1-A Weather Hazards Case Study

Question 1

Primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan, 2013, Philippines, Category 5

Answer 1

• Airport damaged
• US$ 724 million lost in agriculture / fishing
• 1.1 million houses damaged (50% of which destroyed)

Question 2

Secondary Effects of Typhoon Haiyan, 2013, Philippines, Category 5

Answer 2

• Pollution of local mangrove swamp (mangrove has protection job)
• Rice prices rise 11.9% - People won’t eat: Rice = Staple
• Groundwater contamination with salt water + chemical from spillages eg. grounded oil tanker
• 8 deaths due to civil unrest eg. looting

Question 3

Immediate Responses of Typhoon Haiyan, 2013, Philippines, Category 5

Answer 3

• 800,000 evacuated
• Supplies arrive from NGO
• Rescue services
• Curfew imposed

Question 4

Long-Term Responses of Typhoon Haiyan, 2013, Philippines, Category 5

Answer 4

• ‘Build Back Together’ campaign rebuilds buildings in a stronger, tropical storm protected way
• New storm surge warning system
• Replanted mangroves

Question 5

What is a recent example of an extreme weather event in the UK?

Answer 5

Record rainfall and flooding in Cumbria (Nov. 17-20 2009)

Question 6

What caused the record rainfall and flooding in Cumbria?

Answer 6

The cause was a very deep Atlantic depression moving north-eastwards over Scotland and northern England.

In Cumbria, they have already received a month’s worth of average rainfall, so the soil was very wet and new rainfall was not able to soak in. Therefore, the rain flowed down steep slopes of the Lake District into rivers for 36 hours

Question 7

What were the social impacts of the record rainfall and flooding in Cumbria?

Answer 7

• A person was killed when a bridge collapsed
• People were injured
• 1,500 homes were flooded, causing great distress
• The river was contaminated with sewage -> health risks

Question 8

What were the economic impacts of the record rainfall and flooding in Cumbria?

Answer 8

• Regional economy was hit
• Business closed and did not reopen until long afterwards
• Debris transported by river destroyed 6 important regional bridges

Question 9

What were the environmental impacts of the record rainfall and flooding in Cumbria?

Answer 9

• Water erosion in the River Derwent triggered landslides along the bank
• the River tore loose and carried hundreds of trees, damaging local ecosystems and habits

Question 10

How could management strategies reduce the risk of the next flood and heavy rainfall in Cumbria?

Answer 10

• New flood defence was built, cost £4.5 million: funded by central government and local community
• Mobile wall was built, rises when need; protecting river view for cafes and restraints
• Environmental Agency provide residents with improved flood warning information - gives time to evacuate and protect their property