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Cyclone Justin (1997)
Encyclopedia
Cyclone Justin was a tropical cyclone
of the 1996-97 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
that caused seven deaths and had a major economic impact in northern Queensland
, Australia
. It had a long 3½ week life from 3 March to 29 March 1997. Peaking as a Category 4 cyclone and making landfall as a Category 2, it caused significant damage in the Cairns
region, which it approached on two occasions. Houses were undermined by huge waves, a marina and boats were severely damaged, roads and bridges suffered from flood and landslide damage and huge losses were inflicted on sugar cane, fruit and vegetable crops. The death toll in Queensland
was seven including five on a yacht which sank. There were 26 who died in Papua New Guinea
which was also severely affected. Total estimated costs from damages in Australia were $190 million (1997 values).
, Cyclone Justin began to form. The way in which it formed was as follows. The sea waters were at least 27°C and as a result some of this water was evaporated into the air. This water vapour then rose upwards and created large cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds grouped together and caused a current of warm, moist, rapidly rising air to occur. As a result of this current a low pressure area on the surface of the sea began to develop. This low pressure area made the trade winds (In the southern hemisphere, where Cyclone Justin formed, they are the east to south-easterly winds) to become much stronger, and indeed, allowed them to impart enough force to rotate the cumulonimbus clouds. As these winds spiralled around the low pressure area (the ‘eye’) they released heat and moisture which supplied the now cyclone with energy.
It spent the first week of its life following an erratic path around the Coral Sea; however, with the constant cloud cover the water temperature dropped 4°C. As a consequence of this, Cyclone Justin was deprived of its vital energy source (the warm water vapour) and therefore moved northeast, towards Papua New Guinea to warmer water. Here, it grew to a Category 3 cyclone and caused storm force
winds and storm surge
s. On 22 March it retreated to Queensland where it made landfall, as a Category 2 cyclone, north of Cairns.
The areas in and around Cairns, Innisfail
and Mareeba
areas were devastated with large storm surges, excessive flooding, gusts of winds which reached up to 130 km/h and landslides.
crops. This resulted in an overall loss of $150million to the Queensland Horticulture
and Sugar Cane Industry, as these crops could no longer be exported or sold. This also resulted in expensive prices of Bananas and Pawpaws all over the country as there was a great demand for them but not enough products. Cyclone Justin’s storm force winds also caused severe damage to powerlines, which resulted in the power being out for 36 hours. Consequently, many businesses couldn’t operate and some businesses lost perishable goods
due to their fridges and freezers being unable to prevent food from going off. All of this resulted in a loss of income. Unemployment was also a major consequence of Cyclone Justin’s destruction. The destruction of crops eliminated the need for truck drivers to transport the goods and harvesters to harvest the crops. Other jobs were also affected such as those in tourism, as holiday-makers avoided the area until the wreckages had being cleaned up. On the other hand, the building industry and manufacturers flourished as the need to repair to replace goods/buildings, which had being destroyed or damaged by Cyclone Justin, was tremendously high. With damage to many buildings, vehicles, produce and other items, thousands of insurances claims were made. Some insurance premiums then rose so that the companies could cover the cost of the claims.
was one of the most significant locations which was damaged by the cyclone. With a limited width of open water the Barrier Reef is, as its name suggests, a barrier to the land against high swells. Although this means that the land is relatively well protected, the reef is exposed to high swells and large waves. When Cyclone Justin hit some parts ,mainly around Heron Island and the Whitsundays
, of the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem were severely damaged. This is because Justin’s extreme wave power caused the break-up of corals which many fish and other organisms relied on to live; in turn this affected the larger organisms which relied on these smaller organisms to live, and so on. Some experts believe, however, that the break-up of hard corals is a positive impact as it is simply part of the reef’s life cycle. Cyclone Justin also impacted the beaches along Northern Queensland. Many beaches experienced acute erosion due to high tides and storm surge. As well as this salt water inundated many areas, specifically from Cooktown
to Fraser Island. Many plants have an extremely low tolerance to salt water and for that reason a significant amount of vegetation along the coast died.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
of the 1996-97 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
1996-97 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
The 1996-97 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season ran year-round from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, reaching its peak mid-February to early March.1990-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99-Storms:-Intense Tropical Cyclone Melanie-Bellamine:...
that caused seven deaths and had a major economic impact in northern Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It had a long 3½ week life from 3 March to 29 March 1997. Peaking as a Category 4 cyclone and making landfall as a Category 2, it caused significant damage in the Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
region, which it approached on two occasions. Houses were undermined by huge waves, a marina and boats were severely damaged, roads and bridges suffered from flood and landslide damage and huge losses were inflicted on sugar cane, fruit and vegetable crops. The death toll in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
was seven including five on a yacht which sank. There were 26 who died in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
which was also severely affected. Total estimated costs from damages in Australia were $190 million (1997 values).
Meteorological history
Cyclone Justin was the largest tropical cyclone to hit Northern Queensland in 1997. On 7 March, over the Coral SeaCoral Sea
The Coral Sea is a marginal sea off the northeast coast of Australia. It is bounded in the west by the east coast of Queensland, thereby including the Great Barrier Reef, in the east by Vanuatu and by New Caledonia, and in the north approximately by the southern extremity of the Solomon Islands...
, Cyclone Justin began to form. The way in which it formed was as follows. The sea waters were at least 27°C and as a result some of this water was evaporated into the air. This water vapour then rose upwards and created large cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds grouped together and caused a current of warm, moist, rapidly rising air to occur. As a result of this current a low pressure area on the surface of the sea began to develop. This low pressure area made the trade winds (In the southern hemisphere, where Cyclone Justin formed, they are the east to south-easterly winds) to become much stronger, and indeed, allowed them to impart enough force to rotate the cumulonimbus clouds. As these winds spiralled around the low pressure area (the ‘eye’) they released heat and moisture which supplied the now cyclone with energy.
It spent the first week of its life following an erratic path around the Coral Sea; however, with the constant cloud cover the water temperature dropped 4°C. As a consequence of this, Cyclone Justin was deprived of its vital energy source (the warm water vapour) and therefore moved northeast, towards Papua New Guinea to warmer water. Here, it grew to a Category 3 cyclone and caused storm force
Beaufort scale
The Beaufort Scale is an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land. Its full name is the Beaufort Wind Force Scale.-History:...
winds and storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
s. On 22 March it retreated to Queensland where it made landfall, as a Category 2 cyclone, north of Cairns.
Innisfail, Queensland
Innisfail is a town located in the far north of the state of Queensland, Australia. It is the major township of the Cassowary Coast and is well renowned for its sugar and banana industries, as well as for being one of Australia's wettest towns...
and Mareeba
Mareeba, Queensland
Mareeba is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. The town is above sea level on the confluence of the Barron River, Granite Creek and Emerald Creek. The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning meeting of the waters...
areas were devastated with large storm surges, excessive flooding, gusts of winds which reached up to 130 km/h and landslides.
Economic
Cyclone Justin left a devastating path of destruction that had a major economic impact. Its storm force winds, which reached up to 150 km/h, caused extensive damage to banana, sugar cane and pawpawPawpaw
Asimina is a genus of eight species of small trees or shrubs with large simple leaves and large fruit, native to eastern North America. The genus includes the widespread common pawpaw Asimina triloba, which bears the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. Pawpaws are native to 26 states...
crops. This resulted in an overall loss of $150million to the Queensland Horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
and Sugar Cane Industry, as these crops could no longer be exported or sold. This also resulted in expensive prices of Bananas and Pawpaws all over the country as there was a great demand for them but not enough products. Cyclone Justin’s storm force winds also caused severe damage to powerlines, which resulted in the power being out for 36 hours. Consequently, many businesses couldn’t operate and some businesses lost perishable goods
Shelf life
Shelf life is the length of time that food, drink, medicine, chemicals, and many other perishable items are given before they are considered unsuitable for sale, use, or consumption...
due to their fridges and freezers being unable to prevent food from going off. All of this resulted in a loss of income. Unemployment was also a major consequence of Cyclone Justin’s destruction. The destruction of crops eliminated the need for truck drivers to transport the goods and harvesters to harvest the crops. Other jobs were also affected such as those in tourism, as holiday-makers avoided the area until the wreckages had being cleaned up. On the other hand, the building industry and manufacturers flourished as the need to repair to replace goods/buildings, which had being destroyed or damaged by Cyclone Justin, was tremendously high. With damage to many buildings, vehicles, produce and other items, thousands of insurances claims were made. Some insurance premiums then rose so that the companies could cover the cost of the claims.
Human
The cyclone resulted in 7 fatalities; 5 people were on a yacht that sank, a woman was killed in a landslide which was triggered by the excessive rainfall, and a boy was electrocuted by a falling power line. The areas affected were very close knit communities, and so, when these fatalities occurred everybody was devastated. This resulted in the communities being brought together by their shared experiences and underlying grief. Many of the other social impacts of Cyclone Justin go hand in hand with the economic ones. For instance, some farmers only source of income is their crops, so when their crops were destroyed they didn’t have anything left. This would have being a very stressful time as they would have to find another way to make money in order to rebuild their properties/crops. This could have induced mental anguish on some of the farmers and resulted in them giving up on farming and moving away altogether. A similar situation would be felt by those who were rendered unemployed by the cyclone, as they wouldn’t have an income stream to support themselves on.Environmental
The environmental impart of Cyclone Justin was large and varied. The Great Barrier ReefGreat Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
was one of the most significant locations which was damaged by the cyclone. With a limited width of open water the Barrier Reef is, as its name suggests, a barrier to the land against high swells. Although this means that the land is relatively well protected, the reef is exposed to high swells and large waves. When Cyclone Justin hit some parts ,mainly around Heron Island and the Whitsundays
Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of continental islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland, Australia, situated between just south of Bowen and to the north of Mackay, some north of Brisbane. The island group is centred on Whitsunday Island, while the group's commercial...
, of the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem were severely damaged. This is because Justin’s extreme wave power caused the break-up of corals which many fish and other organisms relied on to live; in turn this affected the larger organisms which relied on these smaller organisms to live, and so on. Some experts believe, however, that the break-up of hard corals is a positive impact as it is simply part of the reef’s life cycle. Cyclone Justin also impacted the beaches along Northern Queensland. Many beaches experienced acute erosion due to high tides and storm surge. As well as this salt water inundated many areas, specifically from Cooktown
Cooktown, Queensland
Cooktown is a small town located at the mouth of the Endeavour River, on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland where James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour, for repairs in 1770. At the 2006 census, Cooktown had a population of 1,336...
to Fraser Island. Many plants have an extremely low tolerance to salt water and for that reason a significant amount of vegetation along the coast died.