TYPHOONS AND WIND PATTERNS

TYPHOONS AND WIND PATTERNS Just to be clear, the southwest monsoon also known as "Habagat" is not a typhoon but a seasonal wind pattern. Knowing that, I wonder why the mass media is reporting the recent natural disaster as if it is a back-to-back onslaught of two typhoons, namely "Habagat" and Carina. Also to be clear, the southwest monsoon is a recurring pattern therefore it will always be called "Habagat" each time it comes. On the other hand, typhoons always comes and goes, but each time it comes, it carries a different name. According to ScienceDirect, "There is strong scientific consensus that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are causing climate change and that this is contributing to stronger typhoons due to higher sea surface temperatures and higher subsurface sea temperatures, which remove the natural buffer on typhoon strength occasioned when cold water up wells from below the ocean’s surface. These stronger typhoons carry more moisture, track differently, move faster and will be aggravated by sea level rise, one of the most certain consequences of climate change". In other words, here is the equation: air pollution creates greenhouse gases that create carbon emissions that causes climate change that causes higher sea surface temperatures that contributes to stronger typhoons. In short, typhoons have always existed long before climate change came along, but it is because of air pollution that typhoons have become stronger. That is just one side of the equation, because land pollution also causes garbage build up that blocks the waterways thus reducing the space where rain water could flow into thus causing the rampaging floods. In the aftermath of the typhoons, angry citizens have also blamed the lack of drainage systems as one of the causes of the deeper floods, because the water could not go anywhere they say. I do agree with them, but in my opinion, the real reason is the lack of, or the absence of sewerage systems in most of the cities and municipalities in Metro Manila. It may be common knowledge, but I think that many local officials do not even know the difference between a drainage system and a sewerage system. Sad to say, some local government officials do not know the difference between dumpsites and landfills. Perhaps, they also do not know that what are required are not just ordinary landfills that are no better than dumpsites. What are really required are sanitary landfills that are compliant with global standards. In truth however, lesser spaces for sanitary landfills would be needed if the LGUs would only comply with the requirements for Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs). IKE SENERES/08-01-2024