Problem
As you know, Earth has variations in heat and pressure worldwide which leads to atmospheric events such as severe weather. Cyclones can come in a variety of forms with one of the most destructive types being the hurricane (called by various other names such as typhoons and cyclones in other parts of the world). Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and the city of New Orleans in 2005, becoming the costliest and third deadliest hurricane in U.S. history. In recent years the U.S. and the Caribbean has seen massive damage from a number of huge hurricanes: Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Dorian, to name a few. Many are pointing to climate change as a key factor behind their respective intensities, something you'll read about in one of the articles below. As you read and discuss, please feel free to share any helpful and informative articles or information you have found about these or any of these hurricanes and their aftermath with us.
We'll start by looking at Hurricane Katrina, and try to understand what happened. This first link is to a NOVA interview with LSU hurricane expert Ivor van Heerden who, like a number of others, predicted the flood with eerie accuracy far prior to its occurrence in 2005. The article is a bit long but I highly recommend that you read it in its entirety. It practically begs us to begin to pay attention to the very real possibilities around us and the need to account for those in advance rather than just wait for the worst to happen. What does van Heerden propose could have been done in advance to help prevent the flooding of New Orleans? Who does he blame? Why? Do you agree, based on your knowledge and understanding of the flood?
The Man Who Predicted Katrina
This second link chronicles the prolonged battle that Louisiana and the city of New Orleans has had with the waters that threaten to inundate it at any moment. Why was New Orleans built here, do you suppose, if its basic physical geography was so problematic?
A 300-Year Struggle
The third link is to an interactive timeline of the region and the city of New Orleans pre- and post-flood.
How New Orleans Flooded (click on "Launch Interactive")
As you read above, we've always known that New Orleans was, and remains, at risk for being hit by a hurricane. While Katrina was a monster of a storm, the biggest impact was arguably made by human failures. Unfortunately, those human failures continue in the form of anthropogenic climate change. Read this next short article about Hurricane Ida and how climate change has helped to intensify both it and other storms today.
Hurricane Ida: How Climate Change is Influencing Storms
Our final link is to an article that's rather long, but also does an excellent job of discussing the frequent flooding seen in recent years in the Houston area. It's important to note that this article was published in December 2016, months before Hurricane Harvey ravished the Houston metropolitan area. What things have led to Houston flooding so frequently and severely, and who do you think is to blame for this? What role do governmental organizations play in helping to prevent the effects of natural disasters, and how does this relate to urban planning?
Boomtown, Flood Town
What do you think about these articles on the whole, and the situation along the Gulf and Atlantic coastlines? Do the predictions before Hurricane Katrina hit surprise you, or were you aware of the potential impacts there? Does this information infuriate you, and if so, why? What do you think should be done to mitigate possible future events like Katrina, Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Ida, particularly in light of sea-level rise and climate change enhanced natural disasters?