Geography

Tropical
JaJj Cyclone
Ida

Jabulani Ndundu
Grade 12
Ms. Z. Masiu
Table Of Content Pages
I. Mapping
World Map 2
Satellite Images 2
Map With Path 3
Annotated Diagram 3

II. Introduction
Introduction on Tropical Cyclones 4
Sapphire-Simpson & Beaufort Scale 4

III. Discussions
How did Ida Develop? 5 5
How did Ida Impact the environment, Economy & People 5
The precautions that can be implemented to reduce
The impact 6
The impact of global warming on the frequency Of
tropical cyclones 7

IV. Conclusion 8

V. Bibliography 8

1
 Mapping
❖ Satellite Images & World Map
The following three images are satellite images &
A world map of Hurricane Ida respectively

2
❖ Map with path & Annotated Diagram

3
 Introduction
A Tropical cyclone is a powerful, rotating storm system, around a low-pressure cell
which develops over a warm ocean between the tropics.
Tropical cyclones typically develop in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world,
where the ocean’s surface temperature is usually 26.5°C (80°F).
They often develop between 30 degrees both North and South. These storms are
categorized by strong winds, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
They are named differently in different regions of the world: Hurricanes in the Gulf of
Mexico, Typhoons in Japan and Eastern parts of China and Tropical Cyclones in Africa
and Australia.
Today, I will be briefly discussing the Tropical Cyclone Ida, which is commonly known
as Hurricane Ida happened in 2021, making landfall in Louisiana August 29th, on the
Gulf of Mexico.

Saffir-Simpson & Beaufort Scale

The Beaufort scale describes the wind and sea conditions whilst the Sapphire-Simpson
scale measures the hurricane intensity. The following images are examples of the
Saffir-Simpson & Beaufort Scale:

4
 Discussions
How did Ida develop?
On August 26, 2021, Ida developed into a tropical depression in the Caribbean Sea. It
then strengthened into a tropical cyclone and approached landfall over Cuba. The
cyclone then intensified further as it approached the shore of Louisiana. The storm
quickly went from a category 1 storm to a category 4 storm in less than a day just before
reaching landfall on Sunday, August 29th.
Ida reached its strongest point as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds as high as 150
mph (241 kph). Prior to making landfall, it was predicted to cause storm surges up to 16
feet (4.8 meters) before it made landfall along the southeast Louisiana coast.
Because of the warmer ocean surface temperature, the storm gained more energy to
intensify and produce stronger winds. It then unleashed fury on the Louisiana shore,
resulting in massive flooding, widespread power outages, and unspeakable devastation.
It then caused catastrophic destruction when it struck the Louisiana coast, highlighting
the destructive power of nature and need for coastal communities to remain prepared.

How did Ida Impact the environment, economy & people?

Millions of people saw long-lasting effects from Ida within a few days. The severity of
the storm and the destruction it caused sparked grave questions about how climate
change may be influencing more frequent and severe natural catastrophes.

Ida, which is tied for the fifth strongest storm in history and is currently the ninth named
storm of the 2021 hurricane season, may end up being the most expensive storm to
ever hit the US mainland. The National Centers for Environmental Information of the
NOAA estimates the financial cost of the damage at $75 billion.

Following the storm, the following effects were noted:

In southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi, the storm damaged the electrical grid,
knocked out electricity to over a million homes and businesses, and declared several
municipalities under state of emergency.

The region's houses and businesses suffered severe damage as a result of Ida's flash
floods and storm surge, and infrastructure and transportation were severely disrupted.
Ida's destructive effect in 2021 was a result of her wide path; flooding and intense rains
caused severe damage from Louisiana to the Northeast.

5
 The Precautions that were taken by The US Government to
reduce the impact of Ida
Organizations' combined efforts serve as a reminder of how crucial cooperation and
teamwork are during natural disasters. The efforts of these groups demonstrate the
human spirit's resiliency and strength as communities recover from cyclone Ida. FEMA
were instrumental in organizing disaster response and recovery activities.

The natural disaster's responses consisted of:

- The impacted communities are receiving support from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA).
- The National Hurricane Center providing assistance and direction
- The National Hurricane Center, as well as regional and national organizations,
provided assistance.

In response to the Cyclone, World Vision also assisted by dispatching four truckloads of
essential supplies to the most affected villages. They provided food, clean water, tents,
sanitizing wipes, generators, flashlights, diapers, and clothing to 12,000 individuals in
need.

6
 The impact of global warming on the frequency of tropical
cyclones?
Complex natural phenomenon’s such as tropical cyclones can only arise in certain
atmospheric and oceanic circumstances. According to research, tropical cyclone
frequency is decreasing due to shifting conditions brought on by climate change.
It's challenging to measure this tendency because there aren't enough long-term
cyclone data.
The North Atlantic has seen an increase in recent decades due to a growing trend.
They propose that a decline in nearby air pollution and natural variability are the
combined causes of this.
Satellite imagery has been used to identify tropical cyclones since the 1970s. Finding
long-term trends in cyclone frequency is difficult since there is a limited record of tropical
cyclones prior to the widespread use of satellites and a lack of high-quality
observational data.
The following graph is the annual 2022 Tropical Cyclone report published by the
National Centers for Environmental Information which shows the annual count of named
storms, hurricanes & major hurricanes.

7
 Conclusion
To conclude my research on Tropical Cyclone Ida, it has shed light on the complicated
nature of tropical cyclones and how they affect coastal populations. By means of
thorough data analysis, observation, and cooperation between scientists, and
emergency responders and our comprehension of the behavior, trajectory, and intensity
of this powerful storm has been enhanced.
These findings highlight how crucial it is to have strong infrastructure, good
communication plans, and readiness measures in place in order to lessen the
destructive effects of tropical cyclones like Ida. To improve community resilience and
reduce the loss of life and property, our efforts must be comprehensive and
encompassing everything from early warning systems to evacuation protocols and
protecting natural ecosystems.
Ida also acts as an alarming reminder of the pressing need for international climate
change action. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like hurricanes
are expected to increase as sea levels rise and temperatures rise.

Bibliography
https://www.carbonbrief.org/tropical-cyclones-now-13-less-frequent-due-to-
climate-change

https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/hurricane-ida.htm

https://www.jbarisk.com/products-services/event-response/hurricane-ida-a-storm-
of-two-acts

https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2021-hurricane-ida-facts

R. Laura (2022) Disaster Relief stories – Hurricane Ida facts