Environmental Issues and Natural Disasters South and East Asia

Water Pollution---The Ganges and Huang He Rivers

Ganges River—Tremendous Pollution According to different scientific studies pollution is taking heavy toll on Ganges River and 300 million gallons of waste go into the Ganges each day, causing terrible effects. The amount of sewage being dumped into the Ganges has more than doubled since the 1990's, and some studies suggest it could double again in the next generation. Scientists also found that portions of the river have a fecal bacteria count nearly 4,000 times the World Health Organization's standard for bathing . Recent water samples collected in some areas revealed even worse results with a fecal bacteria count 10,000 times higher than the WHO standard for safe river bathing.

What is the source of the river’s pollution? Organic waste such as sewage, trash, food, and human as well as animal remains India's population boom has not followed with effort to build a new sewage . The current system just channels waste into the river. Human and animal remains are deposited into the Ganges River, sometimes partially cremated, as a sacred Hindu practice. Carcasses of thousands of dead cattle that are also dumped into the river each year Industrial pollutants account for only a small portion of pollution

What are the effects of the river’s pollution? it destroys river ecosystems many river species population are falling rapidly many water-borne diseases including cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and amoebic dysentery 80% of all health problems and one-third of deaths in India are result of different water-borne diseases

How has the government responded? In 1985 the Indian government launched the so called “Ganges Action Plan” to clean up the river. The original idea was to clean up the river in selected areas by installing sewage treatment plants and threatening fines and legal penalties against industries that pollute. The plan failed because people have been unwilling to adapt. More than $300 million have been spent, with not many results, and it is estimated that $1.5 billion more is needed.

The Huang He

Environmental experts fear pollution from untreated agricultural and industrial waste could turn the Yangtze into a "dead river" within five years The government has promised to clean up the Yangtze, which supplies water to almost 200 cities along its banks.

China's rapid economic development means that many of the nation's waterways are facing similar problems. In 2008, authorities announced that the Yellow River was so polluted that it was not safe for drinking. Correspondents say that 300 million people in China do not have access to safe drinking water.

Large quantities of waste are being dumped every day 30 % of river's major tributaries are heavily polluted by massive quantities of ammonia, nitrogen, phosphorous & other pollutants which are significantly effecting the rivers’ fisheries Fishermen are afraid to eat fish when they manage to catch some because of heavy pollution.

Effects of River’s Pollution Silting earlier dry seasons degraded drinking water threatened wildlife damage to the river's natural self-cleaning processes

Will The Government Fix It? The Chinese government announced in December 2001 that it would spend 40 billion yuan ($4.8 billion) by 2010 on projects to clean up the Three Gorges and upstream stretches of the river. The State Environmental Protection Administration said the money would be spent on building 260 sewage treatment plants and 230 waste treatment facilities

Asian Brown Cloud

Asian Brown Cloud---Causes The Asian Brown Cloud is a thick cloud of smog that hovers over the majority of southern and eastern Asia. The cloud is a 2 mile thick blanket of pollution in the atmosphere that blankets southern and eastern Asia. The cloud was created by the production of pollutants from industry and the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles and power plants throughout the region.

Effects of Brown Cloud Scientists believe that the cloud may be responsible for the premature death of millions of south/east Asians due to respiratory illness. The cloud is a major producer of acid rain. The cloud reduces rainfall in the summer months and is believed to influence weather events such as blizzards and cyclones. Reduces temperature in areas by as much as 2 degrees which affects monsoon/precipitation patterns. Increases the chances for major flooding due to the fact that the cloud has increased the melting of the Himalayan glaciers, which are the primary source of Asia’s major river systems. The cloud deposits dark colored soot and other pollutants on the glaciers, which causes them to absorb more heat from the sun.

Eastern and Southern Asian Cities with Atmospheric Brown Clouds

Brown Cloud Smog in New Delhi, India Brown cloud over southern China

Earthquakes

Earthquakes Earthquakes are caused by shifts in the Earth’s plates caused by incredible amounts of pressure. Earthquakes frequently occur in southern and eastern Asia. The majority of eastern Asia is located within the Ring of Fire, the most geologically active areas on the plant. The top ten deadliest earthquakes in history have all occurred in southern and eastern Asia. The deadliest earthquake in history occurred in the Shaanxi province of China in 1556. It is estimated that over 800,000 (60% of the population) people were killed

Kobe, Japan---1995 The Kobe earthquake occurred on January 17, 1995, twelve miles from the center of Kobe, Japan. Nearly 6,500 people lost their lives during the quake, including 4,600 from the city of Kobe alone. The majority of the city’s buildings, homes, and infrastructure were destroyed by the earthquake. 300,000 residents of Kobe were left homeless. The earthquake caused just over 100 billion US dollars in damage.

A Kobe city street in ruins

Tsunami----2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

What is a tsunami? A tsunami is a wave or series of waves caused by a displacement (change) of a large volume of a body of water. Most tsunamis are the result of earthquakes or other geological movements. However, large chunks of ice falling from glaciers have also triggered measurable tsunamis. Tsunamis are most commonly located in the Pacific Ocean, with the islands of Japan being hit by nearly 200 recorded tsunamis.

Indian Ocean Tsunami The deadliest tsunami and second deadliest earthquake in history occurred on December 26, 2004. The earthquake occurred 160 miles off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia in the Indian Ocean. Measuring 9.1 on the Richter, the earthquake was the third strongest ever recorded and lasted nearly 10 minutes. The earthquake produced a tsunami with waves nearly 100 feet in height that travelled hundreds to thousands of miles, gaining strength along the way.

Tsunami’s effects The tsunami killed over 230,000 people in 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean. Indonesia was the hardest hit, with villages along the coast being completely destroyed. Nearly 170,000 Indonesians lost their lives. Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand also experienced significant damage from the tsunami’s waves. The eastern and southern coasts of Africa were also hit by the tsunami’s waves. These regions were nearly 3000 miles from the epicenter of the quake.

Countries affected by the tsunami

These are satellite images of the Aceh region on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. This was the area hardest hit by the tsunami, with over 100,000 people being killed in Aceh alone. Over 500,000 residents were left homeless and the regions infrastructure was completely destroyed.

Receding tides before tsunami hits. Village in Aceh destroyed by tsunami and ensuing flood.

Hotel in Sumatra, Indonesia Waves hitting parking lot in Thailand

Tsunami damage on the coast of Thailand

Floods

Floods Floods are common in eastern and southern Asia. The majority of floods cause minor destruction and few lives are lost. Floods provide silt for farmers who live along the banks of Asia’s major river systems. Floods in south and east Asia most often occur during the summer monsoon season, when these regions receive the most rainfall.

Flooding in China Flooding in India

Historic Floods in Asia The world’s six deadliest floods of all time occurred in China along the banks of the Huang He, Chang Jiang, and Ru Rivers. The flood with the greatest loss of life occurred along the Huang He River in 1931. It is estimated that between 1 to 3.5 million people were killed during the flood. This is also the deadliest recorded natural disaster. Another major flood occurred in the same areas in 1938, with a loss of nearly 900,000 people.

Flooding in China

Flooding along the Indus River in Pakistan 2010-2011