Natrual Disasters Over the Globe
Chloe Lee
Embedded Files
Spain - Flood
In late October 2024, Valencia, Spain, was hit by record-breaking flooding due to a "DANA" (a cold drop), a weather phenomenon that brought relentless and continuous rains. Rivers overflowed, streets turned into raging torrents, and entire neighborhoods were submerged. Homes, roads, and businesses suffered extensive damage, and many lives were lost, while others were left missing or displaced.
The sudden and extreme nature of the flood caught many off guard, underscoring the increasing frequency of such disasters, likely linked to climate change. In response, the Spanish government committed significant funds to rebuilding efforts, though recovery remains ongoing. The disaster serves as a clear warning of the need for stronger climate resilience and improved plans for future disasters.
South America - Wildfire
South America faced severe wildfires across countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and Chile, causing widespread destruction in areas like the Amazon rainforest and the Pantanal wetlands. The loss of important habitats for many animals forced some to move into human communities, causing conflicts. In addition, thick smoke from the fires contributed to air quality issues in cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, thus posing health problems for residents.
Most of the fires were due to extreme heat, drought, and climate change that turned the land dry and easily flammable. Besides, many fires were man-made for land clearing for farming and cattle ranching. Weak environmental laws and poor enforcement allowed the continuation of illegal land clearing. These events have really shown the urgent need for better protection of the environment and more serious measures against climate change and prevention of future wildfires.
Florida - Winter storm
The effects of a rare and potentially powerful winter storm began to hit Florida in early January 2025, courtesy of a cold front pushing down from the polar vortex. The record low temperatures brought below-freezing action to such cities as Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville. There were areas with wind chills that made it feel even colder, while southern parts of Florida took the effect of temperatures in the 50s. While the state saw little snow, heavy storms pummeled the Panhandle, and there was plenty of ice. This particular storm's reach spanned more than 1,500 miles, cutting a swath through numerous southern states from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast. The event formed part of a larger, broader weather system now showing increasingly frequent and intense winter-weather outbreaks across the country, even in places like Florida that usually don't see this kind of weather.
Works Cited
“COP29: Deadly Weather Events Show Cost of Climate Inaction | UN News.” United Nations, United Nations, news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1156691. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Weather, FOX. “Polar Vortex Leaves More than 30 States on Alert for Dangerously Cold Weather.” New York Post, New York Post, 20 Jan. 2025, nypost.com/2025/01/20/us-news/polar-vortex-leaves-more-than-30-states-on-alert-for-dangerously-cold-weather/.
Storm Center | By Irene Sans. “A Series of Fronts Will Bring an Arctic Blast to Florida.” WUSF, 3 Jan. 2025, www.wusf.org/weather/2025-01-02/a-series-of-fronts-will-bring-an-arctic-blast-to-florida.
Meyerfeld, Bruno. “Brazil’s Pantanal, a Treasure Trove of Biodiversity, Has Already Fallen Prey to Flames.” Le Monde.Fr, Le Monde, 7 July 2024, www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2024/07/07/brazil-s-pantanal-a-treasure-trove-of-biodiversity-has-already-fallen-prey-to-flames_6676905_114.html?utm_source=.
MacCarthy, James, and Sarah Parsons. “6 Graphics Explain South America’s Forest Fires.” World Resources Institute, 19 Sept. 2024, www.wri.org/insights/amazon-forest-fires-2024?utm_source=.
“Spain’s Worst Floods in a Century Hit Valencia Region, Killing at Least 158 People and Leaving Others Missing.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, www.cbsnews.com/news/spain-flooding-valencia-region-deaths-rescues-flash-floods/?utm_source=. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Latona, Eva Manez and David. “Spain Hit by Deadliest Floods in Decades as Rain Batters Valencia.” The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 Oct. 2024, www.smh.com.au/world/europe/spain-hit-by-deadliest-floods-in-decades-as-valencia-battered-20241030-p5kmr2.html.
Woodward, Aylin. “Brazil Has Seen 100,000 Fire Alerts in 10 Days, but It’s Not Just the Amazon - One Map Shows How Much of South America Is Burning.” Business Insider, Business Insider, www.businessinsider.com/map-south-america-on-fire-amazon-2019-8. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Girod, Brandon. “Winter Storm Cora Will Bring a Second Week of Subfreezing Temps to Florida.” Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola News Journal, 10 Jan. 2025, www.pnj.com/story/weather/2025/01/07/will-winter-storm-cora-impact-florida-yep-heres-how/77520834007/.
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