5.5c Storm Hazard Case Study – Typhoon Haiyan, 2013
Objective: to learn about the impacts and responses associated with a recent storm hazard
1. Describe thespatialandtemporalsetting of the tropicalstorm.
Spatial setting:
● here / when did the event take place?
W
● Where did it affect?
● How large was the area affected?
● Include track of the storm with dates of where was affected.
Temporal setting:
● D o tropical storms occur regularly in this area/country? When was the last one?
● What category are they?
n 7th November 2013 after travelling over uninhabited sea Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines,
O
where it was immediately categorised as a category 5 Hurricane. It was one of the worst-ever recorded hurricanes
due to its intensity and 600 km diameter. The Philippines frequently gets hit by hazards, the key ones being tropical
storms, earthquakes and tsunamis; however, they tend not to be so large scale. The last major tropical storm was
Typhoon Bopha, another Category 5 storm which occurred just the year before in 2012.
2. A
ssess theperceptionof the tropical storms, andthe factors affecting those perceptions at a
range ofscales– E.g. magnitude, frequency, populationcharacteristics etc.
● Is the populationpreparedfor such events? How?
● How can the magnitude of this event change people’s perception of future events?
● How has/will the frequency of earthquakes in this area affect their perceptions?
● How do the population characteristics (e.g. dense/sparse, religion, culture, socio-economic status) affect their
beliefs? Do the local population practice the theory of adaptation or fatalism?
T he Philippines is a LIC so whilst they do know they are prone to natural hazards, apart from community adaptation
and cheap mitigation strategies it’s hard for them to afford good preparation. Considering Typhoon Bopha was just
the year before, the population was probably less prepared as they would have thought it was unlikely for another
tropical storm with such a high intensity to hit so soon after. Due to the cost of living, many people live on unstable
land which leads them to be more vulnerable to tropical storms. Additionally, in the cities, people live very close
together, so there is a high population density which means the hazard risk is larger.
3. Explain thecausesof the tropical storms
B riefly explain the conditions required.
●
● Sequence the formation of storms using keywords.
● What happened in the run up to Typhoon Haiyan?
T he storm began on the 2nd November 2013 as a tropical depression, which occurs due to the meeting of
hot and cold air, creating rising air and generating low pressure, which encourages cloud formation in
Objective: to learn about the impacts and responses associated with a recent storm hazard
1. Describe thespatialandtemporalsetting of the tropicalstorm.
Spatial setting:
● here / when did the event take place?
W
● Where did it affect?
● How large was the area affected?
● Include track of the storm with dates of where was affected.
Temporal setting:
● D o tropical storms occur regularly in this area/country? When was the last one?
● What category are they?
n 7th November 2013 after travelling over uninhabited sea Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines,
O
where it was immediately categorised as a category 5 Hurricane. It was one of the worst-ever recorded hurricanes
due to its intensity and 600 km diameter. The Philippines frequently gets hit by hazards, the key ones being tropical
storms, earthquakes and tsunamis; however, they tend not to be so large scale. The last major tropical storm was
Typhoon Bopha, another Category 5 storm which occurred just the year before in 2012.
2. A
ssess theperceptionof the tropical storms, andthe factors affecting those perceptions at a
range ofscales– E.g. magnitude, frequency, populationcharacteristics etc.
● Is the populationpreparedfor such events? How?
● How can the magnitude of this event change people’s perception of future events?
● How has/will the frequency of earthquakes in this area affect their perceptions?
● How do the population characteristics (e.g. dense/sparse, religion, culture, socio-economic status) affect their
beliefs? Do the local population practice the theory of adaptation or fatalism?
T he Philippines is a LIC so whilst they do know they are prone to natural hazards, apart from community adaptation
and cheap mitigation strategies it’s hard for them to afford good preparation. Considering Typhoon Bopha was just
the year before, the population was probably less prepared as they would have thought it was unlikely for another
tropical storm with such a high intensity to hit so soon after. Due to the cost of living, many people live on unstable
land which leads them to be more vulnerable to tropical storms. Additionally, in the cities, people live very close
together, so there is a high population density which means the hazard risk is larger.
3. Explain thecausesof the tropical storms
B riefly explain the conditions required.
●
● Sequence the formation of storms using keywords.
● What happened in the run up to Typhoon Haiyan?
T he storm began on the 2nd November 2013 as a tropical depression, which occurs due to the meeting of
hot and cold air, creating rising air and generating low pressure, which encourages cloud formation in
