The Exceptional Flooding on Vanua Levu Island, Fiji, during Tropical Cyclone Ami in January 2003

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概要

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• In mid-January 2003 Tropical Cyclone Ami passed directly across the Fiji Islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The main northern island of Vanua Levu experienced torrential rainfall and consequent record-breaking flooding of its major rivers. The aims of this study were to document these record floods and compare them with previous floods on Vanua Levu Island. The Nasekawa River in southern Vanua Levu produced a phenomenal discharge of more than 6100m^3/s. Moreover, near the main town of Labasa on the north coast, simultaneous flooding of the Labasa, Qawa, and Wailevu rivers combined with storm surge to cause inundation of up to 4m depths over a wide area of the floodplain. Tragically, seventeen people died, and there was extensive damage to farms, the infrastructure, homes, and commercial property. Historically, the north coast of Vanua Levu island has suffered frequent severe floods, owing to several factors : 1. the approach of most tropical cyclones towards Fiji from the northwest ; 2. Vanua Levu's steep volcanic topography, which rises in excess of 1000m, and has strong orographic influence on rainfall generation during tropical storms, then rapidly transfers moisture into river channels, 3. the configuration of several drainage basins which deliver floodwaters to the same area of the coastal hinterland. Future regional ocean warming and more sustained El Nino conditions are projected to increase the intensity of tropical cyclones and thereby the potential for worse flood disasters. Disaster mitigation and adaptation options recently proposed by the World Bank and JICA need to be implemented to reduce flood impact in this vulnerable area of Fiji.

• 日本自然災害学会の論文

著者

• Terry James

  Head Of Geography Department The University Of The South Pacific

• MCGREE Simon

  Climate Services Division, Fiji Meteorological Service, Nadi Airport

• RAJ Rishi

  Hydrology Division, Fiji Public Works Department

• Raj Rishi

  Hydrology Division Fiji Public Works Department

• Mcgree Simon

  Climate Services Division Fiji Meteorological Service

関連論文

• The Exceptional Flooding on Vanua Levu Island, Fiji, during Tropical Cyclone Ami in January 2003
• The Exceptional Flooding on Vanua Levu Island, Fiji, during Tropical Cyclone Ami in January 2003

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