...The Science of Disasters EAS 201 – Written Assignment 5 1. What is the difference between a flash flood and a regional flood? Are the causes the same? Are the effects the same? Flash Flood; are walls of water, set up in a matter of hours by a large convective storm. Many automobile related deaths in a flash flood are in 2 feet of water due to the buoyant lift and current of the water. In 1997, in Antelope Canyon a flash flood took 12 hikers, tumbling them down the canyon as helpless on lookers could only watch. A wall of water builds due to steep topography, channeling the water and striking a particular area in a thunderstorm. In Big Thompson Canyon, Colorado in 1976, a thunderstorm remained stationary in the canyon for four hours. The topography fed the flash floods and carried many hikers and tourist down the canyon to their death. Many survived by fleeing their cars and climbing to safety, seeking shelter along the canyon walls. Those who chose to stay with their cars were swept away in the flood and died. The weight and proximity of the vehicle couldn’t allow them to achieve the safety they required. Regional Flood; different from flash floods, regional floods inundate an area with rainfall over several weeks, causing fewer deaths and often more damage. Occurring in areas of large river valleys and low topography, these heavy rains often result due to cyclonic systems. Their can be many contributing factors as to why a particular river may flood; geological...
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...for disease proliferation, nutrient capture, algal bloom potential and the release of toxicants from inundated sediments. Some water quality problems relate to activities within the catchment beyond the direct control of the proponent but which can cause water quality problems when compounded with the power station operations. Flooding of biomass, especially forests, results in underwater decay. In deep lakes that tend to stratify, colder de-oxygenated water at depths in the lake have in some cases released metals from the sediments e.g. methylmercury. Deep intakes can in some cases result in deoxygenated and hydrogen sulphide rich releases out of the power station tailrace into the downstream river system. Particularly high hydropower dams have in cases had problems with gas supersaturation resulting in fish deaths. In shallow lakes, water quality problems can under certain catchment conditions result from wind-induced sediment re-suspension, eutrophication and algal blooms. Water temperatures in the discharged water...
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...quickly and with little warning. These flash floods can be extremely dangerous, instantly turning a babbling brook into a thundering wall of water and sweeping everything in its path downstream. There are many causes of flood. Typhoons may cause flooding to coastal areas. When there is a typhoon, the atmospheric pressure is low. Sea level rises and affects the volume of water flowing from the river to the sea. This indirectly leads to flooding. Flooding always occur in coastal areas. Because whenever there are high tides or storms, the sea level will raise. If the sea level is higher than the level of the coastal lowland, flooding will occur. Heavy rainfall raises the water level. When the water level is higher than the river banks or the dams, the water comes out from the river, there will have flooding. But even small amount of rainfalls in our country may cause flood. This graph says that ten percent of the fatalities during natural calamities are caused by flood. 788,572 are the number of people who are affected by this phenomenon. This tells that almost two million dollars cost of private and agricultural properties are damage and devastated Most flood destruction is attributable to humans' desire to live near picturesque coastlines and in river valleys. According to these statistics, flooding is a...
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...John Cauley Research Paper Dr.Babaie November 25th 2012 Dammed If We Do Dammed If We Don’t In our everyday lives we rarely think of how we get our drinking water or where it even comes from. If we were to do a little research we would most likely come to the conclusion that it came from, or was in some part due to the use of a dam. Dams are part of everyday life and impact us in more ways than we can even express. First there are the general purposes we all think about: recreation (boating, swimming, etc.), drinking or water for irrigation, and possibly energy production better known as hydroelectric power generation. Yet there are many more active, passive, and even religious ways that dams effect the many cultures, whether effluent or poor; around the globe (Abraham). * Going back to ancient Rome there is mention of retaining and trapping water for public and civil uses. They created the first aqueducts not to far off from the systems many countries still use today to deliver their water for drinking and other public uses, such as filling fountains and using for mill power. It was said that no matter how much of a drought or shortage of water in Rome, the fountains were the last thing to be shut down (public drinking water, even water for the senate was shut off) were the public fountains, to show Rome’s great power and prestige in case of invasion, and for public image also. * Today we live in a much more complicated world. A world filled with...
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...needs. They also started making water wheels out of cast iron. People were always looking for ways to make it more efficient and some inventions were very successful like the cast-iron gearing which brought all wood construction to an end. Since they were always looking for more efficient ways this also brought to people inventing turbines and even windmills. Even now a days small companies use water wheels instead of turbines because they are more affordable and the payback is greater. They are also very affordable to maintain. If it wasn’t for this early machine that started it all maybe we wouldn’t have evolved so fast in this technology. Maybe they would have been grinding grains by hand for a couple hundred years more. Hydro-electric dams are descendants from water wheels, as they also take advantage of the movement of water downhill. This is why I think that the water wheel helped to shape modern society. References http://www.top-alternative-energy-sources.com/water-wheel-history.html http://www.top-alternative-energy-sources.com/water-wheel-history.html...
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...on a long term basis like dams to be constructed on the rivers in the Northern Gujarat. The project would bring about many positive changes like increased in irrigation and productivity but one issue persisted. This issue was of great importance as it was concerned with the famous Bhavnath temple falling in the middle of the reservoir. After a lot of discussion and negotiation, assurance was given to safeguard the interests of the people. The government later proposed an increase in the dimension of dam because of higher promised returns, but this would lead to submerging the temple. This caused resistance and hence the negotiations failed. Situation Analysis In 1947 after independence the government directed all their plans towards all – round economic development of the country. The country was economically very weak at the time of independence. The Bombay province understood the importance of agriculture and thus decided to build earthen dams across the rivers of Lokmata and Sadmata to increase the economic conditions of the country. In order to go ahead with the project the government had to rehabilitate the people getting affected and also the temple would be lost and so the only solution was to relocate the temple and its deities. This was opposed by the natives and locals even after negotiations about relocating and preserving the temple. The dam was to be built in the order to provide irrigation to the agricultural fields. The series of dam to be built in Northern Gujarat...
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...FORTIS INC. AND CHLILLO DAM Introduction Fortis is the organization aimed at delivering the earnings towards their shareholders whereas continuing the quality services to the customers at a reasonable prices. They had the strategy of positive growth and disciplined strategy of acquisition for shareholder’s wealth increase. PEST Analysis PEST analysis is the political, economic, social and technologuical system that must be analysed in this study. This study is based upon the project of Fortis that was based upon the electricity and power generation through dam construction in the Belize country. Following points are summarizing the key issues and current situations at the time of dam construction in Fortis and Belize. Political Analysis Belize is the country that has democratic state and sovereign status of the country with a government working on the parliamentary principles. Parliament principles are based upon the west minister parliamentary system. Country has the membership in the British commonwealth of nations after its independence. Belize electricity limited has the operations in strong relation to the economy and government (Ansar, Flyvbjerg, Budzier, & Lunn, 2014). They have more than 53,000 customer’s serves and able to meet up the highest demands of the country including 44 megawatts from the diesel fired generation, Mollejon hydro plant and energy purchase from commission de electricidad. BEL has enhanced the corporate image in the various modes. Electricity...
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...the channel by eroding the stream banks. B) What happens if a stream has too much sediment load? It causes sediment deposition on stream bottom creating a braided stream. 3. A) What expected flood size does FEMA use to establish its regulatory requirements? FEMA uses the 100 year flood for building regulations. B) In any given year, what is the probability that a 100 year flood will occur? There is a 1% chance each year that this level of flood could occur. Maps are available with 100 year flood outlines. 50 year flood = 2% chance. 4. What are 6 ways that killer floods can occur? 1) Precipitation is above normal in drainage basin, 2) sudden snow/ice melts, 3) landslides, 4) modifications, fire and urbanization = more runoff 5) Dam failure, 6) geography of stream basin/area. 5. A) Are the canyons of Utah susceptible to flash floods? Why or why not? Yes because steep topography helps thunderstorms build and then provide the rugged valleys that channelize the killer floods. Utah canyons are very steep so it is very possible. B) How deep does water have to be to possibly be fatal to people who try to drive through flood waters? 2 ft deep. 6. A) How do regional floods differ from flash floods? They differ because regional floods occur in large river valleys with low topography whereas flash floods happen in tall steep places. B) Why was the Mississippi River flood of 1993 so big? Because...
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...They have the two characteristics of public goods. Non-excludability. Once you provide flood defences for a city, everyone in that city will benefit and be protected. (People will be protected whether or not they have have contributed towards the cost). Non-rivalry. If you enjoy a city defended from rising flood waters, it doesn’t reduce the amount of flood defences for other people. (It’s not like eating emergency rations, which do reduce the amount available for other people.) Failure of the free market Difficulty in provision. There is little, if any, incentive for a firm to provide flood defences through charging local residents. There is a big free rider problem. People on flood plains may have a vested interest in better flood defences, but there is temptation to avoid paying and hoping someone else will pay. Another difficulty is that flooding has no predictability. Building roads (a quasi public good) gives a predictable return. Spending money on police and justice also give a predictable return. But, you could spend millions on flood defences and not need it for 30 years. Another difficulty is that flood defences can be quite difficult to build. Dredging rivers done annually is expensive, though at least manegable. But, other flood defences may be more difficult, such as building relief canals to take excess water. This may need government help to purchase the necessary land. Occasions where public good can be provided by the free market Despite the limitations...
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...What if the fish make it past the dam? Due to the rising of water temperatures caused by the dam, the fish will either die from heat stroke or develop whirling disease. What do a few fish matter anyway? Salmon are a food source for orcas, bears, and even humans. So without these precious fish humans will not only lose a delicious food, but also cause the population of many other species to be depleted. So it is critical for these fish to reach their native breeding grounds. How many will successfully complete this miraculous journey? Currently about 90% of fish die before making it past dams such as the Ice Harbor Dam in Washington (Nicole 2). In rivers such as the Snake River. That has caused a decrease in the number of fish from a whopping 400,000 in its "pre dam" era to 3,000 currently....
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...BUILDING A DAM Central Problem: Whether to construct the proposed dam that would bring most benefit to the community and to lose a certain species of small fish only found in that river. Minor problem: A reasonable decision to not build the dam should the fish be edible and with commercial use. Alternative Courses of Action: 1. To continue in the construction the proposed dam so that the community will be benefited in terms of having hydroelectric power and creating recreational activities such as boating, swimming and water-skiing, however the river will lose that certain species of small fish. Applying the principle of utilitarianism which to sacrifice something for a greater good. 2. To transfer the small fish with the help of a government sector like the DENR, or government agency concerning aquatic life forms/ resources to a fish sanctuary or a new habitat before building the dam/ project so that this certain species of small fish will not become extinct. 3. To reject the proposed construction of the dam and preserve the existence of the small fish. Recommendation/Ethical Solution: The group recommends the second alternative course of action. The members of the group believe that although there will be additional costs in the transfer of the small fish; still we took into consideration of the possible extinction of the species. And in the very first place the ones responsible may it be the government or a private group for the proposal of the dam should have...
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...THE HISTORY OF NGO'S IN INDIA The changing face of volunteering in India 26 September 2006 by Patralekha Chatterjee Stepping carefully around the pits and mounds, four men approached the only source of light to be seen - a small kerosene lantern burning inside a mud and grass hut. There were four residents inside - a couple and their two children, 10 and eight. They dug the pits, cut the rock and hauled it to the trucks, all without salary. They were bonded labourers, bonded for life and for generations to the owner of the pit because some ancestor sometime had borrowed money and had been unable to pay it back. Two of the four men who visited the hut that night in 1985 were from a nongovernmental organization called Bandhua Mukti Morcha (Bonded Labour Liberation Front). The other two were journalists brought by the NGO to prove that bonded labour - a form of slavery - did exist right in the nation's capital. After the visit, the men from the NGO went to the police station to lodge a complaint, because bonded labour is illegal in India, and so is child labour in a profession as hazardous as this. The complaints, and the articles written by the journalists after the visit, were part of the NGO campaign to make the government implement the law. Every day, different NGOs all over India are doing things like this. Sometime it may be taking a sample of water from a well that has been polluted by a nearby factory, getting the water analysed and then filing a "public interest petition"...
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...audiences think of why New Orleans is especially vulnerable to hurricane. For New Orleans geography location perspective to see, incontrovertible, it near the ocean, each year’s August and September, the hurricane land to the near shore city, so the New Orleans is the first target suffer from it. Another nature fact, low elevation makes sea water inundate the city more easily. However, nature factors lead to the destructive damage to New Orleans is a little exaggeratory, the human action actually play a major role. To make more space, the city builds drained system around area, and it appears expand tend, that is, let the origin land become lower. Building dams potentially aggravate hurricane. Building dam for the purpose of generate power and regulate river water storage is benefit for city’s resident life and economy, but when the dam situated in upstream, which intercept sediment and silt flow to downstream, with sediment reduce, near shore area lack of barrier to protect and thus sea water comes in. Tragedy has become reality already, when hurricane done, it’s the time to us self-examination and take some emergency preparedness. Recovery wetland and nature barrier is essential, mangrove forest is a good example to defend surge. When the hurricane happened, most of time is people not prepared for it, over panic and overwhelming that cause unnecessary casualty. From this point, it should be build a flood protection system and provide timely weather forecast. Hurricane Katrina...
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...Case study Charles Martin in Uganda Contents I. Case Background 3 II. Statement of the Problem 4 III. Alternatives 5 IV. Recommended Solution 6 V. Answers to the case questions …..6-8 VI. Learnings 8 I. Case Background Hydro Generation (HG) is a U.S. based company that specializes in power plant. It has built power plants in 16 countries where they maintained an ownership in about half of them. The company has targeted a construction of large dam in Uganda Africa. HG put Charles Martin in this project to facilitate the preliminary construction and in case up to the construction phase to get an operating structure and facility start-up activities that includes obtaining licenses, installing telephones and utilities and securing the initial staff that would hire the full range of local personnel. But Vice president James Green pondered whether to continue employing Martin for the construction phase of the project. In particular, Green was concerned about Martin’s lifestyle, some of his business practices, and his participation in Ugandan tribal rituals. Green worried that Martin’s practices were counter to both HG’s corporate culture and methods of operating elsewhere, that some of his actions bordered on the unethical, and that some might be illegal under U.S. law. Characters in the case Lawrence Lovell * HG’s founder and CEO * A devout Christian and very influential in shaping the company’s management culture * Believed that business...
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...EFFECTS (IMPACTS) OF TEHRI DAM By S.C.Sharma, Former General Manager THDC Ltd. 1. INTRODUCTION The probable effects of human activities regarding the use of environmental resources on natural environment is called environmental impact, and the assessment and evaluation of environmental effects of human activities are called environmental impact assessment (EIA). Thus, EIA is an instrument to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project, evaluate alternatives, and design appropriate mitigation, management and monitoring measures. EIA should also be conducted for social environments, i.e., impacts of project on human beings. The main activities involved in EIA are : i) Identification of likely impacts. ii) Conduction of baseline studies to collect various available information related to the particular impact. iii) Impact prediction and assessment. iv) Impact interpretation or evaluation. v) Identification of monitoring requirements and mitigating measures. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TEHRI DAM The Project has identified both positive and negative impacts. Efforts were made to get full advantage of positive impacts by formulating suitable schemes. As we know that dam is essentially an artificial wall constructed across a river which converts a running water ecosystem into a lake type ecosystem. This causes some changes in basic riverine ecosystem....
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