MPA-001: UNDERSTADING NATURAL DISASTERS

(TMA)
Course Code: MPA-001
Assignment Code: Asst/TMA/2019
Marks 50
This assignment consists of Sections I and II. There are five questions in each section.
You have to answer a total of five questions in about 400 words each. It is necessary to
attempt at least two questions from each section. Each question carries 10 marks.
Section-I
1) Explain the existing disaster management system at the state and district levels. 10
2) ‘Forecasting and warning are important components of an effective cyclone management
system’. Elaborate. 10
3) Discuss the impacts of drought and highlight the role of Rajasthan government in disaster
management. 10
4) Describe the causes and impacts of floods in India. 10
5) What measures would you suggest for disaster management in earthquake prone areas? 10
Section-II
6) Discuss the nature, causes and impacts of volcanic disasters. 10
7) ‘Landslide hazard mitigation and management practices are satisfactory in India’.
Comment. 10
8) Describe the causes and impacts of cold waves. 10
9) What are the major causes of sea level rise? 10
10) Write a note on the impact of climate change on terrestrial ecosystem. 10

Answers
Section-I
1) Explain the existing disaster management system at the state and district levels.
Ans.: Disaster management in India has evolved from an activity-based setup to an
institutionalized structure; from single faculty domain to a multi-stakeholder setup; and from
a relief-based approach to a ‘multi-dimensional approach for reducing risk’. The beginnings
of an institutional structure for disaster management came during British period following the
series of disasters that hit the country. These were the Famines of 1900, 1905, 1907 & 1943,
and the Bihar-Nepal Earthquake of 1937. Over the past century, the structure for managing
disasters in India has undergone substantive changes in its composition, nature and policy.

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The institutional structure for disaster management in India is in a state of transition. The new
setup, following the implementation of the Bill, is evolving; while the previous structure also
continues. Thus, the two structures co-exist in the present phase. The National Disaster
Management Authority has been established at the centre, and the state and district authorities
are gradually being formalized. In addition to this, the National Crisis Management
Committee, part of the earlier setup, also functions at the Centre. The nodal ministries, as
identified for different disaster types function under the overall guidance of the Ministry of
Home Affairs (nodal ministry for disaster management). The stakeholders involved however,
remain largely the same. This makes the stakeholders interact at different levels with the
disaster management framework.
At the State level, the work of post calamity relief was being handled by the Departments of
Relief & Rehabilitation. The Government of India is working with the State Governments to
restructure the Departments of Relief & Rehabilitation into Departments of Disaster
Management with an enhanced area of responsibility to include mitigation and preparedness
apart from their present responsibilities of relief and rehabilitation. The changeover has
already happened in 11 States/UTs - Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal
Pradesh, Rajasthan Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal, Nagaland, Andaman & Nicobar Administration,
Sikkim and Lakshadweep. The change is under process in other States.
At the district level, the District Magistrate who is the chief coordinator will be the focal
point for coordinating all activities relating to prevention, mitigation and preparedness apart
from his existing responsibilities pertaining to response and relief. The District Coordination
and Relief Committee is being reconstituted/re-designated into Disaster Management
Committees with officers from relevant departments being added as members. In view of its
enhanced mandate of mitigation and prevention, the district heads of the departments
engaged in development are now being included in the Committee so that mitigation and
prevention is mainstreamed into the district plan. The existing system of drawing up
preparedness and response plans will continue. There will, however, also be a long term
mitigation plan. District Disaster Management Committees have already been constituted in
256 districts and are in the process of being constituted in the remaining districts.
Similarly, sub-divisional and Block/Taluka level Disaster Management Committees are also
being constituted. At the village level Disaster Management Committees and Disaster
Management Teams are being constituted. Each village in a multi-hazard prone district will
have a Disaster Management Plan. The process of drafting the plans at all levels has already
begun. The Disaster Management Committee which draws up the plans consists of elected
representatives at the village level, local authorities; Government functionaries including
doctors/paramedics of primary health centres located in the village, primary school teachers
etc. The plan encompasses prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures. The Disaster
Management Teams at the village level will consist of members of youth organisations like
Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and National Service Scheme (NSS) and other non-
governmental organisations as well as able bodied volunteers from the village. The teams are
provided basic training in evacuation, evacuation, search and rescue, first aid trauma

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counseling etc. The Disaster Management Committee will review the disaster management
plan at least once in a year. It would also generate awareness among the people in the village
about dos’ and don’ts for specific hazards depending on the vulnerability of the village. A
large number of village level Disaster Management Committees and Disaster Management
Teams have already been constituted.
2) ‘Forecasting and warning are important components of an effective cyclone management
system’. Elaborate.
Ans.: Cyclones have the highe t predictability among all the disasters. This is mainly because
the scientists know qui c well how cyclones are formed and how they behave, As soon as
formed over the ocean, cyclones can be detected and tracked continuously with the help of
modern instruments such as weather satellites and weather radar. The accompanying hazard
of storm surge is alsp predictable through techniques which take 'into account the parameters
of the' approaching' cyclone as well as the characteristics of the coast including the coastal
slope under the sea in the area where the cyclone is expected to hit the coast.
The ystern of forecasting cyclones is quite well developed. The weather forecasters
(meteorologists) are able to detect the f rrnation and sub equent movement of cyclones on
weather charts that they prepare regu larly based on observations of atmospheric prcssnreiot
temperature, hum id ity and wind. Simultaneously, they locate and track the-cyclones through
satellites and high power cyclone detection radar. The image of cyclone through sate 11ite
and radar enable a constant monitoring of the intensification or weakening ofthe cyclone.
Even then, forecasting of the movement of' a cyclone and the place where it will hit the coast
is a highly skilled task. Cyclones do not travel in straight lines. Their tracks are curved and
they often make small loops as they g along.' Cyclones do not move with the same speed all
along their path. Sometimes they slow down or remain stationary or suddenly increase their
speed. Therefore, a cyclone is kept under constant survei llancc and the forecast is frequently
updated - generally every hour and inore frequently if considered necesary.
Cyclone warnings are issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) through its Area
Cyclone Warning Centres (Murnbai, Kolkata and Chennai) and Cyclone Warning Centres
(Ahrnedabad, Bhubaneshwar and Visakhapatnam). In the first stage of warning, a 'Cyclone
Watch" is maintained during the cyclone seasons in the pre-monsocn and post-monsoon and
post-rnonsoon months. iri the second stage. "Cyclone Alert" is issued 48 hours (two days)
before the expected commencement of bad weather along the coast. Warnings to ports and
'fishermen start earlier, The ports display the warnings by hoisting special visual signals to
warn boats and ships. Warnings are updated regularly according to the progress of the
cyclone, wh ich is kept under constant observation through satell ite and radar equipment.
"Cyclone Warnings" are commenced 24 hours before the anticipated landfall i.e. the
anticipated time the cyclone is expected to hit the coast. These cyclone warnings are updated
every hour and more frequently if the situation so demands, Finally about 12 hours before the
storm, is expected to fall below the cyclone category i.e. the winds fall below the peed of 60
krn/h, "post-landfall scenario' is issued.

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Cyclone warnings are sent to the port, airports. railways, State and District authorities. These
are issued to press and broadcast through radio and television. For quick and' effective
communication of cyclone warnings to the field areas' likely to be affected, a special system
called Disaster Warning System (OWS) has been implemented in the coastal areas. By this
system, cyclone warnings in local language are broadcast from the Area Cyclone Warning
Centre of IMD to the field area directly via INSAT and this warning is received through a
mall apparatus installed at schools or district offices or panchayats in the coastal region. A
large number (about 300) of such apparatu have been installed n the east and west coasts in
area prone to cyclones, and more are to be installed.
4) Describe the causes and impacts of floods in India.
Ans.: A flood is a body of water that covers land which is normally dry. Floods are common
natural disasters that can affect millions of people around the world. They destroy houses and
buildings, and carry soil away from valuable farming land. Floods can also contaminate
drinking water and lead to diseases. They are often caused by rivers, but overflowing lakes
and seas can also cause flooding.
Flooding has always been a part human history. Many ancient civilizations developed along
waterways and rivers because people needed water for their fields.
Floods are not always destructive natural events. Before the Assuan High Dam was built
yearly floods in Egypt brought along nutrients and made the land around the Nile very fertile.
Every year floods during the monsoon season in Bangladesh deposit fertile soil but also kill
thousands of people and leave millions homeless.
There are several causes of floods and they differ from region to region. The causes may vary
from a rural area to an urban area. Some of the major causes of floods in India are given
below.
1. Heavy precipitation: Rainfall of about 15 cm or more in single day may be beyond
the carrying capacity of the river and this causes the spilling of river over natural
banks. Areas affected include west coast of Western Ghats, Assam and sub-
Himalayan West Bengal and Indo-Gangetic plains.
2. Rise in river bed: Due to large gradients the Himalayan rivers carry a large amount
of silt and sand which are ultimately deposited in the catchment area, and on the river
bed. Siltation reduces the carrying capacity of river.
3. Meandering tendency of river-flow: In the flat terrain rivers have the tendency to
meander or change the course within a specific boundary. Lower reaches of Gangetic
plains and Brahmaputra.
4. Cyclones: Tropical cyclones accompanied by strong winds, high tidal bores causing
inundation of coastal regions. Floods due to cyclone are common in the East coast of
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
5. Silting in Delta areas: Sea tides deposit silt on the river-mouths and discharge
channels leading to steady deterioration of their discharge capacity.

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 6. Obstruction of free-flow of rivers: Embankments, railways, canals etc. obstruct the
free flow of rivers leading to flood.
7. Inadequate drainage arrangement: After introduction of irrigation in some areas,
the sub-soil water table rises fast unless adequate arrangement are simultaneously
made for both surface and sub-surface drainage. Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
8. Earthquake and Landslide: These natural disaster change the river course and
consequently cause flood.
9. Deforestation: Deforestation causes the acceleration of runoff and lowering of
infiltration. Deforestation of hill slopes leads to greater run-off which raises the water
level in rivers. Western Ghats, Siwaliks and Chotanagpur plateau region.
10. Cloud burst: Cloud bursts leads to high amount of rainfall within a short time leading
to flash floods. Flash flood generally occurs in Himalayan region.
Section-II
6) Discuss the nature, causes and impacts of volcanic disasters.
Ans.: A volcano is an open fissure on the surface of the earth. Active volcanoes are those
from which lava, volcanic ashes, rocks, dust and gas compounds escape on a regular basis
(10.000 years are considered regular with volcanoes, so you can feel safe if you have one
around) due to the phenomenon of volcanic eruptions.
Volcanic eruptions can be extremely damaging to the environment, particularly because of a
number of toxic gases possibly present in pyroclastic material. It typically consists mainly of
water vapour, but it also contains carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide gas. Other gases
typically found in volcanic ashes are hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen
fluoride, carbon monoxide, and volatile metal chlorides.
There are many causes that can lead to a volcanic emissions, many of them are still unknown
by humans, which volcano eruptions very hard to predict. However, volcanologists have
made some researchers to determine a few catalysts of them:
 Movement of tectonic plates: whether it is because one is pushed under another one
or two tectonic plates are moved away from each other, this creates a massive
movement on the layers of planet earth (changing the structures of magma, sediments
and seawater) and cause a volcano to erupt.
 Decreasing temperatures: the volume of magma changes when it crystalizes, so it
can push away liquid magma and create a volcanic eruption.
 Decrease in external pressure: this fact provokes an increase in the internal pressure
of the volcano and causes and eruption if it is not capable of holding back the lava.
 Buoyancy of the magma: if the density of the magma between the zone of its
generation and the surface is less than that of the surrounding and overlying rocks, the
magma reaches the surface and erupts.
 Pressure from the exsolved gases: andesitic and rhyolitic magma compositions
contain dissolved volatiles (gases) such as water, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

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 This gas bubbles are held by magma, but just like a carbonated drink, the bubbles of
gas rise to the surface of the magma chamber creating a volcanic eruption.
 Injection of a new batch of magma into an already filled magma chamber: this
phenomenon causes some magma to move up and spill or even erupt at the surface.
Volcanoes have huge impact on our society and environment when they erupt, here there are
some of the many positive and negative effects of volcanic eruptions:
 Negative effects: volcanic eruptions, which sometimes generate earthquakes, can
destroy landscapes, natural resources, wildlife and human lives and their properties.
This phenomenon can also discharge ashes very high into the atmosphere, having
negative consequences on the ozone layer. Moreover, ash and mud can mix with rain
and melting snow and create situations like lahars (also called mudflows) or acid rain.
In other words, volcanic eruptions can destroy civilizations, like what happened to
Pompeii.
 Positive Effects: sometimes eruptions can leave an extraordinary beautiful and
natural scenery, attacking tourists to the area. However, one of the most useful
positive effects is that they often leave potential for geothermal energy, making life
more easy for those around the area. Finally, some volcanic eruptions provide
valuable nutrients for the soil, which are later used as fertile soils for agriculture.
8) Describe the causes and impacts of cold waves.
Ans.: Weather fluctuations in the extra-tropical regions are rather rapid and related with fast
movement of weather systems. Many a times, cold air Inass sweeps in rapidly in the rear of a
weather disturbance, which causes the chill to be more effective. Criterion f'orcold wave
includes not only the minimum temperature to which it may fall but also the rate of
temperature fall within 24 hours.
Cold wave conditions occur during the winter months when the cold air Inass from higher
latitudes sweeps over the region. In the rear of well marked moving low/pressure system in
the westerly wind flow of mid-latitudes, which travel from west to eaqt, winds from
northwesterly/southwesterly direction in northernlsouthern hemisphere prevail and bring cold
air mass from higher latitudes. Cold wave conditions develop if the temperature falls rapidly
much below normal. Occasiondly, foggy weather develops during the day which inhibits day
warming and provides favourable conditions for cold wave conditions to linger on. Clear sky
conditions during the night, further facilitate lowering of ternperatuse by unobstmcted
radiation cooling.
The conditions favourable for cold wave are:
 Inflow of cold air mass from higher latitudes over the region in the rear of the passage
of well markedlow pressure system in the westerly wind flow of mid-latitudes.
 Foggy weather during the day which inhibits day warming of the region.
 Strong radiation cooling during th3 night under clear sky conditions.

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Cold waves over the country are generally experienced during December -February. Rarely
these may also occur in the northern parts of the country in the months of November and
March as well. The frequency of occurrence of cold waves is inaximum over northwestern
parts of India. It falls considerably towards the southern and eastern parts.
Human beings have great capacity to adapt themselves to the climate in which they live, but
they are still vunerable to marked and rather sudden changes in ineteorologicsll conditions.
Devastating impacts of extreme heat or cold temperatures on human health, live-stock as well
as industrial and agriculture productions are experienced in most parts of the world.
Temperate andfor cold regions of mid latitudes have, however, greatereffect of heat wave
compared to warm tropical regions, Same way, cold wave is more devastating in warm
tropical regions than over the cold climate regions.
Similarly, by prolonged exposure to cold wave conditions, abnormally low body temperature
may occur as the body loses heat faster than it can produce by muscle contractions,
metabolism and shivering. Early syrnptoms are generally slow and may cause numbness and
injuries to exposed parts of the body. Shallow breathing, decreased level of consciousness,
clumsy movements, blurred speech and blue-grey skin may follow if exposure persists. If the
heat loss continues, it can lead to unconsciousness and death.