subject: 4 Major Damaging Weather Conditions [print this page] Canopies can assist in protecting plants, animals, humans and property against the negative effects of damaging weather conditions. The following four weather conditions can prove disastrous. We examine the effects:
Heat Waves
Heat waves can be termed as periods of excessively hot weather. This reasonably means that temperatures (and possibly humidity) are significantly higher than normal for the region in question. Heat waves by definition also last for a fairly considerable length of time (longer than just a couple of days). While weather can change from day to day, it is the persistent heat of a heat wave that makes its effects more damaging than an occasional hot day.
Heat-stroke, or hyperthermia affects many during these periods of sustained high temperatures. Several deaths are often reported during these times. The elderly, very young children and those in poor health are more vulnerable than others. It's not only humans that are affected, with animals and plants also faring worse for wear.
Cold Snaps
The opposite of a heatwave, a cold snap defines a period of intensely cold and dry weather. For those living in usually warmer areas that are not accustomed to cold weather, the climactic changes can catch them unawares. For example, those without adequate heating, or sufficient warm clothing are vulnerable. Crops and animals that are raised in a particular region due to moderate temperatures also become vulnerable when temperatures drop significantly.
The 2009-2010 cold snap in Europe hit world headlines. Major snowfalls disrupted transport all over the continent. England had it's coldest winter in 30 years and the Italian Alpine peaks recorded an incredible and bitterly low temperature of -47 degrees celcius. Ninety people lost their lives.
Cyclones
Cyclones are huge storms essentially made up of spiralling rotating winds, created around an area of low atmospheric pressure. The intense winds that cyclones bring can be very destructive. They have been known to knock over trees, fences, rip roofs off buildings, and sometimes even dislocate whole houses. People can be helplessly hurled through the air if caught in the middle of a storm. Bangladesh has borne the brunt of many large cyclones, with significant loss of life. In Australia, major destruction was caused to Darwin by Cyclone Tracey, on Christmas Day, 1974.
Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are caused by warm, moist air rapidly moving upwards. Thunderstorms are associated with lightning flashes, and the accompanying sounds of thunder, along with heavy rain. The extreme heat in lightning is capable of starting fires, despite the presence of rain. Occasional fatalities do occur, when unfortunate individuals find themselves stuck outdoors during lightning strikes. Rain itself can cause flash flooding during heavy downpours, while hail, present during some major storms, can also cause major damage to life, nature and property. Hailstones can sometimes be the size of golf balls. In one major Sydney storm, many car dealers were unprepared when their uncovered vehicles sustained many dents from large hailstones.
The extreme nature of the weather conditions above makes them undesirable. Heat waves and cold snaps need to be managed, and cyclones and thunderstorms need to be avoided where possible. While humans need to take care of themselves, plant life can be shielded from heat and storms by bird netting.
