I have completed the main shape of the volcano model. We intend to add in houses and Marcus will buy the ingredients needed for the experiment I think.
Earthquakes:
Volcanic eruptions
Tsunami
Hailstorms
Hailstorms are rain drops that have formed together into ice.
3 New NOTICES
Please sign your name after every post, Nathaniel changed the skin and for some reason the 'show who posted this' thing got screwed up and now he's trying to fix it. Hopefully he does :D
Please update me on your status on whatever you are working on, don't wait for me to go bother you because it's quite troublesome for both you and me. XD
Before the product is completed, everyone has to summarize whatever they have researched, including me.
When I say summarized, I mean all the main points of your research. Please categorize them neatly. (such as putting all the information on volcanoes under 'Volcanoes')
This is so that instead of focusing on all the unimportant points, we can instead push our focus to the important points of the research.
Please do it in this format:
TITLE
Topic of Research
Reason for Research
The Main Points (categorized neatly)
Notes about the research
Conclusion
Example would be mine:
Summary of Evacuation
Because our topic is related to a natural theme, I have researched more into emergency evacuation in case of disasters.
The Reason for this is to find out currently how the government has helped to make evacuations more efficient and fast in order to save as many people as possible.
Sequence of Evacuation (Standard operating Procedure)
Detection
Decision
Alarm
Reaction
Movement to an area of refuge or an assembly station
Transportation
The particular phases are different for different objects, e.g., for ships a distinction between assembly and embarkation (to boats or rafts) is made. These are separate from each other. The decision whether to enter the boats or rafts is thus usually made after assembly is completed.
Small Scale Evacuations
The strategy of small scale evacuations (such as from buildings) vary depending on movement ability of the individuals.
Fast people would be asked to evacuate the building quickly.
Slow people who can evacuate would be evacuated but if they are too slow they would be asked to find a 'Safe Haven'*
*A safe haven is a place reinforced to protect against specific hazards, such as fire, smoke or structural collapse.
Large Scale Evacuations
Most large-scale evacuations in the past have been due to military attacks, most modern ones have been because of natural disasters.
I have not done the evacuation procedure on every single natural disaster yet, as it would take more time.
Hopefully some of it has been covered in Jaek Wern's posts.
In conclusion, even evacuations have a standard operating procedure towards them, even though the common population might not know of it.
-Ham
method to predict earthquakes : electricity conductivity measurements in the soil (looking for water masses). Not very reliable. Was tried in Greece 25 years ago... VAN method
volcano : via earthquake statistics and magma chamber angular measurements.
tsunami : none. Only observation with buoys and warning system can help (1 h forecast, enough to evacuate a beach)
flooding : a few hours delay once it has rained. See rain prediction for 24 to 48 h delay.
Lots of methods involve extrapolating data from a past trend (it has been raining for the last 6 hours, therefore the river level will go up), or looking for existing historical scenarios (like it is exactly as during the 1999 great flood, same pattern, same area, same consequences).
College Park, MD (January 30, 2002) Predicting the size, location, and timing of natural hazards is virtually impossible, but now, earth scientists are able to forecast hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and landslides using fractals.
A fractal is a mathematical formula of a pattern that repeats over a wide range of size and time scales. These patterns are hidden within more complex systems.
A good example of a fractal is the branching system of a river. Small tributaries join to form larger and larger "branches" in the system, but each small piece of the system closely resembles the branching pattern as a whole.
Hurricanes, tornadoes and cyclones can be predicted easily with the use of advanced meterological and satellite systems. The technology will track down the speed, size, direction of the winds, and warnings will then be given out.
Floods can be predicted with water level tracking systems placed on buoys in the waters. They will measure the speed of current, water level and others. Once the water level reaches a dangerous level, warnings will be given. Meteorological stations will also record the amount of rainfall to make sure it does not flood the lands.
Volcanic eruptions are predicted with the initial tremors before the huge eruption itself. Researchers and vulcanologists will be sent to the volcano site to monitor the activities of the volcano that signals any sign of eruption. The radius of the danger zone can be easily calculated based on previous eruptions, the type and size of the volcano.
Avalanches, landslides and mudflows can be predicted with a sense of precaution. One should quickly evacuate after heavy snows and rains as these natural disasters may follow after that.
However, disasters such as lightning strikes (thunderstorms), fires and such cannot be predicted, but can be prevented.
Disasters such as solar flares, meteroid crashes and other astronomical events can be predicted, but might not be prevented.
Volcanoes
Volcanologists use many instruments to help them predict eruptions. Here are some exapmles:
Luigi Palmieri invented a seismograph in 1856 while working near Italy's Mt. Vesuvias. He wanted a way to predict eruptions, and knew that tremors were usually felt before an eruption. The seismograph uses a pendulum to record movement of the ground below it. The squiggly lines recorded on paper by a seismograph are called a seismogram.
The tiltmeter is a sensor that uses a laser beam to find the rising or lowering of magma levels by measuring changes in ground elevation.
Earthquakes
Nobody has been able to predict earthquakes reliably enough and over short enough time scales to allow the evacuation of threatened cities. Some scientists say that so many factors decide whether a fault will rupture that earthquakes could be unpredictable.
One basic idea behind quake prediction is that faults send out subtle but detectable warnings before they slip. Scientists have looked at a host of potential warning signals, or "precursors," includingforeshocks, weird animal behavior, and changes in the water table, stream flow, well levels, and patterns of electrical currents in the ground.
Droughts
Predicting drought depends on our ability to forecast precipitation and temperature. Scientists don't know how to predict drought a month or more in advance for most parts of the world.
Scientists are studying how interacting weather events, or teleconnections, can influence the formation of various regional and global weather patterns. Because these patterns tend to be repeated, studying their occurrence can help us improve our ability to predict changes in climate, particularly in the tropics.
Floods
Several types of data can be collected to assist hydrologists predict when and where floods might occur. The first and most important is monitoring the amount of rainfall occurring on a realtime(actual) basis. Second, monitoring the rate of change in river stage on a realtime basis can help indicate the severity and immediacy of the threat. Third, knowledge about the type of storm producing the moisture, such as duration, intensity, areal extent, etc., is valuable for determining possible severity of the flooding. And fourth, knowledge about the characteristics of a river's drainage basin, such as soil-moisture conditions, ground temperature, snowpack, topography, vegetation cover, impermeable land area, etc., can help to predict how extensive and damaging an impending flood might become.
nat.lok
This is my research on volcanoes as we are making a model of a volcano. I apologise for forgetting to buy the plasticine this week. Marcus and I will do most of the model making while Nat n Yan Hern will focus on the powerpoint.
PS[pls dont just throw the whole chunk of info on the blog, it will make those doing ppt job much easier. thanks :)]
basic intro on volcanoes
A volcano is an opening in a planet's surface or crust which allows hot magma, ash and gases to escape from below the surface.
Damage it does
Volcanoes are the greatest producers of CO2 in the world. However, their presence is good if they are dormant as the soil tends to be extremely fertile in the area. During eruption, there are often shockwaves of sound, a wave of ash and flying molten rock. Underwater volcanoes are often the cause of tsunamis. Though lava have killed a small number of people, the majority of damage to society a volcano does is economic, agriculture and settlements can be ruined.A caldera can cause widespread destruction and immense loss of life, destroying for dozens of miles in every direction and creating an ashfall spreading over hundreds of thousands of square miles, killing much of what lives in the affected area, fortunately those volcanoes erupt once every several hundred thousand years
Lim Jaek Wern 21 recorder
During a Hurricane
If a hurricane is likely in your area, you should:
- Listen to the radio or TV for information.
- Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
- Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
- Turn off propane tanks.· Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.
- Moor your boat if time permits.
- Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.
You should evacuate under the following conditions:
- If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.
- If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure—such shelters are particularly hazardous during hurricanes no matter how well fastened to the ground.
- If you live in a high-rise building—hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.
- If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an inland waterway.
- If you feel you are in danger.
If you are unable to evacuate, go to your safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines:
- Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
- Close all interior doors—secure and brace external doors.
- Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm - winds will pick up again.
- Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.
- Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
Last week, we have decided that Yan Hern n Nat will do the powerpoint and Marcus and I will post what we found out on the blog. The model which will be made of plasticine on a styrofoam board will be done after our exams(I think)
Research is as follows
Lightning kills 80 people in the US a year and injure 300 people
Safety at home
-avoid contact with corded phones
-stay away from window and doors
-avoid showering or bathing
-unplug electrical appliances such as computers
If you are in an/a
Forest
Seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees
An open water
Go to land and find shelter immediately
In an open area
Go to a low place/indoors
31 people did the survey
Gender: All of whom did the survey was male
Age: All of whom did the survey was 13-18
1)How many types of natural disasters do you know about?
1: 2
2: 0
3: 0
More than 3: 28
2) Do you know what to do in case of an earthquake?
Yes: 21
No: 9
3) Do you know what causes a tsunami?
Yes: 20
No: 10
4) If a hurricane is approaching, do you know what to do?
Yes: 13
No: 17
5) Why is it not advisable to play outdoors in the lightning?
There were many nonsensical answers but the main idea is that you will get struck by lightning
6) Why shouldn't you hide under a tree during a thunderstorm?
Once again, there were many nonsensical answers but generally the answer was that lightning strikes the highest point.
7) What would you do if you see a lightning alert flashing in your school?
Most people put 'Run For Shelter'
8) Name all the natural disasters you know of
Note: The purpose of this question was to harvest the different types of natural disasters for research.
Survey Spreadsheet
Sorry for the late post, I was busy with literature
So anyway, my research on Evacuation is as follows:
- Emergency Evacuation, the mass movement of persons from a dangerous place due to a disaster
- Casualty Movement, the procedure for moving a casualty from its initial location to an ambulance
- Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC), patient evacuation in combat situations
- Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), evacuating a patient by plane or helicopter
- Evacuation (TV Series), a children's show in the UK
- Evacuations of Civilians in Britain during WW2
- Evacuation of East Prussia after World War II
- “Evacuation”(song), a song by Pearl Jam
- Forced Migration, a coerced and often violent movement of persons away from their home region
- Defecation and or urination, especially involuntarily after death.
- the physical process of creating a vacuum
- Evacuate the Dancefloor, a 2009 single by German dance act Cascada from the album of the same name
- eruptions of volcanoes,
- cyclones
- floods,
- hurricanes,
- earthquakes or
- tsunamis.
- military attacks,
- industrial accidents,
- nuclear accident
- traffic accidents, including train or aviation accidents,
- fire,
- bombings,
- terrorist attacks
- military battles
- structural failure
- viral outbreak
I agree with YanHern that i and him should focus on the powerpoint presentation while continuing to contribute. The research that I will be doing is mostly about how to foresee and avoid natural disasters in the future.
My research is as follows:
Cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons are another weather phenomena capable of mass destruction and which are generally limited to defined coastal areas. Thanks to satellite imagery we can now see these form and track them from space, usually with sufficient accuracy to evacuate low-lying areas however this technology does not enable any accurate means of prediction. As near as we can get is identifying weather patterns and cloud formations together with data on ocean currents and temperatures to a degree that offers probability statistics suggesting the likelihood of tropical storm generation.
Natural hazards and disasters will continue to happen and there is nothing we as a species can do other than try every possible scientific method and engineering solution available to mitigate the consequences. There is no real science involved in prediction, at best mathematical probability sometimes provide windows of time in which a higher likelihood of a natural hazards or disasters might eventuate. Even the most experienced of vulcanologist cannot seem to provide absolute certainty volcanoes rumble to life however it does not always follow they erupt.
There IS no way to prevent natural disasters....they HAPPEN. Earthquakes, for instance, are the result of shifts in the plates covering the earth, and are periodic and eternal. We are not responsible for "global warming" because some places are actually getting colder. It's called WEATHER, and since we have been recording it scientifically for just a little over 100 years, we have no way of determining what effect humans have on the planet. If you recall, the last Ice Age was caused by a giant meteor hitting the earth and raising a monumental dust cloud that actually DID affect climate. I can assure you, there was not a single internal combustion engine involved.
The best prevention we can do is to use our natural resources carefully and judiciously, build our homes and other structures the best we can, to withstand as much as possible, and stop being so bloody arrogant as to think we have more power than NATURE.
You can't prevent those natural disasters from happening but you can learn how to respond when they do happen. Know what to do during an earthquake or a tsunami or a hurricane
I think that nat and i should do the powerpoint as i think we are fit for it while u guys find information but i will still find more info about hurricanes..... and i learnt that some houses are built in a circular shape so that the damage was lesser ... i got this from discovery channel and national geographic channel