Geo2025

Singapore’s Main Hazard: Flooding    Singapore’s main hazard is flooding. Each year, the small country located in south-east Asia is hit by heavy rainfall during monsoon season. These storms can drop heavy amounts of rain in a short amount of time causing flash floods. The urban city cannot absorb the heavy rainfall and this could lead to flooding. The country has been proactive to try to mitigate the risk. Most of Singapore is flat lying, making drainage slow. The rainwater is not absorbed by the ground due to the fact that much of Singapore is industrialized. Heavy rainfall could knock out power, leaving citizens stranded and unable to access emergency response systems resulting in potential for loss of life. These factors create a recipe for disaster if these situations are not mitigated properly. Luckily Singapore’s government is proactive and has invested in sophisticated drainage systems and implemented guidelines on new construction. To help mitigate the risk of...

         Singapore faces many challenges when it comes to coastal hazards. Most of Singapore is 15m above Singapore Height Datum and 30 percent of the island is 5m above Singapore Height Datum. Rising sea levels could lead to coastal flooding, land loss, and infrastructure damage. Coastal erosion also has an impact on shorelines. Singapore's tropical climate combined with flash floods in low lying urban areas leave the country vulnerable to mass destruction.      Singapore's Prime Minister has vowed to spend 100 billion over the next 100 years to protect against rising sea levels. They are using computers to simulated combined effects of sea-level rise and rainfall on the country's coastlines. Singapore also plans to build a larger additional terminal at its airport on higher ground, 18 feet above sea level. There are planned to have more than 6 miles of drainage to keep the runways clear of water.  Singapore also utilizes mangrove forests to...