Izinhlekelele Ezingokwemvelo Kanye Nezenzo Zabantu Eziwumthelela

UMA imoto inakekelwa kahle, ingaba into yokuhamba ephephile. Kodwa yona leyo moto ingaba ingozi uma iphathwa kabi futhi inganakekelwa kahle. Ngandlela-thile, kungashiwo okufanayo ngeplanethi yethu ewuMhlaba.

Ngokombono wososayensi abaningi, ushintsho olubangelwe abantu emkhathini nasolwandle luye lwenza iplanethi yethu yaba indawo eyingozi ngokubangela izinhlekelele ezinkulu ezingokwemvelo, ezigadla ziphindelela. Futhi ikusasa libonakala lifiphele nakakhulu. “Siphakathi kwesimo esingalawuleki lapho singaqiniseki khona ukuthi esikwenzayo kuyozala nkomoni kule planethi yethu okuwukuphela kwayo esinayo,” kusho ingosi yomhleli ekhuluma ngokushintsha kwesimo sezulu kumagazini i-Science.

Ukuze siyiqonde kangcono indlela izenzo zabantu okungenzeka zinomthelela ngayo kulezi zinhlekelele ezinkulu ezigadla ziphindelela, kumelwe sibe nolwazi oluyisisekelo maqondana nenqubo engokwemvelo. Ngokwesibonelo, yini ebangela iziphepho ezinkulu?

Izindlela Zokudlulisela Ukushisa Kwezinye Izingxenye Zeplanethi

Isimo sezulu somhlaba siye safaniswa nomshini oguqula amandla avela elangeni bese ukhipha amazinga afanele okushisa ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene. Ngenxa yokuthi ilanga lishisa kakhulu eZindaweni Ezishisayo, ukungalingani kwamazinga okushisa okubangelwa yile nqubo kwenza umoya ujikeleze emkhathini. * Ukujikeleza komhlaba nsuku zonke kuphazamisa lo moya oswakeme ojikelezayo, futhi ngenxa yalokho, ube usujikeleza ndawonye ube imisinga, eminye yawo iya ngasezindaweni ezipholile. Kanti le misinga ingase ishintshe ibe yiziphepho.

Uma uqaphelisisa ukuthi lezi ziphepho zasezindaweni ezishisayo zivame ukuya ngakuphi, uyobona ukuthi zivame ukuya ngasezindaweni ezipholile ezithe ukuqhela enkabazwe—kungaba senyakatho noma eningizimu. Ngokwenza kanjalo, iziphepho zisebenza njengemishini emikhulu edlulisela ukushisa, kanjalo zisize ekubeni isimo sezulu singabi sibi kakhulu. Kodwa uma la mazinga okushisa engalé kuka-27 °C. engxenyeni engaphezulu yamanzi olwandle—‘oluwubhayela’ walo mshini wesimo sezulu—iziphepho zasezindaweni ezishisayo zingase zithole amandla anele angaziphendula zibe izikhwishikhwishi, noma izivunguvungu—okungamagama ezindawo ngezindawo asho into eyodwa.

 Uma kuziwa endabeni yenani labantu abafayo, inhlekelele engokwemvelo embi kunazo zonke emlandweni wase-United States yenzeka lapho isiphepho sigadla ngamandla edolobheni eliyisiqhingi laseGalveston, eTexas, ngo-September 8, 1900. Amagagasi aphehlwa iziphepho adlula nokuphila kwabantu abaphakathi kuka-6 000 no-8 000 edolobheni, kanye nabangaba ngu-4 000 ezindaweni eziseduze, futhi abhidliza izindlu ezingaba ngu-3 600. Empeleni, ayikho neyodwa into eyakhiwa umuntu eyasala ingenamyocu eGalveston.

Njengoba sekuphawuliwe esihlokweni esandulele, kuye kwagadla iziphepho ezinamandla kakhulu izikhathi eziningana eminyakeni yamuva nje. Ososanyensi basahlola ukuthi lokhu kuhlangene yini nokwenyuka kwamazinga okushisa embulungeni yonke, okungenzeka yikona okunikeza iziphepho amandla. Kodwa ukushintsha kwesimo sezulu kungase kube olunye lwezimpawu zokukhuphuka kwamazinga okushisa embulungeni yonke. Omunye umphumela wako ongase ube yingozi kakhulu kungenzeka sesiyawubona kakade.

Ukuphakama Kwamanzi Olwandle Nokuqothulwa Kwamahlathi

Ngokwengosi yomhleli kamagazini i-Science, “isilinganiso sokuphakama kwamanzi olwandle siye sakhuphuka ngamasentimitha ayishumi kuya kwangu-20 kule minyaka eyikhulu edlule, futhi singalindela lukhulu esikhathini esizayo.” Lokhu kungahlobana kanjani nokukhuphuka kwamazinga okushisa embulungeni yonke? Abacwaningi bakhomba ezinqubweni ezimbili abacabanga ukuthi zingunobangela. Okokuqala bacabanga ukuthi lokhu kungenzeka kubangelwa ukuncibilika kweqhwa elimboze izindawo ezibandayo kanye nokuncibilika kwezinguzunga zeqhwa, okungandisa isilinganiso samanzi amumathwa ulwandle. Esinye isici ukwanda kwamanzi olwandle okubangelwa ukushisa—njengoba ulwandle luya lushisa, isilinganiso samanzi amamuthwa ulwandle siyakhuphuka.

Iziqhingana zaseTuvalu ePacific kungenzeka ukuthi kakade sezibhekana nemiphumela yokuphakama kwamanzi olwandle. Umagazini i-Smithsonian uphawula ukuthi imininingwane eyaqoqwa esiqhingini saseFunafuti esizungezwe yizixhobo zama-coral ibonisa ukuthi amanzi olwandle aye aphakama “ngesilinganiso esingaba amamilimitha angu-5,6 ngonyaka kule minyaka eyishumi edlule.”

Ezingxenyeni eziningi zomhlaba, ukwanda kwabantu kusho ukwanda kwezindawo zasemadolobheni, ukwanda kwemikhukhu kanye nokonakaliswa ngokwengeziwe kwendawo ezungezile. Ngokuvamile, lezi zindawo zingabangela ukuba isimo sezinhlekelele ezingokwemvelo sibe sibi nakakhulu. Cabangela izibonelo ezithile.

IHaiti iyizwe eliyisiqhingi elinabantu abaningi futhi linomlando wokuqothulwa kwamahlathi. Umbiko wezindaba wamuva nje wathi nakuba sisibi kakhulu isimo saseHaiti sezomnotho, sezombangazwe kanye nesezenhlalo, ayikho into esongela ukuqhubeka kwaleli zwe likhona ukudlula ukuqothulwa kwamahlathi. Lolu songo lwaphawuleka ngendlela edabukisayo ngo-2004 lapho izikhukhula zemvula zibangela ukuba kugeleze udaka olwadlula nokuphila kwezinkulungwane zabantu.

I-Time yase-Asia ithi izici eziye zabangela ukuba zibe zimbi nakakhulu izinhlekelele ezingokwemvelo eziye zagadla eNingizimu Asia, “ukwenyuka kwamazinga okushisa embulungeni yonke, amadamu, ukuqothulwa kwamahlathi kanye nokugawulwa nokushiswa  kwezihlahla nohlaza.” Kanti okubi nangokwedlulele, ukuqothulwa kwamahlathi kungenza isomiso sibe sibi kakhulu ngokwenza inhlabathi yome ngokushesha okukhulu. Eminyakeni yamuva nje, isomiso e-Indonesia naseBrazil siye sabangela imililo yequbula eqopha umlando emahlathini ngokuvamile ahlale emanzi kakhulu ukuba angasha. Kodwa isimo sezulu esibi kakhulu akusona sodwa esibangela izinhlekelele ezingokwemvelo. Amazwe amaningi abhekene nezinhlekelele eziqala phansi ekujuleni komhlaba.

Lapho Umhlaba Undindizela Ngamandla

Ungqimba olungaphandle lomhlaba lwakhiwa izingqimba ezinobukhulu obuhlukahlukene ezihlale zinyakaza. Yiqiniso, lolu ngqimba lomhlaba luhlale lunyakaza kangangokuthi kungase kube nokuzamazama komhlaba okuyizigidi eziningana unyaka ngamunye. Okuningi kwalokhu kuzamazama komhlaba asikuqapheli nokukuqaphela lapho kwenzeka.

Kuthiwa ukuzamazama komhlaba okungaba amaphesenti angu-90 kwenzeka emifantwini esemingceleni yezingqimba zomhlaba. Okunye ukuzamazama komhlaba okubhubhisa kakhulu kodwa okungavamile, kwenzeka kuzona ngokwazo lezi zingqimba zomhlaba. Okunye ukwaziswa kusikisela ukuthi ukuzamazama komhlaba okwadlula nokuphila kwabantu abaningi kunanini ngaphambili emlandweni yilokho okwagadla ezifundeni ezintathu zaseChina ngonyaka ka-1556. Kungenzeka ukuthi kwadlula nokuphila kwabantu abangu-830 000!

Ngaphezu kwalokho ukuzamazama kungaba nemiphumela ebhubhisayo. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-November 1, 1755, ukuzamazama kwalibeka phansi idolobha laseLisbon, ePortugal, elalihlala abantu abangu-275 000. Kodwa lolu sizi alugcinanga lapho. Lokhu kuzamazama komhlaba kwabangela nokuba kuqubuke imililo kwabangela nama-tsunami alinganiselwa kumamitha angu-15 ukuphakama, ayegijima ngesivinini esikhulu esuka kuyi-Atlantic Ocean. Sekukonke, abantu abashona kulelo dolobha beqela ngale kuka-60 000.

Nokho, nalapha futhi izinga lezi zinhlekelele ezigadla ngalo ngandlela-thile lixhomeke kakhulu ezenzweni zabantu ezinomthelela. Esinye isici ukwanda kwabantu ezindaweni eziyingozi kakhulu.  Umlobi u-Andrew Robinson uthi: “Cishe ingxenye yamadolobha amakhulu emhlabeni yakhiwe ezindaweni eziyingozi ezithandwa ukuzamazama komhlaba.” Esinye isici izakhiwo—izinto zokwakha nezinga lokwakhiwa kwazo. Ngokudabukisayo, isisho esithi “ukuzamazama komhlaba akubulali; okubulalayo yizakhiwo” ngokuvamile siye sabonakala siyiqiniso. Kodwa abantu bangabuye benzenjani uma bempofu kakhulu ukuba bangakha izindlu ezikwazi ukumelana nokuzamazama komhlaba?

Izintaba-mlilo—Abakhi Nababhubhisi

“Mhlawumbe kuyobe sekuqhume izintaba-mlilo okungenani ezingu-20 njengoba ufunda la magama,” kusho umbiko we-Smithsonian Institute e-United States. Ngokuyisisekelo, inkolelo-mbono ephathelene nokunyakaza kwezingqimba zomhlaba ithi ukuzamazama komhlaba nezintaba-mlilo kwenzeka ezindaweni ezifanayo—emifantwini, ikakhulu emifantwini esekujuleni kolwandle; ongqimbeni lomhlaba olungaphezulu, lapho amadwala encibilika khona endaweni eshisa kakhulu ngaphansi kongqimba lomhlaba abese ekhuphuka emifantwini; kanye nasezindaweni lapho izingqimba zomhlaba zingqubuzana khona olunye lushone ngaphansi kolunye.

Izintaba-mlilo ezidalwa ukuvuleka kwale mifantu lapho izingqimba zomhlaba zingqubuzana ziwusongo kakhulu kubantu ngenxa yokuqhuma kwazo kaningi nangenxa yokuqhuma kwazo eduze kwezindawo ezihlala abantu. IPacific Rim, ebizwa nangokuthi iRing of Fire, inamakhulu alolu hlobo lwezintaba-mlilo. Nakuba kungavamile, lolu hlobo lwezintaba-mlilo luye luqhume futhi nasemifantwini ethe ukuqhela emingceleni yezingqimba ezingaphansi komhlaba. IziQhingi ZaseHawaii, zase-Azores, zaseGalápagos kanye nezaseSociety zonke zibonakala ziwumkhiqizo walezi zintaba-mlilo.

Empeleni, sekuyisikhathi eside izintaba-mlilo zifeza ingxenye ebalulekile emlandweni. Ngokwengosi ye-Internet yaseyunivesithi ethile, ‘amazwekazi kanye nemigodi yasolwandle engaba amaphesenti angu-90 emhlabeni wonke kwaba khona ngenxa yokuqhuma kwezintaba-mlilo.’ Kodwa yini ebangela ukuba ezinye izintaba-mlilo ziqhume ngamandla amakhulu kangaka?

Ngaphambi kokuba izintaba-mlilo ziqhume, kuqale kubonakale kuphuma amadwala ancibilikile asuka endaweni eshisa kakhulu ngaphansi komhlaba. Ezinye izintaba-mlilo zimane zikhiphe udaka olushisayo okuthiwa i-lava, ngokuvamile olugeleza kancane kakhulu ukuthi lungafica abantu bengazelele. Kodwa ezinye zivele ziqhume ngamandla amakhulu kakhulu kunawebhomu lenuzi! Izici ezinquma ukuthi ziyoqhuma ngamandla kangakanani zihlanganisa nokuthi lwakheke kanjani nokuthi lushube kangakanani lolu daka lwamadwala ancibilikile abangela ukuba izintaba-mlilo ziqhume, kanye nobungako bamagesi namanzi ashisa kakhulu aye axubana nalolu daka. Njengoba lolu daka luya lufinyelela endaweni engaphezulu enhlabathini, la manzi kanye namagesi axubene nalolu daka anda ngokushesha. Uma la madwala ancibilikile eye axubana kahle nala manzi ashisa kakhulu kanye namagesi, umphumela uthi awufane nowesiphuzo esivele siqhume lapho umuntu ethi uvula ithini.

Okujabulisayo ukuthi izintaba-mlilo ngokuvamile  ziqale zinikeze isixwayiso ngaphambi kokuba ziqhume. Kwenzeka okufanayo ngeNtaba iPelée esesiqhingini saseMartinique eCaribbean ngo-1902. Kodwa njengoba ukhetho lwase lusemnyango eSt. Pierre eseduze, izazi zezombangazwe zakhuthaza abantu ukuba bahlale naphezu komlotha, ukugula kwabantu kanye nokwesaba okwakugcwele kulo lonke idolobha. Empeleni, kwase kuphele izinsuku izitolo eziningi zivaliwe!

USuku Lokwenyuka kukaJesu lwalungo-May 8, futhi abantu abaningi bathutheleka esontweni elikhulu lamaKatolika beyothandazela ukuba basindiswe lapho kuqhuma intaba-mlilo. Ngalelo langa, ngemva nje kuka-8:00 ekuseni, iNtaba iPelée yaqhuma, yakhipha umlotha, amalahle ashisayo, amatshe afana nengilazi, ilula kanye negesi eshisa kakhulu, futhi amazinga okushisa kwale mfucumfucu ayesuka ku-200 kuya ku-500 °C. Lapho selizofika enhlabathini, leli fu elimnyama elibulalayo lehla ngokushesha kule ntaba-mlilo, lasibekela lonke idolobha, futhi labulala abantu abangaba ngu-30 000, lancibilikisa insimbi yesonto lathungela nemikhumbi eyayisesikhumulweni. Kwakuyintaba-mlilo ebulala kunazo zonke ezake zaqhuma ngekhulu lama-20. Kodwa yayingeke idlule nokuphila kwabantu abaningi kangako ukube abantu bathatha izinyathelo lapho bebona izimpawu eziyisixwayiso.

Ingabe Izinhlekelele Ezingokwemvelo Zizokwanda?

Kuyi-World Disasters Report 2004, i-International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ithi eminyakeni eyishumi edlule, izinhlekelele ezingokwemvelo ezihlobene nokwakheka komhlaba kanye nesimo sezulu ziye zanda ngamaphesenti angaphezu kwangu-60. “Lokhu kubonisa izinhlekelele ezazivame ukwenzeka ngemva kwesikhathi eside,” kusho lo mbiko owanyatheliswa ngaphambi kokuba kugadle ama-tsunami abhubhisayo ngo-December 26 kuyi-Indian Ocean. Ngokungangabazeki, uma abantu belokhu banda ezindaweni eziyingozi kakhulu futhi amahlathi elokhu encipha, asikho nesincane isizathu sokulindela okuhle.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, amazwe amaningi anezimboni ayaqhubeka ekhiphela igesi ebamba ukushisa emkhathini. Ngokwesihloko esithile kumagazini i-Science, ukuhlehlisa indaba yokunciphisa la magesi akhishelwa emkhathini “kufana nokwenqaba ukuphuza imithi evikela umuntu esifweni esithile esiqala ukumhlasela: Kusho ukuthi nakanjani kuyoba nemiphumela emibi kakhulu kamuva.” Ukhuluma ngaleyo miphumela, umbiko waseCanada ophathelene nokunciphisa izici ezibangela ukuba lezi zinhlekelele ezingokwemvelo zibe zimbi nakakhulu wathi: “Ukushintsha kwesimo sezulu kubonakala kuyiyona nkinga ephikelelayo futhi ethinta indawo yonke ezungezile umphakathi wesintu okuye kwadingeka ushikashikane nayo emhlabeni wonke.”

Kodwa umphakathi wesintu emhlabeni wonke usemanqikanqika namanje ngokuthi izenzo zabantu zinawo yini umthelela ekuphakameni kwamazinga okushisa embulungeni yonke, ingasaphathwa eyokukulawula. Lesi simo sisikhumbuza iqiniso leBhayibheli: “Akukona okomuntu . . . ngisho nokuqondisa isinyathelo sakhe.” (Jeremiya 10:23) Kodwa, njengoba sizobona esihlokweni esilandelayo, isimo asisibi kangako ukuthi singaze silahle ithemba. Empeleni, lab’ omaye abakhona manje, kuhlanganise nalezi zimo eziyinhlekelele isintu esibhekene nazo, banikeza ubufakazi obengeziwe bokuthi impumuzo isiseduze.

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LAPHO KUNGAMILI UMMBILA KUPHELA ENSIMINI

NGO-1943 umlimi othile eMexico wabona kumila okuthile okuhlukile emmbileni ayewutshale epulazini lakhe. Lapho ehambahamba ehlola insimu, wabona kuvuleka imifantu ensimini yakhe. Ngosuku olulandelayo, leyo mifantu yayisiphenduke yaba intaba-mlilo encane. Ngesonto elilandelayo, le ntatshana yayisikhule yaba amamitha angu-150! Ngemva konyaka, le ntatshana, engamamitha angu-2 775 ngaphezu kogu lolwandle, yagcina isingamamitha angu-430 ukuphakama. Le ntaba-mlilo, ebizwa ngokuthi iParicutín, yayeka ukuqhuma kungazelelwe ngo-1952 futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi ayibange isaqhuma.

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U. S. Geological Survey/Photo by R. E. Wilcox

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LAPHO UNKULUNKULU ESINDISA IZIZWE ENHLEKELELENI

INDLALA iwuhlobo oluthile lwenhlekelele engokwemvelo. Esinye sezikhathi zokuqala zendlala ezake zabikwa emlandweni senzeka ngesikhathi sikaJosefa, indodana kaJakobe, noma u-Israyeli, eGibhithe lamandulo. Le ndlala yathatha iminyaka engu-7 futhi yayithinta abantu baseGibhithe, baseKhanani nabakwamanye amazwe. Kodwa ayizange ithinte uquqaba lwabantu ngoba uJehova wayeyibikezele eminyakeni engu-7 ngaphambili. Wembula nokuthi iminyaka eyandulela eyendlala yayiyoba iminyaka yenala eGibhithe. Beqondiswa nguJosefa owesaba uNkulunkulu, okwathi ngokungenela kwaKhe wabekwa esikhundleni sokuba undunankulu nomqondisi wokwabiwa kokudla, abaseGibhithe baqongelela okusanhlamvu okuningi kangangokuthi “bayeka ukukubala.” Ngakho, izwe laseGibhithe aligcinanga ngokondla izakhamuzi zalo nje kuphela kodwa londla ‘nabantu bawo wonke umhlaba,’ kuhlanganise nomkhaya wakubo kaJosefa.—Genesise 41:49, 57; 47:11, 12.

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EHAITI NGO-2004 Abafana bethwele amanzi aphuzwayo emigwaqweni enezikhukhula. Ukuqothulwa kakhulu kwamahlathi kubangela ukugeleza kodaka oluningi

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Background: Sophia Pris/EPA/Sipa Press; inset: Carl Juste/Miami Herald/Sipa Press

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Amazwe amaningi asaqhubeka nokukhiphela amagesi abamba ukushisa emkhathini

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© Mark Henley/Panos Pictures