REGIONAL SLIDES

Asia and the Pacific Beijing, China Delhi, India Dhaka, Bangladesh Karachi, Pakistan Sydney, Australia Tehran, Iran Dust Storms over China Bam Earthquake, Iran Indian Ocean Tsunami, Indian Sub-continent Drought in Australia, Australia Gangotri Glacier, India Landslide in Tibet, Tibet

Asia and the Pacific By 2015 Asian developing countries will hold three of the world’s five largest urban agglomerations: Mumbai, Dhaka and Delhi Asia now holds 61 per cent of the global population and its share of the global urban population has risen from 9% in 1920 to 48% in 2000 and is expected to rise to 53% by 2030 UNESCO 2006; UNISDR 2005 Of all the world regions, developed and developing, Asia ranks lowest in almost all types of crime Australia is the driest continent, and has one of the most variable rainfall climates in the world Of the 10 countries most hit by natural disasters in 2005, 7 are in the Asian continent

Beijing, the capital city of China, is experiencing explosive growth since economic reforms in : Beijing in : Extent of urban expansion is clearly visible Explosive growth in Beijing, China

: The population of Delhi was at 4.4 million in 1975 that grew to 12.4 million in 2000 Tremendous growth in Delhi and its suburbs India

Phenomenal growth in Dhaka Bangladesh : the capital of Bangladesh, has grown from a city of 2.5 million to more than 10 million

Rapid urban growth in Karachi Pakistan 1975: Karachi before the urban sprawl 2001: Note the change in aerial extent

A vibrant city yet vulnerable to bush fires – Sydney, Australia : Over the last several decades, Sydney has been expanding westward toward the Blue Mountain

Rapidly expanding Tehran, Iran 1975: The population of Tehran has grown three- folds since : Rapid expansion has had adverse impacts on the environment

Dust Storm over China 23 March 2002: a relatively clear day 8 April 2002: extremely dusty skies; dust obscures most of the surface

Earthquakes and Tsunamis According to long-term records (since about 1900), we can expect about 18 major earthquakes ( on the Richter scale) and one great earthquake (8.0 or above) in any given year (NEIC 2003) The number of earthquakes and tsunamis resulting in fatalities has increased approximately in proportion to global populations The growth of giant urban cities near regions of known seismic hazard is a new experiment for life on the Earth Tsunamis are a threat to life and property for all coastal residents

A city destroyed by earthquake Bam, Iran A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Iran on 26 December 2003, killing over people, injuring , leaving homeless and destroying much of the city of Bam, the earthquake’s epicenter

Indian Ocean Tsunami and its aftermath Dec 2004: Tsunami devastated the region of Banda Aceh

Drought in Australia 2002: Increasing price of grain due to the relative shortage of pasture land made the farmers sell their livestock and convert their lands to cropland in : Image showing the expanded crop area

Receding Gangotri Glacier Receding glacier tracked since 1780 In last 25 years, Gangotri Glacier has retreated more than 850 m (2 788 ft)

Landslide in Tibet creates lake Area before landslide creates a natural dam blocking the Pareechu River 2004: Water begins to accumulate behind the dam creating an artificial lake By 13 August 2004, the lake spreads over 188 hectares reaching a depth of 35 meters

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