Atmospheric Systems: UK Winter Anticyclone, 2009/10 Flashcards
1
Q
What happened? (4)
A
- Winter cyclone, causing intense cold winter from December 2009 to January 2010.
- Cold air arrived from the east and north, temperatures falling as low as -22 degrees.
- Weather fronts came from the north sea causing snowfall and prolonged icy conditions.
- The milder airflow which the UK usually gets was blocked on several occasions by high pressure anticyclones in Scandanavia.
2
Q
What were the SOCIAL impacts? (7)
A
- More than 2,000 schools shut across UK.
- Thousands of airline passengers stranded at Gatwick and Luton as they were closed due to heavy snow.
- Disruption on roads and rail too.
- Network Rail said about 75% of trains were running on time on one of the worst affected days, compared to recent ‘normal day’ figures of 90%.
- 2 women died and a further 47 were injured in a coach crash on a country road in Cornwall as it skidded on a sheet of ice on an ungritted road. First police car at the scene also skidded and crashed into the coach, but no one was injured then.
- People had to cancel Christmas meals and parties as people were unable to travel.
- Struggled getting Christmas presents delivered on time as lorries got stuck in traffic or were unable to go out in the conditions.
3
Q
What were the ECONOMIC impacts? (4)
A
- Trains in and out of London’s Liverpool St. were delayed for up to an hour.
- The insurer RSA estimated that it would cost the UK economy up to £1.2 billion a day with retailers and restaurant and bar industries likely to be the worst affected as it was over xmas/new year.
- Halfords had a demand for sledges which raised sales, with them having to order an additional 16,600 sledges.
- Total cost of £13 billion to economy.
4
Q
What were the LONG TERM responses? (2)
A
- A cold weather plan for England was created by the Public Health division of government.
- Winter fuel allowance for the elderly include an extra £50 to £100 between winters 2009-2011.
5
Q
What were the SHORT TERM responses?
A
- MET Office weather forecasts and warnings issued.
- Increased deliveries of grit to councils.
- Road trucks clearing snow from roads.
- Closure of schools and airports and some roads for safety reasons.
- Laying on more hospital staff for the vulnerable.
6
Q
When was the anticyclone?
A
December 2009 to January 2010
7
Q
How low did temperatures get to?
A
-22 degrees
8
Q
How many schools shut?
A
2,000
9
Q
How many trains were on time? Compared to normal?
A
75% on worst affected days, compared to ‘normal days’ when it’s 90%
10
Q
How much did it cost economy daily?
A
£1.2 billion
11
Q
How many mores sledges did Halfords have to order in?
A
16,600
12
Q
How much more fuel allowance did the elderly get in winters 2009-2011?
A
£50 to £100
