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What on earth

Indonesian Floods

Heavy rains late on Sunday 1 January triggered floods and landslides in Indonesia's East Java. At least 63 people have been killed, but the number could rise further. More than 2,500 buildings have been destroyed. Much of the forest cover in the area - which would normally absorb some of the rain and prevent the hillsides from slipping - has been cut down (through illegal logging) in recent years, and this has probably contributed to the disaster.



Indonesia knows two rainy seasons
1. Between November and March when the northeast monsoon blows from China and the north Pacific
2. Between May and September when the southwest monsoon blows from the Indian Ocean and Australia

The monsoon is a seasonal reversals of winds from southwest in summer to northeast in winter, in principle it is caused by temperature differences between the land and sea. When the sun does its (season-related) work hot air rises from the continent and this draws moisture-laden air in from the (colder) oceans to bring heavy rains.

Ole

Largest eruption in the 20th centuryGlobal warming 55 million years ago

Comments

Ole Nielsennielsol Wednesday, January 18, 2006 8:01:25 PM

Hi dasichdeb,

You mention US firms - I think we Europeans who buy and use a lot of tropical hardwood should be even ashamed. Another negative point is that the local people in the areas where the logging takes place see little or nothing of the money or profit earned.

Ole

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