DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)
LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION
STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2
MAIN
BUILDUP OF WATER LEVEL DURING A
SUB-TOPIC
EXTRA (MISC)
6.2 STORM SURGE
➢ is an unusual localized increase in
seawater level beyond the
predicted astronomical tide level,
primarily due to intense winds and
reduced atmospheric pressure
during the passage of an intense
tropical cyclone from sea to land.
➢ Storm surges are the primary cause
of about 90% of casualties and
damage to properties in coastal
areas during a tropical cyclone.
➢ According to the World Factbook the
Philippines has a total coastline
length of 36,289 km, making it the
fourth longest in the world. On the
other hand, the World Resources
Institute puts the Philippines' total
coastline length at 33,900 km,
making it the eight longest in the
world.
➢ In terms of magnitude and extent,
storm surges are similar to and often
mistaken for tsunamis. Tsunami
literally means "harbor wave" in
Japanese. Strictly speaking, this
term pertains to a seismic sea wave.
These terms are often interchanged.
Like a storm surge tsunamis can
reach heights of more than 10 m.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE
STORM SURGE
1. Storm intensity (Wind speed)
2. Pressure effect
3. Size
4. Storm forward speed
5. Angle of approach to coast
6. Effect of the Earth's rotation
7. Rainfall effect
8. Geometry of coastal area
(bathymetry, topography,
coastline shape, and local
features)
a. Bathymetry - is the
appearance of the ocean or
sea bottom resulting from the
variation in depth in different
portions.
b. Topography - also has an
influence on storm surge
extent. Wide, low-lying areas
with elevation of only a few
meters above sea level are
vulnerable to storm surges.
c. The shape of the coastline
also affects the behavior of a
storm surge. Storm surge
level is higher when a
tropical cyclone hits a
concave coastline. This is
because of the funneling
effect, which is simply the
entrapment in a smaller
accommodation space of
water being dumped by the
strong winds.
d. man-made and natural
local features found within
DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)
LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION
STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2
the coastal area may affect
the flow of water and the
behavior of the storm surge.
Sea walls, breakwaters,
mangroves, coral reefs,
onshore vegetation, sand
dunes, and berms, to some
extent, may weaken a storm
surge.
9. Timing
STORM SURGE RISK-REDUCTION
MEASURES
1. Storm surge prediction, hazard
map preparation, and zoning -
Computer programs employing
mathematical models are now being
used simulate natural processes like
storm surges and to predict the
potential location and extent of
flooding. These require accurate
numerical input values to describe
parameters like wind speed, tropical
cyclone size, atmospheric pressure,
place and time of land fall, tide
levels, wave and river flow rate, and
the configuration of the coastal area.
2. Construction of storm surge
barriers - Storm surge barriers are
gate-like, hard engineering
structures installed in front of tidal
inlets, rivers, and estuaries which
are closed before impending
extreme water level increase, like
storm surges.
3. Wetland protection - Storm surges
can also be reduced significantly by
protecting offshore barriers islands
and coral reefs which act as "shock
absorbers" during storm surges,
preserving mangrove forests along
shores and forests just inland of the
beach as the roots and branches
slow down the velocity of water flow,
and preserving levees along rivers to
maintain elevation of areas beside
rivers sufficiently above sea level.
What to Do in the Event of an
Impending Storm Surge
1. During an unusually strong tropical
cyclone, keep listening to official warning of
storm surges issued by PAGASA through
television or radio
2. Find the nearest safe high ground where
you can evacuate. An area of high elevation
should be identified way ahead of time
especially if you are living in a low-lying
area, like along the coast or near river
channels.
3. When evacuating, bring only what is
important and essential. You do not want to
be bogged down by bringing along so many
things.
4. Your planned evacuation route should
avoid streams, drainage channels, and any
other conduits of water as flashfloods can
occur and can be life-threatening.
EXTRA (MISC)
2013 Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) Leyte Storm
Surge Tragedy
● On November 8, 2013, Typhoon
Yolanda (Intl name: Haiyan) made
landfall initially on Guiuan, Samar, on
the eastern seaboard of the Philippines.
● Typhoon Yolanda was characterized by
one-minute sustained speed of 314
km/h and 10-min sustained speed of
230 km/h. More than 6k d, 1k m, 30k
injured.