IPCC Report.pdf - Adam Curry

Managing the Risks: International Level and Integration across ScalesChapter 77.4.3.2. Technologies for Extreme EventsApproaching the issues of technologies to foster adaptation to extremeweather events and their impacts from the direction of disaster mitigation,Sahu (2009) presents an overview of diverse technologies that might beapplied in various stages of disaster management. The list of technologiesfor adaptation to weather-related extreme events includes early warningand disaster preparedness; search and rescue for disaster survivors;water supply, purification, and treatment; food supply, storage, and safety;energy and electricity supply; medicine and healthcare for disaster victims;disease surveillance; sanitation and waste management; and disasterresistanthousing and construction (Sahu, 2009).Developing wind-resistant building technologies is crucial for reducingvulnerability to high-wind conditions like storms, hurricanes, andtornadoes. A report by the International Hurricane Research Centrepresents hurricane loss reduction devices and techniques (IHRC, 2006).The Wall of Wind testing apparatus (multi-fan systems that generate upto 209 km hr -1 winds and include water-injection and debris-propulsionsystems with sufficient wind field sizes to test the construction of smallsingle-story buildings) will improve the understanding of the failuremode of buildings and hence lead to technologies and products tomitigate hurricane impacts (Fugate and Crist, 2008).An absolutely crucial aspect of managing weather extremes both underthe present and future climate regime is the ability to forecast andprovide early warning. Downscaling projections from global climatemodels could provide useful information about the changing risks. It isimportant to note that really useful early warning systems would providemulti-hazard warning and warnings on vulnerability development to theextent it is possible. Satellite and aerial monitoring, meteorologicalmodels, and computer tools including geographic information systems(GIS) as well as local and regional communication systems are the mostessential technical components. (The focus on technology here does notnegate the importance of social and communication aspects of earlywarning.) The use of GIS in the support of emergency operations in thecase of both weather and non-weather disasters is becoming increasinglyimportant in the United States. The benefits of using GIS technologiesinclude informing the public, enabling officials to make smarter decisions,and facilitating first-responder efforts to effectively locate and rescuestorm victims (NASCIO, 2006). Lack of locally useable climate changeinformation about projected changes in extreme weather eventsremains an important constraint in managing weather-related disasters,especially in developing countries. Therefore there is a need to developregional mechanisms to support in developing and delivering downscalingtechniques and tools (see Section 3.2.3 for details on downscalingregional climate models) and transferring them to developing countries.Space technologies (such as Earth observation, satellite imagery, real-timeapplication of space sensors, mapping) are important in the reduction ofdisasters, including extreme weather and climate events such as drought,flood, and storms (Rukieh and Koudmani, 2006). These technologies canbe particularly helpful in the risk assessment, mitigation, and preparednessphases of disaster management by identifying risk-prone areas,establishing zoning restrictions and escape routes, etc. Space technologiesare important for early warning and in managing the effects of disasters.For incorporating the routine use of space technology-based solutionsin developing countries, there is a need to increase awareness, buildnational capacity, and also develop solutions that are customized andappropriate to their needs (Rukieh and Koudmani, 2006). A good exampleof the application of space technology at international scales and forearly warning is the joint initiative of WMO, the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration, the US Agency for International Development,and the Hydrologic Research Center on global flash flood guidance. Thesystem uses global data produced by a global center and downscales theglobal information to regional products that are sent to national entitiesfor further downscaling at the national level and then disseminated tousers and communities (WMO, 2007, 2010). It is also important to notethat there are existing capabilities within some particularly exposeddeveloping countries (such as India, Bangladesh, China, Philippines)with well-developed remote-sensing capabilities of their own, or existingarrangements with other space agency suppliers.Support for risk reduction and relief agencies and governments depends,among other factors, on timely availability of information about the scaleand nature of these disasters (Holdaway, 2001). Currently, ground-basedsources provide most of such information. This could be improved byusing input from space-based sensor systems, both for disasterwarning and disaster monitoring where the scale of devastation cannotadequately be monitored from ground-based information sources alone.A global space-based monitoring and information system, with theassociated ability to provide advanced warning of many types of hazards,can be combined with the latest developments in sensor technology(optical, infrared, radar) including a UK initiative on high-resolutionimaging from a microsatellite (Holdaway, 2001). The literature suggeststhat transferring these technologies and the related know-how will beimportant for building capacities in CCA and DRR in countries wherethey are still missing (medium certainty, limited evidence).Microsatellites (low weights and small sizes, just under or well below500 kg) are seen as an important technology for the detection of andpreparation for weather-related hazards in other countries as well.Shimizu (2008) emphasizes the importance of international cooperationin this area. He observes that only a few countries are able to developlarge rockets and satellites and launch them from their own territories.Several Asian countries have been cooperating with OECD countries todevelop small Earth observation satellites, like DAICHI (Advanced LandObserving Satellite) and WINDS (Wideband Internetworking engineeringtest and demonstration satellite) that include both optical and microwavesensors. DAICHI operated between 2006 and 2011 based on cooperationof Asian countries with the United States and the European Union andmade an important contribution to emergency observations of regionshit by major disasters in this period (JAXA, 2011).Mitigation of adverse cyclone impacts involves reliable tropical cycloneforecasting and warnings, and efficient ways to convey the information416