HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

The Philippines being located in the

Southeast Asia is considered very vulnerable
to natural hazards and disasters, which
include typhoons, earthquakes, floods,
volcanic eruptions, landslides, and fires that
affect the country and its inhabitants.

Surrounding the Pacific Ocean basin

is a circular arm of active volcanoes known
as the “Pacific Ring of Fire” in which most
of the volcanoes in the Philippines are part
of. Continental plate activities around this
area result to volcanic eruptions and
tsunamis in the country.

National Disaster Management Plan of 2016 stated that HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL is

a process or phenomenon of atmospheric, hydrological or oceanographic nature that
may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of
livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage.

Hydrometeorological hazards include:

1. Typhoon
2. Thunderstorm
3. Flood
4. Flashflood
5. Storm Surge
6. El Niñ o
7. La Niñ a
Hydrometeorological conditions lead to other hazards such as landslides, fires,
plagues, epidemics and in transport and dispersal of toxic substances and volcanic
eruption material.

Signs of Impending Hydro-meteorological Hazards

A. Tropical cyclone, also called typhoon or hurricane, an intense
circular that originates over warm tropical oceans and is characterized by , , and
heavy .

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

(PAGASA) stated that WEATHER FORECAST is a scientific estimate of future weather
condition, wherein a weather condition is a state of the atmosphere at a given time
expressed in terms of the most significant variables. In the Philippines, cloudiness,
rainfall and wind are the weather parameters with significant variation, and therefore
of interest to the forecast users.

How is a Weather Forecast Made?

Weather forecasting is done by a Meteorologist; he/she must know about the
existing weather condition over a large area. The accuracy of forecast decision is based
on forecasting tools known as the Weather Map.

The weather map displays the air pressure, wind, temperature, and humidity
distribution trends at various atmospheric rates. There are two forms, namely the
surface map and the upper-air maps, of the basic weather map. Weather forecasting
comprises of 5 steps as follow:

1st Step: Observation

A meteorologist forecasts weather decision through surface observations at least

every three hours over land and sea, and upper air stations at least every twelve hours.
Meteorological satellites, geostationary and polar orbiting, take pictures of the
cloud imagery of the atmosphere. These satellites take pictures of the cloud formations
of the earth every hour, and continually, respectively.

Weather radars are also used to track the position of the atmosphere within radar
range. A numerical weather prediction is fed to the computer which analyzes data as
programmed and makes a time integration of physical equations.

2nd Step: Collection and Transmission of Weather Data

Collection and Transmission of Weather Data are condensed into coded figures,
symbols and numerals are transmitted via radiophone, teletype, facsimile machine or
telephone to designated collection centers for further transmission to the central
forecasting station. Weather satellite images are transmitted to receiving stations on the
ground while radar measurements are transmitted through a local communication
network to forecast centers.

3rd Step: Plotting of Weather Data

Observations on land and sea are plotted on charts of surface or mean sea level,
which are prepared four times a day. Once the coded messages have been received, they
are decoded, and each set of observations is plotted over the respective areas or regions
in symbols or numbers on weather charts. Observations of radiosonde, theodolite,
aircraft, and satellite wind are plotted on top-level charts that are prepared twice daily.

4th Step: Analysis of Weather Maps, Satellite and Radar Imageries and Other Data

Current weather maps are analyzed through different weather charts namely
SURFACE (MSL) CHART, where data plotted on this weather map are analyzed
isobarically. This means the same atmospheric pressure at different places are inter-
connected with a line taking into consideration the direction of the wind; UPPER AIR
CHARTS, data plotted on this weather map are analyzed using streamline analysis;
NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION MODEL OUTPUT, the computer-plotted weather
maps are analyzed manually so that weather systems like cyclones and anticyclones are
located; and MONITOR WEATHER CHARTS, plotted cross-section data, rainfall charts
and 24 hour pressure change charts are analyzed to determine wind wave movement,
rainfall distribution and atmospheric pressure behavior.

5th Step: Formulation of the Forecast

Upon completion of review of all available meteorological information / data, the

preparation of forecasts follows. The first and one of the preliminary steps is to determine
the position of the various weather systems and the actual weather over a given area as
accurately as the data permits.

Department of Science and Technology, “HOW A WEATHER FORECAST IS MADE”,

December 2014, http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/learning-tools/how-weather-forecast-made

B. THUNDERSTORM
This is a powerful, short-lived weather disturbance, almost always associated
with lightning, thunder, dense clouds, heavy rain or hail, and fast, roaring winds.
Thunderstorms occur when layers of dry, moist air rise to cooler regions of the
atmosphere in a broad, rapid updraft.

Thunderstorm forms through 3 stages known as CUMULUS STAGE, MATURE STAGE

and DISSIPATING STAGE.

Cumulus Stage where the sun heats

the Earth's surface during the day and
warms the air around it.

MATURE STAGE
A cumulus cloud becomes very large,
where the water therein becomes large and
heavy, and raindrops begin to fall through the
cloud when the rising air can no longer hold
them up.

DISSIPATING STAGE

After 30 minutes, thunderstorm begins

to dissipate, this occurs when the
downdrafts in the cloud begins to
dominate over the updraft. Since warm
moist air can no longer rise, cloud
droplets can no longer form.
C. FLOOD & FLASHFLOOD
Flood is a high-water stage in which water overflows its natural or artificial
banks onto normally dry land, such as a river inundating its floodplain. The effects of
floods on human well-being range from unqualified blessings to catastrophes.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “FLOOD”, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc,

Encyclopædia Britannica, April 30, 2020, https://www.britannica.com/science/flood

Here are the main types of floods to look out for:

1. Inland flooding is the technical name for ordinary flooding that occurs in inland
areas, hundreds of miles from the coast.
2. Flash floods are caused by heavy rain or the sudden release of water over
a short period of time. The name "flash" refers to their fast occurrence and
also to their raging torrents of water that move with great speed. Flash
floods are also caused by heavy precipitation in a short period of time,
usually less than 6 hours.
3. River flooding occurs when water levels in rivers, lakes, and streams rise and
overflow onto the surrounding banks, shores, and neighboring land.
4. Coastal flooding is the inundation of land areas along the coast by seawater.
5. Urban flooding occurs when there is a lack of drainage in an urban (city) area.

Means, Tiffany. "The Types of Flood Events and Their Causes." ThoughtCo, Feb. 11, 2020,
thoughtco.com/the-types-of-flood-events-4059251

D. STORM SURGE

Storm surge or "Daluyong ng Bagyo" in the Philippine system where the irregular
sea-level rise during tropical cyclone or "bagyo" occurs. When the tropical cyclone reaches
the coast, powerful winds force the ocean water over the coastal low-lying areas, which
can lead to flooding.
PAGASA takes many technological considerations into account when forecasting the
negative impacts of a storm surge. For storm surge prone communities, the most
important considerations are the strength of the tropical cyclone; the height of the
surge, and the community located in the low-lying area.
 The infographic below discusses the STORM SURGE WARNING LEVELS,

PAGASA (2019). Gen11 Storm Surge Warning System. https://media.philstar.com/

photos/2019/06/17/gen11-storm-surge-warning-system_2019-06-17_23-15-
34.jpg. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
E. EL NIÑO & LA NIÑA

EL NIÑO- means The Little Boy, or Christ Child in Spanish. El Niñ o was originally
recognized by fishermen off the coast of South America in the 1600s, with the
appearance of unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean. The name was chosen based
on the time of year (around December) during which these warm waters events tended
to occur.

The term El Niñ o refers to the large-scale ocean-atmosphere climate interaction linked
to a periodic warming in sea surface temperatures across the central and east-central
Equatorial Pacific.

LA NIÑA – means The Little Girl in Spanish. La Niñ a is also sometimes called El
Viejo, anti-El Niño, or simply "a cold event."

La Niñ a episodes represent periods of below-average sea surface temperatures across

the east-central Equatorial Pacific. Global climate La Niñ a impacts tend to be opposite
those of El Niñ o impacts. In the tropics, ocean temperature variations in La Niñ a also
tend to be opposite those of El Niñ o.

Moravchik, Bruce, “WHAT ARE EL NIÑO AND LA NIÑA?”, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
AdministrationU.S. Department of Commerce, October 2017,
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ninonina.html

El Niño and La Niña: What Are They?

Both El Niñ o and La Niñ a are opposite results of ENSO (El Niñ o Southern Oscillation),
the same phenomenon. They are an oscillation in temperatures between the Eastern
Equatorial Pacific region's atmosphere and ocean, roughly between the International
Dateline and 20 degrees west. Building up between June and December, El Niñ o is
caused by a change in wind patterns. Here, after Asia's summer monsoons, the Pacific
Trade Winds struggle to replenish. The moist air contributes to an oscillation between
the colder and warmer waters, resulting in warmer than average ocean temperatures.

Mason, Matthew, “EL NIÑO AND LA NIÑA: THEIR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT”,
Environmental Science, April 2017, https://www.environmentalscience.org/el-nino-la-nina-
impact-environment
El Niño & La Niña Affect Health Conditions

Extreme climatic conditions are characterized by the El Niñ o phenomenon; high

temperature rises with a little rainfall, and extremely heavy rainfall occurs at the
opposite end. According to the Philippines Department of Health, El Niñ o effects health
such as diseases related to water scarcity or shortage like diarrhea and skin diseases;
Red Tide Blooms also known as Paralytic shellfish poisoning and disorders associated
with high temperatures: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, exertional heat injury and heat
stroke.

Department of Health, “EL NINO PHENOMENON”, Department of Health.gov.ph, February 17, 2015,
https://www.doh.gov.ph/Health-Advisory/El-Nino-phenomenon

La Niñ a is a weather phenomenon characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature

in the Equatorial Pacific which causes increased numbers of tropical storms in the
Pacific Ocean. According to the Philippines Department of Health, La Niñ a effects Health
through Disease related to contaminated water due to flooding, such as acute
gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, cholera and hepatitis A; Disease related to wading in
floodwaters contaminated with urine of infected animals, such as leptospirosis; Disease
brought by mosquitoes, such as dengue and malaria; Accidents and injuries such as
contusions, lacerations, fractures, electrocution.

Department of Health, “LA NINA PHENOMENON”, Department of Health.gov.ph, February 17, 2015,
https://www.doh.gov.ph/Health-Advisory/La-Nina-phenomenon
Activity 1:

Directions: Identify the Hydro-meteorological Hazard in the given pictures. Write your
answer on a separate sheet.
1.
4.

2. 5.

6.
3.
Activity 2
Jumbled Words
Directions: Given the definition of the jumbled words, write the correct term on the
blank provided.

1. PHYNOTO - is a low-pressure area, or a wide and violent

tropical cyclone. It rotates in the counterclockwise direction, with warm air rising
above Western Pacific Ocean warm water. Many people on the other side of the planet
name it storm or wily-wily.

2. LFODO - is characterized as superfluous water that swamps

normally dry land and properties.

3. AÑ NIAL - represents periods of under-average sea surface

temperatures across the Equatorial Pacific in the east-central.

4. MRSTO GRSUE- is an abnormal rise in sea level during

tropical cyclones or "bagyo".

5. MROTSREDNUHT – is local storm created by cumulonimbus

clouds and are often accompanied by lightning and thunder, usually with strong wind
gusts, heavy rain and occasionally hail and/or tornado.

6. Ñ NOELI - refers to the large-scale ocean-atmosphere climate

interaction linked to a regular warming of sea surface temperatures around the
Equatorial Pacific region and east-center.

7. AFLSOHFLOD - is often caused by heavy rainfall in a short

time span, typically less than 6 hours.