Hazards & Climate Science

Monica Ortiz Ateneo School of Government

CCA-DRR training, October 16-19, 2012, Albay

 What are hazards?

Hydrometeorological hazards

Geophysical hazards
Human-induced hazards

Other hazards
Interaksyon ng mga hazard Climate Science 101: What is weather, and what is climate? What is climate change?

What is a hazard?

HAZARD
A dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage. (UNISDR).

Mga Epekto ng Panganib

Maraming namamatay, nasasaktan o nawawala

Nawawalan ng bahay at pag-aari

Naaapektuhan ang supply ng tubig at pagkain Nawawalan ng ani Nasisira ang inprastraktura Masama ang epekto sa kalusugan

Napapatigil ang mga basic na serbisyo, trabaho

Nasisira ang kapaligiran

Types of Hazards
Hydrometeorological hazards Geophysical hazards Anthropogenic/Human -induced hazards Other hazards
Disasters in the Philippines 1906 - 2006

Hydrometeorological hazards

Hydrometeorological hazards

Hydrometeorological hazards: storm surge

Alin ang dagat, at alin ang baha??

Hydrometeorological hazards
The lack of rain, manifested in droughts, El Nino, or excess heat (heat waves) are also hydrometeorological hazards

Hydrometeorological hazards
Examples: Typhoons, Storm Surge, Floods, Drought, Heat Waves, El Nio or La Nia, very strong winds Hydromet hazards are some of the most common causes of disasters They can also lead to other disasters like landslides, forest fires, impacts on health

Source: Prevention Web

Geophysical hazards

Mt. Pinatubo, 1994

Geophysical hazards
Connected to the natural processes of our earth For example, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, ash fall, debris or mudflow, earthquakeinduced and rainfall-induced landslides

Geophysical hazards: landslides

Can be caused by many different factors: most typically earthquakes and heavy rainfall Due to interactions between slope, type of material, fluids, vegetation and land use

Human-induced hazards

Fukushima Nuclear Disaster, Japan

Human-induced hazards
Polusyon

Human-induced Hazards
Environmental degradation: deforestation, oil spills

Human-induced hazards

Giyera o Terorismo

Other hazards
Pests and diseases Technological hazards Health and safety hazards

Categories of Hazards
1. Discrete recurrent hazards 2. Continuous hazards 3. Discrete singular hazards

Source: Dr. Rosa Perez, Manila Observatory

Interactions of hazards
Hazard occurrence may sometimes be following a previous hazard. Sometimes hazards occur simultaneously Maraming panganib ay sanhi ng iba pang panganib.
Hal: bagyo baha Hal: lindol tsunami Hal: heavy rain fall leading to rain-fall induced hazards

Questions?

Weather and Climate

Whats the weather like today?

Maaraw? Maulan? Maraming ulap?

Weather is a reflection of the current state of the atmosphere. It is characterized by temperature, rainfall, humidity, sunshine, cloud cover, among other factors

Whats the climate like in the Bicol Region?

Climate refers to the average weather and its variability over a certain time-span and area. 30 years is the usual standard for climate observation

Dapat ba ganito ang suot ni lola sa Cam Sur?

Weather-weather lang yan

The Climate System

 A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods Long-term, measurable changes to climate factors: for example, temperature, rainfall, wind patterns

The Greenhouse Effect

Normal ang greenhouse effect o ang pag-init ng mundo: kailangan natin para mabuhay

Source: Dr. Rosa Perez, Manila Observatory

The Greenhouse Effect

However, scientists have observed that temperatures have been rising at a rate never seen before; Warming is linked to an increase in greenhouse gases, which absorb heat and retain it in the earths atmosphere

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Biggest sources of carbon dioxide produced by humans include the use of fossil fuels for energy, transport, industry Deforestation Melting of permafrost

Carbon Dioxide
Plants and other photosynthetic organisms need CO2 to survive However, at the rate of deforestation, where are our carbon sinks?

Methane
Another major greenhouse gas, considered 20 x more efficient at trapping heat Landfills and waste, agricultural activity

What are the effects of climate change?

Temperature changes Has negative effects on food and water security, agricultural activities, ecosystems and biodiversity, human health Global warming vs

Effects of Climate Change

Nagbabago ang pag-ulan

Effects of Climate Change

Sea level rise and ocean acidification

Effects of Climate Change

Potentially more frequent and more intense climates extremes, particularly hydromet hazards

Source: Dr. Rosa Perez, Manila Observatory

Impacts of Climate Change

Agriculture == Food security
Farming Livestock Aquaculture

Health, particularly vector-borne diseases Water security Human behavior and migration Biodiversity and ecosystem services

May mga tanong po ba?