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OUR FRAGILE PLANET EARTH

OUR FRAGILE PLANET EARTH. Planet Earth may be at greater risk than ever before with the emergence of global warming and global climate change as possible future threats. Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA. PLANET EARTH IS WARMING UP.

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OUR FRAGILE PLANET EARTH

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  1. OUR FRAGILE PLANET EARTH Planet Earth may be at greater risk than ever before with the emergence of global warming and global climate change as possible future threats Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA

  2. PLANET EARTH IS WARMING UP AS A RESULT, LOCAL AND REGIONAL CLIMATES ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE LEAVING MANY CITIES WITH ENVIRONMENTS AT HIGHER RISK, ESPECIALLY FROM WEATHER-RELATED NATURAL HAZARDS

  3. AS A RESULT OF GLOBAL WARMING, - - - • Sea level will rise. • Coastal areas will be flooded • The frequency and intensity of severe windstorms may increase, with an associated increase in flooding from storm surge and rainfall and mudslides. • The frequency of wildfires may increase • Winter storms may be more intense

  4. AS A RESULT, EARTH’S ENVIRONMENTS ARE LIKELY TO BE AT HIGHER RISK • Oceans • Polar regions • Deserts • Grasslands • Wetlands • Mountains • Forests • Cities

  5. Possible Changes in Earth’s Polar Regions Warming of Planet Earth due to the apparent warming will likely cause: • Melting of polar ice caps, glaciers, and pack ice

  6. GREENLAND

  7. NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA

  8. WENGEN, SWITZERLAND

  9. KANAI FJORD, ALASKA

  10. SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND

  11. MT KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA

  12. NORTHEAST USA: 1 METER RISE IN SEA LEVEL

  13. MANHATTAN ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY: AT RISK

  14. FLORIDA: 1 METER RISE IN SEA LEVEL

  15. LOUISIANA: 1 METER RISE IN SEA LEVEL

  16. THE NETHERLANDS

  17. VENICE, ITALY

  18. HALONG BAY, VIETNAM

  19. FUNAFUTI,TUVALU

  20. Possible Changes in Earth’s Environments When Planet Earth receives more water in a short period than can be contained in the floodplains and wetlands, the result is: • Flooding

  21. Floods in Mozambique

  22. Planet Earth’s coasts are subjected to severe windstorms with large waves, storm surge, and heavy rainfall--large quantities of water, which cause: Drastic irreversible changes along the coast lines. Possible Changes in Earth’s Environments

  23. HURICANE KATRINA: NEW ORLEANS UNDER WATER, 2005

  24. HURRICANES DESTROY BARRIER ISLANDS

  25. TROPICAL STORM NOEL 235 MILES SW OF NASSAU: OCT 31, 2007

  26. 70 % OF MEXICO’S TABASCO STATE UNDER WATER: NOV 2, 2007

  27. TROPICAL STORM NOEL: HAITI, OCT 30, 2007

  28. Possible Change in Earth’s Environment As Planet Earth warms up, • Desertification Increases

  29. 1/6 OF WORLD’S POPULATIONS AFFECTED BY DESERTIFICATION

  30. Possible Changes in Earth’s Environment As Planet Earth warms up, • Dust Storms may Increase

  31. DUST STORM: AL ASAD, IRAQ: APRIL 27, 2007

  32. Natural Phenomena that Change our Environment Planet Earth is warming up, causing: • Droughts

  33. DROUGHT IN CHINA: 2007

  34. Possible Changes in Earth’s Environment As Planet Earth warms up, • Rivers may dry up.

  35. ELBE RIVER, GERMANY: SUMMER, 2007

  36. COLORADO RIVER BASIN, WESTERN USA

  37. LOS ANGELES RIVER: SUMMER 2007

  38. Possible Changes in Earth’s Environment As Planet Earth warms up, • Wildfires may Increase

  39. WILDFIRES IN EUROPE: JULY 2007

  40. WILDFIRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: OCTOBER 21,2007

  41. Planet Earth is easily damaged by some of man’s actions, for example: Deforestation Possible Changes in Earth’s Environment

  42. 1 ½ ACRES OF RAIN FOREST DISAPPEAR EVERY SECOND

  43. Implications for Planet Earth The potential risk to Planet Earth’s environments calls for: • Public policies that promote long-term community resilience

  44. FOUR PILLARS OF RESILIENCE • NATURAL HAZARDS • INVENTORY • VULNERABILITY • LOCATION • PREPAREDNESS • PROTECTION • EMERGENCY RESPONSE • RECOVERY IENCE RISK ASSESSMENT ACCEPTABLE RISK RISK UNACCEPTABLE RISK GOAL: DISASTER RESILIENCE DATA BASES AND INFORMATION COMMUNITY HAZARDS: GROUND SHAKING GROUND FAILURE SURFACE FAULTING TECTONIC DEFORMATION TSUNAMI RUN UP AFTERSHOCKS

  45. COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC POLICIES MONITORING

  46. Protecting Planet Earth Planet Earth’s changes in exposure and risk over time call for: • Technology to monitor the causative factors, warn people, and protect property, and infrastructure.

  47. POLICIES FOR REDUCTION OF RISK • MONITORING (TRACKING CHANGES THAT MIGHT INCREASE THE RISK TO A CITY AND WARNING THE PEOPLE IN TIME FOR THEM TO GET OUT OF HARM’S WAY) AND PROTECT PROPERTY

  48. THE INT’L SPACE STA (ISS) PROVIDES EYES IN THE SKY: HURRICANE FELIX, SEPT 3, 2007

  49. EARLY WARNING: A CAT 2 HURRICANE DEAN: AUG 16, 2007

  50. EARLY WARNING AND EVACUATION: AUGUST 19, 2007

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