NOTES: HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL

HAZARD
DIFFERENT TYPES OF HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS
HYDROMETEOROLOGY | study of the atmospheric and terrestrial phases of the
hydrological cycle with emphasis on the interrelationship between them
- deals with the transfer of water and energy between land surface and the lower
atmosphere

Processes of the hydrologic cycle

1. Precipitation
I. Cloud formation and type
II. Rainfall
III. Associated hazards
2. Formation of snow covered
mountain tops (not applicable in
the Philippines)
3. Melting of snow and ice (not
applicable in the Philippines)
4. Interception of precipitation by
vegetation cover
5. Storage in land surface
depressions
6. Infiltration of water into soil
7. Evapotranspiration
8. Recharge of groundwater
9. River runoff

How is rain measure?

Rainfall is measured using a rain gauge which can be as simple as a cylinder that
catches rainwater. The height of rainwater that collects in the cylinder is the
measured amount of rainfall, usually expressed in millimeters.

Terrestrial phase of the hydrologic cycle

As water returns to the surface of the Earth from precipitation, gravity takes it
to the ground either as infiltration, or it begins running downhill as surface
runoff. Most of this moving water will end up in streams or rivers flowing
towards the ocean.
A WATERSHED is a basin-like landform defined by highpoints and ridgelines that
descend into lower elevations and stream valleys. Water is channeled into soils,
groundwater, creeks and streams making its way to larger rivers and eventually
the sea.

The following are the processes

that govern terrestrial water
flow
1. Interception of precipitation
by vegetation cover
➢ A portion of intercepted
rainfall evaporates, and the
other portion may flow down
on vegetation stems
2. Storage in land surface
depressions
➢ While most waters flow back
to the ocean, some can flow
in streams towards closed
lake, or purposely diverted
for human use, and stored
there for a time.
3. Infiltration of water into
soil
4. Evapotranspiration
5. Recharge of groundwater
➢ Water storage in the soil-rock system
6. River runoff

INFILTRATION is the flow of

water through the soil surface.
The rate of infiltration
depends on certain soil
properties like texture,
structure and moisture content.
Soil profiles, or the vertical
organization of the different
soil layers and the depth of
the soil column, also influence
then hydrologic processes as
infiltration rates will vary
with different soil.

Influences of Soil Profiles in Infiltration and Groundwater Recharge

Surface runoff is the flow of water over land surfaces. The SIZE OF THE
BASIN or the contributing area of the rainfall in a basin has a significant
influence on the amount of runoff. Consider two similarly shaped basins but one
is larger than the other. Runoff starting from a further distance will take a
longer time to reach the outlet of the watershed than the one starting from a
shorter distance. On the other hand, a single local heavy rainfall event will
affect only a small portion of a big basin. While this same event can cover the
whole of a small basin, which can lead to severe flooding or a flash flood.

The SHAPE OF A BASIN also has influence on the magnitude and timing of the
flow of water along the basin outlet. Consider two basins of the same size, but
one is round and the other is long and narrow. Consider water coming from the
furthest point in each of the basins. Water will flow quicker for the round
basin, and water will likely converge in the outlet at the same time, leading to
greater peak flow. The narrower basin, on the other hand, water from multiple
locations is less likely to arrive at the same time, resulting to lower peak
flow.

SLOPE OF THE BASIN is also an important factor to consider not only for
surface runoff but infiltration as well. The steeper the slope, the lower the
infiltration rate because gravity pulls less water into the land surface.

SUMMARY
1. Heavy rain and efficient runoff leads to more flooding events
2. In certain situations, runoff characteristics can be more important than
rainfall
3. Soil properties like texture or vertical profile can significantly influence
surface runoff
4. Basin characteristics (e.g. shape, size, slope) also influence infiltration
and runoff
SIGNS OF HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

TROPICAL CYCLONE is a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that

originates over the tropical waters. Tropical cyclones rotate in a
counterclockwise direction in the northern hemisphere (conversely, clockwise in
the southern hemisphere).
- encompasses tropical depressions, tropical storms, typhoons and hurricanes
- after formation, tropical cyclones usually move to the west and generally
slightly poleward, then may "recurve," that is, move into the mid-latitude and
back toward the east
TC derives its energy from the latent heat of condensation which made them exist
only over the oceans and die out rapidly on land. The intensity of tropical
cyclones vary, thus, we can classify them based upon their degree of intensity.
The classifications of tropical cyclones according to the strength of the
associated winds as adopted by PAGASA (as of 01 May 2015) are as follows:
TROPICAL DEPRESSION (TD) - a TC with maximum sustained winds of up to 61 kph.
TROPICAL STORM (TS) - a TC with maximum wind speed of 62 to 88 kph.
SEVERE TROPICAL STORM (STS) - a TC with maximum wind speed of 89 to 117 kph.
TYPHOON (TY) - a TC with maximum wind speed of 118 to 220 kph.
SUPER TYPHOON (STY), a TC with maximum wind speed exceeding 220 kph.
 Every year, an average of 19 tropical cyclones enter the Philippines Area of
Responsibility (PAR), and about half (9-10) make landfall in the Philippines. In
the Western Pacific Ocean, tropical cyclones can form in any month of the year.

THE TROPICAL CYCLONE

A tropical cyclone can be seen in a
satellite image due to its characteristic
spiral/circular shape. The stronger and
more intense a tropical cyclone becomes,
the more symmetrical the inner clouds or
rainbands are and a distinctive “eye” at
the center of circulation becomes
visible. This means that a tropical
cyclone tends to be more circular and its
center will have a cloudless region.

Tracks of tropical cyclones that formed in the

Western North Pacific (WNP) during the period
1948-2010 (1154 out of 1641 TC or 70% entered or
formed in the Philippine Area of Responsibly (PAR)
(Source: JMA Data set, 2010)

THE WEATER RADAR

RADAR (Radio Detection
and Ranging) sends out
electromagnetic waves to
the atmosphere that is
then reflected by
hydrometeors (e.g. rain,
clouds) present in the
sky.
An image is created from
the received signal and
information on rain
clouds can be gathered.
While radar images give
more details of a storm,
it is limited to a range
of approximately 400 km
from the radar site.

The figure on the right shows the eye and parts of Yolanda (Haiyan) in the morning of 8 Nov 2013
when it made landfall in Eastern Visayas as observed by the Mactan (Cebu) Radar. The image is color
coded depending on the amount of rain a cloud carries: Blue – light rain, green/yellow – moderate
rain, red – intense rain.

Mactan Weather Radar image of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) PAGASA forecast track of Yolanda (Haiyan) issued on 11pm 6Nov2013

Once a tropical cyclone enters PAR, a 5-day forecast track (previously 3-

day) is issued by PAGASA every 6 hours at 5am, 11am, 5pm and 11pm. A forecast
track gives the expected location of a tropical cyclone in the succeeding 24-
hour interval for the next 120 hours or 5 days.
 Together with the forecast track, PAGASA also issues the Public Storm
Warning System (PSWS) to warn citizens of impending wind strength. The PSWS is as
follows:

PAGASA Public Storm Warning System

PRECAUTIONARY AND SAFETY MEASURES FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

TROPICAL CYCLONES
BEFORE DURING AFTER
• Coordinate with local community or • Regularly monitor • Attend to
barangay on safety plan during official updates of injuries if
times of severe events. PAGASA or other needed.
• Ensure that your house (or school) reliable sources on • Apply first aid
can withstand strong winds and the tropical cyclone. to minor cuts or
heavy rains. • Stay in a sturdy and wounds.
• Discuss with your family, friends, stable shelter. • Seek medical
classmate about typhoon and other • Stay indoors and away assistance at
weather disturbances, understand from windows or your nearest
weather forecasts and how to things that may clinic or
minimize our risks. topple over. hospital.
• Recommend trimming and removal of • Coordinate with the • Check your
unstable trees, electric posts, or local community on immediate
any infrastructure that could fall possible evacuation vicinity (house,
and may cause damage or injury. measures (especially school,
• Have a survival kit containing if you are in a low- surroundings) for
battery operated radio, flashlight, lying area). any damages that
emergency cooking equipment, • Remain calm and take can pose a
candles, matches and first aid kit. notice of your potential hazard
• Participate actively in the school situation. to people around
drills on disaster response it.
THUNDERSTORMS are generally local storms produced by cumulonimbus clouds and
are always accompanied by lightning and thunder, usually with strong wind gusts,
heavy rain and sometimes with hail and/or tornado. Thunderstorms are typical in
warm environments like the tropics and may persist for 1 to 2 hours.
THUNDERSTORMS
BEFORE DURING AFTER
• Learn about your area’s • Stay indoors and remain calm. • Continue monitoring
thunderstorm risk by • Postpone all outdoor PAGASA or local
looking at past events. activities. Regularly monitor radio / television
These risks differ for official updates by PAGASA or stations for
different places and other reliable sources. weather updates.
different months. • Be on the lookout for falling • Always observe
• Discuss how you would debris and flashfloods. safety measures on
know if a thunderstorm • If treat of lightning is if you need to go
may produce light, eminent. outdoors.
moderate, heavy or
• Turn off and unplug all • Stay away from
torrential rain as well storm-damaged
electrical and electronic
as duration. areas.
devices refrain from using
• Discuss the rainfall / phones (mobile, landline) until • Watch out for
thunderstorm warning the storm passes over. fallen tree
system of PAGASA. If no immediate shelter and branches, trunks,
• Recommend trimming and threat of lightning is eminent: electric lines,
removal of unstable etc. and report
 trees, electric posts, or • Stay low. them to
any infrastructure that • Stay away from structures such authorities.
could fall and may cause as trees, electrical lines, • Stay away from
damage or injury. towers, or fences. flood waters.
• Ensure proper drainage in • Water can conduct electricity, • It is possible to
the surrounding by refrain from swimming or being contract diseases
removing things that may in contact/submerged in bodies from flood water.
hinder proper drainage of water. • Uneven ground, open
flow.
• Distance of thunderstorm cloud drainage and/or
• Participate actively in can be estimated by counting sharp debris under
the school drills on the time interval between floodwater can be
disaster response. seeing lightning and hearing potentially harmful
thunder. (1 second = 330m, 3
sec = 1 km).
• Remain indoors at least 30
minutes after hearing the last
thunder.
FLOOD is the overflowing of the normal confines of a stream or bodies of
water, or the accumulation of water over areas that are not normally submerged.
While flooding may last days or even weeks, Flash Floods are also caused by heavy
precipitation in a short period of time, usually less than 6 hours.
FLOOD or FLASH FLOOD
BEFORE DURING AFTER
• Learn about your area’s flood • Unplug all electric and • Report broken
risk by by looking at past electronic devices. utility lines
events. These risks differ • Listen continuously to (electricity,
for different places and official updates on weather water, gas, etc.)
different months and flooding. to appropriate
• Know the flood hazard map in • Remain calm and be ready in agencies/
your community. case evacuation is authorities.
• Learn from previous necessary. • Ensure that
occurrences how frequent, how • Do not to attempt to cross electrical
high and how fast flood can flowing streams unless they appliances are
occur. are assured that the water checked by a
• Take notice of rapidly rising is below knee level. competent
electrician before
water and prepare plans for • Avoid areas prone to
evacuation. switching them on.
flooding.
• Have a survival kit • Stay away from
• Avoid swimming in swollen
containing battery operated flood waters,
rivers.
radio, flashlight, emergency • It is possible to
• Make sure you only drink
cooking equipment, candles, contract diseases
clean water.
matches and first aid kit from flood water
• Stay away from flood waters
• As the ground soak up more • Uneven ground, open
as its possible to contract
water from continuous rains, drainage and/or
diseases from flood water.
possibility of flooding sharp debris under
• Uneven ground, open floodwater can be
increases.
drainage and/or sharp potentially
• Participate actively in the debris under floodwater can
school drills on disaster harmful.
be risky and potentially
response harmful
Storm surge is the rise and onshore surge of seawater as the result
primarily of the winds of a tropical cyclone, and secondarily of the surface
pressure drop near the center of the tropical cyclone. The height of storm surge
is dependent on the size, intensity and movement of the tropical cyclone, shape
of the coastline as well as near shore underwater topography and astronomical
tides.
STORM SURGE
BEFORE DURING AFTER
• Learn about your area’s • Regularly monitor official • Check structural damage
vulnerability to storm storm surge of your surroundings
surge by looking at past advisory/forecast updates and make sure
events. If vulnerable, of PAGASA. structures are safe
recommend relocation to • Remain calm and be ready from collapsing.
safer grounds. in case of evacuation • Check surroundings for
• Stay away from beaches / • Stay away from beaches / electrical damage.
 shore during tropical shore and low-lying areas. • Stay away from flood
cyclone passage. • Head towards inland away waters. It is possible
• Identify evacuation from potential flow of to contract diseases
routes leading to safe water. from flood water
higher grounds. • Turn off power supply. • Uneven ground, open
• Establish evacuation • If caught in a storm drainage and/or sharp
plans and procedures. surge, you are advised to debris under floodwater
• Participate actively in hold on large structures can be potentially
the school drills on like big trees. harmful.
disaster response • Clean all mud and
debris.
EXTREME CLIMATE EVENT: EL NIÑO
El Niño is a significant increase in ocean temperature over the eastern and
central Pacific Ocean. It occurs at irregular intervals ranging from 2-7 years
usually developing in the early months of the year and decay the following year.
In the Philippines, El Niño conditions are often characterized by dry and warm-
hot events.
EL NIÑO
BEFORE DURING AFTER
• Listen and monitor PAGASA El • Avoid doing strenuous activity • Seek medical
Niño/drought/dry spell during the hottest time of the attention if
forecast on what parts of the day. you or
country will be affected • Keep hydrated. another
severe conditions. • During drought condition, person
• Plan your daily activities to conserve water. experiences
avoid doing strenuous work symptoms of
• Stay indoors whenever possible.
during the hottest time of heat stress.
• Regularly clean electric fans and
the day.
air conditioner filters.
• Learn about the symptoms of
• Wear light-colored and
heat stress or exposure to
lightweight clothing.
extreme environmental heat,
sunburn, heat exhaustion, • Take frequent breaks if you must
heat stroke, dehydration, and work outdoors.
other related conditions • Never leave children or pets
caused by very hot climate by alone in closed vehicles.
discussing with local • Seek medical attention if you or
physicians / medical another person experiences
personnel. symptoms of heat stress.
HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARD MAPS
Return period (recurrence interval) is the probability of an event such as
heavy rain, intense typhoon of floods to happen. It is a statistical measurement
mainly based on historical data
that gives the estimated time
interval between similar extreme
events.
In analysis of extreme
hydrometeorological events,
“return periods” are usually used
to infer the severity of an event.

RAINFALL IN THE PHILIPPINES

Rainfall is the most
important climatic element in the
Philippines. Rainfall distribution
throughout the country varies from
one region to another, depending
upon the direction of the
moisture-bearing winds and the
location of the mountain systems.
The mean annual rainfall of the
Philippines varies from 965 to
4,064 millimeters annually. Baguio
City, eastern Samar, and eastern
Surigao receive the greatest
amount of rainfall while the
southern portion of Cotabato
Modified Coronas Climate Classification
receives the least amount of rain. At General Santos City in Cotabato, the
average annual rainfall is only 978 millimeters for the whole year. The Modified
Coronas Climate Classification describes the monthly rainfall variations in
different parts of the country.

RAINFALL OBSERVATION
Aside from rain gauge monitoring
in different parts of the Philippines, MTSAT IR satellite image taken on 19 June 2013 (local time)
PAGASA publishes regularly updated
color-coded satellite images from the
Multi-Functional Transport Satellite
or MTSAT (as of Dec 2015 but will soon
shift to a newer satellite called
Himawari-8) to visualize rain
distribution across the country. Color
code is as follows: Red – heavy rain;
Yellow – light to moderate rain; White
– clouds; Blue – clear sky.

In addition to the satellite

observation, PAGASA operates 10
weather radar stations (as of 2015)
all over the Philippines. Figure 4
shows a sample radar image over Bataan
also using a color coding scheme to
visualize rainfall in the region.

Another product of PAGASA is

its watershed monitoring network or
Flood monitoring system. Using
water level sensors that measures
the height of the water level of
major river systems, users can
monitor impending flooding in major
river systems in the Philippines.
Figure 5 show the major waterways
of Metro Manila and their
corresponding water levels.

Figure 4: Radar image over Bataan / NCR showing extensive rain.

Weather in different parts of the

Philippines can vary significantly for
certain years as a response to
changing global climate. One of the
main climate drivers that affect the
Philippines is the El Niño Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) or simply El Niño.

EL NIÑO is a significant increase

in ocean temperature over the eastern
and central Pacific Ocean. It occurs at
irregular intervals ranging from 2-7
years usually developing in the early
Figure 5: PAGASA Flood monitoring system months of the year and decay the
following year. In the Philippines, El Niño conditions are often characterized by dry
and warm to hot climate.

Months prior to the onset of El Niño, PAGASA publishes Drought/Dry spell

outlook (Fig.6) that can warn us of impending dry conditions so we can prepare for
such extreme events. Drought/Dry spell assessment (Fig.7) is also regularly published
to report unusual climate conditions in different parts of the Philippines.
 Figure 6: PAGASA Dry Spell / Drought Outlook Figure 7: PAGASA Dry Spell / Drought Assessment

The NATIONWIDE OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF HAZARDS or NOAH is a program under the

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) with the mission to undertake disaster
science research and development, advance the use of cutting edge technology and
recommend innovative information services in government’s disaster prevention and
mitigation efforts. DOST-NOAH can be accessed online at http://noah.dost.gov.ph.
Another local website, http://www.nababaha.com, a non-profit project by the
members of the Volcano-Tectonics Laboratory of THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGICAL
SCIENCES OF UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, publishes a list of flood hazard maps of
different regions (http://www.nababaha.com/list.htm), with the same dataset as DOST-
NOAH.
NATIONAL MAPPING AND RESOURCE INFORMATION AUTHORITY (NAMRIA) is an agency of
the Philippine government under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) responsible for providing the public with mapmaking services and acting as the
central mapping agency, depository, and distribution facility of natural resources
data in the form of maps, charts, texts, and statistics. On its website’s download
page, http://www.namria.gov.ph/download.php, hazard/susceptibility maps for storm
surge, rain-induced landslide and flood are freely available.

REFERENCES:
Notes adopted from
Licuanan, P. (2016). Teaching Guide for Senior
High School, DISASTER READINESS AND RISK
REDUCTION. Published by the Commission on
Higher Education.

Images:
The Hydrologic Cycle. Retrieved April 14, 2018
from
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6994653858462416
68/?autologin=true

Hoffman, R. (2007). General Cloud Types.

Retrieved April 14, 2018 from
http://www.richhoffmanclass.com/chapter5.html

Rostad, B. Rain Gauge. Retrieved April 14,

2018 from
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-
to/watering/using-rain-
gauges.htm
Lake Erie Watersheds. Retrieved April 14, 2018
from http://erieconserves.org/watershed-map/

Infiltration Variations by Soil Texture.

(2006). Retrieved April 14, 2018 from
http://wegc203116.uni-
graz.at/meted/hydro/basic/Runoff/print_version
/04-soilproperties.htm