Extreme Weather Events

Flood

Floods are natural disasters that occur when an area experiences an overflow of water onto normally dry land. These events can result from various causes and have significant impacts on communities, the environment, and infrastructure. Here are key aspects of floods:

Causes of Floods

1. Heavy Rainfall: Prolonged and intense rainfall can lead to the saturation of soil, exceeding its capacity to absorb water. This runoff contributes to surface water accumulation and potential flooding.

2. Storm Surges: Coastal areas can experience flooding due to storm surges, which are abnormal rises in sea level generated by storms, especially tropical cyclones.

3. Snowmelt: Spring thaw or sudden warming can cause the melting of snow, leading to increased water runoff and the potential for river or urban flooding.

4. Flash Floods: Flash floods result from intense rainfall over a short period, often in mountainous or urban areas. They can lead to rapid and unexpected rises in water levels.

5. River Flooding: Overflow of rivers and streams due to excessive rainfall or the melting of snow in upstream areas can lead to river flooding.

6. Dam or Levee Failures: Failure of dams or levees can release large volumes of water, causing downstream flooding.

Impacts of Floods

1. Infrastructure Damage: Floodwaters can damage roads, bridges, buildings, and other infrastructure, disrupting transportation and utilities.

2. Loss of Lives and Property: Floods pose a significant risk to human life and property. Rapidly rising water levels can lead to evacuations and, in severe cases, loss of life.

3. Economic Impact: Flooding can have long-term economic consequences, affecting agriculture, businesses, and communities. Recovery efforts can be costly.

4. Environmental Consequences: Floods can alter ecosystems, impact wildlife, and introduce pollutants into water bodies, affecting the environment.

5. Public Health Risks: Contaminated floodwaters can pose health risks, including the spread of waterborne diseases.

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Flood Data Analysis

The Flood dataset encompasses occurrences of wildfires across the USA spanning from 2000 to 2023. The dataset includes information on the total count of deaths and the number of individuals affected, providing quantitative insights.

Dataset can be accessed here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_GXHAFDA7VcR7iRxVi1zb5-8179KzMq1/edit usp=drive_link&ouid=102720697735200195659&rtpof=true&sd=true

Sample data

Disaster Type	Disaster Subype	Location	Total Deaths	Total Affected
Flood	Riverine Flood	Kentucky, Ohio provinces	3	231
Flood	Flash Flood	Franklin, Jefferson districts (Missouri province)	2	2000
Flood	Flood (General)	Liberty district (Texas province)	0	240

Data Visualization

Bar chart showing total number of deaths and affected for different hydrological disasters:

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Drought

Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low precipitation that can lead to water shortages, impacting ecosystems, agriculture, water supply, and various human activities. It is a complex natural hazard with significant environmental, social, and economic consequences. Here are key aspects of drought:

Causes of Drought

• Meteorological Drought: Lack of rainfall or below-average precipitation for an extended period characterizes meteorological drought. This is the most common form of drought.

• Hydrological Drought: Hydrological drought occurs when water sources such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers experience reduced water levels due to prolonged dry conditions.

• Agricultural Drought: Agricultural drought relates to soil moisture deficits that affect crop growth. It occurs when there's not enough water in the soil to meet the needs of crops.

Characteristics and Impacts

• Water Scarcity: Reduced precipitation and water availability lead to water scarcity, affecting both surface water and groundwater resources.
• Crop Failures: Insufficient water for crops can result in reduced yields, economic losses for farmers, and potential food shortages.
• Ecosystem Stress: Drought can stress ecosystems, leading to decreased vegetation, habitat loss, and disruptions in wildlife populations.
• Water Supply Challenges: Municipal water supplies may face shortages, impacting communities, industries, and essential services.
• Wildfires: Prolonged dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires, as vegetation becomes more susceptible to ignition.
• Livestock and Wildlife: Drought affects the availability of water and forage for livestock, leading to challenges in animal husbandry. Wildlife may face similar challenges.
• Economic Impact: Drought can have significant economic consequences, including reduced agricultural productivity, increased food prices, and impacts on various industries.
• Human Health: Drought can indirectly affect human health through its impact on water supply, food availability, and the potential for conflicts over scarce resources.

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Drought Data Analysis

The Drought dataset encompasses occurrences of wildfires across the USA spanning from 2000 to 2023. The dataset includes information on the total count of deaths and the number of individuals affected, providing quantitative insights.

Sample Data

Disaster Type	Disaster Subype	Location	Total Deaths	Total Affected
Drought	Drought	West and central states	45	0
Drought	Drought	Nationwide	0	0
Drought	Drought	Nation wide; Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon and Texas	136	0

The US Drought monitor

The US Drought Monitor (USDM) is a comprehensive and collaborative effort by several federal agencies, including the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), among others. It provides up-to-date information and assessment of drought conditions across the United States.

Link for the US Drought Monitor Map (November 2023): https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Maps/MapArchive.aspx

Dataset can be accessed here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1k1YhIULXMt4URSIpeJfgfRbiee_YA7oXfl2_s6xfnpk/edit?usp=drive_link

Deaths and Affected numbers on the basis of different Climatological disasters in USA from 2000-2023

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The US Drought Monitor Map

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Wildfires

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Wildfires, also known as forest fires or bushfires, typically occur when a combination of factors creates conditions conducive to the ignition and rapid spread of flames. Wildfires occur due to combination of the following:
1. Wildfires begin with an ignition source, which can be human-caused or natural. Common human-caused ignition sources include discarded cigarettes, campfires left unattended, equipment sparks, power lines, and arson. Natural ignition sources include lightning strikes.
2. Fuel- Fuel refers to the vegetation, such as grass, shrubs, trees, and other flammable materials, that provides the substance for the fire to burn. The type, amount, and moisture content of the fuel play a crucial role in determining the intensity and spread of a wildfire.
3. Weather conditions strongly influence the behavior of wildfires. Factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction play significant roles.

• Low Humidity: Low humidity levels dry out vegetation, making it more susceptible to ignition and promoting the rapid spread of fires.
• High Temperatures: Hot temperatures contribute to the drying of vegetation, creating favorable conditions for fires.
• Wind: Wind can carry embers over long distances, accelerate the spread of flames, and make firefighting efforts more challenging.

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Wildfires at Umatilla National Forest

Wildfire Data Analysis

The Wildfire dataset encompasses occurrences of wildfires across the USA spanning from 2000 to 2023. The dataset includes information on the total count of deaths and the number of individuals affected, providing quantitative insights.

Sample Data

Disaster Type	Disaster Subype	Location	Total Deaths	Total Affected
Wildfire	Forest fire	Gainesville, Alachua areas (Alachua district, Florida province), Lafayette, Gulf districts (Florida province)	0	600
Wildfire	Forest fire	Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Santa Fe districts (New Mexico province)	0	25400
Wildfire	Forest fire	Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Florida, North Dakota provinces	14	1000

Access the whole dataset here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1L_EbjiHZYTChjEllwEG0LX_4HavbomD3/edit#gid=1887285575

Deaths and Affected numbers on the basis of different Climatological disasters in USA from 2000-2023

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Earthquake

File:Trend of earthquake entries over years.png

This visualization shows the trend of earthquake record entries over the years based on the "Entry Date".

Earthquake Data Analysis

This dataset provides detailed information on global earthquake occurrences. The data spans a wide time range, capturing multiple decades of seismic activities. Key attributes include the location (latitude and longitude) of the earthquake, its magnitude, the date of entry, as well as the resulting damages, injuries, and deaths. Some salient findings from the data include the distribution of earthquake magnitudes, regions most affected by these seismic activities, and the correlation between earthquake magnitude and the damages caused. The data serves as an invaluable resource for researchers, policymakers, and organizations aiming to understand and mitigate the impacts of earthquakes. The data source and original citation can be found at the end of this documentation.

File:Top countries earthquake damages.png

Countries Most Affected: Several visualizations highlight the countries with the most deaths, injuries, and damages due to earthquakes.

File:Top countries earthquake injuries.png

Countries Most Affected: Several visualizations highlight the countries with the most deaths, injuries, and damages due to earthquakes.

File:Distribution of earthquake magnitudes.png

Distribution of earthquake magnitudes

Visualization

Visualizations created from the dataset offer insights into the temporal trends, geographical distribution, and impact of the earthquakes.

- Trend of Earthquake Record Entries: This visualization shows the trend of earthquake record entries over the years based on the "Entry Date".

 

- Distribution of Earthquake Magnitudes: This histogram provides a snapshot of the distribution of earthquake magnitudes.

 

- Countries Most Affected: Several visualizations highlight the countries with the most deaths, injuries, and damages due to earthquakes.

- Heatmap of Earthquake Magnitudes: This interactive heatmap provides a visual representation of earthquake occurrences, with intensity indicating the magnitude of the earthquakes. [View & Interact with the Heatmap](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q24aMjQK81BnGQ1xBKe24VULy2pjrtyB/view?usp=drive_link))

Sample Data

Here's a glimpse of the earthquake data:

File:Top countries earthquake deaths.png

Countries Most Affected: Several visualizations highlight the countries with the most deaths, injuries, and damages due to earthquakes.

DisNo.	Country	Location	Magnitude	Start Year	Start Month	Start Day	Total Deaths
2000-0023-BGD	Bangladesh	Maheshkhali area (Cox's Bazar district, Chittagong province)	4.3	2000	1	2
2000-0033-CHN	China	Yongren Xian, Yao'an Xian, Nanhua Xian, Dayao Xian areas (Chuxiong Yi district, Yunnan Sheng province), Xiangyun Xian area (Dali Bai district, Yunnan Sheng province)	5.9	2000	1	14	7.0
2000-0036-CHN	China	Mile Xian area (Honghe Hani and Yi district, Yunnan Sheng province), Qiubei Xian area (Wenshan Zhuang and Miao district, Yunnan Sheng province)	4.9	2000	1	26	1.0
2000-0041-CHN	China	Xiuyan Manzu Zizhixian area (Anshan district, Liaoning Sheng province)	5.1	2000	1	11
2000-0051-IRN	Iran (Islamic Republic of)	Kashmar, Bardeskan districts (Khorasan)	5.3	2000	2	2	1.0

For a comprehensive look at the dataset, [download the full data file here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/108Qy2mM__pZ166r6XE4ippnhhAtf1l4m/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=116829712442005378671&rtpof=true&sd=true).

Citation

[Link to the original source of data](<https://doc.emdat.be/docs/data-structure-and-content/emdat-public-table/>)

Reference

1. https://climatedata.imf.org/

2. https://climatedata.imf.org/

3. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/06/california-americas-garden-is-drying-out/

4. https://climatedata.imf.org/