ONLINE ARTICLE

SUMMARY

On 1 November 2020, a storm named Super Typhoon Goni hit parts of the Philippines. Super Typhoon Goni is categorized under Category 5 storm under the Saffir-Simpson scale. More than 30 million individuals were affected, and at least 16 people had been killed as of 2 November 2020, Monday. US$23 million worth of crops were impaired. This storm damaged many buildings and infrastructure. Goni is also expected to make landfall in Central Vietnam on Wednesday night, a region which is already affected by Typhoon Molave and several other storms in recent weeks. The damage caused by the storms have already impacted many individuals, it has also cost Vietnam an estimated of US$430 million in economic losses. Atsani, which is another storm is also forecasted to hit Philippines later that week. To prevent residents from being negatively impacted by these natural disasters, warnings are given. For instance, in the Philippines, signals are raised at least 36 hours ahead of any making landfall, and TV and radio stations play a part in spreading the information to rural households.

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS

Firstly, from this article, we know how typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones are generated. They are large rotating storms that are formed over tropical waters and can generate wind speeds of at least 120km/h. Typhoons are storms formed in the Western Pacific Ocean, hurricanes are formed in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific, while those in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific are known as cyclones. Warming sea waters strengthen these storms as they give them more warmth and hence more energy. The stronger the storm, the more damage it is going to have to the buildings and to individuals.

Secondly, we will know where and when these storms strike. Typhoons usually form more than 10 degrees north and south of the equator and move towards the poles and away from the equator. Since Philippines is the first major landmass facing the Pacific cyclone belt, it usually gets hit by an average of 20 raging storms annually. Countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Japan, China, India, etc. are prone to be hit by typhoons. Typhoon season usually begins in June and will usually stop by November. However, in recent years, some of the strongest typhoons have hit closer to the end of the year.

Lastly, there are different category levels for typhoons. The intensity of typhoon is measured by its maximum sustained wind speed. Destroying of buildings and infrastructure caused by high winds and heavy rains have increased disproportionately, which means a 15% increase in intensity can result in a 50% rise in destructive power. Category 1 storm is the weakest and usually has a sustained wind of at least 119km/h. Category 5 storm is the strongest, with sustained winds of at least 252km/h. These storms are usually classified by a method known as the Saffir-Simpson scale. For now, Super Typhoon Goni, is the strongest storm to hit anywhere in the world, with its wind speed of up to 310km/h.