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 Coastal Settlements Coastal Settlements
 Emergencies: Transportation and Telecommunication Emergencies: Transportation and Telecommunication
 Tsunamis Tsunamis
 Topic Overview
 ID# : 437
 Visits: 6115
 Added: 01-Jan-2000
 Updated: 04-Jul-2002
 URL: http://www.oceansatlas.org/id/437
 Editors
 Tina Farmer
 WMO
 Marianne Harvey
 James Paw
 
 
 
 
Emergencies
        
Since mankind started to build ships for the purpose of trade and armed conflicts, coastal areas have become even more attractive places to establish settlements and cities.  As a result of development, there is increased demand for space stimulating growth of cities and transportation routes.  Thus, the impacts of man's activities, both beneficial and detrimental, on the coastal and marine environments have grown over the centuries.

The coastal and marine areas are prone to natural and man-made phenomena and conditions that are potentially hazardous to coastal settlements and maritime activities.  Hazardous natural phenomena include earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, volcanic eruptions, the El Niño Southern Oscillation and even the occurrence of red tides.  On the other hand, man's activities have also created hazardous conditions such as oil and chemical spills, groundings and collisions including sea level rise that could potentially result in environmental disasters and loss of life and properties.   See More...

 
Dangerous Phenomena in the Ocean
 
Waves rise as mountains; And rise to the heavens; And with horror drops glances; Into instantly dug abysses. A disturbing force like passion; does not know of a centre point. Now to the sky; now into the precipice throws; A boat without an oar or rudder. A.K. Tolstoy

In the centuries-old chronicle of navigation, it is possible to find much evidence of the struggle of Man against the terrible chaos of the Ocean in literature, paintings and sculpture. These are the impassioned lines of telegraph messages and gripping descriptions of storms and hurricanes, epic paintings by artists and stone monuments to seafarers who have perished in the Ocean. Humans have fought back against violent Ocean chaos by strengthening vessels, finding better and more reliable means of navigation and communication and increasing the power of engines.

The foundation for much of this Dangerous Phenomena section is Man and the Ocean, a CD-ROM produced by the Russian Head Department of Navigation and Oceanography (HDNO).   See More...

 
 
 
 
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Websites
A free computer program you can use to predict how wind, currents, and other processes might move and spread oil spilled on the water. GNOME (the General NOAA Oil Modeling Environment) Program A free computer program you can use to predict how wind, currents, and other pr...  
The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) GPA: Global Prog. of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment  The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment fro...  
ADIOS is an oil weathering model that incorporates an extensive database of crude oils and petroleum products, and provides quick estimates of the expected characteristics and behavior of spilled oil NOAA ADIOS 2 (Automated Data Inquiry for Oil Spills) ADIOS is an oil weathering model that incorporates an extensive database of cru...  
Tools and information for people dealing with spills of oil and petroleum products NOAA Aids for Oil Spill Responders Tools and information for people dealing with spills of oil and petroleum produ...  
The CID provides access to Web, library, and data resources relevant to USA coastal issues. NOAA Coastal Information Directory (CID) The CID provides access to Web, library, and data resources relevant to USA coa...  
The computer program DOGS can analyze a large set of bathymetric data and create from it a smaller set of optimized points describing the same geographic region. NOAA DOGS (Digital Optimization of Grid Systems) The computer program DOGS can analyze a large set of bathymetric data and creat...  
NOAA Earthquake and Tsunami Information for Ports and Harbors NOAA Earthquake and Tsunami Information for Ports NOAA Earthquake and Tsunami Information for Ports and Harbors 
A section for students who'd like to learn more about oil spills or hazardous chemical accidents, and how they affect ocean and coastal ecosystems and organisms NOAA Emergency Response Section for Students A section for students who'd like to learn more about oil spills or hazardous c...  
Training courses for oil and chemical spill responders. NOAA Emergency Response Training Training courses for oil and chemical spill responders. 
ESI maps help spill responders and planners identify vulnerable coastal locations before a spill happens NOAA Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Maps ESI maps help spill responders and planners identify vulnerable coastal locatio...  
NOAA Exxon Valdez Findings and Reports NOAA Exxon Valdez Findings NOAA Exxon Valdez Findings and Reports 
The HAB Project develops and supports systems that provide information on the location and extent of red tide blooms in the Gulf of Mexico NOAA Harmful Algal Bloom Project The HAB Project develops and supports systems that provide information on the l...  
OPIS provides the coastal management community with access to regional geo-referenced regulatory and environmental spatial data critical to timely, integrated decision making and analysis. NOAA Ocean Planning Information System (OPIS) OPIS provides the coastal management community with access to regional geo-refe...  
Oil and chemical spill response reports and case histories, manuals and job aids, reports on response issues, and fact sheets. NOAA Oil and Chemical Spill Reports Oil and chemical spill response reports and case histories, manuals and job aid...  
News, photos, and other information about recent and historical oil and hazardous materials spill response actions and spill exercises/drills NOAA Oil Spill Incident News and History News, photos, and other information about recent and historical oil and hazardo...  
Includes spill response tours and slideshows, coastal chemicals tours and slideshows, and searchable photo collections NOAA Oil Spill Photos Includes spill response tours and slideshows, coastal chemicals tours and slide...  
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