Hazardous hydrological phenomena are events that occur under the influence of various natural factors. They are very dangerous for the lives of people and animals, have a devastating effect on man-made objects and the environment.
There are many such phenomena on planet Earth. The article will introduce you to most of them. What is the name of the main dangerous hydrological phenomena and what harm do they cause to the environment and people?
River hazard
First about the floods. After prolonged downpours and snowmelt, the water in the river leaves the banks and floods significant areas of the earth's surface. It turns out as a result of the fact that the channel capacity does not hold a large amount of water in the river. This phenomenon is temporary, but colossal damage can be done to a person.
These dangerous hydrological phenomena occur for various reasons and come in different hazard categories. Floods are divided into low, high, outstanding, catastrophic.
Types of floods
- High water. Basically, such a flood occurs in the spring, when snowmelt and ice cover the rivers. The process is slow and gradual.
- High water. This is a sharp and fast rise in water due to heavy rainfall or sudden warming in the winter.
- Wind surge. Due to the strong wind, the water in the river blows off to the nearest territories or at the mouth. Then the water level rises and it leaves the usual channel, leaving the banks and flooding the surroundings.
- The consequence of emergency situations at hydraulic structures, for example, a breakthrough of a dam, dam or an accident at a hydroelectric power station. Then in the place of the breakthrough begins the rapid movement of water masses under pressure.
- Congestion. Such a flood is formed after ice floes rushing along the surface of the river in the spring period accumulate in narrow places, forming natural dams, barriers that cause a significant rise in water level.
- The abomination. This is one of the dangerous hydrological phenomena that occurs at the beginning of winter, when ice only begins to form on rivers. Small porridge-like ice accumulates in narrowing of the channel or bends. Although it is friable and small-beaten, it completely clogs water passages, which naturally leads to overflow of the channel with water and overflowing from the banks.
Danger from the sea
Marine hydrological hazards can be caused by tropical cyclones as well as strong tremors or earthquakes.
- Cyclones originating in tropical latitudes, gaining power over the oceans, causing numerous hurricanes. Most often, such phenomena occur over the Atlantic Ocean. Up to 110 hurricanes are recorded from satellites in one year. Under the influence of a strong wind, extreme formation of serious waves occurs. Storms are formed by surges of water on the surface of the earth. The situation is aggravating by accompanying phenomena: rain, wind.
- During a strong earthquake or eruption of island volcanoes, several gigantic waves occur that travel across the surface of the ocean at a speed of 1000 km / h. These are devastating tsunamis. A series of waves has a small gap of approximately 20 minutes. These are gentle waves that do not pose a danger to ships. But reaching the coast, they increase to the height of a 9-story building and fall on the coastal buildings. Buildings are collapsing, cars are being washed away, people are dying. A severe flood occurs, the soil erodes, taking everything in its path.
- The tyagun. To hydrological hazardous phenomena include and draft. From the wind, large-amplitude water oscillations are formed in small bays, causing the ships to roll in the horizontal direction. Sometimes, with especially strong pulling ropes, anchors break from the chains and the ship may crash.
- In strong winds and frosts, icing occurs on ships, which in some cases ends with a ship’s upheaval, as gravity shifts to one side.
Mudflows
Hazardous hydrological events include spring melting of glaciers in the mountains with mudflows. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that when glaciers melt, lakes are formed, which are gradually accumulated by melt water. When the bowl of the lake is full, the water with great force leaves its shelter and rushes down the mountain into the valleys, blowing everything in its path, filling with rocks, taking away trees, stones, roads, houses, cars, including often suffer and people.
As examples of hydrological hazardous phenomena in the form of mudflows, one can cite mudflow in Elbrus region. Many people suffered, roads were blurred, villages were destroyed. EMERCOM evacuated people from the nearest villages. Although all safety precautions were taken and the glacial lake was monitored, the water was released instantly, with a deafening rock explosion. Unfortunately, a person against such an element is powerless.
Snow avalanches
In the mountains, in addition to the formation of mudflows, hydrological hazardous natural phenomena such as avalanches are also encountered.
This phenomenon, when suddenly a shift of snow cover or ice occurs in the mountains, with great speed, the snow falls down the steep slopes of the mountains. Such a force of frozen water blows down trees and houses, as well as skiers lingering on the slope. Strong damage can be caused to a country's economy and the environment.
In the mountains, where there is a chance of avalanches, avalanche measures are taken. The construction of security and restrictive engineering structures is underway, the population is being warned about the possible occurrence of snow cover in this place.
There are rescue teams with service dogs that help to find missing people under a layer of snow. Outreach activities are ongoing to help people avoid danger. They explain how to behave in a situation when an avalanche has covered.
The consequences of such phenomena
Hazardous hydrological phenomena and processes lead to disastrous consequences. People and animals are dying, both residential and household buildings are being destroyed. Fires from falling or breaking power lines may occur. Chemicals appear in the water, which were located on the territory of production affected by the water flow. Fertilizers, chemicals, petroleum products, getting into the soil, lead to disastrous consequences for the environmental situation in the region.
Water also washes away the surface layer of chernozem, changing the structure of the soil. Good fertile lands disappear, agriculture suffers. Landslides, road collapses. Mudflows carry a lot of dirt, stones, debris from destroyed buildings, fragments of trees.
The number of consequences from floods and other dangerous natural phenomena depends on where it passes, how many people and structures are in this territory, what was the strength of the natural phenomenon.
Flood damage
After severe natural disasters involving the water element, people often die or get injured, buildings, communications are destroyed, forests, fields, agricultural crops are destroyed, and a real threat of epidemics is created.
Huge amounts of money are spent on the restoration of residential and industrial premises affected by water. People live for a long time in poor conditions, they lack the most necessary. Often after such natural disasters, developed countries come to the aid of the affected population, humanitarian centers are organized, volunteers work.