Japan Weather Phenomenons: Earthquakes vs Typhoons

    For millions of years, Japan has been plagued by earthquakes and hurricanes. Just 6 years ago, one of the largest earthquakes in world history hit Japan at a 9.0 magnitude. Back in 2014, Typhoon Neoguri hit most of Japan with lots of rain, some wind, and large waves. However, if we look back in the past and in the present, you have to wonder, are the earthquakes worse for Japan or is it the typhoons?

     In the year 2017, earthquakes of magnitudes above 4.0 have been occurring almost on a daily basis in Japan. While in the U.S.A. it is a big deal to have even above a 3.0 earthquake, earthquakes around 4.0 are very common and almost felt all the time in Japan. Even though these may cause minor damage from time to time, most of the buildings in the area are built to be able to withstand earthquakes at this magnitude. However, earthquakes of big magnitude and tsunamis easily cause lots of damage. For example, in 2006, an earthquake around an 8.3 hit the Kuril Islands off Japan. It caused extensive damage not because of the earthquake itself, but the tsunami that bought large waves upwards of 30 ft near Japan's northern islands and even bought large waves to the United States in California. In 2003, another earthquake at an 8.3 magnitude hit Hokkaido Japan where it ravaged most of Japan because of the earthquake itself. There wasn't a huge tsunami like there was with the 2006 one, but it still bought 12-13 ft high waves to Japan. Earthquakes and tsunamis can be destructive, but what about the typhoons?

     Typhoons have hit Japan many times in the past whether it be directly or indirectly. However, many of the times, they are in weaker form from what they were further south in the Pacific Ocean. For example, Typhoon Lionrock, or to the Philippines, it is known as Typhoon Dindo, hit Japan and bought over 10 inches of rain to parts of Japan. It was in weakened form and did not cause much wind damage but lots of flooding was caused. However, Japan did get hit in 1959 by Typhoon Vera which bought 160 mph winds, 14 ft waves, and rainfall amounts over 10 inches. This typhoon was one of the few to be a super typhoon or a major hurricane to hit Japan in history as Japan is north enough to not be ravaged usually by strong, powerful super typhoons. 

     Overall, earthquakes  seem to be the most destructive to Japan rather than earthquakes. The earthquakes are much more consistent than the typhoons and every five years or so, a big earthquake causes extensive damage. However, when a big typhoon like Vera hits again, Japan needs to be prepared. 

Cyclones and Bangladesh. Why are they so destructive?

     Throughout the year 2017, cyclones have ravaged parts of Madagascar and Australia. Both of these countries have had their own long histories with tropical cyclones. However, Bangladesh, another country on the Indian Ocean, has also had it's own history of tropical cyclones including Cyclone Mora. While Cyclone Mora, a storm with near 75 mph winds, may not have been as powerful as Cyclone Debbie that hit Australia with near 160 mph winds, it still caused extensive rainfalls and some winds that bought Bangladesh down. However, the question is why does a category 1 storm cause 500,000 people to be displaced with around 3 people killed while a category 1 storm elsewhere causes less?
   
     Well, there are many factors that cause Bangladesh to cripple when cyclones come. One of these is that the geography of Bangladesh is very low level with lots of water and rivers in it. In fact the Ganges river empties out pretty much in Bangladesh and makes it almost like a delta. There are no high mountains in Bangladesh that greatly weaken the cyclone after landfall. The area as a result is prone to heavy rains and heavy flooding because of this geography. While people may not have to worry about mudslides, flooding is very potent, especially in the monsoon season. In fact, this monsoon season from June to October brings about 1600 mm (about 62 inches) of rain in the monsoon season alone! This makes it hard for people to rebuild before the next monsoon season comes because just when one thinks he or she is okay, a huge rainstorm would come on through and flood their homes again.

(Video From Mint, a user on Youtube)

     The geography and the monsoon seasons do play huge roles into why Bangladesh hasn't been able to build infrastructure capable of protecting themselves from these floods. However, a huge population in Bangladesh with such a small area makes these statistics from these cyclones be so bad. It is a small country with millions of people in it and when an evacuation happens from a storm, people have very few options on where to go. The infrastructure as well as a result of this consistent monsoon season with many cyclones takes a beating and can't ever be built well because shelter has to be built very quickly so people can have it when the next storm comes a few days later.
     Besides this, Bangladesh has had a history of bad cyclones that have ravaged their land. Just last year, Cyclone Roanu caused severe damage like that of cyclone Mora with around 75 mph winds and lots of rain. This cyclone still had it's effects still potent in Bangladesh today, and Cyclone Mora continued them. However, the worst tropical disturbance for Bangladesh was the 1991 Bangladesh cyclone that bought 155 mph winds and rainfall over 10 inches that killed 135,000 people in one storm. This storm was one of the worst cyclones in weather history not only because of its' 155 mph winds and over 10 inches of rain amounts, but just the sheer amount of deaths that happened from it.

 
  If you thought that storm was bad, the Bhola cyclone of 1970 was even worse with near 500,000 people killed, over 145 mph winds, and rainfall totals over 12 inches. This storm statistically speaking is the worst tropical cyclone in all time.
     Overall, there is actually many more cyclones that have ravaged Bangladesh like Cyclone Sidr, Aillia,and Cyclone Akash. If one thought that this cyclone that recently hit Bangladesh was bad, then one really needs to remember it can always be worse.
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