Disaster information: a bibliography

ID: 1738

Au: Robinson, Edward; Ahmad, Rafi; Phillip-Jordan, Cheryl; Armstrong, Michael.

Ti: The Burlington landslide, mouth of the Rio Grande, Jamaica: example of an ancient slide dam.

So: Journal of the Geological Society of Jamaica; 31:37-42, 1996.

Ab: There are several historical records of landslides that have blocked river courses in Jamaica. Some of these are only vaguely located geographically. Here we outline the main features of a large, previously unrecognized landslide at Burlington, near the mouth of the Rio Grande. Recognition of this feature suggests that a systematic examination of geomorphic evidence in the river valleys of eastern Jamaica will lead to the identification of additional ancient, slope failures that may have formed landslide dams in prehistoric and historic times. The Burlington landslide also serve as a possible model for demonstrating that there are locations in Jamaica where a landslide dam could result in the formation of a lake, greater than 10km in extent, such as was reported to have occurred after the 1962 earthquake.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.

ID: 1739

Au: Ahmad, Rafi.

Ti: The Jamaica Earthquake of January 13, 1993: Geology and Geotechnical aspects.

So: Journal of the Geological Society of Jamaica; 30:15-31, 1996

Ab: A magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurred in the Blue Mountain Ridge (Wiggins- Grandison, this volume) causing significant damages in the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew. The effects of the tremblor were mapped in approximately 225 km2 area. Heavy objects were upthrown as a result of well marked vertical ground accelerations. Ground cracks tending nortwest were mapped in an area due south of the epicentre. The ground failures were controlled by the geology and geomorphology of the area, and included: landslides, ground cracks and localized liquefaction. These caused significant damage to lifeline structures, illustrating the significance of geological information in urban planning, especially for the Kingston Metropolitan area which has a population of over 700,000, a population density of 1200 persons /km2, and is highly vulnerable to multiple hazards.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.

ID: 1740

Au: Van Duk, P. M; Stroosnuder, L; De Lima, J. L. M.

Ti: The influence of rainfall on transport of beach sand by wind.

So: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms; 21(4):341-52, April 1996.

Ab: This paper deals with the effect of rainfall on the process of wind erosion of beach sands and presents results from both field and wind tunnel experiments. Although sediment transport by splash is of secondary importance on coastal dunes, splash-saltation processes can move sediments in conditions where no motion is predicted by aeolian processes. The effect of rain-drop impact on the movement of soil particles by wind was measured on a sand beach plain using an acoustic sediment sampler. In general, an increase of particle movement by wind at the sensor heights was observed during rainfall. Rainfall also affected the wind erosion process during and after rain by changing the cohesive conditions of the surface. The influence of the surface moisture content on the initiation of wind erosion and on the vertical distribution of transported sand particles was studied in a wind tunnel. Moisture significantly increased threshold wind velocities for the initiation of sediment transport and modified vertical sediment profiles.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.

ID: 1741

Au: Smith, T. E; Thirlwall, M. F; MacPherson, C.

Ti: Trace element and isotope geochemistry of the volcanic rocks of Bequia, Grenadine Islands, Lesser Antilles Arc: a study of subduction enrichment and intra-crustal contamination.

So: Journal of Petrology; 37(1):117-43, Feb. 1996.

Ab: The purpose of this study is to describe the petrography, Sr, Nd, Pb and O isotopic composition, and the major and trace element geochemistry of the lavas and dykes, and to use these data to assess their petrogenics. Particular attention is paid to the role of incorporation of subducted sediments versus crustal contamination in the evolution of these lavas [see Davisdson, (1935, 1987, White & Dupre (1986) and Davidson et al. (1993].

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library..

ID: 1742

Au: Mathur, Mahendra.

Ti: Trinidad: flooding need not be a killer.

So: Stop Disasters; 27(1):9, 1996.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.

ID: 1743

Au: Pompa Toledano, Ana Cristina.

Ti: Caracterización del comportamiento de las tormentas locales severas en la provincia Santiago de Cuba y su peligrosidad para la vida humana.

Pub: Camagüey; s.n; 1996. 26.

Co: Congreso Internacional de Desastres; Camagüey, 12-15, Nov. 1996.

Lo: Cuba, Latin American Centre for Disaster Medicine.

ID: 1744

Au: Glasgow, Joyce.

Ti: Environmental education pilot project, Jamaica 1995/1996.

Pub: Kingston; Natural Resources Conservation Authority; 1996. 56.

Ab: Report of a pilot field project to introduce UNESCO-UNEP modules in environmental education to educators. The project also sought to obtain feedback as to their effectiveness as teaching sources.

Lo: Jamaica, Natural Resources Conservation Authority.

ID: 1745

Au: Caribbean Meteorological Institute.

Ti: Monthly weather summary (part A 1996).

Pub: St. James; Caribbean Meteorological Institute; 1996.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.
ID: 1746

Au: Caribbean Meteorological Institute.

Ti: Monthly weather summary (part B 1996).

Pub: St. James; Caribbean Meteorological Institute; 1996.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.
ID: 1747

Ti: Port Antonio sanitation study.

Pub: Kingston; Louis Berger International; 1996.

Lo: Jamaica, Natural Resources Conservation Authority.

ID: 1748

Au: Planos Gutiérrez, Eduardo O.

Ti: Regional analysis of hurricane rain and their influence on the hidrological regime/Análisis regional de las lluvias torrenciales y su influencia en el régimen hidrológico.

Pub: Ciudad de la Habana; Centro de Hidrología y Calidad de las Aguas; l996. 8.

Ab: Basándose en la caracterización hidrológica detallada de las lluvias torrenciales se exponen algunos conceptos metodológicos para el tratamiento de estos en un análisis regional. Se plantea que esta caracterización se basa en 30 años de observaciones hidrológicas provenientes de una adecuada red, la cual comprende l2000/cm2 de la región oeste de Cuba.

Lo: Cuba, Latin American Centre for Disaster Medicine.

ID: 1749

Au: Hammouya, G; Allard, P; Clocchiatti, R; Jean-Baptiste, P; Parello, F; Semet, Michael P.

Ti: Geochemistry of fumarolic and magmatic fluids from Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, West Indies.

So: In: Ahmad, Rafi. ed. Science, hazards and hazard management: abstracts. Kingston, University of the West Indies, Department of Geography and Geology. Unit for Disaster Studies, 1996. 34.

Co: 2nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12, Oct. 1996.

Ab: We report preliminary geochemical results obtained on volcanic fluids emitted before and during the current eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano, as well as on volatiles trapped in crystal melt inclusions of the newly extruded lava.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.

ID: 1750

Au: Wadge, Geoffrey; Woods, Andy; Bower, Sally; Jackson, Paul.

Ti: A volcanic hazard evaluation system for Montserrat, West Indies.

So: In: Ahmad, Rafi. ed. Science, hazards and hazard management: abstract. Kingston, University of the West Indies, Department of Geography and Geology, Unit for Disaster Studies, 1996. 38.

Co: 2^nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12 Oct. 1996.

Ab: When an explosive andesitic volcano is erupting, warnings given to government are set in the context of a continual influx of new data and a general lack of analytical tools to interpret these data in terms of the specific multiple hazards faced. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) has faced this situation during the 1995-1996 volcanic crisis at the Soufriere Hills Volcano. Here we describe a computer system that aids MVO scientists to operationally evaluate the two main hazards faced: dome collapse and sub-dome explosions. There are 3 main components to the system. Data imports and processes relevant monitoring data for use in the other two modules. dome analyses dome morphology and rate of growth and assesses the likelihood of major collapse. Volcano models the transport of magma to the surface from a sub-surface reservoir and assesses the probability of explosive pressure build-up. Our experience at designing and using the system operationally will be presented.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.
ID: 1751

Au: Ahmad, Rafi. ed.

Ti: Science, hazards and hazard management: abstracts.

So: Kingston; University of the West Indies, Department of Geography and Geology, Unit for Disaster Studies; 1996. 41.

Co: 2^nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12 Oct. 1996.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.

ID: 1752

Au: Chen, A. A; McTavish, J; Roy, Abraham K.

Ti: A Caribbean database for the earth sciences.

So: In: Ahmad, Rafi. ed. Science, hazards and hazard management: abstracts. Kingston, University of the West Indies, Department of Geography and Geology, Unit for Disaster Studies, 1996. 5.

Co: 2^nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12 Oct. 1996.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.

ID: 1753

Au: Montserrat. Montserrat Volcano Observatory.

Ti: A photographic and videographic chronicle of important events during the current eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, West Indies.

So: In: Ahmad, Rafi. ed. Science, hazards and hazard management: abstracts. Kingston, University of the West Indies, Department of Geography and Geology, Unit for Disaster Studies, 1996. 27.

Co: 2^nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12 Oct. 1996.

Ab: The Soufriere Hills volcano is the youngest of four major volcanic centres on the island of Montserrat which have been active during approximately the last five million years. It consists of a central nucleus of four andesite lava domes which are separated by deep valleys and truncated by English's Crater, a horse-shoe shaped structure open to the east and partly filled by Castle Peak Dome. After more than three years of intermittent earthquake swarm occurrence and almost 400 years of dormancy, the Soufriere Hills volcano started erupting on 18 July 1995. The initial phase was characterised by phreatic eruptions during which several vents were opened up on and around Castle Peak dome and significant quantities of ash were produced. In late September 1995, a small spine and dome was extruded in English's Crater and this grew to a height of about 20cm and then stopped growing. Activity then returned to a state of mainly episodic steam and ash eruptions of variable amplitudes. The eruptions became larger (in terms of ash volumes) and more frequent during late October and early November 1995. In mid November 1995, an andesite lava dome was extruded into the main vent excavated by the phreatic eruptions. Since early December 1995, activity has been dominated by variable but relatively slow, quiet dome growth on Castle Peak dome within English's Crater. The unstable sides of the growing dome occasionally collapse, resulting in the formation of pyroclastic flows and associated ash clouds. The larger pyroclastic flows propagate at the moment down the open eastern side of the crater while the ash clouds are blown on the wind, mainly towards the west and northwest. Relatively significant pyroclastic flows occurred on 03, 06 and 08, April and 12, May 1996, in the Tar River Valley area to the east of the Soufriere Hills volcano, with the flow front on 12, May 1996 reaching the sea. Eleven months have already passed since the beginning of the eruption and although no person has been hurt or killed and no houses have been seriously damaged or destroyed yet, three major evacuations of about 3000-6000 people from southern to northern Montserrat have already taken place. The latest evacuation which started on 03, April 1996 is still in force at the end of June 1996. The net result is great hardship amongst the people of Montserrat since many are living in very unfavourable conditions and the economy has been severely damaged.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.
ID: 1754

Au: Turk, Michael A.

Ti: Analysis of an objective dvorak technique during the 1995 hurricane season.

So: In: Ahmad, Rafi. ed. Science, hazards and hazard management: abstracts. Kingston, University of the West Indies, Department of Geography and Geology, Unit for Disaster Studies, 1996. 24.

Co: 2^nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12 Oct. 1996.

Ab: The Dvorak technique is the internationally recognized means of estimating tropical cyclone intensity using satellite data. The determination of the Dvorak T number can be highly subjective. The Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch (RAMM) of NESDIS in conjunction with the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), Colorado State University, have developed an objective technique for use on hurricanes with well defined eyes. This objective technique uses the warmest eye temperature and the coldest surrounding ring temperature to determine the final T number. The Synoptic Analysis Branch (SAB) of NESDIS has been experimenting with this objective technique for the last two years. The unusually active 1995 Atlantic hurricane season provided the basis for a preliminary analysis of the objective technique. This initial study based on the 1995 season revealed that (1) the subjective Dvorak estimates were within a half T number of objective estimates approximately 80 percent of the time for systems with well defined eyes; and (2) subjective (objective) intensities were within a half T number of reconnaissance-based estimates 76 percent of the time.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.
ID: 1755

Au: Ahmad, Rafi; Manning, Paul A. S; McCain, Trevor W.

Ti: Ancient landslides in the Red Hills and Stony Hill, St. Andrew, Jamaica.

So: In: Ahmad, Rafi. ed. Science, hazards and hazard management: abstracts. Kingston, University of the West Indies, Department of Geography and Geology, Unit for Disaster Studies, 1996. 4.

Co: 2^nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12 Oct. 1996.

Ab: Landslides are recognised over a large part of the northern slopes of Red Hills and Stony Hill in the parish of St. Andrew. Rockfalls, rock slides, debris flow and deep-seated complex slides are the major types of slope movements mapped. These pre-historic slope movements appear to be associated with the evolution of the east-west trending, Quaternary fault scarp that defines the northern boundary of the Tertiary limestones exposed in the Red Hills and Stony Hill. The insitu limestone outcrops examined in the vicinity of the fault scarp show brecciation, solution features, red clay-filled pipes and fractures and development of terra rossa. The colluvium covered slopes are under a dense forest and bush, and generally inaccessible. In some areas bare rock slopes are seen. Several lines of evidences have been used to identify the landslides. These include anomalous topography, geological structure and the occurrence of exotic boulder deposits of Tertiary limestones overlying the Cretaceous basement rocks comprising granitoids, volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. The landslide deposits consist of limestone debris, boulders and blocks and terra rossa which have often been extensively modified by surficial processes and colonised by bushes and tall trees. The landslide zone mapped is some 7 km long and 1.5 km wide. Active landslides are confined to drainage channels which may have acted as chutes for old slides. We suggest that the possible triggering mechanisms for these landslides may be seismic shaking and/or catastrophic storms. The occurrence of rock slides may indicate seismic shaking as a possible mechanism for the initiation of landslide activity in this area. However, paleoseismicity and the age of sliding need to be established. The evaluation of the landslide hazard is in progress as a part of the Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Project sponsored by OAS and USAID.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.
ID: 1756

Au: Ahmad, Rafi; Manning, Paul A. S; McDonald, Morag; Clark, Jane; Hellin, John.

Ti: Bio-engineering for prevention of landslides on Jamaican roads.

So: In: Ahmad, Rafi. ed. Science, Hazards and Hazard Management: abstracts. Kingston, University of the West Indies, Department. of Geography and Geology, Unit for Disaster Studies, 1996. 3.

Co: 2nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12, Oct. 1996.

Ab: Our experiences in the eastern Caribbean and elsewhere indicate that when employed along with the other conventional methods, bio-engineering may offer simple, robust and cost-effective solutions to the management of roads in steep terrains where landslides frequently disrupt the traffic flow, in addition to mitigating excessive erosion. In this paper we present a preliminary assessment of the potential of bio-engineering in the slope stabilization on the Guinea Corn-Corner Shop Road, Clarendon. This road is subject to recurrent landslides and flooding following every event of significant rainfall in the watershed. In July 1994, we mapped some 82 landslides along the entire ll km of the road, that is, 7 failures/km. Most of the slides are confined to highly weathered and jointed volcaniclastic sediments and ignimbrites and their residual soils which cover an area of 284.26 ha (62 percent of the total area) with slopes in excess of 20o. The existing vegetation types and landuse practices along the road have been described in terms of their function in arresting mass movement and the protection cover they offer against infiltration. In areas where vegetation cover is inadequate or instability is observed, recommendations are made as to vegetation types and techniques which may be implemented to increase slope stability. An assessment is made of the characteristics of existing vegetation with regard to its ability to coppice, display rapid regrowth, nodulate, its adaptability to variation in sites and to poor site conditions, robustness, ability to propagate and whether it will direct seed. Where these criteria are not met by existing vegetation, other species are recommended which would grow in the observed conditions. This study will directly benefit the Rural Road Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (RRRIP) currently being undertaken by the Government of Jamaica. The Guinea Corn-Corner Shop Road is one of the roads being improved under this programme.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.
ID: 1757

Au: Doser, Diane I; Vandusen, Shelley R.

Ti: Body waveform modeling studies of large historic earthquakes near Puerto Rico (1915-1920).

So: In: Ahmad, Rafi. ed. Science, hazards and hazard management: abstracts. Kingston, University of the West Indies, Department of Geography and Geology, Unit for Disaster Studies, 1996. 7.

Co: 2nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12, Oct. 1996

Ab: Between 1915 and 1920 a series of five large earthquakes magnitude 6.7 to 7.5) occurred near Puerto Rico. Although the locations of these earthquakes are poorly known, the epicenters f three of events (1915, 1917 and 1920) fall within the rupture/aftershock zone of the 1943 (magnitude 7.9) North Mona Passage earthquake. Thus these earthquakes could provide important information on precursory stress field changes that led to the 1943 event. The other two earthquakes (1916 and 1918, the largest events of the sequence) occurred in the central Mona Passage due west of Puerto Rico. A preliminary evaluation of body waveforms suggests that several of these earthquakes occurred at sub-crustal (40 km) depths. The waveforms also suggest that reverse-oblique faulting occurred in most events and that several events had complex rupture histories.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.
ID: 1758

Au: Ahmad, Rafi.

Ti: Focal mechanism for the Jamaican earthquake of January 3th, 1993.

So: In: Donovan, Stephen K. ed; Mitchell, Simon F. ed. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Caribbean Geological Conference (abstract). Kingston, University of the West Indies (Mona). Deptartment of Geography and Geology, 1998. 71-2.

Co: 15th Caribbean Geological Conference; Kingston, 29, Jun. – 2, Jul. 1998.

Ab: This paper presents a focal mechanism for the M 5-4 (duration magnitude) Jamaica earthquake of January 13th, 1993, based on the computations of Russ Needham of USGS/NEIC. The Earthquake Unit, UWI, Jamaica, located the epicentre of the main shock northwest of the Silver Hill Pak (18.115o N, 76.686oW) in the Blue Mountain structural block. This earthquake triggered landslides in eastern Jamaica. Given the limitations of the seismic data used in the computations, the nodal plane with a strike of 310o appears to be the preferred fault plane and is supported by the available structural data.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.
ID: 1759

Au: Robinson, Edward; Laughton, Dionne V.

Ti: Burlington and Jupiter landslides, Rio Grande Valley, Jamaica: comparison with Millbank landslide as examples of processes producing natural dams.

So: In: Ahmad, Rafi. ed. Science, hazards and hazard management: abstracts. Kingston, University of the West Indies, Department of Geography and Geology, Unit for Disaster Studies, 1996. 19.

Co: 2^nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12 Oct. 1996.

Ab: Two large, presumably prehistoric landslides in the Rio Grande, are those at Burlington, at the mouth of the Rio Grande, and at Jupiter, near Moore Town. Both these slides are considerably larger than the landslide that blocked the Rio Grande at Millbank in 1937, impounding a lake. The Burlington landslide has been described briefly in a previous publication. The Jupiter landslide is similar in form to, and has developed over the same geological units, as the Millbank slide. Although presumed to be prehistoric, its geomorphology suggests that it is of comparatively recent origin, and the nature of the debris indicates that more than one event is involved. Debris from the most recent event extends across the valley floor, with appreciable runup on the opposite side of the valley from which the slide originated. Investigation of these landslide features is continuing.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.
ID: 1760

Au: Lander, James F.

Ti: Caribbean tsunamis: an initial history.

So: In: Ahmad, Rafi. ed. Science, hazards and hazard management: abstracts. Kingston, University of the West Indies. Department of Geography and Geology. Unit for Disaster Studies, 1996. 13.

Co: 2^nd Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters; Kingston, 9-12 Oct. 1996.

Ab: Reports of 14 tsunamis or possible tsunamis are known for the Caribbean beginning with an event off the coast of Venezuela in 1530. Seven of these have reported damage associated with them. Although the history of the Caribbean area is the longest in the Western Hemisphere, the tsunami history has not been studied in detail due to the varied colonial past and the number of political divisions and consequently must be considered incomplete. It is subject to tsunamis of tectonic origin but most seem to be associated with structures other than the eastern oceanic trench and subduction zone. Notable is the 1867 tsunami originating in the Anegada trough between St. Thomas and St. Croix, Virgin Islands which caused 14 to 16 fatalities and was observed through the Caribbean. The 1918 tsunami off the northwestern corner of Puerto Rico caused about 40 fatalities and extensive damage. The Caribbean area is also subject to rare but destructive tsunamis from Atlantic sources. The 1755 Tsunami which affected Lisbon, North Africa and England put waves as high as 7 meters at Saba, and 3.7 meters at Antigua and Dominica. Waves reached the second story of buildings in Martinique. The Caribbean may also be subject to tsunamis generated by volcanic activity and landslides but none were documented from the 1902 Pelee eruption or the 1692 Port Royal, Jamaica subsidence. Tsunamis at least as high as those in historic times can be expected to reoccur but with the greatly increased coastal development and increased tourism the disaster potential is much larger. The risk should be thoroughly evaluated by a multi-national historical effort and modeling.

Lo: UWI, Mona, Science Library.