‘WE SIGNIFY THE INSTIGATION OF OUR DESTRUCTION.’ IS NATURE GOING AGAINST US?
By: Phyllis Mackenzie
Tags: Typhoon, Journalism, Nature Writing, Earth, Nature

For centuries, the earth has experienced different sorts of natural disasters. From earthquakes, volcano eruptions, melting of the ice caps, tsunamis e.t.c. yet we can’t stop them as they seem to get worse by the years.

One of the most terrifying of them all is typhoons; they are unpredictable and have caused more damages than any other natural epidemic.

Typhoons are tropical storms that occur in the region of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. They are similar to hurricanes since they are both typical cyclones, only in this case, hurricanes are in the Eastern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Also, their nature is generally stronger in intensity than hurricanes.

Space station image of super typhoon Neoguri that hit Japan July 7. (Image credit: NASA/ESA)

In a nutshell, typhoons are caused by warm ocean water, its evaporation, swirling winds, and other natural factors merge and start as a small mundane storm but grows into a monster, coastline-wrecking typhoon. It grows over days and weeks as more moisture and winds are propagated by the warm ocean waters.

It’s impossible to say when the first typhoon hit on earth but, its speculated to have happened since prehistoric times.

Colour image of hurricane Sandy in 2012. PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT SIMMON AND NASA/NOAA GOES PROJECT SCIENCE TEAM, NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has recorded most if not all typhoons that have occurred over the decades; and from the records, it is not good.

Typhoons destroy everything in its path. For those who thought volcanoes were the worst thing on this planet, well you are wrong. Typhoons can’t be predicted, and even if they did, they can change course. An example is the Super-typhoon Neoguri, it split into two. Meaning more distraction and absolutely no way of controlling it.

Typhoon Nina (China,1975) ~100,000 casualties

Typhoon Haiyan (Southeast Asia, 2013) ~6300 casualties

Typhoon Ida (Japan, 1958) ~1269 casualties

Typhoon Nancy (Guam, Japan, Ryúkyú islands, 1961)~202 casualties

Typhoon Tip (Guam and Japan, 1979) ~ 100 casualties

This year, in May, July, and September, Typhoons Vongfong, Neoguri, and Haishen have been experienced in the regions of The Philippines, Japan, and S. Korea respectfully.

Typhoon Haishen hit strongly in South Korea and Later in South Japan on Sept. 7, 2020. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP)

Forces of nature are beyond us. You can’t stop it, but it’s not impossible to control it. Come to think of it, it is our fault, as humans, that things have gotten worse. Nature is clapping back. Earth temperatures have risen due to global warming and seasonal disturbances in weather are now more common. So the reduction rate of global warming is the possible permanent solution.

Preparing for it and being aware of its presence on the sidelines as no one knows exactly when and where it will hit is another big step. How do you do this you ask?

ü Governments of typhoon prone countries should devise policies and Disaster Management Plans that will aid them before, during, and after the typhoons hit.

ü Educate! Educate! Educate! Not plenty of people know about tropical storms. The Dos and don’ts of safety are really important to save lives.

ü Be prepared, don’t ignore the facts. The very same way you have emergency bunkers for earthquakes and nuclear wars, it should also apply to this situation.

Nature will always be a stronger force, our duty is to take care of it and it will appreciate us back. If we don’t then we shall be the cause of our destruction; tropical storms, rendered ice caps, fading ozone layer, increasing ocean levels, next thing you know, our universe will vanish like Atlantis and no one will live to divulge about it.