Christ’s College
Geography Department
TROPICAL CYCLONES
Examples may include:•Cyclone Ami (Fiji) •Cyclone Gavin•Cyclone Ofa (Samoa)
•Cyclone Sally (Rarotonga)•Cyclones Eric and Nigel (Fiji) •Cyclone Dani
(Vanuatu)•Cyclone Namu (Solomon Islands) •Cyclone Isaac (Tonga)•Cyclone Kina
(Fiji) •Cyclone Zoe (Solomons) •Cyclone Benji•Cyclone Val (Samoa) •Cyclone
Waka (Tonga)•Cyclone Bola
Effects on the cultural environment (for example):
Social Effects
•Loss of life caused by high seas, storm surges, heavy rain and strong winds •Injury
•Disruption to normal life
•Mental stress Economic effects caused by wind damage, storm surges, high seas and
rainfall, and flooding
•Loss of income due to losses in agricultural exports
•Cost of rebuilding infrastructure and buildings
•Cost of need to import food as local food crops destroyed (may require foreign aid)
•Reduced income from tourism decline – businesses may close bringing
unemployment
Case study, eg Cyclone Sally, Rarotonga 1986–1987
Effects
•No loss of life or major injury.
Main damage – economic. Agriculture: 50% drop in exports ($4.3 million). Buildings
and Infrastructure: storm surges, etc damaged 95 homes and 30 government offices.
Some roads damaged, blocked by trees, and boats in harbour damaged.
•Concrete seawall at airport damaged. Damage to public utilities – power lines, etc.
Christ’s College Geography
Yr11 Natural Events