Severe Storm

Cyclone Idai on 13 March 2019 west of Madagascar and heading for Mozambique. Image: ESA.

Definition

Storms are generally classified as a meteorological hazard, caused by short-lived, micro- to meso-scale extreme weather and atmospheric conditions that last from minutes to days (EM-DAT).

Facts and figures

There are several different types of storms distinguished by the strength and characteristics of atmospheric disturbances:

Convective/local storm: A type of meteorological hazard generated by the heating of air and the availability of moist and unstable air masses. Convective storms range from localized thunderstorms (with heavy rain and/or hail, lightning, high winds, tornadoes) to meso-scale, multi-day events.
Sandstorm, dust storm: Strong winds carry particles of sand aloft, but generally confined to less than 50 feet (15 metres), especially common in arid and semi-arid environments. A dust storm is also characterised by strong winds but carries smaller particles of dust rather than sand over an extensive area.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air that reaches the ground or open water (waterspout).
Lightning: A high-voltage, visible electrical discharge produced by a thunderstorm and followed by the sound of thunder.
Winter storm, blizzard: A low pressure system in winter months with significant accumulations of snow, freezing rain, sleet or ice. A blizzard is a severe snow storm with winds exceeding 35 mph (56 km/h) for three or more hours, producing reduced visibility (less than .25 mile (400 m).
Orographic storm (strong wind): Differences in air pressure resulting in the horizontal motion of air. The greater the difference in pressure, the stronger the wind. Wind moves from high pressure toward low pressure.
Extratropical storm: A type of low-pressure cyclonic system in the middle and high latitudes (also called mid-latitude cyclone) that primarily gets its energy from the horizontal temperature contrasts (fronts) in the atmosphere.
Tropical storms: A tropical cyclone originates over tropical or subtropical waters. It is characterised by a warm-core, non-frontal synoptic-scale cyclone with a low pressure centre, spiral rainbands and strong winds. Depending on their location, tropical cyclones are referred to as hurricanes (Atlantic, Northeast Pacific), typhoons (Northwest Pacific), or cyclones (South Pacific and Indian Ocean) (UNDRR, Sendai Framework).

Further information

NOAA Severe Storms

University College London - Tropical Storm Risk (TSR)

WMO - Natural hazards and disaster risk reduction

UN-SPIDER Regional Support Offices with hazard-specific expertise

Title: Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC)

Title: Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Technologies (GIT)

Title: Center for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces (ZFL)

Title: ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence (CoE)

Title: Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing (IAASARS/NOA)

Title: Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO)

Related content on the Knowledge Portal

UN-SPIDER and ZFL carry out Virtual Regional Expert Meeting for Southern Africa

Southern Africa is exposed to hydrometeorological, geological, coastal and biological hazards. The region has been hard hit by droughts in recent years. Tropical cyclone Idai triggered massive floods in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe in March 2019, and in 2020 several countries experience a severe locust outbreak. And unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to impact all countries in this region.
To continue efforts to promote the use of space technologies in disaster risk management, emergency response and recovery efforts, UN-SPIDER and the Centre for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces of the University of Bonn (ZFL) joined forces to organize the UN-SPIDER / ZFL Regional Virtual Expert Meeting for Southern Africa "Space-based Solutions for Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response" from 13 to 15 July 2021. This regional expert meeting contributed to the efforts conducted by UN-SPIDER on disaster risk reduction, preparedness, early…
read more

19/07/2021
Disasters Mapping Portal (NASA)
Publishing institution:
1. NASA Earth Science Disasters Program
The Caribbean Risk Information System (CRIS)
Publishing institution:
1. Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)
Copernicus Open Access Hub

The Copernicus Open Access Hub provides complete, free and open access to Sentinel missions data.
Publishing institution:
1. European Space Agency (ESA)
Caribbean GeoPortal (esri)
Global High Resolution Population Density Maps (Facebook Connectivity Lab, CIESIN)

Facebook Connectivity Lab in collaboration with the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Colombia University combines machine vision AI with satellite imagery and census information to create population density maps. With the integration of demographic information, specifically related to age and gender, these maps collectively provide information on both the location and the demographic of a population in a certain country. The population density maps cover the majority of countries around the world.
Publishing institution:
1. Facebook Connectivity Lab
2. Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) - Columbia University
Global High Resolution Population Density Maps (Facebook Connectivity Lab, CIESIN)

Facebook Connectivity Lab in collaboration with the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Colombia University combines machine vision AI with satellite imagery and census information to create population density maps. With the integration of demographic information, specifically related to age and gender, these maps collectively provide information on both the location and the demographic of a population in a certain country. The population density maps cover the majority of countries around the world.
Publishing institution:
1. Facebook Connectivity Lab
2. Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) - Columbia University
Introduction to Population Grids and their Integration with Remote Sensing Data for Sustainable Development and Disaster Management

Having reliable and timely population distribution data can make a life or death difference for individuals facing crises or living in conflict-ridden regions. These data are also essential for development decision-making and planning and for monitoring progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the international community. We need to know where people are located, what conditions they are facing, what infrastructure is available, and what basic services they can access. We also need to ensure that no one is left off the map in pursuit of meeting the SDGs.

Gridded population data, which often use remote sensing inputs to improve the spatial allocation of population within a country, are vital for all these purposes. Together with the growing variety of applications that require spatial population data, there is now a bewildering array of population grids, and users need to know which ones are most suitable for their applications…
read more
UNOOSA and NASA sign landmark Memorandum of Understanding to advance peaceful uses of outer space

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States Government (NASA) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 17 December 2020 pledging cooperation in areas of science and technology to support the peaceful uses of outer space.

The MoU brings together NASA's wealth of open-source spacecraft data, tools, and expertise and UNOOSA's unique position as the only UN entity dedicated to outer space affairs, to expand global opportunities to leverage the benefits of space. The partners will design capacity-building programmes, particularly for institutions in countries that do not yet have or that are developing space capabilities, to help them access space.

Together, UNOOSA and NASA will develop ways to leverage the Artemis programme as part of UNOOSA's Access to Space 4 All Initiative, which offers opportunities for international researchers and institutions, especially in…
read more

11/01/2021
Mexico and Argentina align satellite networks to resolve regional challenges

In collaboration with the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE) of Argentina, the Mexican Space Agency (AEM) recently launched a digital platform to improve the integration of satellite data for environmental monitoring in Latin America. The Comprehensive Regional Satellite Information System (SIRIS) provides access to satellite information in order to enhance decision-making and facilitate disaster management.
The SIRIS platform provides access to satellite imagery for different areas. The platform supplies information on the agriculture and forestry sector to better monitor the impact of natural disasters on agricultural production and woodland. It also offers up-to-date and archived data on fires to strengthen early warning and build long-term resilience. On floods, information provided by SIRIS indicates the water level to improve damage evaluation of the impacted area and facilitate humanitarian relief. In…
read more

20/12/2020