This morning's headlines

Hello again,

So I know that usually I publish weekly posts on Thursdays, but this morning's headlines have really made me think. Not sure how many people have heard about this in the news yet, but I'm sure it will be making the news for quite a few days to come still.

The two top stories on the CBC website this morning: Japan suffers major damage in 8.9 quake and Tsunami advisory for B.C. coast. Wow. I feel like I went to sleep last night and the world has changed!

A bit of background info: this magnitude 8.9 earthquake (measured on the Richter Scale) is the highest magnitude earthquake in Japanese history since they began measuring and recording earthquakes 140 years ago. As of 8:45 am this morning, there are already 40 dead and 39 officially missing; the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, one of the largest in the world, is under a stage of emergency because it's cooling mechanism has failed (but don't worry, no radioactivity has escaped the facility - yet); and an oil refinery is burning uncontrollably, sending up flames over 30 meters into the air. The earthquake triggered a tsunami which hit the Japanese coast shortly afterwards and has already caused devastating damage, both to human lives and infrastructure. Many other Pacific nations, including New Zealand and Australia, and all the way down the Americas from B.C. to Mexico and South America have also been put under alert. Hawaii has already had tsunami waves hit their shores, perhaps with more to come.

And so while I'm reading this, what is going on in the back of my mind? That I feel like we're hearing about more and more extreme weather events and natural disasters recently. Just yesterday there was an earthquake in China, and last month a quake in Christchurch, New Zealand devastated the region. Earthquakes aren't the only hazard, either: parts of eastern Australia were devastated by massive floods in January, and here at home in Canada the Maritimes have been placed in a state of emergency a few times this winter as furious storms came crashing through. So when I hear about these things the first thing I think is "thank goodness I live in an area which is relatively free of natural disasters" and "I'm happy that my family is safe", but then it gets me to thinking that the direction I currently want to go in academically and professionally is quite fitting. Right now, I am interested in pursuing a master's degree in Flood Risk Management (or if that fails, Hydro-Informatics and Water Management), and I don't think I could be doing this at a better time. If the change in climate continues to modify our weather patterns as significantly as it has in recent years, the need for specialists in dealing with natural disasters (preventing, planning, monitoring, and mitigating) will continue to increase. I just hope that in pursuing this career path I don't end up living too close to an area at great risk of a natural disaster. I guess only time will tell.

So that's what is going through my head on this Friday morning. May I also point out that the weather this week has been completely unpredictable. It will be pouring rain one day and then the ground is completely covered in snow the next (and round and round it goes like this). I for one am not sure whether I should wear my winter boots or my rain boots to school today. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these extreme natural disasters and weather phenomena. How has it affected you?

Have a great week everyone!
Sheila