Readiness and Resilience: Lessons Learned One Year After Typhoon Haiyan-Discussion 2 In the wake of last year's Typhoon Haiyan which devastated the Philippines, a forum entitled “Readiness and Resilience: Lessons Learned One Year After Typhoon Haiyan” was held last 20 November 2014 to discuss lessons learned and ways to address disaster preparedness and build resilience for the future. It was made possible by the collaboration of many organizations such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the US-Philippines Society, the Embassy of the Philippines, and among others. /img/Articles/loyzaga_posthaiyan.png
Brief Update on Typhoon Hagupit Latest multi-agency forecast tracks show consensus, bringing Hagupit through Eastern Visayas (Figures 2 and 3).
Currently, model results show that Hagupit would be weaker as compared to Haiyan, especially as it crosses land. There are differences in the forecast track and speed of the typhoon.
As of 10AM of 7 December, Satellite-based rainfall estimate from TRMM show rain rates of about 15-20 mm/hr.
24 hour rainfall forecast from GFS (from 2AM Dec 7 to 2AM Dec 8) is about 170-250 in Sorsogon and surrounding areas. This is much greater than the average climatological daily rainfall in that area. /img/Articles/hagupitdec712pm_j.png
Total Lunar Eclipse (Oct 8, 2014) A total lunar eclipse was visible from the Philippines on October 8, 2014. Cloudy skies in Quezon City impeded the view from beginning to more than halfway through the lunar eclipse. But the eclipsed Moon was amazing when the sky cleared! /img/Articles/LunarEclipse_141008c.jpg
Partnerships for Disaster and Climate Resilience: Prepare, Adapt and Transform Natural hazards like typhoons, drought and earthquakes occur frequently in the Philippines. While efforts towards disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation have made some progress, the impact of the losses and damages of disasters have increased in frequency and magnitude and highlights the need for resilience through preparation, adaptation and transformation. It is in this context that the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and Development, in cooperation with the Zuellig Family Foundation and the Manila Observatory, will launch a series of events over the next three years to stimulate an exchange of ideas on how to build resilience. /img/Articles/PAT.jpg
Sustainable Development Handbook: Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines This handheld tool represents a disaster risk and vulnerability decision-support system for Baclayon Municipality in the island of Bohol. It is a result of local stakeholders seeking alternative futures for their historic community. In response to their appreciation of the vulnerability of their municipality to physical and socio-economic pressures, Baclayon’s Local Government Unit began to weigh its development options and found a staunch partner in the Ayala Foundation Inc., who sought to assist in conserving built heritage, preserving rich marine ecosystems and diversifying livelihoods. /img/Articles/boholch.png
Manila Observatory: Front-Line View of Climate Change, and the Poverty-Risk Connection In this article from the National Geographic, Manila Observatory´s executive director, Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, talks about the Observatory’s work in helping to improve understanding of the new weather and geological hazards the nation faces, and how cities and communities can reduce their risk in a changing climate. This was featured at the Powering Progress Together forum in Manila sponsored by Shell on February 6, 2014. /img/Articles/manila-observatory-590x394.jpg
Report on the Low Pressure Area Affecting Mindanao A low-pressure area (LPA) has been dumping heavy rains over Mindanao and parts of the Visayas since Friday, January 10. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), local DRRM councils and the media have reported numerous landslides and flashfloods resulting from the continuous rainfall. This report briefly goes over the hazard and exposed populations to the LPA. /img/Articles/Small_floodlandslide.jpeg
Manila Observatory’s Dr. Faye Cruz wins best poster at International Climate Conference in Brussels Filipino scientist Dr. Faye Cruz of the Regional Climate Systems Research Program of the Manila Observatory won best poster award at the recent International Conference on Regional Climate (CORDEX 2013) held in Brussels, Belgium. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the European Commission (EC) and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) jointly organized the conference held in November. /img/Articles/Cruz_Poster.png
Typhoon Haiyan Brief Technical Report
(7 November, 2013) According to the analysis of data and information as well as socioeconomic data (population and poverty), typhoon Yolanda could cause catastrophic damages especially in provinces in Visayas and islands in Southern Luzon, as well as parts of Northern Mindanao. Should Yolanda follow the path and patterns of 1990’s Ruping, the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros and Iloilo may be at high risk to disaster. /img/Articles/Haiyan_poverty_13110720_watermark.jpg
Announcements
MO Releases New Report on Tropical Storm Sendong
The Manila Observatory has released a new report on Tropical Storm Sendong. This report includes a time line of events, figures on rainfall, and an integration of various hazards. You can access it as a PDF of slides here.
Transcript of Science Communication Talk Available on MO Site
You can now access the edit transcript of the talk on science communication and science culture presented by Dr. Inez Ponce de Leon, science and risk communication specialist at the Manila Observatory, through this link.
MO Davao Station, SED Release Seismograms of the Cebu-Negros Earthquake
The Manila Observatory Davao Station and the Solid Earth Dynamics program have documented their recorded seismograms of the Cebu-Negros Earthquake. View the seismograms here.
UPDATE: MO Report Released on GIS-Based Spatial Analysis of Sendong
An updated version of the report on GIS-Based spatial analysis of tropical storm Sendong has been released. This report is available as a slide show in PDF here.
UPDATE: Reports on Sendong Released by MO
An updated version of the preliminary report released by The Manila Observatory has been uploaded to the site. You can read the updated version here and download the accompanying report here.
Manila Observatory Launches its Website for Beta Testing
The Manila Observatory is now beta testing its new website. You can visit the other Observatory stations, read about the activities of various programs, and take a look at the long history of Asia's oldest meteorological station.
