SAINT JOSEPH COLLEGE of SINDANGAN INCORPORATED
National Highway, Poblacion, Sindangan,
Zamboanga del Norte, 7112 Philippines
Senior High School Department
DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION
Activity No.: 13
Activity Title: Hydrometeorological Hazards
Learning Target: At the end of the lesson, the students CAN:
1. Distinguish and differentiate among and between different hydrometeorological
hazards; DRR11/12-IIc-d-32
1.1. Explain the mechanism/transformation of different hydrometeorological
phenomena
1.2. Distiguish between different hydrometeorological hazards
2. Recognize signs of impending hydrometeorological hazards; DRR11/12-IIc-d-3
Reference: 1. De Guzman, Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
2. Oliva, M.DG., (2016) Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction,
Value (s): Love of life and Nature: Self-reliance, Love for the environment,
Awareness,
Sensitive to environmental issues in the community
Time Duration: 8 hours
Week: 13th- 14th
Acquired Prior Knowledge:
Why do Philippines prone to hydrometeorological hazards like super typhoons,
floods, storm surge, and thunderstorms? What historical event you could
remember in our country?
Introduction:
The geographic location of the Philippines does not only pose geological
threats but also hydrometeorological hazards. The Philippines is in the Northern
Hemisphere, which is above the equator. The area near the equator, known as the
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), is where trade winds meet. Trade winds
flow in opposite directions and this is the reason that strong swirling of wind
happens.
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The Philippines, being an archipelago, is surrounded by water. In addition to
this, its geographical location is along the pathway of cyclones and strong
turbulent winds. Both premises expose the country to certain hydrometeorological
hazards such as typhoons, thunderstorms, floods or flash floods, storm surges,
tornadoes, El Niño, and La Niña. In this module, you will study the different
hydrometeorological hazards, interpret and explain different hydrometeorological
maps, use available tools for monitoring hydrometeorological hazards, recognize
signs of impending hydrometeorological hazards and apply the appropriate
measures/interventions before, during, and after hydrometeorological hazards.
I. Essential Ideas
Types of Hydrometeorological Hazards
Hydrometeorological hazards- are dangers associated with the natural
processes or phenomena involved in the transfer of water and energy between the
land surface and the lower atmosphere. The energy and water release from one
area to another causes impacts that may be challenging to communities living
within the vicinity of the occurrence.
Types of Hydrometeorological Hazards
1. Tropical cyclones (bagyo)
a. Tropical depression- low pressure area + thunderstorm producing a
circular wind flow with 64 kph.
b. Tropical storm- wind circulation is more organized with 64-118 kph.
c. Typhoon – wind speed is 118 kph, eye of the typhoon is formed,
referring to the relatively calm area at the center of the typhoon.
2. Thunderstorm- cumulonimbus clouds + lightning + thunder, similar to
typhoon but without the high wind speed.
-due to the rapid rise of warm air.
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3. El Niño- prolong drought
4. La Niña-makes wet season wetter, increases chance of tropical storm.
5. Lightning- occurs during thunderstorms, it is a bolt of electricity often
blue-white in color, caused by a extreme heat.
6. Hail- irregular lumps of ice,5-6 inches.
7. Tornado-violently rotating funnel-shaped cloud which descends from a
thundercloud to the ground.
8. Flood-refers to large amount of water covering a land area which is
usually dry.
9. Flash flood-heavy rains or sudden release of water from dams.
Urban flooding are often caused by flash floods because the prevalence of
asphalt, cement surfaces prevent soil absorption of water allowing the
flood waters to accumulate
10. Storm surge- rising of waters above normal level in coastal areas
caused by tropical cyclones
Tropical Cyclones
Tropical cyclones are storm systems characterized by rapidly spiraling storms,
low-pressure center, and intensely strong winds. Typically, they begin over warm
tropical waters. They derive their energy from the evaporation of water from the
warm ocean surface, which ultimately recondenses into clouds and rain while
the moist air rises and cools at the atmosphere. The rotating spiraling winds are a
result of the conservation of angular momentum which is manifested in Earth’s
rotation on its axis. The air flows inward toward the axis of rotation. The direction
of the cyclone depends on its location on Earth. The Northern Hemisphere, where
the Philippines is located, would have counter clock wise direction of cyclones.
Formation of typhoons from the surface of the Pacific Ocean
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The winds of a tropical cyclone blown counterclockwise in the Northern
Hemisphere and clockwise in Southern Hemisphere due to Coriolis effect
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Coriolis Effect- describes the deflection of an object’s motion due to the earth’s
rotation about its axis.
Eye wall- the region immediately surrounding the tropical cyclone’s center and
which can reach as high as 15km above mean sea level, brings the strongest
winds, heavy rain, turbulence shortly after the passage of the eye.
Rain bands- are spiraling strips of clouds in the fringes of tropical cyclone which
are associated with rainfall.
Also known as:
typhoons -for those occurring in the Northwest Pacific
hurricanes -for those developing in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific)-
Major types
a. Tropical Depression - wind speed up to 62 kph( kilometer per Hour)
b. Tropical storm – wind speed ranging from 63-118 kph
c. Typhoon- wind speed greater than 118 kph – called “hurricane” in northeast
pacific and Northern Atlantic Regions
d. Super typhoon – wind speed exceeding 220 kph
Philippines is the most frequently visited country by tropical cyclones- with a
yearly average of 19 entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)and 6-9
making landfall.
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The area of the Philippines which are usually affected by the action of tropical
cyclones are;
1.) northern and central Luzon
2.) the eastern visayas islands.
Monsoons
Monsoons- are seasonal winds.
The Philippines experiences two monsoons every year: the amihan and the
habagat.
1. Amihan or the northeast monsoon - is characterized by cold gusty wind
with little or no precipitation. It begins in early September up to May or June.
The cool wind is from Northern China and Siberia that gradually moves
southward as it reaches the Philippines. Hazards associated with amihan are
thunderstorms, lightnings, heavy rainfall, and flooding, all of which may lead
to property damage and health risks.
2. The habagat or the southwest monsoon- is characterized by hot and
humid atmosphere with frequent heavy rainfall. It begins in June and
ends in August or September. In some cases, habagat may bring about
problems and hazards during extreme heat and drought. Here, water
shortage challenges all sectors of the society, most especially the
agricultural industry. Lack of water for irrigation can decrease crop yield.
Changes in season are indicated by reversing winds. Amihan blows to
the east while habagat blows to the west.
Tornadoes
A tornado - locally known as ipo-ipo, is a rapidly swirling condensation
funnel whose narrow end comes in contact with the ground. Usually, the violent
swirling air column carries debris and other objects that it can pick up from the
ground
How does a tornado form?
During a storm, cold air and warm air combine in a set pattern. The cold air
drops as the warm air rises.
The warm air eventually twists into a spiral and forms the funnel cloud that
we all associate with a tornado.
A wall cloud is a large lowering cloud formation that develops beneath the
base of the cumulonibus cloud that often forms tornadoes.
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Tornado Formation
Types of Tornado
1. Supercell Tornadoes- the biggest and the
strongest. They spin under a
thunderstorm
and their winds can get up to 300mph.
2. Landspout- a narrow vortex that forms
over land under several columns of
cumulus clouds
3. Watersprout- a column of spinning wind
That forms downward from a cumulus
cloud down to anybody of water.
4. Dust Devil- they are swirls that go up
and frizzle out in the clear air, and they
are not connected to the clouds while
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spinning
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as electrical storm, is a storm
characterized by heavy rain with the presence of thunder and lightning.
Thunderstorms may not have strong winds in contrast with typhoons.
Thunderstorms happen because there is an uneven distribution of heat in the
air and on land. The heat from the surface of Earth flows upward and the
cold air from the atmosphere sinks to the ground. This transfer of heat is a
natural process and it can make the air unstable. If the rising warm air
becomes rapid with the presence of moisture, thunderstorms take place.
Thus, warm air and moisture are key factors in the formation of
thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms usually happen in summer because of the
atmosphere’s high humidity and high temperature. The lightning comes from
the separation of charged particles in the clouds. The collision of water
droplets in the clouds due to rising moisture breaks away the electrons
(negatively charged particles), and these are gathered in the lower portion of
the clouds. The upper portion of the clouds, on the other hand, becomes
positively charged. When the clouds are close to the ground and pick up a
positively charged object, an electric current is produced. Sometimes, the
voltage is so high because of the large amount of heat produced. The very
rapid expansion of the local air results in reverberations of thunder
Formation of the Thunderstorm
The hazard in thunderstorms is associated with the following:
• heavy rainfall that can lead to flooding;
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• lightning that can electrocute humans and livestock and damage electrical
facilities;
• air turbulence which can displace or disorient a flying aircraft; and
• fire that can burn buildings and vegetation
Flood
A flood is the presence of excessive water on a supposedly dry land. It can
be caused by continuous heavy rain or poor drainage. Usually, low-lying areas are
prone to flooding because they receive all the water coming from higher
elevations. In densely populated areas, flooding may become a problem because
of limited spaces.
Crowding of structures and people may aggravate drainage issues leading to more
serious problems such as the following:
• Disruption of commercial and industrial operations leading to loss of income.
Stand-still traffic causing paralysis in network transportation and communication
• Displacement of affected homes and families
• Damaged properties resulting from corrosion and water intrusion
• Waterborne diseases such as leptospirosis and typhoid fever
Prevention and Management of Hydrometeorological Hazard
Flooding on major thoroughfares disrupt traffic flow
Flash Flood
A flash flood is a rapid flow of water on saturated soil or dry soil or any
foundation that has poor absorption capability. This usually takes place in slopes
such as mountains, volcanoes, and waterways where the peak of maximum force
takes place downstream. Flash floods are usually caused by extensive rainfall but
can also be induced by man-made structures such as water overflows from a dam.
Lowlying areas or those along the slopes are most prone to flash floods. The
intensity, speed, and volume of water gushing down the slopes can drown people
and damage the structures along its path.
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Flash Floods rushing as a aftermath of a typhoon
Storm Surge
A storm surge is an abnormal rise in coastal waters due to a massive force
from the sea or from the air above the sea. Storm surges can be caused by a
strong typhoon or a sea quake. The force from the strong winds of a typhoon or
from the movement of sea bottom from a quake push the seawaters toward the
shore, sometimes generating huge waves capable of destroying seawalls and other
structures near the shore. Storm surges can instantly flood coastal areas. The
accumulation of water can reach into the hinterland and may cause more flooding
in lowlying inland. If the coast is shallow, storm surges can be disastrous. Storm
surges can also be aggravated by the occurrence of high tide. In this case, surge
height is higher and can wipe out more structures on the shore.
Temperature Changes in Global Climate Systems
El Niño and La Niña are both natural parts of the global climate systems.
These events occur in the Pacific Ocean when the waters and the atmosphere
above it deviate from their normal temperatures. El Niño is usually associated with
the warming of the central and tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean, whereas La
Niña would have the exact opposite which is the cooling of the same areas in a
different season.
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Warming of the Western Pacific due to El Niño
El Niño
The El Niño phenomenon refers to the large-scale warming of the ocean and
atmosphere across the central and east-central Equatorial Pacific (see Figure 7.8).
This event begins with the heating up of the Pacific Ocean near the equator. Trade
winds in the ITCZ would move the heated waters westward toward Southeast Asia,
including the Philippines, while some global winds blow the warmer waters and air
toward the western portion of the Americas. In effect, the winter seasons of
Canada and the western portions of the United States become warmer than the
average temperatures. In like manner, warming takes place in the Philippines
during the cold season of December.
La Niña
La Niña begins in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean, much similar to the
location of El Niño. The sea surface temperatures during this period become lower
by 3–5 degrees Celsius. Cyclones formed during this time shift westward going to
the direction of China. In effect, the Philippines is affected by the excessive rainfall
and cold temperatures
II. Learning Experiences
A. Clarifying Understanding
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Directions: Fill in the table below with possible effect of the hazards in health,
property and in the environment.
Hydrometeorogical Impacts of Impacts on Impacts on the
Hazards Health Property environment
1. Tropical Cyclones
2. Thunderstorm/lightning
3. Flood/flash flood
4. Storm surge
5. Tornado
6. Hail storm
7. El-Niño
8. El-Niña
B. Processing Questions:
1. Why is the Philippines prone to tropical cyclones or storms?
2. How does El Niño and La Niña phenomenon affect agricultural production?
3. What is the difference between storm surge and tsunami?
D. Lifelong Learning
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In Deuteronomy 31:6: Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread
of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or
forsake you.” In life, we tend to fear, dread or get angry when we find ourselves in
a storm. Do ever realize that these are just God’s challenges to us? Or do you find
it as God’s punishment?
Prepared by: Checked and Approved by:
MICHELLE H. DOMINGO REV. FR. DEMBERT O.
CASTILLON
Subject Teacher SHS Principal
SAINT JOSEPH COLLEGE of SINDANGAN INCORPORATED
National Highway, Poblacion, Sindangan,
Zamboanga del Norte, 7112 Philippines
Senior High School Department
DISASTER READINESS AND RIKS REDUCTION
Name:
Grade/Section:
Date Accomplished:
ACTIVITY SHEET 13
Hydrometeorological Hazards
I. Directions: Fill in the table below with possible effect of the hazards in health,
property and in the environment.
Hydrometeor Description How does it Impacts on the
ogical formed? health, property
Hazards and environment
1. Tropical
Cyclones
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2. Thunders
torm/
lightning
3. Flood/
flash
flood
4. Storm
surge
5. Tornado
6. Hail
storm
7. El-Niño
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8. El- Niña
II. Essay (Note: please don’t copy paste your answers from the description given
in this module. You may paraphrase it or explain in your own words.)
1. Why is the Philippines prone to tropical cyclones or storms?
2. How does El Niño and La Niña phenomenon affect agricultural production?
3. What is the difference between storm surge and tsunami?
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Rubric Test I and II.
Category 4 3 2 1
Stays on Stays on topic Stays on topic Stays on topic It was hard to
topic All(100%) of All(99-90%) of All(89-75%) of tell what the
the time the time the time topic was
Accuracy All supportive Almost all Most supportive No facts are
of facts facts are supportive facts are reported or
reported facts are reported most are
accurately reported accurately inaccurately
accurately reported
Prepared by: Checked and Approved by:
MICHELLE H. DOMINGO REV. FR. DEMBERT O.
CASTILLON
Subject Teacher SHS Principal
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