Toronto’s Defining Storm: Hurricane Hazel’s Enduring Impact
Hurricane Hazel’s Devastating Impact on Toronto
Hurricane Hazel was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 1954 Atlantic Hurricane Season. While its immense impacts spread as far as Haiti and across more than eight states within the U.S., they were particularly unprecedented in Canada, especially in Toronto. With winds reaching 124 km/h and over 200 millimeters of rain falling within 48 hours, the storm caused widespread devastation:
- 81 people died.
- 1,868 people were left homeless.
- City damage
Climate Change & Biodiversity Loss: Interconnected Global Threats
Both biodiversity loss and climate change represent critical environmental challenges with severe implications for human societies. While deeply interconnected, the question of which poses a more immediate threat is often debated. Nevertheless, both climate change and biodiversity loss should not be underestimated, as they can lead to systemic collapses in the ecosystem services that societies heavily depend on.
Understanding Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity loss refers to the reduction in the variety
Read MoreRemote Sensing Fundamentals: Concepts & Image Interpretation
Passive vs. Active Remote Sensing
Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance, typically from aircraft or satellites. It is broadly classified into two types: passive and active remote sensing, based on how the sensors acquire data.
Passive Remote Sensing
Passive remote sensing relies on natural energy, usually sunlight, to detect and capture information. Sensors in this system measure the reflected sunlight or emitted thermal radiation from the Earth’s
Read MoreGlobal Renewable Energy & Corporate Sustainability Initiatives
Wind Power Potential & Global Impact
In 2015, wind power was the largest source of new capacity globally. The world’s wind power capacity could potentially cover all global energy consumption. It has doubled in the last three years, now accounting for 2% of world electricity production and reaching 20% in some countries.
Environmental Benefits of Wind Energy
Wind power plants reduce emissions by displacing more polluting facilities. They contribute to a 14% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Read MoreInternal Migration: Demographic, Economic, and Social Impacts
The Consequences of Traditional Internal Migration
Demographic Impacts:
- Imbalances in population distribution, leading to depletion in some areas and high densities in others, particularly on the periphery.
- Influences the age and sex structure:
- Increases the sex ratio in some emigration areas, hindering family formation.
- Causes population aging in rural areas and rejuvenation in urban areas.
Economic Impacts:
- Initially, rural areas saw increased population resources.
- Over time, sub-economies were generated
Global Habitats: Cities, Ecosystems, and Population Dynamics
Human Habitats and Settlements
Understanding Human Habitat
Humans live in environments that they adapt and transform to suit their needs. This adapted environment is what we call a habitat.
Factors Facilitating Settlements
Natural Factors
- Moderate climate
- Access to river water
- Easy communications
Human Factors
- Organization into groups
- Ecological development
Phases of Human Settlements
Hunter-Gatherers
Around 8000 BC, early humans were nomadic and unstable. They lived in small, loosely organized groups, inhabiting