VietNamNet Bridge - Phan Van Tan from the Meteorology, Hydrology and Oceanography Faculty of the Hanoi University of Natural Sciences, said storms cause devastation but also bring certain benefits.


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Storms cause devastation but also bring certain benefits



"Typhoon is a kind of natural disaster if considering its mechanical destruction caused by strong winds and floods. However, in fact, it also brings benefits – making a significant contributor to the total annual rainfall, which creates surface water and replenishes groundwater, an indispensable resource for life,” he said.

Even floods have positive effects. It brings more alluvium to fields. When floods come, fields are ‘washed’ as pests and rodents harmful to plants are eliminated.

Floods and strong winds cause big damage, but to some extent, they are beneficial to human’s lives. The rain in storms provides 40 percent of water, while the figure is 30 percent in the north.

Le Thanh Hai, deputy general director of the General Department of Hydrometeorology, said floods and strong winds cause big damage, but to some extent, they are beneficial to human’s lives. The rain in storms provides 40 percent of water, while the figure is 30 percent in the north.

The central region once suffered from a lack of storms. In 2012, only one typhoon occurred in the region. As a result, the region faced drought later in the year.

The Philippines’ storms bring 50 percent of the water volume needed to the country.

“With nature, we cannot expect something to come or ignore it. Just live with it,” said Pham Duc Thi, an environment expert.

People need to prepare well for storm season. They need to reinforce bare electricity lines and outdoor power poles; keep close watch of storm reports and pay attention to warning messages; store food and reserve water, and evacuate the elderly, and children to safe shelters.

Reports show that there are five to six storms and tropical low pressure spells affecting Vietnam every year. The rainy season begins in June and finishes in the first half of December. Storms mostly come in August, September and October.

The year 2018 will see about 12 – 14 storms and tropical depressions in the East Sea, some 4 – 6 are forecast to directly affect Vietnam’s mainland. Typhoons and tropical depressions are more likely to hit the northern part of the East Sea at the beginning of this rainy season and will move towards the south in late 2018.

Scientists now can predict storms five days in advance instead of the current three-day early prediction, and predict the development of a tropical low pressure three days in advance instead of one day.


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Mai Chi