Monitoring our home planet - Research Paper Example

? Monitoring Our Home Planet 6th, September, Monitoring Our Home Planet Introduction Over the past three decades, natural disasters have increased considerably resulting into loss of life and economic setbacks. In the last five decades, disasters related to metrological, climate and hydrological hazards have claimed millions of life and caused economical devastations. The occurrence of natural disasters is beyond human control. However, people have the capacity to minimize the impacts of natural disasters through early predictions and warnings. As the world continuously embraces information technology, the internet has become a profound tool for information and environmental monitoring. Earthquakes, volcanoes, and global climate have remained a challenge in the quest for sustainable human existence and economies. Despite the challenges, it is possible to monitor and make precise predictions on the likelihood of occurrence of each event. Recent cases of earthquake in Haiti and Japan indicates the limitations that people have on the ability to monitor and predict the occurrence of each event (Marti, & Ernst, 2005). This paper will analyze the identified phenomenon that leads to natural disasters through a critique on the available web based monitoring resources. Earthquakes Earthquakes are sudden tremors that result from sudden release of energy from earth crust. The energy produces seismic waves that are experienced as earthquake. The magnitude of earthquake is determined by the degree of frequency of the resultant seismic waves. It is estimated that 500, 000 earthquakes occur annually and they are detectable with the current monitoring instruments. However, only 20% of the detectable earthquakes cannot be felt or experienced. Distribution of earthquakes around the globe is closely associated with tectonic stability. Regions with active geological activities such as volcanoes, and faults lines are more prone to earthquakes than more geologically stable regions. However, this does not restrict earthquakes to certain areas since areas that have never recorded cases of earthquakes such as New York often experience earthquakes that are below the detectable magnitude. The main earthquake zones around the world are closely associated with regions that have history of active volcanic activities, strong tidal waves, areas with natural fault lines and regions within tectonic plate interfaces. Seismometers are used to monitor seismic waves in the earth crust and predict earthquakes. Countries such as Japan, Haiti, Indonesia, and Turkey have experienced severe cases of earthquake in the recent past. Various resources have been set to monitor trends of seismic waves and the possibility of earthquakes. IRIS Seismic Monitor, Live Earthquakes Map and GeoNet – Quakes are some the main earthquake monitoring websites. The web based monitoring technology provides up-to-date information and data on earthquakes. However, the websites have a geographical bias and usually assume the welfare of developing countries. It is evident that the current geological system that depicts seismic hotspots is not accurate. However, the websites are restricted to availability and distribution of earthquakes monitoring infrastructures around the world. Politics plays a significant role in the recording and reporting of earthquakes and related information. Most of the global earthquake monitoring infrastructures such as satellites and seismic wave monitors are controlled by major world powers (Ollier, 1988). This indicates that availability of information concerning earthquakes is closely linked with global politics. In addition, data collection is mainly carried out in area that are of political interest. The seismic monitoring resources do not cover less developed countries or regions of less political interests. However, web based results can be used to predict occurrence of earthquakes in less developed countries through extrapolation methods. Global economics plays a critical role in monitoring and evaluation of earthquakes. It is evident that most earthquake prone areas such as south East Asia are of economic interest. Courtiers with web based monitoring technology have added economic advantage compared to those with insufficient infrastructures. However, the technology hinders investments in some areas, as investors are scared of losses resulting from earthquakes. Occurrence of earthquakes is highly probabilistic and, therefore data and predictions provided by the sites does not guarantee occurrence of an earthquake. Finally, the resources enhance disaster preparedness among the users and government agencies. Global Climate Global climate has become an issue of concern in the last five decades. It is evident that global climate is changing at a faster rate than previously predicted. The main concern about climate change is the global warming trend that has been proved as a reality. There have been numerous debates about the reality of climate change and the role of human activities in global warming. Climate change is monitored through the internet by recording data on various parameters that indicates or depends on climate change (USGS, 2010). The main indicators of climate challenge applied in these websites are emission of greenhouse gases, global temperature trends, sea levels, oceanic temperature, arctic sea ice, societies, and ecosystems (USGS, 2010). Some of the websites dedicated to the monitoring of climate change include Pew Center on Global Climate Change, US Global Change Research Program United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO), EPA Global Warming Page, Climate Change Solutions, and Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research (NASA, 2011). Although climate change is a global phenomenon, different countries have varying experience on climate change. Some of these regions experience increased temperatures or rainfalls that are above average. Floods, drought, rise in sea levels are some of the immediate impacts of climate change experienced in different countries. Sub-Saharan Africa is the worst hit by climate change as the region continuously experiences a rise in atmospheric temperature (USGS, 2010). Asian countries such as China, India, Vietnam, and Japan are continuously experiencing floods as a result climate change. There are different kinds of web-based resources that monitor climate change. Each of these web resources monitors a particular phenomenon or a combination of parameters with the aim of establishing global climate trends (NASA, 2011). Climate monitoring satellites record most of the data and images applied in the websites. For instance latest images on polar icecaps indicates considerable decline in polar ice sheet within the last decades. Climate monitoring websites are affiliated to global politics. Most of the available websites are owned and controlled by countries that have political influence. In addition, climate-monitoring infrastructures such as satellites are owned and controlled by powerful countries such as the United States and Russia. Although developed countries such as India and China have launched satellites into space, their satellites are not comparable to those owned by wealthier nations such as US. This indicates that availability of information is highly dependent on global politics. Although the climate-monitoring websites do not associate themselves with global politics, they do not serve the interest of developing countries (NASA, 2011). This is a contradiction since the developing countries are the most affected by the impacts of climate change. For instance, the websites concentrate in monitoring parameters such as polar ice caps, sea levels, and atmospheric pressure that do not indicate the actual impact of climate change in poor countries. Thus, the resources should concentrate in monitoring factors that have immediate impacts on people’s life such as desertification and loss of biomass. Global climate is a major factor that determines global economies. Similarly, climate monitoring is mainly carried out for economic purposes. Countries with climate monitoring technology have an added advantage over the countries that lack the resource. For instance, countries that control the resources are capable of monitoring climate trends and hence determine the most appropriate trend of investment (NASA, 2011). Agriculture is a major economic driver and, therefore countries that have the capacity to monitor global climate can warn their farmers on the possible outcomes concerning climate change hand advise them on the best farming practices. The frequency of famine resulting from drought in developing countries is a major indicator of the disparity in weather monitoring between developing and developed countries. Disaster preparedness is a critical aspect of climate monitoring. However, the identified websites do not provide accurate and reliable information for disaster preparedness. In most cases, information provided by the websites is often assumed due its degree of probability. In addition, the websites do not define critical points or indicators that people should observe and consider as a warning. For instance, the sites should state the limit to which sea level should rise until a disaster is declared. Volcanoes Volcanoes are vents in the earth crust through which magma and other gaseous materials are forcefully ejected from the earth crust. Distribution of volcanoes around the world is closely associated with major fault lines and earthquake zones. Countries, which have recently recorded volcanic activity, include Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a common volcano monitoring system that characterizes and measure levels of volcanic unrests and eruptive activity of volcanoes. This system is applied in most web-based resources that are designed to alert the public about possibilities of a volcanic activity. Unlike other natural disasters, monitoring of volcanoes is done for the purpose of predicting eruptions and determining possible damages resulting from volcanic activity. Most website provides historical information about volcanic activity in key areas. Information provided in these resources is recorded from seismic monitors based on the volcanic sites or on orbit satellites. Volcano monitoring techniques involves recording and analysis of quantifiable phenomena such as earthquakes, ground movements, disparity in gas compositions, and deviations in local electrical and magnetic fields (USGS, 2010). Distribution of volcanoes around the world is not correlated to global politics and, therefore politics does not play a significant role in monitoring activities. However, developed countries have the ability to utilize volcanic activities economically. This is the main difference between developing and developed countries in terms of volcanic disasters. In addition, developed countries are able to predict occurrence of volcanic eruptions and advice their citizens accordingly. For instance, the latest volcanic eruptions in Iceland caused major disruptions on the airline industry (USGS, 2010). However, early monitoring and warning minimized the impacts of the eruptions. The eruption could have caused major devastations if it occurred in developing countries. For instance, eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo caused major devastations compared to the Iceland volcano. Economic aspects of volcanic activities can be evaluated from the positive and negative aspect. Volcanic eruptions cause destruction of infrastructure such as transport and communication networks and infrastructure. Availability of monitoring systems has enabled people to avoid installing major infrastructures in areas that have recorded recent cases of volcanic activities (USGS, 2010). Eruptions can also be considered as source of revenue for the country. Volcanic eruptions are major tourist attraction and countries that have the ability to monitor volcanic activities benefit from the outcome. This is not possible in less developed countries since they are not able to make timely predictions of volcanic activities. Volcanic eruptions can result into disaster particularly when a country is not prepared for the outcome (Macdonald, & Agatin, 2007). Disaster preparedness is the basis of volcano monitoring. However due to the length of the interval between successive eruptions, most countries do not have adequate measures for disaster preparedness. In most cases, evacuation of people is carried out when volcanic activity has reached its critical point. Conclusion Natural disasters have increased in the last few decades. Due to the increase, people have the role of monitoring and predicting the occurrence of a natural disaster in order to avert risks that may result from such situation. Web based resources such as websites and database have contributed to the monitoring and evaluation of occurrence of natural disasters. Different catastrophic phenomenon have various indicators that are continuously been monitored to predict the possibility of a natural disasters. Volcanoes, earthquakes, and global climate change are some of the natural disasters that have attracted significant interests among scientist. Distributing of earthquakes and volcanoes is dependent on the global fault lines and geological points of weakness. On the other hand, climate change is a widespread phenomenon that has significant impacts on human life. Unlike earthquakes and volcanic activities, climate change is not associated with geological fault lines. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, climate change mainly affects devolving countries. Mentoring resources use data recorded from various parameters or recourses to predict the possibility of a disasters. Most resources are controlled or owned by developed countries and, therefore data recording and reporting is dependent on global politics and economy. However, accurate and impartial recording of such information is a requirement for proper planning and disaster preparedness. References EPA. (2010). Climate Change Indicators in the United States. EPA. Retrieved from http://epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/ Macdonald, G., & Agatin T. (2007). Volcanoes in the Sea. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. Marti, J & Ernst, G. (2005). Volcanoes and the Environment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. NASA, (2011). Satellite Images for Monitoring Global Climate Change. Retrieved from http://www.satimagingcorp.com/svc/global_warming.html Ollier, C. (1988). Volcanoes. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. USGS. (2010). Monitoring Techniques. USGS. Retrieved From http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/monitor/techniques.html Read More