Science
THE FACTOID:
Country: Myanmar/Burma
Latitude and Longitude (degrees) – 22 North, 98 East
Total area of latitude and longitude: 678,500 square kilometers (km)
Latitude: In between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equatorial latitude
Longitude: East of Prime meridian, the difference between Greenwich Mean Time is six and half hours ahead.
So Hyun Park
Science
May 14, 2008
Cyclone Nargis in Burma and how it affects Burma
Cyclone Nargis crossed the Irrawaddy River Delta on May 2nd, 2008. The Cyclone had the rate of 130~150miles per hour and it covered 90miles in diameter. The Cyclone was 12feet high above the ground and 3.5meter of water rose up in Burma, leaving thousands dead. One of the reasons why Cyclone happened was because the Irrawaddy River Delta was shallow. As the water started to rise up from 200m from the sea, the deep warm water quickly got intensity and crossed over the narrow and shallow delta. If the delta was deep, it would have taken time to rise up. Cyclones happen when cumulonimbus and nimbostratus clouds get moisture from the sea. The warm air rises up and the cold air spins around at fast speed causing the cyclones. The water flowed clockwise in the river, and when the Cyclone came from the Irrawaddy River Delta, it headed to the east. Unluckily, the river had headed to the densely populated area and the way the Cyclone moved had led to large number of casualties.
Cyclone Nargis also affected the health problems of Burmese. 65% of rice was damaged and there were scarcity of food from the Cyclone. Today, homeless Burmese are depending on donated food and water supplies. Food shortages can cause malnutrition and deaths due to starvation. The limited medical care is another problem. If injured people from the Cyclone cannot have proper medical treatments, it can cause more sever diseases from other infections. In addition, there is a high concern about the diseases that will spread due to the flooding. The flooded water will affect the plumb system and clean water. The dirt and bacteria from the city and dead bodies can cause diseases and pollute the water in Burma. From this event, the people will continue to suffer if decisions are not made quickly.
*Note: This expo project is not about latitude. However, Mr.Dickinson, my science teacher, has given permission to research about the Cyclone happened in Burma recently.
URL:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/06/myanmar.cyclone/index.html#cnnSTCText
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=935&tstamp=200805
http://www.mapsofworld.com/hurricane/mechanism-of-tropical-cyclone.jpg
http://www.faqs.org/qa/qa-2508.html
Kai Maekawa
Science
May 14, 2008
Most of the world’s poor live in the “low latitude” regions such as South Asia where Burma (Myanmar) is located. Other South Asian countries such as India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have a great number of people who are living on less than a dollar day. One of the reasons why poverty occurs in Burma is because of climate change due to the location. In the recent event, southern Burma was attacked by a cyclone which killed and injured many people, especially the poor. These poor people are already vulnerable to natural disaster; the Cyclone. Burma being located in a tropical country, the temperature is so high that people need lots of drinking water. Unfortunately, they are not access to clean water. When disasters such as the cyclone hits a country, the poor are the first to be affected and suffers the most because the rich can afford to escape, buy food, and shelter. In addition, when climate change causes dehydration, drought, and flooding, they tend to aggravate poverty in those low latitude countries, pushing vulnerable people below an extreme poverty line. Even though problems caused by climate changes are sometime petite, they can still cause disaster to the country like Burma where people are struggling from poverty.
Stanzin Namgyal
Science expo-THE FACTOID
Date: 14/05/’08
Changes in yearly temperatures:
Since Myanmar is located in between the Tropic Cancer and the Equator, the climate is tropical comprised of rainy monsoons and hot humid temperature. The country has three main tropical seasons during the whole year. From late October to mid-February, it is the dry and cool season. While the average temperature in Yangon, the lower region of Myanmar is around 70-80 Fahrenheit (21-27 Celsius); Upper Myanmar has an average temperature of 68 Fahrenheit (20 Celsius). The average monthly temperature rises to 30 Celsius (lower than 100 Fahrenheit), after the end of a very hot season; which is usually from mid-February to early May. The hottest, wettest months are from mid-May to October; these are the most humid months that host a temperature of 110 Fahrenheit (43 Celsius). However, the annual monsoon rains successfully bring down the average temperature to about 27 Celsius (81 Fahrenheit).
Changes in Daylight/ Night-time hours:
During the June Solstice, 21st of June because of the 23 ½ degree tilt of the Earths axis facing the Sun, the sun is at the northern most point of the Tropic of Cancer. In our case, as Myanmar is in the Northern Hemisphere, and is between the Tropic of Cancer as well as the Equator, it has the summer solstice. Therefore the day length will be longer, while night time will be shorter in the summer. On the other hand, during the December Solstice, 21st December; when the sun is at it southern most point Tropic of Capricorn, the tilt of the earth’s axis moves away from the Sun. The day length is shorter, and night is longer in the Winter solstice. However, during the March Equinox, 21st March, and the September Equinox, 23rd September; as the Sun is directly above the Equator, countries along the Equator, in particular Myanmar have equal lengths of day and night.
Ecosystems:
As Myanmar lies in between Tropic Cancer and the Equator, its climate mainly depends on these lines of latitude. When the tilt of the Earths axis faces toward the sun, Myanmar has summer. The nation has winter, for when the tilt of the Earths axis is away from the Sun. During the March Equinox, there is autumn. Where as in the September Equinox, the spring season arrives. These 4 seasons occurring in Myanmar, also have different temperatures/climatic conditions affecting the country’s ecosystem.
The Tropical climate present in Myanmar, along with the humid and monsoon seasons, produces lush vegetation and a habitat for wildlife. Therefore, the nation mainly revolves around a Tropical ecosystem; which consists of rainforests, dry/spiny deciduous trees, habitat plants, animals. A distinct and common feature in Myanmar due to its location in the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator is its exotic tropical forests. Most of the forest population is present in the Lower area of Myanmar; where forest species such as teak (most important forest resource), timber, oil bearing trees, bamboo, mangrove, coconut, rubber, etc are widely prevalent. When hot and wet season approaches, tropical fruits bloom as bananas, citrus, mangoes, and guavas appear in the coastal regions. Furthermore, as there is the wet (rainy monsoon season) and hot season, the soil becomes very rich with high fertility along the coastal regions for agricultural cultivation, especially rice. While in Upper Myanmar, the northern highlands have a cooler/milder average temperature, meaning the climatic conditions are only suitable for tree species that include of oak, pine, rhododendron, etc. As the hot and wet season approaches, tropical fruits bloom as bananas, citrus, mangoes, and guavas appear in the coastal regions.
The nation is also a unique habitat for a range of animal species, which are mainly native to the Tropics. The most common of them all are the jungle tigers and leopards. In Upper Myanmar, animals such as elephants, tamed, rhinoceros, wild buffaloes, and boars can be found. In addition, it is home to many monkeys, bird species, and 867 to be exact.
