Yanko Design, the web magazine that features the best international modern designs from industrial design, concepts, technology, interior design, architecture, exhibition and fashion, presents The Wall for Flood Control, a concept by designer Ho-Hyeok Lee.

The wall for flood control may be the perfect solution for living areas that are naturally prone to flooding.

Features and function
The wall for flood control is made up of partitions that are locked together to form a platform/wall. These panels are safe-locked together to prevent each partition from moving. It can be unlocked if only certain partitions are needed to be used. When unlocked, the green light turns on. When locked, the red light goes on.

What interesting about this architectural concept is that it doesn’t manual operation nor power source. Here’s how it works: The wall for flood control uses only the buoyant force of water to get into position. When the water level rises, the wall retracts up to form a barrier. When the water level drops, the wall lowers back down into a platform for pedestrians.

Also, the wall for flood control may be installed on existing facilities.

(image source:http://www.yankodesign.com/2008/08/14/dikes-and-dams-be-damned/)

Posted in Preparation

The lastest news regarding the scientific debate about how, and whether global warming will affect the world’s most violent storms, is that there will be stronger storms - dust devils and water spouts, tornadoes and hurricanes. Or at least this is what us predicted by a team from the University of Michigan.

In the Swedish Journal Tellus A, the University of Michigan team of well-respected and well-credentialed scientists, improves on the predictions of computer models which stimulate the effects of climate change. Their predictions state that for every 3.6 degrees F the Earth’s surface temperature warms, the intensity of of these storms could increase by a few percent.

Nilton Renno lead author of the team said that “It shows us that climate change could lead to increases in how efficient convective vortices are and how much energy they transform into wind. Fueled by warmer and moister air, there will be stronger and deeper storms in the future that reach higher into the atmosphere.”

Last May, NOAA suggested that the hurricanes in the Atlantic will grow stronger but will occur less often due to global warming. However, contrary to NOAA’s suggestion, a prominent hurricanes researcher - who had previously supported NOAA’s suggestion - is now second-guessing some of his own ideas.

In 2007, there were fewer hurricanes than expected, though there were rapidly intensifying cyclones in the Atlantic Basin. The World Meteorological Organization also retired three killer storm names - Dean, Felix and Noel.

Early predictions for 2008 are for an above-average year filled with frequent storms and intense hurricanes. Storm season officially starts June 1. The second named storm of the season became its first major hurricane - Hurricane Bertha.

To date, 2008 tornado activity remains above average. Tornadoes have killed more people than any other year since 1998 and is on track to be the deadliest ever recorded. (source:http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/hurricanes-global-warming-47070903?src=rss)

Posted in Tornadoes & Hurricanes

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. They are created by powerful thunderstorms.

Tornadoes are characterized by their funnel shape,extending to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. The tornadoes path of damage can go for over a mile wide and 50 miles long.

Tornadoes sometimes develop so fast that there’s usually very little time for advance warning.

Here are some markers. Before a tornado strikes, the wind may decrease or even die down. The air may become very still. Before the funnel shape of the tornado can be seen, a cloud of debris can pinpoint the location of the tornado. Tornadoes usually happen near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. You can typically see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado. Some tornadoes are clearly visible, meaning you can really see the funnel shape of swirling air and debris. Some tornadoes on the other hand are obscured buy low hanging clouds.

Other important facts about tornadoes:

Tornadoes generally move Southwest to Northeast. But they are known to move in any direction.

Tornadoes have an average forward speed of 30 MPH, but their speeds vary from fixed to 70 MPH.

Tropical storms and hurricanes can come with tornadoes as they make their way to land.

Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.

In the United States, reports of tornadoes are most often from east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer.

In the Southern States, the peak tornado season is between March to May. Up north, the peak season is from late spring through early summer.

Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3-9 pm. But tornadoes can occur any time.

Posted in Tornadoes & Hurricanes

Water-Related Disasters

Between 1990-2001, of the 2,200 water-related disasters which occurred, floods account for 50% of these disasters.

Water-borne and vector disease outbreaks account for 28%. Droughts, 11%. Landslide and avalanches, 9%. And famine account for 2%.
Most affected areas

Among the continents, Asia is the most affected - 35%, followed closely by Africa - 29%. The Americas - 20%. Europe - 13, and lastly, Oceania - 3%.

Floods

Floods account for 15% of all deaths related to natural disasters, famines for 42%.
From from 1973 to 1997, Approximately 66 million people suffered flood damage.
Between 1987 and 1997, 44% of all flood disasters affected Asia, claiming 228,000 lives (roughly 93% of all flood-related deaths worldwide). Economic losses for the region totalled US$136 billion.

Water-Related Natural Disasters

In 1999, 50,000 deaths were due to natural disasters. This is 10,000 more than the previous year: 40, 000 deaths due to natural disasters in 1998.

In 1999, natural disasters cost a total of US$70 billion. In 1990, the cost ran up to US$30.

Trends in food emergencies

The The proportion of food emergencies that are human-induced is rising. In 1981, 58% of food emergencies were due to natural disasters, 15% were human-induced. In 1997, 71% were due to natural disasters, 29% human-induced. Whereas, in 2001, 61% were induced by natural disasters, compared to 39% human-induced.

Posted in Information