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Thursday, January 13, 2011

Flood and Mudslide crisis hits Brazil

A week of torrential rain on the south east of Brazil has led to Flooding and Mudslides. Since Christmas 432 people have been killed with many still missing.
Downpours of rain have submerged towns and suburbs beneath water. According to officials The Serrena mountain region north of Rio has seen a months rainfall in under 24 hours. Brazilian authorities have claimed that  in the town of Teresopolis 152 people have lost their lives along with 168 people in Nova Friburgo. Hundreds of Thousands of people have been made homeless and are taking shelter in centres and schools.

Brazil usually has a monsoon season in early Autumn but this year has seen a surge in rainfall. Similar to the recent floods in Brisbane the La Niña has affected Brazil.


What is La Niña?
It is the cooling of surface waters in central and eastern Pacific Ocean. El Niño is the opposite as it is the warming of surface waters.


How does it cause floods?
The changing of Atmospheric circulation redistributes the rainfall. High pressure reduces the normally heavy precipitation over the tropical and subtropical Pacific. Instead of the haevy rain falling on the sea it falls on the land (mainly coastal regions)


Climatologists are divided on the matter that La Niña is a result of Climate Change.




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