Avalanches, and Tornado

AVALANCHES

a mass of snow pouring down a mountain side

AVALANCHES Snow cover on a slope tends to slide down the slope because of gravity.

Item

Description

Factor Inclination of slope Shape of slope Location (ridge line or toe of slope) Orientation of slope Vegetation cover and height of trees Thickness of vegetation Depth of snow cover Depth of snowfall Wind velocity Atmospheric and snow temperatures

Topographic factors
Prime factors Vegetation factors

Weather factors Exciting factor Other factors

Increase in weight of snow cover because of snow dropping Vibrations such as earthquake or the sound of gunfire
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Factors Used for classification of Avalanches

Classification Factor Classification Factor Definition Avalanches that flow rapidly, spreading widely from a point, normally small in scale Avalanches that start to move suddenly over wide areas, normally large in scale. Avalanches that contain no water. Avalanches that contain water. Slip surface exists within the snow cover Slip surface occurs on the ground surface
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Loose snow avalanche

Type of occurrence
Slab avalanche

Dry snow avalanche Type of snow Wet snow avalanche Surface layer avalanche Surface layer avalanche Full- depth avalanche

Loose Snow of Avalanches

Slab Snow Avalanche

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Weak Snow Pack

Types of Damage
Traffic blocked by snow deposited on road surface. Roads damaged by avalanches. Road structures, such as retaining walls, overturned.

The following actions are appropriate when avalanche hazard prone slopes are identified;

Afforestation programme for areas where there is risk of avalanches. Trap avalanches by control measures. Predict occurrence of avalanches through stability analysis and issue warnings as and when necessary. Guide residents to emergency evacuation shelters. Advise residents of avalanche risk areas using published maps.

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Avalanches zones There are three types of snow avalanches zones; Red Zone - The most dangerous zone where snow avalanches are most frequent and have an impact pressure of more than 3 tonnes per square metre. Blue Zone - Where the avalanche force is less than 3 tonnes per square metre and where living and other activities may be permitted with connection of safe design but such areas may have to be vacated on warning. Yellow Zone - Where snow avalanche occur only occasionally.
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Avalanches Prone Areas in India The Himalayas are well known for the occurrence of snow avalanches particularly Western Himalayas I .e. the snowy regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Western Uttar Pradesh/ Uttrakhand. Jammu and Kashmir - Higher reaches of Kashmir and Gurez valleys, Kargil and Ladakh and some of the major roads Himachal Pradesh - Chamba, Kullu- Spiti and Kinnaur vulnerable areas Uttarakhand - Parts of Tehri Garhwal and Chamoli districts are vulnerable areas. 12

Avalanches Control Measures

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Preventive Structure
Planting Forest Stepped Terraces Avalanche Control Fence

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Tornado
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 A tornado is defined by the National Weather Service (NWS) as "a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm base.

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WHAT IS A TORNADO?

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 These small, severe storms form several thousand feet above Earth's surface, usually during warm, humid, unsettled weather, and usually in conjunction with a severe thunderstorm. Sometimes a series of two or more tornadoes is associated with a parent thunderstorm. As the thunderstorm moves, tornadoes may form at intervals along its path, travel for a few miles, then dissipate. The forward speed of tornadoes has been observed to range from almost no motion to 70 mph.
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HOW A TORNADO IS FORMED

Tornado formation requires the presence of layers of air with contrasting characteristics of temperature, moisture, density, and wind flow. Complicated energy transformations produce the tornado vortex.

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Other names for tornados are Twister Wind Vortex Water spout

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A funnel cloud

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A funnel cloud

SIZE, SPEED, & DURATION

This divide into three categories "weak" :- Wind speeds are in the range of 110 mph or less. "strong.:- Strong tornadoes have wind speeds reaching about 205 mph, with an average path length of 9 mi, and a path width of 200 yd. Violent:- these extreme tornadoes can last for hours. Average path lengths and widths are 26 mi and 425 yd, respectively. The largest of these may exceed a mile or more in width, with wind speeds approaching 300 mph.
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Tornado Characteristics Tornadoes are most likely to occur is midafternoon, generally 37 P.M., but they have occurred at all times of day.

Direction of movement is usually from southwest to northeast.

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 Smaller in size generally 10 x 10 m in size Can extend upto 14 x 16 km from very close to earth surface. Short duration (half an hour to 1 hout) Very destructive locally.
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Tornado Intensity Rating System

The intensity of tornadoes is defined according to the Fujita Scale (or F scale), which ranges from F0 to F6 as outlined below. F0: 4072 mph winds. Damage is light and might include damage to tree branches, chimneys, and billboards. Shallow-rooted trees may be pushed over. F1: 73112 mph winds. Damage is moderate; mobile homes may be pushed off foundations and moving autos pushed off the road. F2: 113157 mph winds. Damage is considerable. Roofs can be torn off houses, mobile homes demolished, and large trees uprooted. F3: 158206 mph winds. Damage is severe. Even well-constructed houses may be torn apart, trees uprooted, and cars lifted off the ground. F4: 207260 mph winds. Damage is devastating. Houses can be leveled and cars thrown; objects become deadly missiles. F5: 261318 mph winds. Damage is incredible. Structures are lifted off foundations and carried away; cars become missiles. Fewer than 2% of all tornadoes reach an intensity of this magnitude. F6: The maximum tornado wind speeds are not expected to exceed 318 25 mph.

Tornado in India
New Delhi, Tornado of March 17, 1978 National Capital Region, India 28 fatalities, 700 injuries Orissa, Tornado April 10 1978 150 fatalities

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Safety Measures Safety disaster supplies to keep on hand: Flashlight and extra batteries Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries First aid kit and manual Emergency food and water Non-electric can opener Essential medicines Cash and credit cards Sturdy shoes
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Develop an emergency communication plan If home

Go at once to a windowless, interior room; basement; or lowest level of the building. If there is no basement, go to a smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet. Get away from the windows. Use your arms to protect your head and neck. If you are in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere
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 In an office building, hospital, nursing home Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building -- away from glass. Then, crouch down and cover your head. At school: Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums
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If outdoors: If possible, get inside a building. If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or lowlying area or crouch near a strong building. Be aware of the potential for flooding. Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
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If in a car: Never try to out drive a tornado in a car or truck. Tornadoes can change direction quickly and can lift up a car or truck and toss it through the air. Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building. If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a low-lying area away from the vehicle.

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THANKS

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