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GEOGRAPHY > A: Weather Hazards > Flashcards

A: Weather Hazards Flashcards

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1
Q

What does air circulate between?

A

High and low pressure belts

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2
Q

What are winds?

A

Large scale movements of air cause by differences in air pressure

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3
Q

Differences in air pressure are caused by

A

Differences in temperature between the equator and the poles.

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4
Q

Where do wines move from

A

Ares of high pressure to areas of low pressure

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5
Q

What are winds part of

A

Global atmospheric circulation loops (or cells) these loops have warm rising are which creates a low pressure belt and cool falling air which creates s Hugh pressure belt

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6
Q

What happens at the equator

A

The sun warms the earth which transfers heat above causing it to rise

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7
Q

What happens when heat rises

A

Creates a low pressure belt with rising air, clouds and rain

As the air rises it cools and moves out to 30 degree north and south of equator

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8
Q

What happens at 30 degree north and south of equator

A

The cool air sinks, creating a high pressure belt with cloudless skies and very low rainfall

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9
Q

The cool air reaches the ground surface and moves as surface winds either back to the equator or towards the poles :

A
  • surface winds blowing towards the equator are called trade winds
  • they blow from the SE in the Southern Hemisphere and from NE In the northern hemisphere. At the equator these trade winds meet and are heated by the sun. This causes them to rise and from clouds
  • surface winds blowing towards the poles are called westerlies. They blow from the NWin the Southern Hemisphere and from the SE in the northern hemispheres
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10
Q

60 degree north and south of the equator the warmer surface winds meet colder air from the poles. The warmer air..?

A

Is less dense than the cold air so it rises, creating low pressure

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11
Q

What happens at the poles

A

Cool air sinks, creating High pressure. The High pressure is drawn back tiwRds the equator as surface winds

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12
Q

Low latitudes have

A

Warm air because there closer to the equator and therefore the sun rays are direct and don’t have to travel far

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13
Q

Hugh latitudes have

A

Cold air because there further away from the equator and the sun rays have to travel further

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14
Q

What makes high pressure

A

Cool air sinks

Lots of air pushing on floor

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15
Q

What makes low pressure

A

When warm air rises

Not much air pushing on floor

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16
Q

What is in the tricellular model

A

Polar cell
Ferrel cell
Hadley cell

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17
Q

Which way does the cells go in the tricellurlar model

A

Polar cell - anti
Ferrel cell - clockwise
Hadley cell - antic

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18
Q

What conditions does high pressure cause

A

Bright conditions

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19
Q

What conditions does low pressure cause

A

Rainy conditions

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20
Q

Where’s polar cell

A

60 degree Uk

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21
Q

Where’s ferrel cell

A

30 degree desert

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22
Q

Where’s Hadley cell

A

Equator

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23
Q

description of the atmospheric circulation

A
  • basis of everyday weather
  • sun provides all energy causing changes in weather
  • sunlight hits equator directly
  • lower angled more sunlight reflected
  • 30% solar radiation reflected back in space
  • greenhouse effects - without average temp -18degrees with 15degreez
  • atmosphere hotter at ground
  • warm air rises - expands and rises - convection
  • cold air is heavier and sinks
  • air cooks = high pressure when air sinks warm rises = low pressure
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24
Q

When do tropical storms develop

A

When the sea temperature is 27 degree or higher and when the wind shear (the difference In wind speed) between higher and lower parts of the atmospher is low

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25
Q

How do tropical storms occur

A

Warm moist air rises and condensation occurs. This releases huge amounts of energy which make the storms powerful. The rising air creates an area of low pressure which increases surface wind

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26
Q

Where do tropical storms move towards

A

The west because of the easterly winds near the equator

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27
Q

What does the earths rotation do

A

Deflects the paths of the winds which cause the storms to spin

28
Q

How does the storm get stronger

A

Due to energy from the warm water so wind speeds increase. They lose strength when they move over land or cooler water because the energy supply from the warm water is cut off

29
Q

Where do most tropical storms occur

A

Between 5 degree and 30 degree north and South of the equator - any further from the equator the water isn’t warm enough, the majority of storms occur in the northern hemisphere (especially over the Pacific) in late summer and autumn, when s w temperatures are highest

30
Q

Hurricane formation

A

Sun rays heat up water between tropics of cancer and Capricorn

Sea water between two tropics rises to 27 degrees Celsius

Evaporation occurs over 100s of square miles

Warm water vapour eises creating a large area of low pressure

Water vapour reaches the dew point

Water vapour condenses

Condensation occurs over 100s of square miles

A very large storm cloud is formed

The earths spin causes the storm cloud to roatat which in turn creates and ‘eye’

Once the storm cloud has an “eye” it is classed as a hurricane and continues to suck up water vapour

The hurricane hits land and can not suck up anymore water vapour and dies

31
Q

Tropical storms are what in shape

A

Circular and hundreds of kilometres wide and usually last 7-14 days.

32
Q

Which way do tropical storms spin in the northern hemisphere

A

Anitclockwise

33
Q

Which way do tropical storms spin in the Southern Hemisphere

A

Clockwise

34
Q

What’s the centre of the storm called and its features

A

The eye

Up to 50 Km across and is caused by descending air

Low pressure, light winds, no clouds, no rain and a high temperature in the eye

35
Q

What is the eye of a storm surrounded by?

A

Eyewall

Spiralling rising air, very strong winds (around 160 km per hour)
Storm clouds
Torrential rain
Low temperature

36
Q

What happens towards the edges of a storm?

A

The wind speed falls, the cloud become smaller and more scattered
The rain become less intense
Temperature increases

37
Q

How might climate change affect tropical storms?

A

Global temperatures are expected to rise as a result of climate change. This means that more of the worlds oceans could be above 27degrees so more places in the world may experience tropical storms

Oceans will stay at 27degrees or higher for more of the year - Humber of tropical storms each year could in crease

High temeperature also means tropical storms will be stronger meaning they could cause more damage

38
Q

Primary effect examples of tropical storms

A

Buildings and bridges destroyed

Rivers and coastal areas flooded

People drown or they’re injured or killed by debris that’s blow around

Roads railways ports and airports are damaged

Electricity cables are damaged cutting off supplies

Sewage overflows due to flooding the sewage often contaminated water supplies

39
Q

Secdondary effect examples of tropical storms

A

People are left homeless which can cause distress, poverty and ill health or death due to lack of shelter

There’s a shortage of clean water and a lack of proper sanitation - diseases spread easier

Roads are blocked or destroyed so air and emergency vehicles can’t get through

Businesses are damaged or destroyed causing unemployement

There can be shortages of food if crops are damaged, livestock are killed or supply lines blocked

40
Q

Immediate responses to tropical storms

A

Evacuate people before storm arrives

Rescue people who have been cut off by flooding and treat injured people

Set up temporary shelters for people who’s homes have been flooded or damaged

Provide temporary supplies of water, food, electricity, gas and communications systems if regular supplies have been damaged

Recover any dead bodies to prevent the spread of disease

Foreign governments or NGOs may send aid workers supplies equipment or financial donations to the area

Tech companies may set up disaster response tools allowing damage to be recorded people to confirm their safety and alerts about areas at risk from the storm to be shared

41
Q

Long term responses to tropical storms

A

Repair homes or rehouse people who have been displaced due to damaged buildings

Repair or replace damaged infrastructure

Repair and improve flood defence systems eg levees and flood gates

Improve forecasting techniques to give people more warning in the future

Provide aid, grants or subsidies to residents to repair and strengthen homes

Promote economic recovery in the area and encourage people to return to the area
With tax breaks or other incentives

Improve building regulations so more buildings withstand hurricanes, or change planning rules so homes can’t be built in the most risky area

42
Q

Case study of a tropical storm

A

Hurricane Katrina

43
Q

Where did hurricane Katrina strike and when

A

Mississippi and Louisiana

(Alabama)

2005

44
Q

Primary effects of hurricane Katrina

A

More than 1800 people were killed

300 000 houses were destroyed

Large areas were flooded, including 80% of New Orleans

3 million people were left without electricity

Some bridges collapsed

Coastal habitats were damaged

45
Q

Secondary effects of hurricane Katrina

A

Hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless

230 000 jobs were lost from damaged businesses

Water supplies were polluted with sewage and chemicals

Total cost of the damage was estimate at $150 billion

46
Q

Immediate responses to hurricane Katrina

A

70-80% of New Orlean residents were evacuated before the hurricane reached land

Mississippi and Louisiana declared states of emergency - they set up control centres and emergency shelters and stockpiled supplies

The coastguard, police, fire service and army rescued over 50 000 people

Charities collected donations and provided aid, including millions of hot meals

47
Q

Long term responses to hurricane Katrina

A

The us government provided over 16 billion dollars for the rebuilding of homes, and provided funds to repair other essential infrastructure

The us army recommended that buildings are rebuilt on stilts or not rebuilt at all in very low lying areas

Repaired and improved flood defences for New Orleans coating 14.5 billion dollars were completed in 2013

48
Q

How can predictions reduce effects of tropical storms

A

Scientists use data from things like radar, satellites and aircraft to monitor storms. Computer models are then used to calculate a predicted path for the storm

Predicting where and when a tropical storm is going to happen gives people time to evacuate and protect their homes and businesses eg by boarding up windows

49
Q

How can planning reduce the effects of tropical storms

A

Future developments eg new houses can be planned to avoid the areas most at risk

Emergency services can train and prepare for disaster eg by practising rescuing people from flooded areas with helicopters this reduced the number of people killed

Governments can plan evacuation routes to get people away from storms quickly

50
Q

How can protection reduce the effects of tropical storms

A

Buildings can be designed to withstand tropical storms eg by using reinforced concrete. Buildings can also be put on stilts so they’re safe from floodwater

Flood defences can be built along rivers (eg levees) and coasts (eg sea walls)

All these reduce the number of buildings destroyed, so fewer people will be killed, injured, made homeless and made unemployed

51
Q

What weather hazards does the uk experience?

A 
Rain 
Wind
Snow and ice 
Thunderstorms 
Hailstorms 
Heat waves 
Drought
52
Q

Describe rain as a uk weather hazard

A

Too much rain in a short time - flooding
Which can damage homes and possessions, disrupt transport networks and cause death by drowning

It can also force businesses to close and recovering from flooding can cost millions of pounds

53
Q

Describe wind as a uk weather hazard

A

Strong winds (gales) can damage properties and cause disruption to transport

Uprooted trees and debris can injure or kill people

Forests can be damaged when trees are blown over

Winds are strongest in coastal areas of the uk, particularly the West coast, and in upland areas

54
Q

Describe snow and ice as a weather hazard in uk

A

Snow and ice can cause injuries due to slippings and death due to the cold

Schools and businesses can be forced to shut and major disruption to road, rail and air travel can occur causing economic impacts

Cold snaps can damage crops and other plants

55
Q

Describe thunderstorms in terms of uk hazards

A

Heavy rain lightning and sting winds occur in thunderstorms

They are most common in summer in the south and east of uk

Lightning can occasionally cause death and can cause fires that damage property or the environment

56
Q

Describe hailstorms

A

Hailstorms make driving very dangerous

Damage property

Destroy crops

57
Q

Describe heat waves

A

Sometime uk can have long periods of hot weather
Cause death from heat exhaustion or breathing difficulties as pollution builds up in the air

Disruption to transport from rails buckling or roads melting cause cause economic impacts - but the tourism industry may benefit from better weather

58
Q

Describe droughts

A

Lack of precipitation

Water supplies can run low during a drought causing economic impacts such as crop failures, ruled to conserve water (like banning hosepipe use) have to be introduced

59
Q

Where was there major flooding caused by storms and rainfall during the winter of 2013-14?

A

Somerset levels

60
Q

What caused the Somerset levels flood

A

Hugh tide
Below sea level
Wettest January
Rivers hadn’t been dredged for 20 years (hadn’t removed silt and mud at bottom of the river)

61
Q

Socail impacts of Somerset floods

A

Some parents couldn’t get children to school

600 homes affected

Some villages cut off

Major roads blocked

Power supplies were cut off

Residents evacuated to temporary accommodation for several months

Increased crime

62
Q

Economic impacts of Somerset floods

A

Farm financial cost £10 million

Railway line was closed

1000 livestock were evacuated

Over 14000 acres of agricultural land was underwater

Roads were cut off so can’t get to work and no earning money

£75.6 million to repair

63
Q

Environmental impacts of the Somerset floods

A

Farmers were prevented from grazing there animals

The flood water was heavily contaminated with sewage and other contaminants

Lots of stagnant water

Huge amounts of debris to be cleared

64
Q

Where are the Somerset levels?

A

An area of coastal plain and wetland in central Somerset

South west of uk

650km^2

Flat land lying next to sea level

Mainly agricultural

Habitants for birds and plants

32 sites of special scientific interest

65
Q

Immediate response to Somerset flooding

A

Rescue boats were deployed to help stranded people

Extra police patrols in response to reports of crime

Local community groups and volunteers have invaluable support

66
Q

Long term repsonses toxsomerset flooding

A

20 year flood action plan has been drawn up

Uk government promised at least £30 million to help with repairs

Environment agency installed giant pumps from the Netherlands to lower water levels

Vulnerable communities will have flood defences

GEOGRAPHY (9 decks)

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