Climatological Disasters

Disasters are severe disturbances to a community's functioning that surpass the community's ability to cope using its own resources. Natural, man-made, and technical risks, as well as various elements that influence a community's exposure and vulnerability, can all contribute to disasters. In terms of what they can do to human settlements or the environment, climate risks are disaster agents. Tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, tornadoes, drought, rain, hail, snow, lightning, fog, wind, temperature extremes, air pollution, and climatic change are all potentially dangerous atmospheric phenomena. Although some characteristics are always present, identifying dangerous incidents is not always easy. Floods, hurricanes, droughts, and heat waves have all been on the rise as a result of climate change. Temperatures have been rising on average, and are becoming more varied and extreme, in tandem with an increasing quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Rainfall has also been more intense and erratic. Climate change will therefore affect disaster risks in two ways: first, by increasing the vulnerability of communities to natural hazards as a result of ecosystem degradation, reductions in water and food availability, and changes in livelihoods; and second, by increasing the vulnerability of communities to natural hazards as a result of ecosystem degradation, reductions in water and food availability, and changes in livelihoods. As a result, climate change will add to the stresses of environmental degradation and unplanned urbanisation, diminishing communities' ability to deal with even current levels of weather threats.

• Hurricane Climatology
• Hurricanes and Climatic/Catastrophic Events
• Deforestation
• Hurricanes and Other Extreme Events
• Terrestrial Ecosystems
• Convective Storms
• Tornado Climatology
• Disaster Management