Over time one of the most visible consequences of global warming is the increase in extreme weather events. World Meteorological Organizations conclude 2019, the decade of exceptional global heat causing high impact weather patterns seen through the increase of magnitude from seasonal weather events such as El Nino or catastrophic events like the Sandy Hurricane (WMO. 2019). The events' detrimental effects and severity are measured by including physical damage to residential, commercial, and government buildings, material assets within buildings, and public infrastructure.
Sandy Hurricane or "super sandy" began as a tropical wave of storm formed through low pressure in warm ocean waters of the central part of the Atlantic ocean. As it moves westwards, it absorbs energy causing an effective development into extratropical cyclones (have cold energy at the core, and derive its strength from the release of potential energy when cold and warm air masses interact) (Rafferty. 2012). On the contrary, El Nino is a seasonal weather event that follows a periodic pattern; the event was formed by warming sea surface temperatures in the eastern pacific ocean and trade winds blowing westward across the equatorial pacific. Such characteristics are called El Nino Oscillation, where coastal waters become warmer in the east of the pacific, and atmospheric pressure decreases in the western tropical pacific (NatGeo. 2017). With both causes provided, which event has a more significant impact? El Nino? Or Hurricane Sandy?
The extreme weather pattern divulged from El Nino causes an effect on countries near the equator. The occurrence of droughts, flooding, increased temperatures, rainfall increases in intensity due to El Nino. For instance, in Australia, lack of rainfall exacerbates coral reefs' conditions in the Great Reef Barrier. Lack of precipitation in the area causes the atmospheric condition to heat up, which causes an additional 125 hotspots every year between Victoria and Tasmania (Cook. 2015). Other examples include detrimental effects on countries in Southeast Asia, including the failure of crops in the Philippines and Indonesia. Thus, the estimated economic impact just from the agricultural sector reaches up to USD 217 million. In the Philippines, the government issued a national warning to conserve water for up to 85 provinces categorizing the natural calamities as a national polemic faced (Gabrielle. 2016). However, El Nino's casualties did not result from the first-hand effect, but long-term second-hand problems caused it. Such as droughts that cause forest burn, resulting in burn injuries and deaths because of pollution.
Image 1: El Nino currents temperature map (Courtesy: Climate Central)
On the other side, the effect divulged from Hurricane Sandy the economic impact is far more detrimental. It reaches up to 68.7 billion dollars USD (NHC. 2015) and affects almost 13 countries in North & Central America. One of the most significant impact receivers would be the United States, with 67% of casualties, making it the Top 4 worst hurricanes in the country (Johnson. 2012). The disastrous events forced 15 states to cut their power outline due to excessive flooding, damaging the nation's central power system. The magnitude and intensity of Hurricane Sandy proved to be too much for countries in America; power system failure impacted sewage systems, drinking facilities, and water storage. In New York, the government dispatched a national warning to avoid the Newark bay bacteria's cross-contamination amongst its citizens (EPA. 2012).
Video 1: Hurricane Sandy in United States 2012 (Courtesy: ABC News)
After comparing and contrasting both sides of the proposition, I believe that Hurricane Sandy proves to have a more significant impact rather than El Nino events. Outweighing both preparedness for the circumstances, it is evident that American countries didn't know that the effects would be that detrimental. In contrast, El Nino countries keep on improving every year since there are similar patterns found in the calamities. Even by looking at the economic impact and casualties, Hurricane Sandy is far worse than El Nino. El Nino only costs up to millions of dollars while Sandy reaches a billion dollars, and the total death toll reaches 200 people.
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