Climatological Disaster

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METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER
Guided by: Prof. Apeksha Jain
AKANSHA AWASTHI
(14ARCH001)
MOHINI AGARWAL
(14ARCH015)
RAGINI SAHU
(14ARCH010)
2016-2017
Department of architecture
Anand College of Architecture, Keetham

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Certificate
This is to certify that the Architecture Research on the topic “Meteorological Disaster” is
submitted by ‘Akansha Awasthi, Mohini Agarwal and Ragini Sahu’ as a part of five years
graduate programme in architecture at Anand College of Architecture, Agra is a record of
original work carried out by her under professional guidance. The content included in this
dissertation report has not been submitted to any other University or Institute for award of any
other degree or diploma programme.
Guided by:
Prof. Apeksha Jain
Anand College of Architecture
Akansha Awasthi
14ARCH001
Mohini agarwal
14ARCH015
Ragini Sahu
14ARCH010
(Student)
Anand College of Architecture, Agra
Date: 17-09-16

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all those who provided us the possibility to
complete this report. A special gratitude to our Prof. Ms. Apeksha Jain who continuously guided
our group, encouraging us and giving us suggestions regarding our report presentation.thank you for
your comments and advices.
AKANSHA AWASTHI
MOHINIAGARWAL
RAGINI SAHU
Department of architecture
Anand College of Architecture, Keetham

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ABSTRACT
Meterological Disasters are violent and sudden change in earth’s environment related to
or caused by earth’s atmosphere.It is a hazard caused by short-lived, micro- to meso-scale
extreme weather and atmospheric conditions that last from minutes to days.The report
discusses about meteorological disasters (CYCLONES, HURRICANES, TORNADO, BLIZZARDS
AND HAIL STORM), their generation, types, major happenings in and outside India and
mitigation methods that can be adopted.

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CONTENTS –
1-METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER…...........................................................................8
TYPES OF METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER……………………………………………………………………………………..8
2-CYCLONE……………………………………………………………………………………………..9
2.1- ETYMOLOGY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9
2.2- GENERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS…………………………………………………………………………………9
2.3- TYPES OF CYCLONES…………….……………………………………………………………………………………………10
2.4- MAJOR CYCLONE IN INDIA……………………………………………………………………………………………11
2.5- MAJOR CYCLONE OUTSIDE INDIA ……………………………………………………………………………………12
2.6- FACTORS OF VULNERABILITY………………………………………………………………………………………12
2.7- MITIGATION METHODS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………12
3- TORNADO…………………………………………………………….……………………………...16
3.1- ETYMOLOGY……………………………………………………..….…………………………………………………………..16
3.2- GENERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS……………………………………………………………………………….16
3.3- TYPES OF TORNADO…………………………………………………….……………………………………………………16
3.4-MAIN REGIONS OF OCCURRENCE…………………………………….………………………………………………..17
3.5- MAJOR TORNADO IN INDIA……………………………………………………………………………………………….17
3.6- MAJOR TORNADO OUTSIDE INDIA …………………………………………..……………………………………….17
3.7- MITIGATION METHODS FROM TORNADO…………………………………..…………………………………….17
4- HAIL STORMS……………………………………………………………………………………...18
4.1- GENERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS………………………………………………….……………………………18
4.2-DETECTION OF HAIL STORM………………………………………………………………..…………………………….18
4.3-HAZARDS DUE TO HAIL STORM…………………………………………………………………..……………………..18
4.4- MAJOR HAILSTORM IN INDIA ……………………………………………………………………………………………18

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4.5- MAJOR HAILSTORM IN WORLD…………………………………………………………………………………………19
4.6 MITIGATION METHODS……………………………………………………………………………………..………………19
5-HURRICANE………………………………………………………………………………………….20
5.1ETYMOLOGY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..........20
5.2- PARTS OF HURRICANE……………………………………………………………………………………………….………20
5.3 HOW STORMS BECOME A HURRICANE.…………………………………………………………………………….20
5.4 HOW ARE HURRICANE FORMED…………………………………………………………………………….…………..20
5.5 HOW ARE HURRICANES NAMED………………………………………………………………………………..………20
5.6 CATEGORIES OF HURRICANES…………………………………………………………………………………………….20
5.7 EFFECTS OF HURRICANES……………………………………………………………………………………………………21
6.BLIZZARDS…………………………………………………………………………………………..22
6.1 DEFINITION……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….22
6.2 WHY IS BLIZZARD DANGEROUS………………………………………………………………………………………….22
6.3 FORMATION OF BLIZZARD……………………………………………………………………..…………….…………….22
6.4- NOR' EASTER BLIZZARDS………………………………………………………………………………………..…………22
6.5- AMERICAN BLIZZARDS………………………………………………………………………………………………………23
6.6- IMPACTS OF BLIZZARDS……………………………………………………………………………………………….……23
6.7- PREVENTION FROM BLIZZARDS…………………………………………………………………………………………23
WEBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………………………….24

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SYNOPSIS:
NEED OF STUDY:
Studying about various meteorological disasters, what impact they have on human, animal and
plant life as well as finding out the various mitigation methods that can help us for disaster
preparedness and rehabilitation after it has occurred.
AIM OF STUDY:
To know what is a meteorological disaster, its types, the loss it causes to environment and the
measures e can use to protect ourselves from it.
OBJECTIVES OF STUDY:
1- To study about meteorological disaster and its types.
2- To study its impact on environment.
3- To find out the mitigation measures of protecting ourselves when disaster occurs.
SCOPE OF STUDY:
This report covers ‘Meteorological disaster and its types: Hurricane, cyclone, tornado,
hailstorm, and blizzard. It discusses about the loss and how it affects the society.it also
discusses about the measures we can use for disaster preparedness and also what we should
do when disaster occurs and after it has passed away.
LIMITATION:
The report relies on the secondary sources available like books and internet and does not
involves any case study in it.

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CHAPTER- 1
METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER-
 Violent and sudden change in earth’s environment related to or caused by earth’s
atmosphere.
 It is destructive and is caused by extreme weather.
 The study of processes resulting from climate change is based not only on the analysis of
air temperature, precipitation and snow cover, but also on extreme weather events
(high and low temperatures, sandstorms, heavy snowfall and rainfall, floods, mudflows,
avalanches, hailstone falls).
 A hazard caused by short-lived, micro- to meso-scale extreme weather and atmospheric
conditions that last from minutes to days.
TYPES OF METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER
1- Cyclone
2- Tornado
3- Hailstorm
4- Hurricane
5- Blizzard

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CHAPTER 2- CYCLONE
Source: en.wikipedia.org
2.1- ETYMOLOGY—
 The word Cyclone is derived from the Greek word Cyclos meaning the coils of a snake. It
was coined by Henry Paddington because the tropical storms in the Bay of Bengal and
the Arabian Sea appear like coiled serpents of the sea.
 The name changes acc. to the region of occurrence:
- Hurricane in Atlantic Ocean and Northeast Pacific
- Typhoon in Northwest Pacific
- Tropical cyclones in South Pacific and Indian Ocean
2.2- GENERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS
Fig: Tropical cyclones form when the energy released by the condensation of moisture in rising air causes a
loopover warm ocean waters.

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 Cyclonesare causedbyatmosphericdisturbances around a low-pressure area distinguished by
swiftandoftendestructive aircirculation. Cyclones are usually accompanied by violent storms
and bad weather. The air circulates inward in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern
hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.
 The low-pressure centerisalsoreferredtoas the 'eye' of the storm, the ‘Eye’ of the storms has
three basic shapes: (i) circular;(ii) concentric; and (iii) elliptical.
 If the water in the cloud builds up enough, it may fall back to the ground as rain and
draw cool air down with it as a downdraft. When they work together, that warm
updraft and cool downdraft create a storm cell. As this process continues, the cloud
grows and we eventually get a large thunderstorm cloud.
 This thunderstorm cloud is now ready to diversify into other storms like tropical
cyclones and tornadoes. But this can't happen unless the air in the cloud starts spinning
horizontally. If this occurs over the tropical ocean, this is called a tropical depression
 Cyclogenesis describes the process of cyclone formation and intensification
2.3- TYPES OF CYCLONES:
Cyclones are classified as:
(i) Polar cyclones- These cyclones occur in polar regions like Greenland, Siberia and Antarctica.
They are usually stronger in winter months. They mainly occur in areas that aren't very
populated, so any damage they do is usually pretty minimal.
(ii) Tropical cyclones.- These cyclones occur over tropical ocean regions i.e. the regions between the
Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.
The criteriabelowhasbeenformulatedbythe IndianMeteorological Department(IMD),whichclassifies
the lowpressure systems in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea on the basis of capacity to damage.
Type of Disturbances Wind Speed in Km/h
Low Pressure Less than 31
Depression 31-49
Deep Depression 49-61
Cyclonic Storm 61-88

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Severe Cyclonic Storm 88-117
Super Cyclone More than 221
Source: www.ndma.gov.in/
They are further divided into the following categories according to their capacity to cause damage:-
Cyclone Category Wind Speed in Km/h Damage Capacity
01 120-150 Minimal
02 150-180 Moderate
03 180-210 Extensive
04 210-250 Extreme
05 250 and above Catastrophic
Source: www.ndma.gov.in/
Cyclones vary in diameter from 50 to 320 km but their effects dominate thousands of square
kilometers of ocean surface and the lower atmosphere. The perimeter may measure 1,000 km
but the powerhouse is located within the 100-km radius nearer the Eye.
2.4- MAJOR CYCLONE IN INDIA
 In India more cyclones occur in the Bay of Bengal than the Arabian Sea and the ratio is
approximately 4:1. Tropical cyclones occur in the months of May-June and October-
November
 Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Hudhud[nb 1] was a strong tropical cyclone that caused
extensive damage and loss of life in eastern India and Nepal during October 2014.

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 Hudhud originated from a low pressure system that formed under the influence of an
upper-air cyclonic circulation in the Andaman Sea on October 6. Shortly before landfall
near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on October 12, Hudhud reached its peak strength
with three-minute wind speeds of 175 km/h (109 mph) and a minimum central pressure
of 960 mbar (28.35 inHg). The system then drifted northwards towards Uttar
Pradesh and Nepal, causing widespread rains in both areas and heavy snowfall in the
latter.
 Hudhud caused extensive damage to the city of Visakhapatnam and the neighbouring
districts of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh.
2.5- MAJOR CYCLONE OUTSIDE INDIA
 Two tropical cyclones hit central and southern Mozambique around Jan 11 2015.
Tropical storm Dando hit the southern African country with gusts of up to 120
kilometres (75 miles) per hour and rainfall of over 200 millimetres (nearly eight inches).
According to the National Institute of Meteorology , Funso, another cyclonic storm had
winds exceeding 195 kilometres per hour causing heavy rainfall and much damage to
life and property.
 The impact from cyclones extends over a wide area, with strong winds and heavy rains.
However, the greatest damage to life and property is not from the wind, but from
secondary events such as storm surges, flooding, landslides and tornadoes.
2.6- FACTORS OF VULNERABILITY
Man made factors:
 Settlement located in low lying coastal areas (direct impact);
 Poor building design, or construction;
 Insufficient lead time for warning and evacuation;
 Non compliance with evacuation procedures;
 Inadequate shelter.
2.7- MITIGATION METHODS :
 If the building begins to break up, immediately seek shelter under a strong table or bench or
under a heavy mattress.
 Do not use electrical appliances which have been wet until they are checked for safety
 Boil or purify your water until supplies are declared safe
 Stay away from damaged powerlines, fallen trees and flood water

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`
Choose the location carefully to avoid the full force of
the wind or flood Use building layout with a simple regular shape,to
avoid concentration of pressure.
Build the roof at an angle of 30° to 45° to prevent it
being lifted off by the wind.
Avoid wide roof overhangs; separate the veranda
structure from the house.

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Make sure the foundations, walls, and roof structure
are all firmly fixed together.
Reinforce the bracing in the structure; strengthen
walls and joints/ junctions to increase stiffness.
Make sure the roof covering is firmly attached to the
roof structure to prevent it from lifting.
If doors & shutters cannot be shut, make sure there
are opposing openings to reduce pressure build up.

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Source: www.dwf.org
Use doors and shutters that can be closed.
Plant trees around the house as wind breaks and
reduce flow of water, but not too close.

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CHAPTER 3-
TORNADO
A Twirling Funnel Tornado Generation Of Tornado
3.1- ETYMOLOGY-
 Originated from Spanish word ‘TRONADA’ meaning thunderstorm.
 Generated due to occurrence of different temperature and humidity at a time.
 When cold air meets warm air, it traps warm air beneath it hindering upward motion of
warm air.
 Warm air starts rotating as it is unable to move upwards, the warm air then pushes the cold
air below it giving rise to a tornado.
 It is always in contact with ground as well as cloud base (cumulonimbus cloud- dark cloud
of great vertical extent charged with electricity).
 Tornadoes can last from 3 hours to just few minutes and appear like funnel whose wider
end is cloud base and the shorter end touches ground.
 Contains cloud of dust and debris which also makes it visible.
 The wind sped can vary from 100km/h- 500km/h, diameter 0.8- 3 km and can travel up to
hundreds of kilometers.
3.3- TYPES OF TORNADO
Three main types- 1- Land spout
2- Water spout

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3- Vortex tornado
3.4-MAIN REGIONS OF OCCURRENCE
 Mainly occurs in tropical ‘areas close to equator’ and the areas of Tornado Alley of United
States. It is never reported in ‘Antarctica’.
 It can also be seen in areas of south, central and eastern Asia, east- central and northern
South America, north-west and south- east Europe, southern Africa, southeastern and
Western Australiaand New Zealand.
3.5- MAJOR TORNADO IN INDIA
 Happened in Sylhet district, Assam on 7May, 1934.
 200 people died, 500 injured and many went missing.
 Death roll was heavier in remote areas and bodies of humans and animals were seen
floating in River Surma.
3.6- MAJOR TORNADO OUTSIDE INDIA
 Happened on 18 March, 1925 travelling 7 km in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.
 695 people died and thousands injured, rated F 5 on Fujita scale.
3.7- MITIGATION METHODS FROM TORNADO
 Take shelter in basement or any underground area or under a table on opposite direction of
moving of tornado.
 Avoid corners of room, stay in center.
 Take shelter in room made of RCC or brick with heavy floor or roof.
 Establish an alarm system.

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CHAPTER 4-
HAIL STORMS
 Thunderstorm producing hail when shower on ground is known as hail storm.
 Formed when strongly moving air meets with low level of freezing water droplets in cloud
with temperature below 0
 Solid form of precipitation, contains irregular balls of ice (5 mm in diameter) called
hailstone.
 Hailstone is made of alternative thin (white and opaque) and thick layer and gives
appearance like onion in cross section.
A Hailstorm Hailstone with Rings
4.2-DETECTION OF HAIL STORM
 Detected by weather radar which is complemented by data of current climatic conditions.
 METAR code is used to determine the size of hailstones or they are generally measured by
comparing with small stones or coins.
4.3-HAZARDS DUE TO HAIL STORM
 It causes harm to crops, glass or shingled roofs, skylights of aircraft, automobiles etc.
 Aircrafts face maximum damage caused by hail when the hailstones cross the diameter of
13 mm.
 Hail also cause fatal head trauma to humans.
4.4- MAJOR HAILSTORM IN INDIA

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 Happened on 13 April, 1888 in Uttar Pradesh.
 Killed 230 humans and nearly 1600 goats and sheeps.
 Size of hailstones was of size of an orange.
4.5- MAJOR HAILSTORM IN WORLD
 Happened on 13 April, 1360 in France.
 1000 soldiers died.
 Day is known as ‘Black Monday’.
4.6 MITIGATION METHODS
 Install a hail net made of wires.
 Move to a covered area or shading.
 Establish an alarm system.

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CHAPTER 5-
HURRICANE
5.1-ETYMOLOGY
 The word hurricane has been derived from Spanish word 'huracán' which is derived
from the name of Taino stormgod 'Jurácan who is belived tosend strong winds to the
Tainos to rain upon them when he is upset.
 Hurricanes are large spiralling storms. They are fastest than cheetah and can damage
buildings and trees.
 They are formed over warm ocean waters.
 It is a powerful spiral weather that results from low pressure systems.
5.2-PARTS OF HURRICANE
 Eye is the center of the storm where the wind is light.
 Eyewall is the ring of thunderstorms which swirls around the eye. It has the strongest wind
and heaviest rainfall.
 Rain bands go far out from the eyewall and stretch for hundreds of miles
5.3 HOW STORMS BECOME A HURRICANE
 A tropical depression becomes a tropical storm if its winds reach 63 km/hr (39 mph).
 A tropical storm becomes a hurricane if its winds reach 119 km/hr (74 mph).
5.4 HOW ARE HURRICANE FORMED
 Warm ocean waters provide the energy a storm needs to become a hurricane.
 26oC surface temperature is needed for a storm to become a hurricane.
 Winds also contribute in formation of hurricane.
5.5 HOW ARE HURRICANES NAMED
 Names make it easier to keep track of hurricanes.
 Hurricanes are named in alphabetical order.
 There are six list of names which are reused every year.
 Hurricanes are also called typhoons or cyclones in other parts of the world.
5.6 CATEGORIES OF HURRICANES
 Category 1: Winds 119-153 km/hr (74-95 mph) - faster than a cheetah

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 Category 2: Winds 154-177 km/hr (96-110 mph) - as fast or faster than a baseball pitcher's
fastball
 Category 3: Winds 178-208 km/hr (111-129 mph) - similar, or close, to the serving speed of
many professional tennis players
 Category 4: Winds 209-251 km/hr (130-156 mph) - faster than the world's fastest
rollercoaster
 Category 5: Winds more than 252 km/hr (157 mph) - similar, or close, to the speed of some
high-speed train.
5.7 EFFECTS OF HURRICANES
 Storm surge is the fast uprising of sea level that happens when a hurricane approaches the
coast.
 Heavy Rainfall is produced by hurricanes.
 Tornadoes are often produced by hurricanes.
 Hurricanes can cause high winds.
Source: pmm.nasa.gov Source: eo.ucar.edu

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CHAPTER 6-
BLIZZARDS
6.1 DEFINITION
 Blizzards are dangerous wind storms which can result in very low visibilities.
 Officially, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm which contains large
amounts of snow OR blowing snow, with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibilities of less
than 1/4 mile for an extended period of time (at least 3 hours).
 The word blizzard was first used by a newspaper to describe a dangerous snowstorm.
6.2 WHY IS BLIZZARD DANGEROUS
 It creates life threatening conditions.
 travelling by automobile becomes impossible due to whiteout i.e. more powdery snow.
 Wind chill factor which means the amount of cold one feels due to combination of wind and
temperature is also very dangerous effect of blizzards and can result in frostbite or
hypothermia.
 Power outrages can occur pipes may freeze and regular fuel sources may be cut off.
www.accuweather.com
 It had been used to describe a canon shot or a volley of musket fire.
 Blizzards last for typically three hours or more.
 Ground blizzards occur when loose snow or ice is lifted by strong winds
6.3 FORMATION OF BLIZZARD
 Three things are needed to form a blizzard- cold air, moisture and warm rising air.
 For snow to fall the temperature at clouds and ground must be cold otherwise it wall
change to rain or freezing rain.
 Blowing air evaporates water and the cold air is not able to hold much water
 For a blizzard to form, warm air must rise over cold air.
 Wind pulls cold air towards equator and brings warm air towards ple which results in
precipitation or blizzards when warm and cold air meet causing blizzard.
6.4- NOR' EASTER BLIZZARDS
 They are macro scale storm from east coast of US and Atlantic Canada.

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6.5- AMERICAN BLIZZARDS
 When cold, moist air from the Pacific Ocean moves eastward to the Rocky Mountains and
the Great Plains, and warmer, moist air moves north from the Gulf of Mexico
 When the rapidly moving cold front from Hudson Bay area in Canada collides with warmer
air coming north from the Gulf of Mexico, strong surface winds, significant cold
air advection, and extensive wintry precipitation occur.
 Rocky Mountains onto the Great Plains is particularly vulnerable to blizzards due to few
trees or other obstructions to reduce wind and blowing
6.6- IMPACTS OF BLIZZARDS
 Whiteout where there is no visible horizon and multiple reflection allows the sense of
direction and distance to be lost.
 wind chill factor
 Inundation and Flooding- after blizzards the snow melts and there is a risk of flooding in the
coastal areas. It destroys plant and animal population.
 Water cycle gets destabilized.
 Quick drop in temperatures can damage forests and the vegetation can die.
 The on-going wet and damp conditions encourage the spread of mold and fungi.
 Transportation is impossible, electrical wires go down, property ids damaged and economy
is hurt
6.7- PREVENTION FROM BLIZZARDS
 Check the Forecast and Watch the Weather.
 Do not travel much during winter weather and make sure the vehicle is in good working
condition.
Source: extremeweatherwars.weebly.com
source: eo.ucar.ed

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WEBLIOGRAPHY
Cyclones:
 http://www.ndma.gov.in/en/media-public-awareness/disaster/natural-
disaster/cyclones.html
 https://earth.esa.int/web/earth-watching/natural-disasters/cyclones
 http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/ems/tropical_cyclones/en/
 http://www.disaster.qld.gov.au/EA/cyclone.asp
 http://www.dwf.org/en/content/ten-key-principles-cyclone-resistant-construction
Tornado and hailstorms:
 "Hallam Nebraska Tornado". National Weather Service. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. 2005-10-02. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
 "Tornado: Global occurrence". Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
 Edwards, Roger et al. (May 2013). "Tornado Intensity Estimation: Past, Present, and
Future."Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. pp. 641-653. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
 Glossary of Meteorology (2009). "Hail". American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 2009-
07-15.
 Glossary of Meteorology (2009). "Hailstorm". American Meteorological Society. Retrieved
2009-08-29.
 Meteorological Service of Canada (November 3, 2010). "Severe Thunderstorm criteria".
Environment Canada. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
Hurricanes :
 http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/hurricanes/
 https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-hurricanes
 www.webbins.com/blog/hurricane-safety
 http://whyfiles.org/2012/horrific-hurricanes/
 http://www.yikudo.com/diagram/diagram-of-large-hurricane-storm
Blizzards:
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard
 www.accuweather.com
 http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/
 http://extremeweatherwars.weebly.com/
 eo.ucar.ed

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