Physical Environment: Belesia

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Physical Map of Belesia

Belesia is a small country located in an archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean. It borders South Torbia and Gabal—with whom it has friendly relations. The country’s terrain consists primary of forested mountains interspersed with low valleys. The valleys are typically fertile and comprise most of Belesia’s arable land. Both vegetation and climate are tropical in nature. Multiple natural hazards exist, resulting from the country’s geology, weather, native wildlife, and human activity.

Table of Physical Environment Data

Measure	Data	Remarks
Land Area (sq miles)	99,926	Includes inland water
Land Border (miles)	157	South Torbia (23)
Coastline (miles)	20,295
Highest Elevation (ft)	13,274	Mt. Kinabalu
Lowest Elevation (ft)	0	Sea Level
Arable (cultivated) Land (%)	27
Permanent Crops (%)	17
Permanent Pasture (%)	<1	5% grasslands that could be used for pastoral purposes
Irrigated Land (%)	<1
Forested Land (%)	36	Conifers (1), rainforest (24), other (12)
Urban Area (%)	<1

Terrain

Belesian territory encompasses all or part of several major islands and multiple smaller islands and islets. The country is part of a larger archipelago bounded by the Philippine Sea to the east, the South China Sea to the west, and the Celebes Sea to the south. Belesia shares land boundaries with South Torbia to the north and another country to the southeast, but only maritime borders with its other neighbors, including Gabal.

Belesia’s major islands are Bohol, Borneo, Cebu, Leyte, Luzon, Masbate, Mindanao, Negros, Palawan, Panay, and Samar, 11 in all. While the country possesses most of these in its entirety, it shares Luzon with both North and South Torbia, and possesses less than one-tenth (8%) of Borneo. Lesser islands include but are not limited to Biliran, Burias, Catanduanes, Dinagat, Marinduque, Siargao, Sibuyan, Tablas, Ticao, the Cuyo Islands, and the Sulu Archipelago.

The islands are mountainous in nature, with interspersed lowland valleys and low coastal plains on the larger islands. Major geographic features include the Bicol Peninsula and the Mayon Volcano (Luzon), Mt Apo (Mindanao), the Chocolate Hills (Bohol), the Zamboanga Peninsula (Mindanao), and the Crocker and Trus Madi Mountain Ranges (Borneo). Surface and subsurface caves are common in the archipelago.

Bodies of Water

Belesia is surrounded by bodies of water. The South China Sea lies to its west, the Philippine Sea to its east, and the Celebes Sea to its south. The Sulu Sea is nearly encompassed by the country, with Gabal and South Torbia lying on its far northern edge. The country is separated from Gabal in the northwest by the Linapacan Strait and the Cuyo West Passage, and it shares Tablas Strait, Tayabas Bay, and Lamon Bay with South Torbia. It also possess numerous smaller seas, gulfs, bays and straits.

Multiple rivers and a few small lakes exist on the islands, with the former being drainage for many mountain ranges. Due to the mountainous terrain, most rivers are navigable only by shallow-draft vessels (less than 3.3 feet) for short distances—if at all. The most unique river is the Puerto Princesa Underground River on Palawan Island, also known as the St. Paul Underground River or the Palawan Underground River. This waterway runs for approximately five miles underground and is a popular destination for tourists.

Mobility Classification

Movement in Belesia is difficult due to the mountainous island nature of the country. Water or air transport methods are required to and between islands. Once on land, mountain ranges and steep river gorges naturally canalize movement. Heavy rains, flooding, and mud/landslides can seriously hamper troop movement during the rainy season. The presence of forests at higher elevations limits mobility and provides cover for enemy forces and smugglers, while multiple rivers and streams challenge mechanized and motorized movement in the valleys. Air operation impediments include mountain ranges, forests, steep valleys and gorges, clouds/fog/haze, aircraft icing at high altitudes, and cyclonic storms.

Natural Hazards

Belesia is subject to many types of natural disasters, including droughts, earthquakes, floods, forest fires, land and mudslides, tropical cyclones (not on Borneo), tsunamis, and volcanic activity. Mountainous areas and those cleared of vegetation are most prone to land and mudslides, while the eastern islands are affected by cyclones and tsunamis. Mayon Volcano, located near the southeastern shore of the Bicol Peninsula, Luzon, is just one of over a dozen historically active volcanoes. Its largest eruption was in 1814, and its most recent major eruption occurred in 2009, with the latter displacing over 33,000 Belesians. Earthquakes are common on the islands; their seismic activity triggers landslides as well as causing direct damage to the country’s infrastructure. A major earthquake centered by Mindanao and the resulting tsunami killed 5,000–8,000 people in 1976. Cyclonic storms hit most of the country regularly, with an average of 1–2 typhoon-category storms a year making landfall; though the southern two-thirds of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, and Borneo rarely experience storms of this strength. One storm, Super Typhoon Haiyan, hit Belesia in November 2013 and killed over 10,000 just on the island of Leyte. Forest fires are a frequent problem on Borneo during droughts, and the country is also concerned about deforestation, erosion, pollution, and possible rising sea levels due to climate change. Dangerous animals include poisonous centipedes, crocodiles, jellyfish, scorpions, sharks, snakes, spiders, and disease-carrying insects.

Subterranean Environment

The islands are full of caves, both above and below sea level. One of the most famous of these is the aforementioned five-mile-long underground river on Palawan Island; another is Odloman Cave on Negros Island, which is equally long. In addition to the multitude of naturally-occurring caves, past and current mining on the islands has produced networks of manmade tunnels. Higher-level tunnels and caves are sometimes used as emergency shelters by local residents during and after larger cyclonic storms.

Vegetation

Around 36% of Belesia is forested, primarily consisting of rain forest in the mountainous areas. While coniferous pines are found at the highest elevations, most trees are broadleaf varieties such as balau, meranti, and narra; other plant species found in montane forests include bamboo, ferns, orchids, and climbing palms (rattan). Due to the country’s climate, trees keep their leaves year round. The lowland valleys are devoted almost completely to agriculture, while the forested areas are confined to the mountains. Small mangrove swamps can be found on some of the coastline.

Agriculture

Most agriculture is concentrated in lowland valleys, with over half of this land dedicated to annual crops. Permanent crops include abaca, agave, banana, cacao, cashew, citrus fruit, coconut, coffee, lemon, maguey, mango, oil palm, pineapple, papaya, other fruits, and rubber, while annual crops are beans, cabbage, camote, cassava, corn, cotton, eggplant, garlic, onion, peanut, sweet potato, rice, sugarcane, tobacco, tomato, and vegetables. The country’s main crops are rice, coconut, corn, pineapple, other fruits, abaca, palm oil,  and sugarcane. Agricultural exports include abaca, banana, coconut, palm oil, pineapple, rubber, sugarcane, and other fruits and vegetables.

The large amounts of rainfall help create an excellent environment for agriculture, with minimal irrigation. Slash-and-burn agriculture is widely used, at the expense of Belesia’s remaining forestland. In cases where this method was replaced with using commercial seeds, improper application of chemical fertilizers and insecticides contaminated both soil and water.

Livestock and Wildlife

Belesians have some livestock, especially in regions where crop cultivation is more difficult. Common domesticated animals include cats, cattle, dogs, goats, horses, pigs, poultry, and water buffalo. The country also possesses multiple types of wildlife, including bat, bearcat, civet cat, crocodile, deer, elephant, lemur, mice, mongoose, monkey, monitor lizard, orangutans, rhinoceroses, scaly anteater, squirrel, sun bear, tapir, tiger, wild boar, wild ox. The country has several national parks, designed to protect the floura and fauna found on the islands.

Climate and Weather

DATE Pacific Subregional Climate Types

Belesia experiences four different climate types that can be broken into two categories: a tropical wet climate, where rain falls year-round, and a tropical wet and dry climate—also called a monsoonal climate—with distinct wet and dry seasons. The first climate type, also called Type I, describes the climate of the western part of the country: parts of Palawan and Panay, and the Cuyo Islands. A wet and dry climate, it has a dry season that runs from October–April and a rainy season from May–September.

A second climate type, called Type II, describes the east: parts of Belesian Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao, and the smaller islands and islets that lie farther east. A wet climate, it has no true dry season, with the least wet months being from April–May.

A third climate type, Type III, describes the climate of the center of the island nation: parts of Palawan, Panay, Belesian Luzon, Mindanao, and Belesian Borneo; the islands of Cebu, Leyte, and Masbate; and the smaller islands and islets nearby. Also a wet and dry climate, it has a short dry season from February–April and rainfall during the rest of the year, which is somewhat heavier during June–September.

The final climate type, Type IV, is found in the central east and the south: on parts of Belesian Luzon, Samar, Leyte, Mindanao, and Belesian Borneo, and on Boho, the Sulu Archipelago, and other nearby islands.  A wet climate, it has no true dry season. Precipitation is relatively even from month to month; rainfall levels are cyclical, with lighter months varying by location.

Winds follow a distinctive northeast, east, southwest cycle (NE monsoon, easterlies, SW monsoon) that corresponds to—and causes—the country’s seasons. The coolest part of the year falls during the northeast monsoon, while the warmest temperatures occur during the easterlies. Relative humidity is high year-round, though relatively lower inland, at higher elevations, and during the evenings.

Seasons

Month	Type I	Type II	Type III	Type IV	Temperature	Wind
January	dry	rain	lighter rain	rain	coolest	NE monsoon
February	dry	rain	dry	rain	cool	NE monsoon
March	dry	rain	dry	rain	hot	easterlies
April	dry	light rain	dry	rain	hottest	easterlies
May	rain	light rain	lighter rain	rain	hot	easterlies
June	rain	rain	heavier rain	rain	hot	easterlies
July	rain	rain	heavier rain	rain	warm	SW monsoon
August	rain	rain	heavier rain	rain	warm	SW monsoon
September	rain	rain	heavier rain	rain	warm	SW monsoon
October	dry	rain	lighter rain	rain	warm	SW monsoon
November	Dry	rain	lighter rain	rain	cooler	NE monsoon
December	dry	rain	lighter rain	rain	cool	NE monsoon

Precipitation

Precipitation in Belesia comes in the form of rain, with an annual average of 30–200 inches, depending on location. This usually takes the form of afternoon or evening showers, which are light and infrequent during the dry season and nearly daily and often heavy during the rainy season. Daily amounts vary, with maximums ranging from a low of two inches in southern Mindanao and southern Belesian Borneo to more than 20 inches in the far northwest of Belesian Luzon. During the dry season, monthly rainfall can drop to less than one inch in some areas, while as much as 32 inches can fall during the height of the rainy season. Dry and rainy seasons vary by local climate type (I, II, III, or IV). Of note, snow has been known to fall on the highest peaks of the Crocker Mountains on Borneo.

Temperature-Heat Index

Belesia lies in a tropical zone, and the country’s temperatures reflect this. The average temperature difference between night and day is usually greater than the seasonal variation of either highs or lows for any specific location. The hottest month of the year is April, while the coolest is January. Altitude has the greatest effect on temperatures, with inland valleys being warmest and high mountains being coolest. Average monthly highs range from the mid-70s to the upper-90s degrees Farenheit and monthly lows are not much cooler, usually dropping less than 15 degrees. Record highs usually fall in the upper 90s to low 100s, depending on location, but have been known to exceed 100 degrees. When combined with Belesia’s high relative humidity, the heat index can easily reach levels that could affect military operations.

Temperature-Wind Chill Index

Temperatures very rarely drop below 65°F at night, even in the coolest part of the year. The only exception is in the mountains, where the weather can be cool enough to necessitate a light jacket at night. The highest mountain peaks can get cold at night; record lows in the Crocker Mountains on Borneo are frequently below the freezing mark, and snow has been known to fall there as well.

Relative Humidity

Relative humidity is high throughout the year in Belesia. Ranging from the low 70s to the mid-90s with an average of 77%, humidity is higher in the coastal and low-lying areas than inland or at higher elevations. Relative humidity is typically higher in the mornings and drops several percentage points by evening. When combined with the country’s high temperatures, it produces the type of hot, humid conditions typically associated with tropical jungles.

Wind

Belesia’s annual wind cycle drives the country’s seasons. Trade winds from the northeast begin blowing in November. These winds, known as the amihan or the northeast monsoon, blow through February and bring cool air to the country. They recede and are replaced with the silanganin, or “easterlies,” from March–June, which bring heat. The habagat, or southwest monsoon, begins in July and runs through October. This wind brings cooler temperatures and higher humidity.

Winds during the NE monsoon are usually light and variable, with the eastern coastal areas experiencing stronger winds and more precipitation than the rest of the country. The SW monsoon pattern is similar, except that it is the western areas that receives stronger winds and more rain. Winds during the easterlies period are slightly less than during the two monsoons, and periods of calm are more frequent. Tropical cyclones, which are rated from tropical depression (mildest; winds under 37 mph) to super typhoon (most severe; winds over 136 mph), occur from June to December. Cyclonic storms hit regularly, with an average of up to two typhoon-category storms—based on location—each year.

Visibility

Belesia experiences an average of 5–10 hours of sun daily, with more sunshine and correspondingly fewer clouds during the easterlies and the transition period from southwest to northeast monsoon. April is the least cloudy month. Haze, fog, and low ceilings are common. Cloud cover is lightest on leeward coastal areas and the leeward sides of mountain ranges, and fog is usually restricted to mountains and inland valleys. Blowing dust may occur on leeward coastlines. Clouds can exceed 8,000 ft during both the northeast  and southwest monsoons. Sunshine is more common during the morning periods, while clouds are more frequently seen in the afternoon.

Summary

Belesia’s terrain varies from high, rugged mountains to flat lowland plains. Terrain, including multiple islands, mountains and rivers, creates obstacles for communications and makes transport difficult. Natural disasters such as typhoons and landslides will complicate missions. Troops must deal with extreme temperatures and humidity throughout the lowlands, and high altitudes in the mountains. Frequent rains will hamper operations and maneuverability, as will seasonal cloud cover.