Cyclones

Geography assessment report

Cyclone Glenda and Cyclone Larry

By Petra Westropp

Causes and affects:

The life cycle of the average cyclone is about seven 7 days but can extend for up to three 3 weeks. They form in the atmosphere over warm ocean areas. The majority of Australian cyclones form off the NW coast of Australia in the Indian Ocean, or off the NE coast in the Coral Sea.

What really triggers cyclones is still not fully understood but if conditions are right an ordinary tropical climate can turn into a cyclone. Summer heat beating on the warm ocean evaporates water creating a deep layer of moist air. The uplift of this moist air in the centre of a low cools it causing the intense rain of tropical cyclones.

Cyclone Larry brought on so much destruction and devastation to Australia there was no way of predicting it. Many houses roofs were ripped off, tress uprooted, fields smashed and flattened, "This is the most devastating cyclone that we could potentially see on the east coast of Queensland for decades ... there was great destruction," according to Queensland state Counter Disaster Rescue Services executive director Frank Pagano. Cyclone Larry also left a damage bill which is expected to top AU$1bn (US$707m). While cyclone Glenda was not as big as cyclone Larry it did bring flooding to that part of Australia but not as much destruction compared to cyclone Larry.

Impacts

The economic impact of the cyclones would be severe. Farmer Patrick Leahy, president of the Australian Banana Growers' Council, told Mr Howard he faced at least six months without an income after Cyclones destroyed his banana crop near Tully.

"It was devastating to sit in my house and watch my crop just slowly ... go to the ground," Mr Leahy told Macquarie Radio.

"All of us are going to have financial hardship.

"We're going to take at least $300 to $350 million out of the economy of north Queensland over the next nine months."

Avocados Australia, peak industry body said cyclone Larry had caused devastation to one of the Australia's largest avocado production areas and to the lives of hundreds of avocado growers.

The main growing areas in North Queensland have been destroyed in the middle of their harvest period. Resulting is large losses for growers in what was looking to be one their most successful seasons in many years.

Over $15 million worth of crop was lost in just a few short hours. The North Queensland avocado crop was currently supplying 80% of the fruit in the market.

Chief executive officer Antony Allen said "Communities in producing areas will be severely effected in what was the height of the harvesting and packing period for avocado businesses",

"We understand some growers have lost their entire avocado crop and large numbers of trees have been completely up-rooted. It could be up to five years before the North Queensland industry is capable of recovery."

"The North Queensland industry and community will require long term assistance to be able to rebuild and we will work with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries and our fellow peak industry bodies on what can be done to help rebuild the North Queensland horticulture industry."

The cyclones caused extensive damage to native vegetation in the Wet Tropics along the coast between Cairns and Cardwell and inland to the Atherton Tableland. Damage is really bad in smaller forest patches on the coast and on the tablelands, including rainforests around Mission Beach that were still recovering from Cyclone Winifred 20 years ago. WTMA executive director, Josh Gibson, said some wildlife could face potential food and shelter shortages while the vegetation recovers. But, it is expected that most species will be able to adapt their diet and feeding habits or move