Lightning fatalities in Australia, 1824–1991

Information on fatalities from lightning strikes has been extracted from a specially compiled database on natural hazards in Australia. Records dating from 1803–1991 indicate that at least 650 persons have been killed by lightning strikes. Maps and charts show the percentages of victims with respect to age, sex, locality, activity, and other circumstances of the strike. The majority of the 650 fatalities recorded have occurred along the more populous southeastern coast. The overall death rate, from 1910–1989, is 0.08 per 100 000 population. The annual number of lightning fatalities has decreased with time, from a death rate of 0.21 in 1910–1919 to 0.01 in 1980–1989. This trend is more pronounced when population figures are taken into account. The group that has been most at risk in Australia is that of males aged 15–19, followed by males aged 20–34. The male:female ratio of victims has decreased with time but is not approaching equality, being 11.6 in 1910–1919 and 5.3 in 1980–1989. The diurnal and monthly occurrences of lightning fatalities peak at 12.00–18.00 hours and November-February respectively. About 86% of fatalities have occurred outdoors and 14% have occurred indoors. Approximately three-fifths of fatalities have been work-related, and the group of workers that has traditionally been most at risk is that of land-workers. Approximately one-fifth of fatalities have been recreation-related, although this proportion has been increasing with time. The recreational activities of water sports, golf, and cricket have had the greatest number of lightning fatalities. Comparisons are made between these data and the results of other similar studies, both in Australia and overseas.     

Lightning fatalities in Swaziland: 2000–2007

An investigation is undertaken to analyze the human lightning fatalities in Swaziland. A total of 123 victims of lightning-related death were identified from the records of the Royal Swaziland Police Service and the local printed media for the period 2000–2007. An annual average fatality rate of 15.5 people per million, the highest recorded rate in the world, was obtained. The results also reveal that 66% were male, most (67%) of them were within the 10–39 age group with an average age of 28 years. Lightning fatalities occurred from September to May mainly in the afternoon (1400–1800 h). Deaths most commonly occurred indoors inside rural houses (17%), whilst walking (16%) and under a tree (14%). The incidents resulted in multiple fatalities in 22% of the cases with an average of 1.4 casualties per incident. The need for awareness campaigns, protection measures and detailed investigation is highlighted.     

Spatial–temporal patterns of cloud-to-ground lightning over the northwest Iberian Peninsula during the period 2010–2015

The spatial–temporal patterns of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning covering the period 2010–2015 over the northwest Iberian Peninsula were investigated. The analysis conducted employed three main methods: the circulation weather types developed by Jenkinson and Collison, the fit of a generalized additive model (GAM) for geographic variables, and the use of a concentration index for the ratio of lightning strikes and thunderstorm days. The main activity in the summer months can be attributed to situations with eastern or anticyclonic flow due to convection by insolation. In winter, lightning proves to have a frontal origin and is mainly associated with western or cyclonic flow situations which occur with advections of air masses of maritime origin. The largest number of CG discharges occurs under eastern flow and their hybrids with anticyclonic situations. Thunderstorms with greater CG lightning activity, highlighted by a higher concentration index, are located in areas with a higher density of lightning strikes, above all in mountainous areas away from the sea. The modeling of lightning density with geographic variables shows the positive influence of altitude and, particularly, distance to the sea, with nonlinear relationships due to the complex orography of the region. Likewise, areas with convex topography receive more lightning strikes than concave ones, a relation which has been demonstrated for the first time from a GAM.     

Lightning fatalities in Colombia from 2000 to 2009

National lightning fatality information has been gathered and published for Australia, Canada, the USA, and Western Europe, but few such studies have taken place and been published in the formal literature during the last decade in other areas. National lightning fatality data are difficult to collect in many countries, especially in tropical regions, despite a high frequency of lightning. To partially fill this gap, the current paper provides the first comprehensive national summary of lightning deaths in Colombia. Data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics were gathered for 2000 through 2009 and were classified according to the number of fatalities by year, month, gender, age, and location of the fatality. These data were assigned to geographical departments to determine the fatality rates per type of population. Comparison was also made with the population percentage in rural areas where the outdoor lightning risk may be greater than in cities due to labor-intensive agricultural practices, housing that is unsafe from the lightning threat, lack of access to weather forecasts and lightning safety knowledge, and other factors. Data from an international lightning locating system also were used to determine the annual lightning frequency and monthly totals in Colombia. During the ten study years, 757 deaths were identified. The highest mortality rates were in rural areas with a maximum of 7.69 deaths per million per year in the Vaupes Department of eastern Colombia. The death rate for all of Colombia was 1.78 per million per year during the same period.     

A macro-scale flood risk model for Jamaica with impact of climate variability

Floods account for more than half of the global hydrometeorological risks. Severe floods cause significant economic shocks and loss of lives, particularly for developing countries such as Jamaica. There is need for more information on the present and projected flood risks to justify macro-scale planning for climate change adaptation and facilitate the decision-making processes. In this study, a catalogue of 198 flood events occurring between 1678 and 2010 is compiled for Jamaica and used to examine the climatology, occurrence, trends, causes and duration of the island’s severe events. The annual flood risk is estimated to be a loss of life rate of 4 persons and estimated annual damage of USD96.3 million per annum in 2010 values and approximately 0.84 % of GDP per annum. Macro-scale models for flood risks (deaths and damages) are also developed using data from the flood catalogue and maximum precipitation at the town and parish level. The models examine the relationship between flood risks (death and damages) and extreme rainfall depths and intensities. Future climate risks of loss of lives and damages are predicted to increase 11 and 9 %, respectively, to 4.4 persons and USD105.2 million per annum.     

The schoolroom asbestos abatement program: a public policy debacle

It is estimated that nearly $100 billion has been spent on removal of asbestos-bearing materials from schoolrooms, public and commercial buildings, and homes. This removal continues to this day despite the publication of an advisory document in 1990 by the US Environmental Protection Agency that states most removal is unnecessary and is even counterproductive both in terms health protection and costs. Concern over low exposure to substances that are designated as carcinogens is based on the false concept that even the smallest exposure to such substances can increase cancer risk. The expression one molecule of a chemical or one asbestos fiber can possibly produce a tumor is repeated over and over until it is accepted as a truth. Over 1400 air samples taken in 219 North American school buildings show the average fiber level to be 0.00022 fibers per milliliter of air. Using the most pessimistic models and attendance in the school for 6 h a day, five days a week, for 14 years, the calculated risk is one excess cancer death per million lifetimes. In contrast, the risk of dying from a lightning strike is 35 deaths per million lifetimes. Ambient air asbestos concentrations measured in the chrysotile asbestos mining towns of Quebec are 220 to 2200 times greater than that measured in the average schoolroom, yet the women living their entire lives in these towns show no increased cancer risk. The asbestos abatement program in the United States is a public policy debacle.     

Lightning casualties and damages in China from 1997 to 2009

Lightning-related fatalities, injuries and property damages reported in China from 1997 to 2009 are summarized by using the National Lightning Hazards Database. Therefore, characteristics of the incidents including 5,033 deaths, 4,670 injuries and 61,614 damage reports are analyzed. For the spatial distribution of lightning disasters in China, the eastern costal and southern areas have more frequent lightning disasters than the western areas. Lightning disasters mainly occur in summer months from July to September, while fewer damages occur in winter months from October to March, which correlate significantly with the temporal variability of lightning frequency in China. Lightning-related casualties and damages in China have increased for the period of 1997 to 2007 and then began to decrease since 2008. The national fatalities and injuries per million people per year are 0.31 and 0.28, respectively. Rural people account for 51 and 29% of all lightning fatalities and injuries, which makes residents in agricultural and rural area the major lightning victims. Characteristics of lightning disasters and correlative factors are also studied, including hazard-affected industries and locations. The results show that civil industry has the worst property loss and farmland is the largest category in lightning-caused casualty locations.     

岩心钻探作业雷电防范措施浅析

岩心钻探作业作为地质勘查一种重要手段,其作业场所大多位于郊区或野外,作业所使用的钻机、钻塔及其附属件几乎全部为金属构件,其设备在地面上相对位置凸出,极易遭受雷电袭击,在当前钻探作业中,雷电防范未能引起施工队伍的足够重视,在防雷设施使用和安装上存在不少问题。通过运用雷电防范原理分析钻探设备防雷系统,对岩心钻探作业的防雷措施作讨论,以便为钻探施工队伍正确使用各种防雷方法作参考。     

A Landslide Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Appraisal Procedure: Vunguvungu/Banga Catchment,Northern Malawi

Landslides are a common phenomenon in parts of Malawi. A number of historical landslides have been documented, and are summarised here. This paper examines the occurrence of landslides in the Rumphi district of northern Malawi, concentrating on the catchment of the Vunguvungu and Banga rivers. This is an area of deeply weathered biotitic gneiss and muscovite schist, with deep, sandy soils, comparatively steep slopes and a rainfall in excess of 1,500 mm per annum. These factors, in association with changing land use patterns, have contributed to the landslide vulnerability of the area. The investigation focuses, as a case study, on the Banga landslide of 1997 for which data are available, and which occurred after unseasonal rain. A unique combination of natural and human induced factors is proposed in explaining the occurrence of landslides. The paper concludes by proposing an elementary vulnerability appraisal procedure for the catchment and by discussing the potential risk of landslides in this area.     

The current status of lightning safety knowledge and the effects of lightning education modes on college students

Lightning is a natural hazard occurring frequently within the United States causing injury, damage, and death. To avoid this hazard, citizens need to self-mitigate their risk by taking action. The level of lightning safety knowledge must be known to determine if citizens have the tools to mitigate their risk. No studies have previously explored the status of lightning safety knowledge or the best way to educate about lightning safety. Therefore, the research community is unaware if citizens understand their risk and have the knowledge to mitigate their risk, or if current safety programs are effectively educating citizens. This study distributed two surveys to college students in Florida, Ohio, and Colorado. Following the pre-mode survey, students were shown videos, given brochures, or both with lightning safety information. A follow-up survey was then distributed. Participants were found to have a moderate level of lightning safety knowledge. Study areas of variable risk as well as past death rates were not found to affect the rate of knowledge. The presence of education programs were not affected by the variable risk. Misunderstood areas of lightning safety knowledge were associated mostly with the lightning and thunder relationship as well as safety before and after a thunderstorm. The education modes involving a video were the most effective at increasing knowledge. Gender displayed minor differences in gaining of lightning safety knowledge.     

陕西安塞城区基岩崩塌主控构造因素分析

安塞区主城区范围内的基岩地层发育一以延河为枢纽线、走向约330°的背斜构造,在基岩地层中普遍发育走向与褶皱轴面平行（320°～340°）和垂直（40°～60°）两个方位的两组张性节理,还发育有两组与褶皱轴斜交的共轭剪切节理,第一组共轭剪切节理面走向为近南北（0°～10°）和近东西（80°～90°）,第二组共轭剪切节理面走向为100°～120°和200°～210°。上述基岩中发育的、不同走向的多组节理面对研究区内具相同走向分布特征的崩塌结构控制面的发育有较强控制作用。第一组共轭剪节理中走向近东西（80°～90°）的节理面控制着研究区内发育程度最高的崩塌结构控制面,它与区内岩质崩塌的发育相关程度最高;其次是两组张性节理面分别控制着走向相同且发育程度较高的两组岩质崩塌结构控制面,第二组共轭剪节理面则控制着区内发育程度相对较低的、走向与共轭节理面相同的两组崩塌结构控制面。     

An updated assessment of lightning-related fatality and injury risk in Canada: 2002–2017

Cloud-to-ground lightning is a common and dangerous natural atmospheric hazard in southern Canada. Previous research conducted by the author and colleagues, using data from 1994 to 2003, estimated that lightning directly or indirectly kills 9–10 people and injures 92–164 more each year in Canada. Repeating the analysis using data from the same government agency and media sources for the 2002–2017 period, the author found that lightning-related mortality decreased to 2–3 deaths per year, roughly 0.08 deaths per million population. An average of 180 lightning-related injuries each year (5.3 per million population) was estimated for the same period, slightly greater than the maximum documented in the 1994–2003 analysis. About half of the drop in mortality between periods may be attributed to the reduction in reported deaths associated with lightning-ignited municipal fires since 2000. The remainder may be due to a combination of greater availability and use of communication technology, faster emergency response and medical treatment, and increased public awareness of lightning hazards and safety. Further research is required to explain why lightning-related injury rates have remained stable; better understand the interaction of technological, behavioral and other factors; and to determine the efficacy of past and potential future safety interventions.

     

三肇凹陷扶杨油层断裂密集带样式及有利成藏部位

从三肇凹陷扶杨油层断裂密集带组合特征入手,结合油气分布规律,分析断裂密集带对油气优势运移方向控制作用,分源内和源外探讨断裂密集带中有利成藏部位.研究表明:三肇凹陷扶杨油层主要发育4种断裂密集带样式,即反向-地堑-反向断阶、地垒-地堑-反向断阶、反向-地堑-顺向断阶和地垒-地堑-顺向断阶等;当断裂密集带走向与地层倾向呈小角度相交时,其走向指示油气平面优势运移方向;源内断裂密集带中地垒和反向断阶是油气聚集优势部位;源外断裂密集带走向与地层倾向呈小角度相交时,地堑两侧反向断阶和地垒是油气优先聚集部位,其次为断裂密集带中部地堑,若呈大角度相交则断裂密集带靠近生烃凹陷一侧的反向断阶和地垒优先聚集油气.      

我国雷电灾害及相关因素分析

为了更好地揭示雷电灾害的时空分布规律和成因机制过程,在1997—2006年全国雷电灾害数据库和星载闪电探测数据的基础上,分析研究了雷电灾害及相关因素的特征,包括雷电灾情、孕灾环境、致灾因子、承灾体及其相互作用,得到以下一些结果:①雷灾事故数、雷灾人员伤亡数与我国不同地区的致灾因子(闪电活动)、承灾体(人口和经济发展现况)成正相关;雷电灾情不同类型与承灾体类型(城乡人口比例、经济发展现况)有密切关系;②我国雷电灾情和闪电活动的时间特征是紧密相关的,同时雷电灾情的时间特征与人们的作息时间相关;③不同的孕灾环境下造成雷电伤害人员的方式特征不同,雷击死亡人数在农田最多,而受伤人数在建构筑物内最多;④80%的雷灾伤亡人员事故只涉及1~2人的生命安全,其中1人遭受雷击的占总事件的61%;⑤重大雷灾伤亡事件直接与承灾体的脆弱性有关。     

Effect of Elastic Anisotropy on Tunnel Wall Displacements Behind a Tunnel Face

Summary The effect of elastic anisotropy (transverse isotropy) on the convergence behind a tunnel face is investigated by means of a parametric study. The applicability of existing expressions for evaluating the convergence behind a tunnel face is also addressed. Two cases are distinguished, according to whether the plane of transverse isotropy strikes parallel to the tunnel axis or not. It is found that the existing expressions (valid for isotropic rock masses under a uniform state of stress) are applicable only when the plane of transverse isotropy strikes parallel to the tunnel axis. When the plane of transverse isotropy does not strike parallel to the tunnel axis, three-dimensional analyses are necessary. Received June 23, 2000; accepted September 18, 2001 Published online August 2, 2002     

Fulgurites: lightning strikes providing unique clues to palaeoenvironments

Strange in appearance and unique in origin, fulgurites are named for the Latin word for lightning. They are formed when lightning strikes rocks or sand that contains silica. They can form remarkably quickly… seconds as opposed to years or millennia. That in itself makes them remarkable, but they have other unusual qualities that make them even more amazing. Some hold ancient air within that can offer a window into past environments.     

Development and application of a new drought severity index for categorizing drought-prone areas: a case study of undivided Andhra Pradesh state,India

Natural Hazards - The state of undivided Andhra Pradesh, India, spent around US$ 20 million per annum on drought relief programs during the period 1998–2008. However, till date, no long-term...     

The spatial patterns of mass strikes: A labour geography approach

Labour geography aims to explore aspects of workers’ agency that have not yet been at the centre of research, this includes: the links between working-class politics and local communities, the interdependence of global economic networks and working-class activities, and the spatial dimension of workers’ organisations. Although these aspects are relevant for the dynamics of mass strikes, an analysis of mass strikes has been largely absent from debates in labour geography. Rosa Luxemburg’s seminal analysis of strikes in Russia demonstrated the rapid spatial expansion of these movements without any central organisation. Similar phenomena have occurred in recent mass strikes in the emerging economies. This text shows how mass strikes in Brazil, India and South Africa can be investigated through a labour geography lens and calls for a renewed debate on how a ‘strike wave’ is defined or understood.     

青海高原2008-2016年云地闪特征分析

利用2008-2016年青海省云地闪监测网资料,分析了云地闪特征。结果表明：2008-2016年青海高原云地闪次数呈现逐年增加的趋势;各年正云地闪比例在10.1%~19.8%之间,平均正云地闪比例为15.0%,且春季和秋季明显高于夏季;总云地闪平均电流强度为30.3 kA,正云地闪平均电流强度为50.1 kA,负云地闪平均电流强度为27.2 kA;负云地闪月平均峰值电流呈现双峰双谷的分布特征,正云地闪月平均峰值电流呈现单峰单谷的特征;正负云地闪电流强度频次分布均呈现正态分布的特征;云地闪电流强度幅值频次累积概率分布服从IEEE Std 1243-1997推荐的雷电流累积概率分布模型;云地闪平均陡度为7.3 kA·us^-1,正云地闪平均陡度为7.8 kA·us^-1,负云地闪平均陡度为7.2 kA·us^-1;云地闪在夏季（6-8月）发生较为频繁,占总闪电的81.0%,其次是秋季（9-11月）,占总闪电的13.5%,夏季和秋季云地闪电占全年闪电的94.5%;云地闪的日变化呈现单峰单谷的特征;总云地闪年均最大密度达10.4次·km^-2·a^-1,正云地闪年均最大密度达2.1次·km^-2·a^-1,负云地闪年均最大密度达10.3次·km^-2·a^-1,总云地闪和负云地闪的密度高值区在西宁、大通和湟中一带,正云地闪的密度高值区在玛沁和同德一带。     

The socioeconomic and environmental effects of the 2003 landslides in the Rumphi and Ntcheu Districts (Malawi)

Despite the occurrence of fatal landslides in Malawi, literature is not available on their socio-economic and environmental effects. Limited or no research is being carried out in this area except for technical reports commissioned by the government. Landsliding does not appear on the ten environmental concerns affecting the nation. This paper attempts to examine the socio-economic and environmental effects of landslides that struck parts of Ntcheu district of central Malawi and Rumphi district of northern Malawi in 2003. This paper asserts that poor rural people are more vulnerable to landslides and their resilience is low. Unsustainable production systems, inappropriate location of settlements, low incomes coupled with lack of government support aggravates the situation. Mitigation measures, which were in conflict with people’s production systems, prevented them from participating in the rehabilitation of the areas. Lack of support from government for the reconstruction and regeneration of local production had economic effects such as loss of livelihood, unemployment, decreased productivity and out migration to urban centers. The study recommends the participation of all stakeholders in reducing the impacts of landslides and the development of disaster management plans to achieve timely response to landslide hazards.