Natural Disasters
Redoubt Volcano, Alaska
The first natural disaster of this research happens to be a huge explosive volcanic eruption, occurred on 22nd March09. 1038 pm, in the mountainous regions of Alaska, USA. As observed this Mountain termed as Mount Rebound had been showing continuous disruptions from 23rd January09. Officials reported it to be a drastic emulsion, similar to that of 1989 volcanic eruption in Alaska.
Mount Redoubt has had a fierce history when it comes to natural disasters. It has experienced the most severe plate movements and has been a reason for a number of tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It has busted to ashes fumes almost five times in the past 110 years, i.e. in 1902, 1922, 1966, 1989 and, most recently, in2009.
Redoubt Volcano last year too, was one of the huge of its kinds. It started with blowing volcanic substances (Lava, Fumes Gases) to the height of 20,000 feet initially and rose up to 50,000 feet in the next twenty minutes. The volcano has said to be exploded five times in a time if 24 hours, rising the fumes up to 9 miles in the air ( HYPERLINK httpwww.suite101.comprofile.cfmME_mkfleury Fleury , 2009).
As reported two planes had been almost crashed due to the gaseous eruptions. People living in Alaska were not much affected yet, small communities living at the north of the site of this eruption, experienced fumes falling of gray dust in their areas.
The agency responsible for detecting Mount Redoubt is called the Alaska Volcano Observatory, which is a sub unit of Alaskas Division of Homeland Security. This division provides services against all acts of terrorism hazards and takes action against any unforeseen circumstances. This agency has been given the charge by the city Govt. of Alaska. Under the Alaska Disaster Act this agency is responsible to provide protection precautionary measures against all natural hazards (Alaska Volcano Observatory, n.d.).
Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) had observed disturbances two months before the final disruptions. Constant monitoring unveiled that the disruption is similar to that of 1989. AVO has a unique technology of Aviation Color Code whereby three color codes are used to indicate the position of the volcanic eruption. The Green color denotes safe clear position. Orange is a color that refers to severe threat that requires close observation Red is the ultimate explosion color (Alaska Volcano Observatory, n.d.).
Once the mountain started showing signs, AVO had changed the Aviation Color Code to Orange and placed web cams to carry out close monitoring. All these codes denoted that this volcano was ready to erupt any minute.
In February, AVO set out to more close observations. Increased numbers of webcams were installed around the affected area. Censors were placed near the mountain and after every three days, planes flew above to observe, the level of gases coming out ( HYPERLINK httpwww.suite101.comprofile.cfmME_mkfleury Fleury , 2009).
Systematic changes were observed during February March, whereby the tremors slowed down or intensified at an irregular pace. Thus AVO adjusted their codes monitoring activities accordingly. It was not until 21st March09 when the earthquakes intensified and there came out emulsions of gases gray dust.
On 22nd March, the codes were changed to Red, which meant that a hazardous volcanic eruption is in the pipeline. Accordingly news had been spread across the city 19 flights had been cancelled immediately to avoid any disastrous situation ( HYPERLINK httpwww.suite101.comprofile.cfmME_mkfleury Fleury , 2009).
Technology could play an immense role when we talk about communication at the time of such catastrophes. At the time of this volcanic eruption, people at the north of Alaska could have taken measures to communicate at other regions of the state. Regular radiotelevision warnings information could play as a precautionary element for the affected people.
People could use walky talkies to develop communications among their loved ones as during all such catastrophes, telephone lines are usually disrupted damaged. In situations like Mount Redoubt Volcanic eruptions, foreign aid organizations should use locators to find all those who are waiting for help and aid.
Similarly, just as AVO is using its extensive research system to predict and monitor volcanic eruptions, it should also set out direct software linkages to inform the Central Government Authorities about the in time responses of the rising danger of any natural disaster. AVO can develop a closely monitored confidential website connected to the central authority, which informs them about the position of the expected disaster. This would help in taking precautionary measures for those who might get affected.
LAquila Earthquake, Italy
The Second natural disaster of this research paper is the LAquila Earthquake, which occurred in the central region of Italy. It occurred on 6th April09 at 623am. People in the central city woke up due to intense tremors of shaking earth, at the rate of 6.3 (at Richter scale).
This city of Italy had experienced a huge damage, approximately 30,000-50,000 buildings have been toppled, raiding the death toll to 287, 1000 injured leaving 40,000, homeless.
This earthquake was not only felt in the city but to other neighboring parts of the country too. A village called Onna, located six miles from LAquila had disappeared completely as a result of this earthquake. Rome had also reported to feel the tremors of this horrifying catastrophe.
The situation did not finish after the actual disaster occurred. The after effects were immense. Continuous tremors o up to 5.3 on the scale, had been experienced. This resulted in collapsing of more buildings which were already weak after facing the major earthquake.
Apart from the huge damage caused, this disaster also caused loss of some immense architecture of Italy.
The third floor of National Museum collapsed that was located in a 16th Century Fort. Domes of several ancient churches turned to piles of rubble, destroying the cultural remains of the city.
This earthquake was caused due to a fault activity in the Apennine Mountains. The upset strong compressions between the Africa Eurasia plates resulted in extreme tremor that hit fiercely in this central city of Italy. The upset in these mountains is nothing new. A series of eight earthquakes have stroked since 1997, in different areas around this range.
The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), had been closely monitoring the disruptions between the plates of the Apennine mountain range, since 1997. This agency is renowned for its continuous 24 hour observation through a network of censors, covering Italy, Rome, Milano and other countries. INGV works with close cooperation with the Civil Protection Authorities, Ministry of Defense Ministry of Education of Italy.
The agency had predicted a jerk of disaster in this area back in 2008 however as per the officials they could not predict the exact time moment it would occur. Lack of communication any such previous happening retained people and the local government to take precautionary steps (Tremors,2009).
Another myth that prevailed in Italy many other foreign countries was the prediction of Dr. Giampaolo Giuliani, who was in close connections with the Italian National Research Council. It is said that he discovered radan emissions and tried to give a warning before the final disaster. However the state Government continued to ignore the warning saying that it had not been justified.
Technology in such a situation could play a vital role when it comes to establishing communication. Dr. Giuliani could have connected that central government via satellite internet could have shown the systematic happenings and radan emissions. This could have helped the government understand the intensity of the situation (Tremors, 2009).
IGNV could have used censors different monitoring technologies to identify signals of the predicted earthquake. One should note that in this highly advanced era, using such censors could not have been a problem for the research centers.
The government official could use the Long Range Acoustic Devise (LRAD) systems to communicate with earthquake survivors, so that the respective aid rescue are provided to them. These systems are placed on helicopters defining the affected areas informs about the gathered people, searching waiting for rescue (Tremors, 2009).
The local citizens could have been informed before hand through radio other social media. Use of censor locaters could help the rescue teams to identify those under the debris.
Natural Disasters are naturally occurring catastrophes. Damage may be huge or small but the occurrence of such events is unpredictable. Hence it is essential for every individual as a citizen as well as part of the Government to take precautionary measures in order to combat any such happenings.
Individuals should once go and visit the websites of the Research centers of their respective countries to see what is going around, inside the mountains, and deep down inside the earths surface. Secondly it is the responsibility of every government to give due importance to any such warning indication. Only then can we save our homelands from maximum damage huge death tolls (Tremors, 2009).
Categories:
0 comments:
Post a Comment