DIGITAL ARTIFACT SUBMITTED BY
ROILO GOLEZ
The Climate Change Course so far has provided me revelations on two issues very close to my heart:
Haiyan is likely to push a large storm surge inland — at least 10 feet (3 meters) — along the eastern coast of the islands of Luzon and Samar, according to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang blog.
From paper Turn Down the Heat by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Climate Analysissubmiited to the World Bank:
“The global oceans have continued to warm, with about 90 percent of the excess heat energy trapped by the increased greenhouse gas concentrations since 1955 stored in the oceans as heat. The average increase in sea levels around the world over the 20th century has been about 15 to 20 centimeters.” And that “Sea-level rise is likely to be 15 to 20 percent larger in the tropics than the global mean.” And “Increases in tropical cyclone intensity are likely to be felt disproportionately in low-latitude regions.”
Warning from the WB paper on extreme floods due to sea level rise impacts: “Highly vulnerable cities are to be found in Mozambique, Madagascar, Mexico,Venezuel, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.”
Global warming affecting the wide openPacific Ocean that enabled a typhoon like to build up strength and intensity, aggravated by sea level rise. All these climatic and geographical factors converged to make a Haiyan possible and makes its reoccurrence very likely in the future because of continued global warming. Warning to the Philippines necessary explained in the scientific way it is explained in the WB paper.
Surge was never fully explained in the government warnings. It was mostly the strength of the winds, that’s why the people in the coastal areas of Samar and Leyte were caught flatfooted, including local officials, the police and the military whose homes and offices were wiped out. With clearer warnings on what the surge meant, they could have evacuated to higher ground and thousands of lives could have been saved.
Satellite photo of the typhoon Haiyan:
And photos of part of the massive destruction:
Very good explanations provided by this video:
Impact of sea level by Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf, Professor of a Physics of the a Ocean, Potsdam University, Germany. I selected the following excerpt from that video in this youtube I created for easier reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibRAXwu-a1I
Prof. Rahmstorf clearly and scientifically explained how location of the Philippines aggravated the impact of Haiyan: “Part of the devastation was due to a big storm surge. Made much worse by the fact that sea level in that area in the Philippines rose much higher than anywhere else in the planet. Observed sea level rise since 1993 by satellite . There's an exceptionally large rise in the tropical Western Pacific. Where does this come from? This is because of the fact that the trade winds that blow from east to west near the equator have increased in the last decades pushing more water towards the west piling it upon the side of the Philippines .”
Prof, Rahmstorf provided this photo in his video presentation where the Philippines is situated in the red area, the region of highest sea level rise.
Coral Reefs:
The Philippines is known for its coral reefs. Write about Tubataha
An article form the Uttrecht Faculty of Education, The Netherrlands In the coral waters around the island The Philippines is situated in Southeast Asia in the Western Pacific. The Western Pacific is known for having some of the warmest waters on the planet. In the warm, shallow waters around the islands, we find the corals and the coral reefs. Corals are micro organisms, so, they are the smallest animals you can imagine. These 'microscopic small' organisms produce (secrete) lime which form miniscule small holes (cavities). These miniscule small holes serve as their living room. The corals use their tentacles to trap passing plankton. Plankton is the food for corals.As generations of corals die, the lime skeletons of the dead micro organisms will build-up the coral reefs. It takes a coral reef 5 years to grow one inch. The forms of the reefs we can see today, are the result of a natural process of millions of years. These limestone forms are the environment (the habitat) for the many different en coloured tropical fish.
http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/animals3.htm |
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Marine bio diversity The coral reefs in the Western Pacific have the highest marine biodiversity in the world. In the waters of the Philippines there are more than 2000 different kinds of fish. This area is one of the most unique in the Pacific Ocean. The coral reefs are very beautiful… t. Moreover, they also protect the shoreline by acting as a wave breaker.
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PHILIPPINES CORAL REEFS - THE AMAZON OF THE SEA, by UNICO Conservation Foundation
Philippines Coral Reefs
The Philippines is part of the coral triangle and area with more species of fish and corals than any other marine environment on earth.
Tropical reefs are the richest marine ecosystems on earth and those found in the Philippines boast a diversity of life and colour that is unparalleled.
100 scientists have declared the Philippines as the world’s "center of marine biodiversity" because of its vast species of marine and coastal resources"- World Bank
The Philippines is part of the Coral Triangle, the epicenter for marine biodiversity and what is considered the Amazon of the Sea. It is an area with more species of fish and corals than any other marine environment on earth.
The largest fish in the sea, the whale shark, calls these waters home, along with over 2,000 species of fish, hundreds of species of corals, sea turtles, sharks and a breath taking variety of other stunning marine life.
Coral Triangle
Coral reefs help protect coastlines from erosion, they’re a valuable source of new pharmaceuticals and they’re an important part of the Filipino culture. Most importantly they provide food security and livelihood to millions of people around the country, which is estimated at US$1 billion annually to the economy.
However these reefs are under threat from destructive fishing methods including cyanide poisoning and overfishing. The World Atlas of Coral Reefs, compiled by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), reported that 97 percent of reefs in the Philippines are under threat. If current destructive fishing practices and overuse of these resources continue the reefs will collapse, with devastating consequences to local and global marine biodiversity and the people of the Philippines.
But there is hope. With projects such as Saving Philippine Reefs, community education programs and the establishment of new marine protected areas the Philippines is working towards building a bright, healthy and sustainable future.
- See more at: http://www.unicoconservationfoundation.org.au/unico-conservation-foundation-projects/philippines-coral-reefs-the-amazon-of-the-sea#sthash.tv83ps51.dpuf
Tubbataha Reef
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park |
Whitetip reef shark at Tubbataha |
e Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (Filipino: Bahurang Tubbataha) is a protected area of the Philippines located in the middle of Sulu Sea. |
n December 1993, the UNESCO declared theTubbataha Reefs National Park as a World Heritage Site as a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species;
Wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubbataha_Reeffor a more detialed description of Tubbataha, one of the world’s most important coral reefs.
Looc Romblon: Snorkeling at Looc Fish Santuary
"The Looc Fish Sanctuary is a protected marine area in the middle of the bay at Looc town, Tablas, Romblon. The sanctuary is home to many species of fish and a nice coral reef. "
http://www.lakwatseradeprimera.com/looc-romblon-snorkeling-at-looc-fish-santuary/
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