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1GB1: Hazardous Earth Flashcards

1
Q

What can tropical cyclones also be known as?

A

Hurricanes
Cyclones
Typhoons

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2
Q

What do the seawater temperatures have to be for tropical cyclones to form?

A

26.5 degrees C

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3
Q

What is the low pressure characteristic of tropical cyclones?

A

Very warm, most air rises through atmosphere, sucking up more air behind it

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4
Q

What is the rotation characteristic of tropical cyclones?

A

The earths spin helps rising air to spiral and drags in strong winds

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5
Q

What is the structure like of tropical cyclones?

A

Form a cylinder of rising, spiralling air
They are up to 640km wide and 10km high

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6
Q

Where do tropical cyclones start?

A

Warm water - tropics

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7
Q

Where do tropical cyclones move

A

Move westwards because winds blow from east around the equator, and they spin away from the equator

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8
Q

How can tropical cyclones change direction?

A

If cyclones reach a belt of winds blowing from west

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9
Q

How fast can tropical cyclones travel

A

640km/day

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10
Q

Where around the equator is the source area of most tropical cyclones?

A

5 degrees and 30 degrees north and south of the equator - any lower from the equator and the water is not warm enough

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11
Q

The majority of cyclones occur when sea temps are highest - when is this in the northern hemisphere?

A

June to november

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12
Q

The majority of cyclones occur when sea temps are highest - when is this in the southern hemisphere?

A

November to april

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13
Q

What processes occur in tropical cyclones?

A

Warm, most air rises
Condensation occurs

These release huge amounts of energy - making the storm powerful

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14
Q

How can cyclones intensify?

A

Due to energy from the warm water

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15
Q

When can cyclones dissipate?

A

When they move over land, cooler water because energy supply from warm water is cut off

Changes in windspeed by meeting other weather systems

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16
Q

What factors can cause tropical cyclones source areas to change?

A

Climate change - sea temps rise. Most of the world’s oceans could become above 26.5 degrees C

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17
Q

How long do tropical cyclones usually last?

A

7-14 days

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18
Q

What is the centre of the cyclone called?

A

The eye

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19
Q

What are characteristics of the eye?

A

Up to 50km across
Caused by descending air
Low pressure
Light winds
No clouds
No rain
High temp

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20
Q

What is the eye surrounded by?

A

The eyewall

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21
Q

What are characteristics of the eyewall?

A

Spiralling rising air
Very strong winds
Storm clouds
Torrential rain
Low temp

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22
Q

What happens towards the edges of the cyclone?

A

Wind speed falls
Clouds become smaller and more scattered
Rains less intense
Temp inc

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23
Q

Which direction do tropical cyclones spin in?

A

Anticlockwise in northern hemisphere
Clockwise in southern hemisphere

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24
Q

From which 2 geographical poles do tropical cyclones move to?

A

East to West

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25
What physical hazards can tropical cyclones cause?
High winds Intense rainfall Storm surges Coastal floosing Landslides
26
How can physical hazards of tropical cyclones impact people?
People might drown in strong currents Windspeed can destroy buildings Debris can injure/kill Electricity cutoff Sewage contamination Shortage of clean water and sanitation Shortage of food Unemployment Damaged roads
27
How can physical hazards of tropical cyclones impact the environment?
Trees uprooted - damaging wooded habitat Erode beaches Pollute freshwater with seawater Landslides Damage industrial buildings - flooding Oil/chemical leaks - pollution
28
How can countries be physically vulnerable to tropical cyclones?
Low lying countries are vulnerable to large waves Areas in the path of cyclone are hit more frequently Steep hillsides may increase landslide chance
29
How can countries be economically vulnerable to tropical cyclones?
Poorer countries: People may depend on agriculture which becomes badly effected People may not have insurance to cover costs of repairing damage Both: Buildings/infrastructure damage
30
How can countries be socially vulnerable to tropical cyclones?
POORER COUNTRIES: Buildings are poorer quality Health care not as good Little money for flood defence or trained emergency teams Harder to rescue people - poor infrastructure
31
How can tropical cyclones be forecasted?
Scientists can use: - weather forecasting - sattelite technology - computer models to identify predicted paths - magnitude: windspeeds
32
Why is it important to be able to predict whena. Tropical cyclones will occur and where?
To give people time to evacuate and protect their homes and businesses
33
How can the people be evacuated from tropical cyclone areas?
Warning strategies - alerts to leave homes Governments make evacuation routes Emergency services can train and prepare for disasters - rescuing through helicopters
34
Why is it important to have successful evacuations for areas with tropical cyclones?
Reduce number of deaths and injuries
35
How can areas be defended from tropical cyclones?
Defences can be built to prevent damage - sea walls Reduces buildings destroyed - reduces killed, injured, homelessness and employment
36
What was hurricane Katrina?
In august 2005 Caused 1836 deaths in Louisiana, USA, Mostly in new orleans
37
What was the main reason of deaths from hurricane Katrina?
Failures in storm surge defences. The new Orleans levee sustem was old and wasnt maintained. Evacuation had problems, highways out of new orleans jammed Public transport not used Shelters didnt have enough food
38
What improvements have been made since Huricane Katrina?
All the citys levees have been made much higher and stronger The lake borgne barrier was made to protect new orleans (largest in the world) New funding on search and rescue teams and now people get evacuation messages through text
39
What was cyclone Nargis?
May 2008 in Myanmar (Burma) Caused 138,866 deaths Category 5
40
What did Myanmar do to forecast Cyclone Nargis?
It had been tracked by weather forecasters in Indi and Bangladesh who informed Myanese government
41
How many people became homeless after Cyclone Nargis?
1 million
42
What was the evacuation like in Cyclone Nargis?
No evacuation procedures No defences against storm surges Houses made of weak materials
43
How did the government aid the people after Cyclone Nargis?
Government had limited ways of helping the 2.5million people affected BUT Still refused to let foreign aid workers to help for a week
44
What has the government now done after Cyclone Nargis as an improvement?
International aid built much stronger schools, homes and hospitals Local communities have special committees to organise evacuations The government built 20 cyclone shelters 2 people in each community given phone to relay cycloe warnings Plans to regrow magrove forests to protect coast
45
46
What makes a cyclone category 5?
Winds at least of 254km/h
47
What makes a cyclone category 4?
Winds of 159-204km/h
48
In which pressure does warm air occur?
Low pressure
49
In which pressure does less dense air rise occur?
Low pressure
50
In which pressure does water vapour condenses and cools at high altitude occur?
Low pressure
51
Where are sun rays strongest?
Equator
52
In which pressure does cloud formation occur?
Low pressure
53
In which pressure does precipitation occur?
Low pressure
54
In which pressure does unsettled weather occur?
Low pressure
55
In which pressure does convection rainfall occur?
Low pressure
56
How can heat be redstributed?
Atmospheric circulation Trade winds Ocean currents
57
What is the rainfall patterns like across earth?
Most rainfall at the equator Mostly between the tropics Stripes
58
What is the pressure patterns like across earth?
Mostly low pressure near the equator High pressure at the ends of the tropics Low pressure as you go to the poles At the complete top of the poles there is high pressure
59
What does atmospheric circulation around the 3 cells control?
Global rainfall patterns
60
What does rising air at the equator produce?
Comvectional rainfall
61
Why are there arid areas at the tropics?
Descending air produces high pressure
62
What are trade winds?
Air moving from high to loww pressure areas
63

Geography GCSE (15 decks)

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