Abstract This paper describes the causes and mechanisms of tornadoes in general, with a focus on the 1925 Tri-State Tornado, and briefly touches on media coverage of the tornado. The paper looks at how the Great Tri-State Tornado, an F5 that devastated eastern Missouri, Southern Illinois and Southwestern Indiana on March 18, 1925, stands out as a distinct statistical rarity and how it has remained the single deadliest tornado in history, even after decades of record keeping. The paper also touches on media coverage of the tornado at the time.
From the Paper "The week prior to the tragic date of March 18 was unusually warm across the Midwest. A cold front was expected to bring showers and thunderstorms and cooler temperatures from Canada. On the 18th, temperatures rose into the 70s, about 10 degrees warmer than normal for that time of year (NOAA News). Severe thunderstorms formed just behind the approaching cold front over southeast Missouri in the early afternoon. This cold-front helped create the tornado's parent thunderstorm that was centered over northwestern Arkansas, as shown in the Weather Bureau's daily weather map issued that morning. The same parent thunderstorm originally developed within a low pressure area that was centered over western Montana two days before the tornado hit (Potter)."
Abstract This paper discusses the formation of tornadoes. This destructive natural phenomenon takes place very often in the Central region of the United States. The warm moist air collides with drier air to form super cells, which are massive storm accompanied by violent powerful winds.
Abstract This paper explores when punitive damages are appropriate in products liability cases as well as the general standards of liability to be found in various American states. From there the paper reviews what factors generally determine the amount of punitive damages to be awarded and how the awards amounts vary in different parts of America courtesy of state caps placed upon the amount of punitive damages recoverable at trial.
Abstract The paper reveals that tornadoes are one of nature's most powerful forces. The writer explores the strengths of a tornado, the type of damage it does and the steps that can be taken to warn communities of its possible arrival. The paper discusses the Doppler radar system that can detect a tornado while it is still in the sky, the tornado siren system and trained human storm chasers and spotters. The paper explains that one of the problems with tornadoes is their unpredictability, but as emergency management teams nation wide continue to improve, the public will become increasingly safer.
Outline:
Introduction
Damages Assessment
Warning the Public
Conclusion
From the Paper "Out of all the natural disasters that can occur, tornadoes are often considered the most damaging and the most dangerous. While earthquakes are unpredictable, they have not developed a history in the United States of frequent occurrence or many deaths. Hurricanes, with the exception of Katrina usually provide enough advanced warning that the emergency management coordinators can provide notice to evacuate. Tornadoes, however, often strike with little or no warning and they can come in "swarms" during optimum weather conditions(Gugliotta, 2003)."
Abstract The writer of this paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the effects of tornadoes, one of the deadliest atmospheric conditions known to man. This paper also details the event of May 30, 1998 in which a tornado hit the small town of Spencer, North Dakota. This paper examines the differences between tornadoes, hurricanes and cyclones. Tornadoes differ from hurricanes in that they form over land, while hurricanes form over water. This paper explores how tornadoes develop as well as the atmospheric conditions that must occur to form tornadoes, including vast thermal instability, high humidity and the meeting of warm, moist air at low levels with cooler, drier air above. The writer also examines a recent trend, called storm chasing which has become a popular, recreational sport. Professional storm chasers include meteorologists and scientists who study storms to try to discover how to predict them earlier and understand just how they form.
From the Paper "The National Weather Service (NWS) does have certain criteria that indicate certain weather patterns that spawn tornadoes. When these patterns occur, the NWS does issue "tornado watches," which can be upgraded to tornado warnings if the conditions persist or intensify. A warning tells people that a tornado may be imminent and they should take shelter immediately. Experts recommend that small, interior rooms are the best for shelter in the event of a tornado. Basements are good, but people should stay away from windows in any part of the house. Hiding under a heavy piece of furniture can also be a good idea. People are more educated about tornadoes than they were, and so they are better at protecting themselves when tornadoes strike. Many large cities have underground tornado shelters that help save many lives each year."
Abstract This paper explains that tornado observation and study date back more than three centuries. The author points out that the mechanism of a tornado is relatively simple when compared to the damage it does; a thunderstorm that has air pushed up into its storm over and over again provides the stage for tornado formation. The paper relates that, with storm chasers on the ground, airplanes in the sky, and current technology, the world knows more than ever before about the scariest natural disaster on earth.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Background
Mechanism
Conclusion
From the Paper "Tornadoes form during the updraft stage of a thunderstorm. The updraft air begins to rotate and when this rotation occurs it forms something called a vortex. Wind shear is when the wind speed changes and the direction and height change. Wind shear is what maintains the vortex formation. While this occurs the rising air and up currents that are inside the cloud flow move in direction of the wind. This can all happen many miles above the earth while those below are innocent to its formation."
Abstract This paper describes a tornado that ripped through Gallatin, Tennessee. The paper portrays how the tornado ripped through Gallatin and made national news for its damage and devastation, including the deaths of 12 residents. The paper is written as if the author of this paper witnessed the event first hand.
From the Paper "The morning had called for storms. Residents in Middle Tennessee were used to storms, in fact some joked that the Tornado Alley had recently moved to include that region. For several years there had been storms in which Doppler Radar had detected tornadoes in the sky and issued alerts for the area, however, they rarely if ever touched down. Perhaps the worst that happened was a tail whipped out of the sky and damaged a few roofs before retreating back into the clouds. On April 7, 2006 however, the world of those who lived in Gallatin was forever changed, when a tornado not only touched down, but waltzed across the city as if competing in a final dance competition. When it was finally over, people were dead, businesses were destroyed, a college was leveled and homes were completely demolished."
Abstract This paper stresses that, even if you have never been through the ?tornado experience?, you can still be on the lookout in the sky for a greenish or greenish-black color common to approaching tornadoes. The author points out that one should be especially wary if local weather or disaster authorities have issued a tornado watch, which means that a tornado is possible within a narrowly-specified period; a tornado warning is even more serious. The paper relates that, no matter how many tornadoes you have suffered through at home or on your farm, it is particularly important in multi-storied, crowded buildings to move to the interior of the structure, preferably a stairwell or hallway.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Awareness
Step 2: See a Tornado in the Sky
Step 3: The Tornado Strikes
Step 4: What to Do before a Tornado Strikes to Mitigate Risk
From the Paper "It is helpful to be aware of what a tornado is, meteorologically and chronologically speaking. There are four main stages in a tornado's life. These are the organization stage, the mature stage, the shrinking stage, and the decaying stage. In the organization stage, the weather conspires to create the classic, funnel-shaped cloud. The mature stage means that the tornado cloud is not at its largest size. ?The funnel then decreases to a thin column in the shrinking stage, and becomes fragmented and very disorganized in the decaying stage, although it is still a destructive funnel.? "
Abstract This paper looks at the natural phenomenon of tornadoes and provides an in-depth discussion about what causes them. It then discusses ways of warning people against tornadoes and precautions that can be taken. It finally examines tornado frequency over the years.
From the Paper ""Tornado" comes in English from a Spanish word "tornada" that means "thunderstorm". As defined by Nation Weather Service, a tornado is a "violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and pendant from a thunderstorm". Tornadoes result when there is stuffiest amount of moisture in the atmosphere at lower and mid levels, and when this condition gets combined with warm unstable air that rises above due to a lifting force. Initially, there should be some reason to cause air to flow upwards and to contribute in the formation of a tornado. This happens due to the fact that warm air is considerably lighter in weight than cold air (Earthbulletin). The buoyant air is produced as atmosphere gets heated near the ground surface. The heated air, which is warm and light, begins to rise upward and if during this phenomenon, a thrust of cool air is met, it further instigates the upward motion of air and could possibly trigger a thunderstorm."
Abstract This paper examines and analyzes the process of predicting tornadoes. The use of technologies such as Doppler radar and Optical Transient Detectors is discussed, as are meteorological indicators of tornado formation in supercell storms.
Abstract This paper discusses the feasibility of building a flying school near Denver, and the conditions for flying which are present in the region due to its proximity to Tornado Alley and the mountains.
From the Paper "Denver, Colorado lies on the edge of an area known as Tornado Alley which is the area where the most intense killer tornadoes are likely to occur. This is an area where F and F tornadoes have struck multiple times in the past. Some people consider Tornado Alley just the area where tornadoes have struck most frequently where multiple tornado touchdowns have occurred year after year. However in a super tornado outbreak took place in Georgia, Illinois; Indiana, Kentucky; Michigan, Mississippi; North, Carolina; Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee ..."
Abstract The paper explores different issues that arise when dealing with punitive damages. The author defines punitive damages and looks at why the ability to sue for this particular type of damages in court is so useful and at the same time, extremely rare. They often take several years to resolve. Punitive damage cases are often comprised of several people seeking to sue a large conglomerate, such as the tobacco industry, in order to prevent further harm to a large number of people. The O.J. Simpson civil case was an example of punitive damages being used as a way to ensure that a person was held financially responsible for their criminal act. These types of cases are small in number, but often make headlines because of the enormity of the settlements involved.
From the Paper "The use of punitive damages is particularly useful in cases where it is desired that defendants alter their bad behavior as well as recompense defendants. Doing away with punitive damages, particularly in the case of large corporations, could allow a company to compensate the individuals of the families they had injured, yet continue with the company's damaging behavior because it was cheaper and more cost effective to do so. A company could continue to use technologically inferior, polluting technology even after paying money to defendants because a case was tried in civil rather than criminal court. Yet in nearly 80 percent of product liability cases in which punitive damages were awarded, the manufacturer made a subsequent safety change. (McLarty, AATL Website) Also, because so many punitive damages cases have included such large payment amounts to defendants, this can be said to have caused safety to be taken into greater account in company manufacturing, thereby resulting in a safer America."
Abstract This paper discusses the effectiveness of tort law in providing compensation for environmental damage. It also looks at the ability of tort law to prevent environmental damage from occurring. The paper describes some of the obstacles suffered by tort law in fulfilling a central role in environmental protection, such as cost, evidence and standing and then looks at the limits to the limitations that exist in terms of tort law and environmental damage.
Table of Contents:
Developing, and Restricting an 'Environmental Tort': Issues of Locality and Use
Establishing the Causative Link and Proving Foreseeability
Further Obstacles: Evidence, Cost and Standing
Limiting the Limitations
The European Influence - Lowering the Hurdles?
Assessing the Use of Common Law Actions in Tort
From the Paper "Today there is a propensity to think of environmental protection as attained by the volume of specific legislation, but this does not mean that the role of the common law in environmental protection has become obsolete. Although perhaps a somewhat tenuous link, it has been argued that actions in tort are able to prevent environmental harm by deterring others from engaging in the same behaviour due to a fear of having to pay damages. However, Barbara Young, the chief executive of the Environment Agency, challenges such a rationalisation, arguing "the scale of penalties levied by the courts makes pollution and prosecution an acceptable risk and an acceptable business expense" . Naturally, the extent to which the extent to this will vary according to the polluting offender involved, however it would seem unlikely that the prospect of paying damages would have the same influence as the fear of facing an environmental regulator is set standards are breached."
Abstract This paper examines how, in recent years, there has been a marked increase in litigation related to recovering damages for emotional distress -- a kind of damage that is not measured by the extent of physical harm to an individual, but instead, measured by the extent of emotional and psychological harm inflicted upon an individual. Unlike determining the extent of physical harm, determining the extent of emotional distress or pain and suffering presents its unique share of challenges - particularly with regard to determining if, indeed, an individual has been inflicted with emotional distress and if that individual merits relief from the defendant or defendants. This paper looks at how assessing the nature and amount of relief to be awarded to the plaintiff also presents challenges to the judicial system.
From the Paper "The United Kingdom's judicial system it appears has taken steps to clearly define the criteria for nervous shock. For example, it has been determined that "the plaintiff cannot recover for experiencing normal human emotions such as the grief experienced when a loved one dies." There must be more than just an emotional response to a sudden and saddening event. See MIM v. Pusey, [1970] 125 CLR 383 at 394-395. With the shift of judicial decisions on emotional distress cases in the U.S. toward a generally "moderate" stance, it seems that the courts in the United Kingdom are also ruling on such cases - in particular on nervous shock cases - with more leniency and flexibility."
Abstract This paper discusses the links between poverty and environmental damage in the developing countries and their implication for sustainable development. Two developing countries are used as case studies
Tags: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND ECOLOGY / POLLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, links poverty environment
