Part 1. Vocabulary
|
swath |
/ ˈswäth/ n. - a row of
cut grain or grass left by a scythe or mowing machine §
An aerial view of the countryside shows wide swathes of
green. |
|
subsidence |
/səbˈsīdns/
n. the gradual
caving in or sinking of an area of land. §
"the race was abandoned because of
subsidence of the track" |
|
let down |
/
ˈlet-ˌdau̇n/ n. -
disappointment §
his latest novel is a letdown |
|
vegetation |
/ve-jə-ˈtā-shən/
n. - plant life
or total plant cover (as of an area) §
the local vegetation is flourishing
as a result of the recent rains |
|
spatial |
/spā-shəl/
adj. - of,
relating to, or involved in the perception of relationships (as of objects)
in space §
Most stumble over the
simplest spatial tasks,… |
Part 2. Article Reading
BANGKOK: A huge swath of land is closer to sea level across Southeast Asia than
previously realized, highlighting the flood dangers faced by millions,
according to a new study using advanced satellite imagery.
In low-lying
countries vulnerable to sea-level rise and with land prone to sinking due to subsidence,
like Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, it means more of
the population will face annual extreme sea-level events that are
progressively getting worse due to climate change.
Past coastal
flood risk assessments and projections have been let down by a lack of
accuracy in satellite radar data that measures land elevation levels.
However, researchers
from Dutch-based research institute, Deltares were able to perform the first
global elevation model using new satellite Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)
data, providing a more accurate picture.
“Most
existing elevation models for the region, and indeed globally, were based on
radar data which cannot fully penetrate vegetation and therefore yield a
land elevation that is often too high by one or several meters” explained Dr
Aljosja Hooijer, the co-author of the report, which was published in the Nature
Communications journal in late June.
“If the
assumed land elevation is too high, the resulting calculated flood risk is too
low,” he told CNA.
As a result,
in Indonesia, the land area below 2m detected by LiDAR is more than 14 times
what was previously thought, compared to the more commonly used Shuttle Radar
Topography Mission (SRTM) data.
In Thailand,
the amount is about five times SRTM estimates, and seven times in the Philippines.
These
figures can vary at a local level, the researchers stressed, where
more precise data can help planning officials reduce flooding risks.
A Greenpeace report released last month, using high spatial resolution data from
scientific research organization Climate Central aimed to quantify the
economic damages being faced by seven of Asia’s biggest cities, due to extreme
sea-level rise by 2030. It estimated the potential damages - in urban
areas alone - at US$724 billion in Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Taipei, Seoul,
Tokyo and Hong Kong.
“Climate
change impact is not only an environmental problem. It devastates the economy
and, as a result, will create nationwide social problems,” said Tata Mustasya,
Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s regional climate and energy campaign strategist.
“Millions of
vulnerable people live in the flooding areas. They will be displaced and lose
their livelihoods.” (Jack Board)
Read full article @https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sustainability/sea-level-rise-southeast-asia-satellite-imagery-climate-change-1989406