Overview of Disasters in India

India's Vulnerability to Natural Disasters

India's diverse geography and climate make it highly susceptible to a range of natural disasters. These events, including earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, droughts, cyclones, and landslides, can have devastating consequences for millions of people and the economy.

Major Natural Disasters Affecting India:

Earthquakes:
- Tectonic Setting: India's position on the Indian Plate, which is colliding with the Eurasian Plate, makes it prone to seismic activity.
- Impact: Earthquakes can cause widespread destruction, including building collapses, landslides, and tsunamis. The 2001 Gujarat earthquake is a prime example of such devastation.
Tsunamis:
- Oceanic Triggers: Underwater earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can generate tsunamis, as seen in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
- Impact: Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to tsunamis, which can lead to massive loss of life and property.
Floods:
- Monsoon Influence: India's monsoon system brings heavy rainfall, often leading to floods in river basins and urban areas.
- Impact: Floods can cause widespread damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and human settlements, as exemplified by the 2015 South India floods.
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs):
- Himalayan Threat: The Himalayan region is prone to GLOFs, which occur when glacial lakes breach their natural dams.
- Impact: GLOFs can cause rapid flooding, erosion, and landslides, as seen in the 2021 Uttarakhand disaster.
Cyclones:
- Coastal Vulnerability: India's long coastline is exposed to cyclones from both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
- Impact: Cyclones can bring strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, as demonstrated by Cyclone Amphan in 2020.
Droughts:
- Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: Large parts of India, especially in the western and central regions, are prone to droughts.
- Impact: Droughts can lead to crop failures, water scarcity, and economic hardship.
Forest Fires:
- Himalayan Threat: Forest fires, often triggered by human activities or lightning strikes, can devastate forests in the Himalayan region.
- Impact: Fires can lead to loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and air pollution.

India's Response to Natural Disasters:

India has implemented various strategies to mitigate the impact of natural disasters:

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): Oversees disaster management efforts.
Early Warning Systems: Provides timely alerts for cyclones, tsunamis, and floods.
Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR): Empowers communities to prepare and respond to disasters.
Infrastructure Development: Building resilient infrastructure, especially in disaster-prone areas.
Climate Change Adaptation: Addressing the impacts of climate change on disaster risk.

Fyugp note

Disaster Management

PG and Research Department of Geography,
Government College Chittur, Palakkad
https://g.page/vineeshvc

Comments

Platforms in Remote Sensing

In remote sensing, a platform is the physical structure or vehicle that carries a sensor (camera, scanner, radar, etc.) to observe and collect information about the Earth's surface. Platforms are classified mainly by their altitude and mobility : Ground-Based Platforms Definition : Sensors mounted on the Earth's surface or very close to it. Examples : Tripods, towers, ground vehicles, handheld instruments. Applications : Calibration and validation of satellite data Detailed local studies (e.g., soil properties, vegetation health, air quality) Strength : High spatial detail but limited coverage. Airborne Platforms Definition : Sensors carried by aircraft, balloons, or drones (UAVs). Altitude : A few hundred meters to ~20 km. Examples : Airplanes with multispectral scanners UAVs with high-resolution cameras or LiDAR High-altitude balloons (stratospheric platforms) Applications : Local-to-regional mapping ...

Types of Remote Sensing

Remote Sensing means collecting information about the Earth's surface without touching it , usually using satellites, aircraft, or drones . There are different types of remote sensing based on the energy source and the wavelength region used. 🛰️ 1. Active Remote Sensing 📘 Concept: In active remote sensing , the sensor sends out its own energy (like a signal or pulse) to the Earth's surface. The sensor then records the reflected or backscattered energy that comes back from the surface. ⚙️ Key Terminology: Transmitter: sends energy (like a radar pulse or laser beam). Receiver: detects the energy that bounces back. Backscatter: energy that is reflected back to the sensor. 📊 Examples of Active Sensors: RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging): Uses microwave signals to detect surface roughness, soil moisture, or ocean waves. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): Uses laser light (near-infrared) to measure elevation, vegetation...

Optical Sensors in Remote Sensing

1. What Are Optical Sensors? Optical sensors are remote sensing instruments that detect solar radiation reflected or emitted from the Earth's surface in specific portions of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) . They mainly work in: Visible region (0.4–0.7 µm) Near-Infrared – NIR (0.7–1.3 µm) Shortwave Infrared – SWIR (1.3–3.0 µm) Thermal Infrared – TIR (8–14 µm) — emitted energy, not reflected Optical sensors capture spectral signatures of surface features. Each object reflects/absorbs energy differently, creating a unique spectral response pattern . a) Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) The continuous range of wavelengths. Optical sensing uses solar reflective bands and sometimes thermal bands . b) Spectral Signature The unique pattern of reflectance or absorbance of an object across wavelengths. Example: Vegetation reflects strongly in NIR Water absorbs strongly in NIR and SWIR (appears dark) c) Radiance and Reflectance Radi...

Resolution of Sensors in Remote Sensing

Spatial Resolution 🗺️ Definition : The smallest size of an object on the ground that a sensor can detect. Measured as : The size of a pixel on the ground (in meters). Example : Landsat → 30 m (each pixel = 30 × 30 m on Earth). WorldView-3 → 0.31 m (very detailed, you can see cars). Fact : Higher spatial resolution = finer details, but smaller coverage. Spectral Resolution 🌈 Definition : The ability of a sensor to capture information in different parts (bands) of the electromagnetic spectrum . Measured as : The number and width of spectral bands. Types : Panchromatic (1 broad band, e.g., black & white image). Multispectral (several broad bands, e.g., Landsat with 7–13 bands). Hyperspectral (hundreds of very narrow bands, e.g., AVIRIS). Fact : Higher spectral resolution = better identification of materials (e.g., minerals, vegetation types). Radiometric Resolution 📊 Definition : The ability of a sensor to ...

geostationary and sun-synchronous

Orbital characteristics of Remote sensing satellite geostationary and sun-synchronous Orbits in Remote Sensing Orbit = the path a satellite follows around the Earth. The orbit determines what part of Earth the satellite can see , how often it revisits , and what applications it is good for . Remote sensing satellites mainly use two standard orbits : Geostationary Orbit (GEO) Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) Geostationary Satellites (GEO) Characteristics Altitude : ~35,786 km above the equator. Period : 24 hours → same as Earth's rotation. Orbit type : Circular, directly above the equator . Appears "stationary" over one fixed point on Earth. Concepts & Terminologies Geosynchronous = orbit period matches Earth's rotation (24h). Geostationary = special type of geosynchronous orbit directly above equator → looks fixed. Continuous coverage : Can monitor the same area all the time. Applications Weather...

Vineesh V, Geography

Search This Blog