A study on the effects of hail on agriculture and preventive measures in touristic areas of Azerbaijan

Although hailing is typical in mountainous areas of the world, it is impossible to avoid the social and environmental problems caused by hailstorm to human life and farming activities. According to the International Meteorological Organization, the cost of damage caused by hail to agriculture in the world is amounted to 6 billion US dollar each ye ar. As a part of the mountainous countries of the world, Azerbaijan with its own physical and geographical conditions and geographical location is one of the South Caucasus territories affected much more by the hailstorm. As the result of the hailstorm, ar ound 9 to 10 million US dollar is damaged to our economy. The hailstorm mainly causes damage to the agriculture sector. However, sometimes flora and fauna, cars, social infrastructure, the roof of residential areas and other buildings, livestock, electric ity and communication lines, state and local communication network have been severely damaged by the hailstorm. Intensive hailstorm often is accompanied by the powerful lightning and the tornado over 20 30 meters per second. Although the hailstorm comparin g with other natural disasters surround local areas, sometimes these events are accompanied by major property and environmental damages with its intensity and scale.