Letter to Mother Earth

                                                                                                                                 Biria St., Balaong  
                                                                                                                             San Miguel, Bulacan
                                                                                                                              November 5, 2012
To Mother Earth,
                         
                    It had been a great danger since we, humans, had started our hazardous use of your resources. Nowadays, we have been focused on all of the things we need to survive in this competitive world. We evolved from the simplest ones to the more complex and I admit, that some of us had forgotten not all but maybe some of your greatest help for our living.I will not state the wrongs of others instead mine. I, myself had become a greedy creature who always looking for what you may give or what I, may receive.
                   I also admit that I've also forgotten you once but I promise that it would never be twice, thrice or more.I knew even in the simplest thing, like throwing a sheet of plastic elsewhere, hurt you, I admit I had done that before and it would never be repeated. Even using products that emit dangerous sub product I knew it kills you slowly but I know it is not yet the end, so I shall avoid it.
                  And now, remembering what you had done our Mother Earth, the food, the shelter, the materials I need to improve my life, and everything you had given me, I apologize for the wrong gift-return I had given you.
                 I am thankful for all the help you had given me. Even you do not exist like a human, I'll treat you like my friend, my mother, and I will be more concerned for you.THANK YOU!!!


                                                                                                                                Loving you,
                                                                                                                          Camilo S. Santos

Fujiwara Effect

                                                                     Fujiwara Effect

Satellite image of Fujiwara effect wherein you can see two
  cyclones just like orbiting each other

                    I learned that Fujiwhara effect, named after Sakuhei Fujiwhara, is a type of interaction between two nearby cyclonic vortices, causing them to appear to "orbit" each other.When the cyclones approach each other, their centers will begin orbiting cyclonically about a point between the two systems due to their cyclonic wind circulations. The two vortices will be attracted to each other, and eventually spiral into the center point and merge. When the two vortices are of unequal size, the larger vortex will tend to dominate the interaction, and the smaller vortex will orbit around it. The effect is often mentioned in relation to the motion of tropical cyclones, although the final merging of the two storms is uncommon. The effect becomes pronounced in these storms when they approach within about 1,500 km (900 mi) of each other and are at tropical storm strength or stronger.

                   I want to know more about the other possible reactions of two normal cyclones whether would it be possible for them not to combine and if that happens what would be the possible factors that affected such reaction. Moreover, I also want to know if only two cyclones are involved and what would be the possible result if these two cyclone have opposite direction of movement, would they still pull each other for them to combine?

                 I appreciate the fact that changes in the atmospheric pressure is one of the many factors that builds or constructs this phenomenon.

                I can apply my learnings and insights in being prepared in case these weather system occurs.

Storm Signals

                                             Public Storm Warning Signals #1 #2 #3 and #4

                    I learned that warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate preparation for the cyclone, including evacuation of vulnerable areas where necessary. It is important that interests throughout the area of an alert make preparations to protect life and property, and do not disregard it on the strength of the detailed forecast track.
                         The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) releases tropical cyclone warnings in the form of Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS) . An area having a storm signal may be under:

• PSWS #1 - Tropical cyclone winds of 30-60 km/h are expected within the next 36 hours. (Note: If a tropical cyclone forms very close to the area, then a shorter lead time is seen on the warning bulletin.)
• PSWS #2 - Tropical cyclone winds of 60-100 km/h are expected within the next 24 hours.
• PSWS #3 - Tropical cyclone winds of 100-185 km/h are expected within the next 18 hours.
• PSWS #4 - Tropical cyclone winds of greater than 185 km/h are expected within 12 hours.

                  I want to know more about the results of having these storm warning signals and does it have a great effect on the preparatory methods of local citizens against the risk of having accidents due to violent storms.

                 I appreciate the fact that PAGASA had done a very good decision in constructing these public storm warning signals.

                 I can apply my learnings and insights as my background knowledge in case I need to be a weather forecaster someday.

Tropical Cyclones

                                 
                                                                   Tropical Cyclones
                I learned that a tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air.The eye is normally circular in shape, and is typically 30–65 km in diameter.
                 The main effects of tropical cyclones include heavy rain, strong wind, large storm surges at landfall, and tornadoes. The destruction from a tropical cyclone depends mainly on its intensity, its size, and its location.After the cyclone has passed, devastation often continues. Standing water can cause the spread of disease, and transportation or communications infrastructure may have been destroyed, hampering clean-up and rescue efforts.

Tropical cyclone formation

Particular cause of a tropical cyclone;FLOODING

                 I want to know more about the most dangerous effect of a tropical cyclone and the biggest property damage caused by this weather system.
                 I would like to research on the accuracy of weather monitors on monitoring this weather system and how it is being monitored.
                 I appreciate the fact that some scientists still do not perfectly understand this natural phenomenon due to lack of some very accurate monitoring technologies.
                 I can apply my learnings and insights on helping others to be prepared in times of occurrence of these weather system.

La Niña

La Niña

            I learned that La Niña is a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that is the counterpart of El Niño as part of the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate pattern. During a period of La Niña, the sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean becomes lower than normal by 3–5 °C.La Niña is defined as a period of at least 5 months of La Niña conditions. The name La Niña originates from Spanish, meaning "the girl," analogous to El Niño meaning "the boy."

"La Niña formation"

            La Niña, sometimes informally called "anti-El Niño", is the opposite of El Niño, where the latter corresponds instead to a higher sea surface temperature by a deviation of at least 0.5 °C, and its effects are often the reverse of those of El Niño.La Niña is often, though not always, preceded by an El Niño.

               I want to know more about the advantages of  La Niña and how to use it and the disadvantages of it and how to conquer it.

               I would like to research on whether La Niña is only due to occurrence of a normal typhoon or simply an occurrence of flood.

               I appreciate the fact that it is our fault that this phenomenon occur abnormally but yet it is not the end, we can still change it.

               I can apply my learnings and insights in promoting to others to minimize the usage of again, materials which release green house gases because it is a leading cause of climate change resulting to La Niña.

El Niño

              I learned that El Niño is defined by prolonged differences in Pacific Ocean Sea surface temperatures when compared with the average value. The accepted definition is a warming or cooling of at least 0.5 °C (0.9 °F) averaged over the east-central tropical Pacific Ocean. Typically, this anomaly happens at irregular intervals of 3–7 years and lasts nine months to two years.^[5] The average period length is 5 years. When this warming occurs for only seven to nine months, it is classified as El Niño"conditions"; when it occurs for more than that period, it is classified as El Niño.

The signs of an El Niño are:

1. Rise in surface pressure over the Indian Ocean, Indonesia, and Australia
2. Fall in air pressure over Tahiti and the rest of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean
3. Trade winds in the south Pacific weaken or head east
4. Warm air rises near Peru, causing rain in the northern Peruvian deserts
5. Warm water spreads from the west Pacific and the Indian Ocean to the east Pacific. It takes the rain with it, causing extensive drought in the western Pacific and rainfall in the normally dry eastern Pacific.

El Niño's warm rush of nutrient-poor tropical water, heated by its eastward passage in the Equatorial Current, replaces the cold, nutrient-rich surface water of the Humboldt Current(a cold, low-salinity ocean current that flows north-westward along the west coast of South America from the southern tip of Chile to northern Peru). When El Niño conditions last for many months, extensive ocean warming and the reduction in Easterly Trade winds limits upwelling of cold nutrient-rich deep water and its economic impact to local fishing for an international market can be serious.

El Niño occurrence

              I want to know more about all of the effects of this phenomenon especially on the economical status of the Philippines and how to be aware of this.

             I would like to research on how satellites monitor the occurrence of an El Niño.

             I appreciate the fact that it is us, humans the major cause of the occurrence of this phenomenon because of the green house effect that we humans are the producer.

             I can apply my learnings and insight to promote the conservation of the nature because it is very useful in minimizing the amount of green house gases.

Monsoons

                                                                          Monsoons

           I learned that monsoon is a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea. Usually, the term monsoon is used to refer to the rainy phase of a seasonally-changing pattern, although technically there is also a dry phase.
          In the Philippines, the Summer Monsoon (West or southwest) is called the Habagat(ha-bag-at) and the Winter Monsoon (North or northeast) is called the Amihan (a-me-han). The word 'monsoon' is believed to originate from the Arabic word mawsim (season), via the Portuguese and then Dutch monsun.

               There are two types of monsoons. In the Philippines, Amihan refers to the season dominated by the trade winds, which are experienced in the Philippines as a cool northeast wind. It is characterized by moderate temperatures, little or no rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the east.As a general rule of thumb, the Philippines' Amihan weather pattern begins sometime in September or October and ends sometime in May or June. There may, however, be wide variations from year to year.

                Another one is  the "hanging habagat" is also known as the southwest monsoon. This natural phenomenon gets its start during the summer months in the northern hemisphere, when the Asiatic continent becomes warmer than the surrounding seas.As a result, a low-pressure area develops over the continent. This happens when a large mass of air rises, causing low pressure in the area the mass left empty and inducing air from over the ocean to flow towards the continent.The winds, rushing toward the low-pressure area, carry heat and water vapor which, when passing across the Philippines, becomes the prevailing winds in the country.

                                 

                                      Amihan and habagat

             As a result, a low-pressure area develops over the continent. This happens when a large mass of air rises, causing low pressure in the area the mass left empty and inducing air from over the ocean to flow towards the continent.The winds, rushing toward the low-pressure area, carry heat and water vapor which, when passing across the Philippines, becomes the prevailing winds in the country.

               I want to know more about the advantages and disadvantages of this weather system in the Philippines

and how to conquer these bad effects.

              I would like to research on how PAGASA predict or monitor these phenomenon and what instruments are used in this monitoring.

           I appreciate the fact that monsoon also affect the climate of a certain country.I also appreciate that northeast and southwest monsoons have a great difference in terms of their effects.Amihan carries cold and dry air while Habagat carries rain clouds and sometimes becomes the cause of formation of a Low Pressure Area.

               I can apply my learning and insights on sharing that it is not always that storms are only the causes of heavy rain but instead, there are other weather systems that affects the climate like the Northeast and Southwest monsoons.

Tail End of a Cold Front

                                                              Tail End of a Cold Front

            I learned that a cold front is the front of a cold air mass, or basically a giant bubble of relatively cold and dry air and the tail end of cold front is the later portion of an advancing or leading edge of a steep cold wedge of air characterized by cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds with frequent precipitation in the form of heavy shower. This was the cause of the continuous heavy rain that have occurred in the different parts of the Philippines. The continuous rain showers, strong winds and thick clouds that enveloped the land of the Bicolanos since the start of the year causes huge landslides and over flowing rivers, causing to an unexpected massive flooding,  have resulted to damages not only to properties but most importantly lives.  Notwithstanding the effects of the experience,  the damages incurred, the trauma embedded, this blow at the start of 2011 gives the people of Albay not only a head start but another learning to be more alert and prepared for the expected disasters and calamities for the whole of 2011.

            This illustration shows how cold fronts are formed

                                    
            I want to know more about the effect of the tail end of cold fronts on the Philippine weather system
and simply how can these tail ends affect us.
            I would like to research on how the PAGASA predict the formation of a cold front and what devices or instruments are used to predict the formation of it and in what way/s they can announce to the people especially in the Philippines about its coming.
            I appreciate the fact that cold fronts are not simply rains, instead they are almost the same with storms that causes massive destruction to properties,therefore, they must not be considered less dangerous.
           I can apply my learnings and insights on making my self aware on these natural phenomenons and to be ready at all times if these will cause serious damages.

ITCZ

                                                   Intertropical Convergence Zone

          I learned that an ITCZ is the area encircling the earth near the equator when the North and South winds come together. It is called by the sailors as doldrums. ITCZ appears as a band of clouds, usually thunderstorms, that circle the globe near the equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the trade winds move in a southwestern direction from the northeast, In the Southern Hemisphere, they move northwestward from the southeast.Variation in the location of ITCZ affects rainfall resulting in the wet and dry seasons.

          I want to know more about the hazardous effects of ITCZ and how to conquer the risks of having accidents when this comes.

          I want to research on how sailors and airplane flights do a way on preventing accidents during this weather condition.

          I appreciate the fact that during this weather condition, it is a bit confusing to know whether there will be a coming storm or typhoon but because of new weather monitors it is not so confusing than before.

          I can apply my learnigs and insights on sharing the informations I've gathered with the others and to help on orienting others on how to prevent the risks of having accidents due to this condition and to explain that this is normal.