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 Related Knowledge (49)
 4 SUB-TOPICS:
 Coastal Settlements Coastal Settlements
 Cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons Cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons
 Emergencies: Transportation and Telecommunication Emergencies: Transportation and Telecommunication
 Tsunamis Tsunamis
 12 RELATED TOPICS:
 GPA - Global Programme of Action GPA - Global Programme of Action
 Human Settlements on the Coast Human Settlements on the Coast
 Major Oscillations Major Oscillations
 Monitoring and Observing Systems Monitoring and Observing Systems
 Ocean-atmosphere interface Ocean-atmosphere interface
 Ocean Dynamics Ocean Dynamics
 Physical and Chemical Properties Physical and Chemical Properties
 Research Research
 Safety of Navigation Safety of Navigation
 Sea ice Sea ice
 Tsunami warning systems Tsunami warning systems
 Weather and storm generation Weather and storm generation
 Topic Overview
 ID# : 437
 Visits: 21533
 Added: 01-Jan-2000
 Updated: 27-Jan-2011
  E-Mail Topic link
 Editors
 James Paw
 IMO Maritime Knowledge Centre
 Tina Farmer
 WMO
 Frances B. Michaelis
 
 
 
 
Emergencies Maintained by FAO-FI  
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A boat lies marooned on a street in Talcahuano, Chile, 1 March 2010Since 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...

Photo title: A boat lies marooned on a street in Talcahuano, Chile, 1 March 2010
Photo credit: Associated Press
 
Dangerous Phenomena in the Ocean
 
Emergencies: Poem by A. K. TolstoyWaves 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...

Photo title: Emergencies: Poem by A. K. Tolstoy
Photo credit: Russian Head Department of Navigation and Oceanography (HDNO)
 
 
 
 
All   (49) News   (35) Websites   (7) Documents   (5) Books   (1) Institutional Contact   (1)
  7 Websites 
  
CEFAS is an internationally renowned scientific research and advisory centre working in fisheries management, environmental protection and aquaculture. CEFAS - The UK Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science CEFAS is an internationally renowned scientific research and advisory centre wo...  
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...  
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 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...  
Provides latest graphical and tabular water level observations, predictions and meteorological data NOAA Tides Online Provides latest graphical and tabular water level observations, predictions and...  
NOAA/NOS Publication List NOAA/NOS Publication List NOAA/NOS Publication List 
979 Topics - 5229 Related Knowledge - 11257 Members - 47 Editors
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