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SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM WEATHER AND CLIMATE RELATED DISASTERS IN GHANA (1998-2008)

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM WEATHER AND CLIMATE RELATED DISASTERS IN GHANA (1998-2008). CHARLES K. A. YORKE GHANA METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY High-Impact Weather Predictability and Information System for Africa and AMMA-THORPEX Forecasters’ Handbook 5-8 October 2009 ICTP, Italy.

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SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM WEATHER AND CLIMATE RELATED DISASTERS IN GHANA (1998-2008)

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  1. SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM WEATHER AND CLIMATE RELATED DISASTERS IN GHANA (1998-2008) CHARLES K. A. YORKE GHANA METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY High-Impact Weather Predictability and Information System for Africa and AMMA-THORPEX Forecasters’ Handbook5-8 October 2009 ICTP, Italy

  2. Position of Ghana in West Africa

  3. Introduction/Background The study focuses on the total economic damage attributable to gusty winds from rainstorm and flash floods in Ghana from 1998 to 2008. • About 80% of all natural disasters in Ghana are weather and climate related and they include severe convective weather (lightning, thunderstorms, gusty winds etc), thick fog, thick haze, flash floods, droughts. • The squall lines are driven by AEW and are located on the surface along two tracks; along 5-10N and 15-20N. • Until 1998 there were no economic records of disaster events from the government data base.

  4. Thunderstorms and squall lines occur mainly from March to October/November and though provide about 83.7% of the annual rainfall amount they are also responsible for most of the natural disasters in Ghana. Series of active convective systems observed over parts of West Africa and Ghana on 28th August 2005

  5. Flood Disaster Effects in the 3 Northern Regions in 2007 • Rainfall amounts in August at the 3- Northern Regions increased between 51-127% over its LTM causing massive flooding. • The flat terrain of the region aggravated the situation. • Additionally, spillage of about 900 m3/sec of water from the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso into the White Volta and its tributaries caused their banks to overflow.

  6. Statistics of Flood Disaster Effects in 2007

  7. NADMO officials sending relief items to flood victims • A flooded community in Accra.

  8. A flooded farming community in the western region of Ghana (13th June 2007).

  9. Recent floods in Western Accra (19th June 2009) Damaged taxis from flood current and gusty winds in Accra. An asphalt road in Accra destroyed by floods.

  10. Estimated Damaged Costs (1998-2008) The estimated damage resulting from these disasters during the study period amounted to over Gh¢ 106 mil. (USD 71.7 mil.) (This figure does not include the Damage cost for the three northern regions in 2007)

  11. High frequency of annual occurrence of squall lines and thunderstorms were observed at the Volta lake basin with the least number at the south eastern coast of the country from 1999-2008.

  12. Though few occurrences of gusty winds of more than 41 knots were observed in the country during the period of study, the accompanying damages were significant due to the following : • the direction of the prevailing winds are not taken into account in designing the roofs of buildings. • most buildings in the smaller towns are old and weak. • the absence of wind breaks in most cities and towns. • sitings of buildings and design of bill boards etc. without considering the wind directions.

  13. Methods of seasonal and weather forecast available at Ghana meteorological Agency. • Forecast is made by studying products from Meteo France, ECMWF, UK Met Office, NOAA. • Regional outlook forum forecast of the rainfall pattern over the arid and semi arid regions of West Africa – Niamey(Niger). • A model developed from the anomalies of equivalent potential temperature (e) and its saturation value (es ) is been studied for the determination of the • onset at 2-4 months lead time, • the seasonal rainfall amount

  14. Primary focus /Challenges Enhance the seasonal to interannualprediction Enhancepublic awareness To disseminateclimate/weather information to all corners of Ghana Establish a clearlinkbetweenclimate science and its application Encourage regional collaboration among experts of member countries. Establishment of a sustained network

  15. Conclusion Given current levels of poor infrastructural development in our towns and cities, rainstorms are likely to cause more damage to life and properties. The passage of rainstorms is more frequent during the start of the rainy season. The study shows that 56.5 % of floods occur at the peak of the rainy seasons and at the low lying and poorly drained urban centers. High frequency of rainstorm events were recorded across the country than flood events during the study period. Rainstorm with gusty winds of more than 82km/hr usually cause significant destruction in Ghana. In 2002, rainstorms passed through the country with no reported damage in the official government data set.

  16. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

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