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NATURAL HAZARDS, MITIGATION, AND ADAPTATION

Hydrometeorological Phenomena and Hazards
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this module, the learners should be able to:
1. Describe the various hazards cause by hydrometeorological phenomena;
2. Classify coastal processes and their effects;
3. Give practical way of coping with hydrometeorological hazards
ACTIVITY
Analyze the given phenomena’s. Write NH if you think it is a Natural Hazard and MH if it is Man-made Hazard.

1. Typhoon Glenda (international name Rammasun), with gusts of up to 160 kph (99 mph) and sustained winds of
130 kph (81 mph) near its centre, hit land over Rapu-Rapu island in the eastern province of Sorsogon.
2. 6-meter storm surges may hit Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Sur: PAGASA
3. More than 167,000 hectares of coastland -- about 0.6% of the country's total area -- are projected to go
underwater in the Philippines, especially in low-lying island communities, according to research by the University
of the Philippines.
4. Volcanic Eruption in the Philippines Causes Thousands To Flee.
5. Floodwaters caused by typhoon Vongfong inundate a village as it passed by Sorsogon province, eastern
Philippines on Friday May 15, 2020. 
6. On Dec.5, 2019, the Davao del Sur region of the country was struck by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake.
7. Magnitude 6.9 quake strikes off Mindanao, causing small tsunami waves expected to hit southern parts of the
country.
8. A landslide triggered by heavy rains Thursday killed at least four people in the central Philippines, with dozens
feared trapped in the latest of a string of deadly incidents over six days.
9. Huge fire destroys hundreds of homes in a shanty town in Quezon City, Manila, Philippines
10. On August 11, 2006, the oil tanker M/T Solar 1, hired by Petron Corporation, sank off the coast of Guimaras, an
island province in the Philippines, spilling more than 2.1 million liters (about 555,000 gallons) of bunker fuel.

Answers:
1. 5. 9.
2. 6. 10.
3. 7.
4. 8.

LESSON PROPER
Hazards caused by Hydrometeorological Phenomena
Intertropical Convergence Zone- the area that encircles the Earth near the equator were trade winds meet.
The Philippines is in the Northern Hemisphere, near the equator.

PAGASA or Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services and Administration- the government
agency that provides information on meteorological, astronomical and climatological activities in the Philippine territory.
Common Hydrometeorological Phenomenon

1. Tropical Cyclones
 Tropical hurricanes and typhoons are cyclonic
storms that originate in the tropics. These
disturbances originate over water in or near the
polar regions of the doldrum belt.
 Typhoons (northwest Pacific) or hurricanes
(Atlantic and Northeast region) are storm system
characterized by rapid spiraling storms, low-
pressure center and intensely strong winds.
 Cyclones can increase the strength of winds
which may cause tropical depression
(45-62km/h), storm (63-117km/h), a typhoon
(118-23km/h) and a super typhoon (240km/h or higher).

Tropical Cyclones are of 3 types:

1. Depression- wind speed less than 63km/hr.
2. Storm- 63- 117 km/hr
3. Typhoon- 118km/hr or more

Public Storm Warning System in the Philippines

Signal Number One
The typhoon has a wind speed of 30-60 kph and is expected within 36 hours. Classes in kindergarten are
automatically suspended.
Signal Number Two
The typhoon has a wind speed of 61-120 kph and is expected within 24 hours. It can bring light to moderated
damage to high risk structures. Classes in elementary and high school are automatically suspended.
Signal Number Three
The typhoon has a wind speed of 121-170 kph and is expected within 18 hours. It can bring heavy damage to
high risk structures. Almost all banana plants may be downed and some trees may be uprooted. Classes in elementary
and high school are automatically suspended.
Signal Number Four
The typhoon has a wind speed of 171-220 kph and expected within 12 hours. It can bring very heavy damage to
high risk structures. It can cause almost total damage to banana plantations and rice and corn plantations may suffer
severe losses. All billboards may be blown down.

Signal Number Five

The super typhoon has a wind speed of more than 220 kph and is expected within 18 hours. It can bring
widespread damage to high risk structures. Most tall trees may be broken or uprooted. Most residential and institutional
buildings may be severely damaged. Electrical power distributions and communication services may be disrupted.
PAG-ASA’s Color Coded Rainfall Advisories

Precautionary Measures for Typhoons

Before
1. Store enough supply of food (no cook) and water that would last for at least three days.
2. Always keep flashlights, candles, match, batteries, transistor radio and first aid kit available.
3. Place important documents in a zip bag.
4. Examine your house and repair unstable parts as much as possible.
5. Charge all gadgets. It is better of you have power bank and rechargeable lamps with fan.
6. Keep updated about the progress of the typhoon through television or radio.

During
1. Stay inside the house and keep calm.
2. Keep updates with the latest weather forecast.
3. In case of flooding, turn off the main source of electricity.
4. If there is a need to evacuate, do it immediately and calmly.
5. Avoid wading through flood waters to avoid electrocution and water-borne diseases
After
1. Be sure that the house is safe and stable before entering.
2. Have a knowledgeable person inspect electrical connections.
3. Boil water before drinking and beware of
contaminated food.
4. Extend help to those who are adversely affected by
the typhoon.

2. Monsoons
 These are seasonal winds. The Philippines
expect two monsoons every year.
 Amihan- or northeast monsoon is characterized by cold gusty winds with little precipitation. It begins in early
September- May or June. Winds blow in the east.

Habagat- or southwest monsoon is characterized by hot and humid atmosphere with frequent or heavy rainfall.
It begins in Jun and ends in August or September. Wind blows in the west.

3. Tornado (Ipo-ipo)
 Locally known as ipo-ipo. It is a rapidly swirling
condensation funnel whose narrow end comes in
contact with the ground. It usually carries debris
and other objects that can be picked up from the
ground.
 Tornadoes occur anywhere in an average number
of 12-24 times a year.
Characterized by:

Storm
Debris
Fire

Marine and Coastal Processes

Coastal areas are transition places between land
and sea. These areas are considered low-lying. It is very
dynamic. It interacts with all natural systems and
processes that happened on land, in marine environment
and in the atmosphere.

1. Coastal Erosion
Is the wearing away of land and the removal of
beach or dune sediments by wave action, tidal
currents, wave currents, drainage or high winds.

2. S
ubmersion
 Is the sustainable cyclic portion of coastal erosion
where coastal sediments move from the visible
portion of a beach to the submerged near shore
region, and later return to the original visible
portion of the beach. The recovery portion of the
sustainable cycle of sediment behavior is accretion.

3. Saltwater Intrusion
Saltwater intrusion is movement of saline water into
freshwater aquifers, which can lead to
contamination of drinking water sources and other consequences. Saltwater intrusion occurs naturally to
hydraulic connection between groundwater and seawater.

Coastal Hazard-prone areas in the Philippines

Local government units in areas that are ranked extremely high in susceptibility to landslide and flooding are
advised to immediately relocate the residents of these zones to safer areas. Especially typhoons that can cause coastal
hazards.

Prevention and Management of Marine and Coastal Hazards

1. Prepare an emergency survival kit.
2. Create an evacuation plan.
3. Know where the evacuation center is and on how to get there.
4. Listen to new from any means.

SYNTHESIS
Answer the following questions:
1. What are the characteristics of hydrometeorological hazards?

2. How does hydrometeorological hazards affect the geological processes?

3. Give practical ways on how can we cope hydrometeorological hazards.

ASSESMENT
Prepare a special report on the storm surge caused by Typhoon Yolanda that hit Tacloban.
1. Describe the approach and destruction over the whole area.
2. Provide some tips on how to lessen the damage;
 3. State how are the rehabilitation and reconstructions being done to resettle the survivors.

REFERENCES
 slideshare.net/KatrinaMeneses/natural-hazards-mitigation-adaptation
 Earth and Life Science by Salandanan-Faltado-Lopez, 2016, Page 72-80