Hazards of a dynamic planetHazards of a dynamic planet

Katrina, 2005

J.D. Price

Katrina, 2005

J.D. Price

Stranded boatsEmpire, LANOAA

The power of a hurricaneThe power of a hurricaneElevated wind speedsIncreased wave powerExtensive and intense rainfallSurge of ocean water

Elevated wind speedsIncreased wave powerExtensive and intense rainfallSurge of ocean water

Far reaching impacts:For one, the offshore gulf is a prolific source of petroleum.

Floating offshore platform - Biloxi, MS.

Far reaching impacts:For one, the offshore gulf is a prolific source of petroleum.

Floating offshore platform - Biloxi, MS.

Hurricanes are cyclonic tropical stormsHurricanes are cyclonic tropical storms

Solar heating warms water, it evaporatesHot wet air rises, producing low pressureAir moves towards low pressure, with more warm wet airAs air rises, cools, and clouds form - releasing energy.

Solar heating warms water, it evaporatesHot wet air rises, producing low pressureAir moves towards low pressure, with more warm wet airAs air rises, cools, and clouds form - releasing energy.

Cyclonic movement results from Coriolis Effect.

Hurricane persists as long as warm wet air moves into the low pressure.

Cyclonic movement results from Coriolis Effect.

Hurricane persists as long as warm wet air moves into the low pressure.

© McGraw-Hill, 2002

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One gram TNT

One gram of sugarADP to ATP per moleOne gram of gasoline

sunlight per µm

One mole of glucose

Bolt of lightning

Avg US automobile/yearLarge T-storm per sec.

SE Aisa Tsunami

Meteor crater bolide

Mt Saint Helens 5/18/80

Krakatoa 1883

Energy of your instructoravg hurricane rainfall /day

Toba 73ka

US consumption 2001

12/26/04 9.0 EQChicxulub bolide

Daily sunlight on Earththeoretical universal total

Log Energy (joules)

Gulfport, LANOAA

Casino boat in Biloxi, MSPeter Cosgrove, A.P.

Biloxi, MSMarc Serota, Reuters

Water evaporating produces enough power to ravage a coastline

Water evaporating produces enough power to ravage a coastline

©CNN

Photo courtesy of NOAA

The Galveston 1900 hurricane remains the deadliest hurricane. More than 8000 people died (no exact count).

The Galveston 1900 hurricane remains the deadliest hurricane. More than 8000 people died (no exact count).

Galveston was the biggest city in Texas. Although the entire city was elevated, it never regained its population status.

Galveston was the biggest city in Texas. Although the entire city was elevated, it never regained its population status.

Much Deadlier…Much Deadlier…

Science saves livesScience saves livesKatrina was devastating, costly

($200 bil. +), and deadly (1,300)

But there was plenty of warning - modern meteorology can give warning several days out.

Katrina was devastating, costly ($200 bil. +), and deadly (1,300)

But there was plenty of warning - modern meteorology can give warning several days out.

Geohazzard scienceHurricane-related (cat 4 or 5) flooding was evaluated by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1998. The Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute proposed an interior “safe zone” on the city’s high ground.

Geohazzard scienceHurricane-related (cat 4 or 5) flooding was evaluated by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1998. The Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute proposed an interior “safe zone” on the city’s high ground.

Science saves livesScience saves lives

Hurricanes are monitored closely in the hopes of averting disasters and understanding their nature.

Hurricanes are monitored closely in the hopes of averting disasters and understanding their nature.

The National Hurricane Center (NOAA) tracks and monitors tropical storms globally.

The National Hurricane Center (NOAA) tracks and monitors tropical storms globally.

Building in precarious placesBuilding in precarious places

The Gulf coast and southern Atlantic coast are lined with narrow islands and peninsula.

For reasons that should now be obvious, these are called barrier islands.

Examples Galveston Miami Beach Florida Keys

These are often developed because these islands face open water.

The Gulf coast and southern Atlantic coast are lined with narrow islands and peninsula.

For reasons that should now be obvious, these are called barrier islands.

Examples Galveston Miami Beach Florida Keys

These are often developed because these islands face open water.

Building in precarious placesBuilding in precarious places

Barrier Islands

U.S.G.S. study on the effects of Katrina on Dauphin Island, AL.High points are houses. Katrina effectively moved the island north.

Barrier Islands

U.S.G.S. study on the effects of Katrina on Dauphin Island, AL.High points are houses. Katrina effectively moved the island north.

Removing the buffersRemoving the buffers

Coastal land loss and gain in Louisiana, 1956- 1990 (from Johnston et al. 1995). Brown and Red are losses, green and yellow are gains. Overall, the wetlands that protect inland Louisiana are disappearing.

New OrleansNew Orleans

Before (March 2005)Before (March 2005) During (Aug. 31, 2005)During (Aug. 31, 2005)Images from DigitalGlobe

DryDryFloodedFlooded

Flooding was pervasive thanks to breaks on the canal system (London Ave. Canal, 17th St. Canal, and the Industrial Canal).

Several factors contributed to the flood. One severe aspect was the undermining of the wall structures.

Pumping system designed for rainfall - not flooding.

Review panel included RPI’s Professor Tom Zimme of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Flooding was pervasive thanks to breaks on the canal system (London Ave. Canal, 17th St. Canal, and the Industrial Canal).

Several factors contributed to the flood. One severe aspect was the undermining of the wall structures.

Pumping system designed for rainfall - not flooding.

Review panel included RPI’s Professor Tom Zimme of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Broken Canal WallDavid Phillip, A.P.

8th WardDave Martin, A.P.

New OrleansNew Orleans

View from NorthSmiley Pool, DMN.

DEM map from the Center for the study of public health impacts of Hurricanes

LowlandsLowlands

Why here? Why here? Selling sight-unseen swamp land to rich people was a common pastime in 18th C. Europe.

French Nouvelle Orleans built on the only significant higher ground near Mississippi terminus

Fast grew into an important distribution point for the American interior.

A pumping system was constructed in 1895, and was greatly improved in 1913 with A.B. Wood’s screw pump system.

Selling sight-unseen swamp land to rich people was a common pastime in 18th C. Europe.

French Nouvelle Orleans built on the only significant higher ground near Mississippi terminus

Fast grew into an important distribution point for the American interior.

A pumping system was constructed in 1895, and was greatly improved in 1913 with A.B. Wood’s screw pump system.

BienvilleLouisiana Museum

New Orleans 1728From Kendall, 1922

New Orleans 1728From Kendall, 1922

1718 John Law, a Scottish speculator, enabled Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville to found a French capital to Louisiana on the Mississippi

1718 John Law, a Scottish speculator, enabled Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville to found a French capital to Louisiana on the Mississippi

Altered Environment

Artificial flooding controls have increased the danger.In a natural river, periodic flooding stabilizes wetlands, adds sediments to regions beside channel.

New Orleans is sinking as a result of this change

Altered Environment

Artificial flooding controls have increased the danger.In a natural river, periodic flooding stabilizes wetlands, adds sediments to regions beside channel.

New Orleans is sinking as a result of this change

Issues and rebuildingIssues and rebuilding

Scientifically speaking - largely no, or at a very reduced scale

But this is not solely a scientific problem, involves questions of economics, values, and politics.

The science and technology already exists to keep people safe (if they are aware and willing)

Science and technology cannot move assets out of harms way - petroleum energy is at the center of this.

It is likely a structurally better New Orleans may arise from the muck.

More importantly - given that another flood is an inevitability, will we prepare ourselves adequately?

Scientifically speaking - largely no, or at a very reduced scale

But this is not solely a scientific problem, involves questions of economics, values, and politics.

The science and technology already exists to keep people safe (if they are aware and willing)

Science and technology cannot move assets out of harms way - petroleum energy is at the center of this.

It is likely a structurally better New Orleans may arise from the muck.

More importantly - given that another flood is an inevitability, will we prepare ourselves adequately?