- 20% of all farms were
ruined.
- All main roads out of the
capital city was destroyed.
- 20% of the population
was made homeless.
- Death toll nearly 3000
- On steeper slopes, flash-floods and mudslides
buried some areas under thousands of tons of
mud, rocks and vegetation.
- Could the impacts have been reduced?
- Deforestation may have left slopes bare,
increasing the possibility of landslides.
- Villages were built on steep hills
or unstable slopes.
- Many towns had no
proper storm drains.
- Homes were poorly
constructed.
- Hurricane Sandy Case Study
(MEDC Effected)
- Hurricane sandy is the largest hurricane
ever to be recorded over the Atlantic, 1000
miles wide.
- Hurricane effects
- The presidential
election had to be held
up for a week.
- The financial markets in Wall Street had
to close for two days
- Lower Manhattan was
swamped by 13ft (4m) of
sea water.
- 6 million houses
without electricity.
- Economic losses across New York
were estimated to be at least $18 billion.
- Over 200mm of rainfall
in just 36 hours.
- Category 1 hurricane however this was a strange hurricane as instead
of losing strength as it hit land, it started picking up speed and strength.
- storm surges made more threatening because the
tides were unusually high.