Book P.49-54 Flashcards
what are natural hazards?
they are natural events that cause the loss of life and property.
in what cases are ‘natural hazards’ considered as natural events?
if they happen in remote places and cause no harm to people.
please name the three types of natural hazards.
geological hazards, climatic hazards, and biological hazards.
define geological hazards.
they are caused by geological processes and earth movement.
define climatic hazards.
they are caused by extreme climates.
define biological hazards.
they are caused by living organisms.
name three examples of geological hazards.
volcanic eruption, landslide, tsunami
name four examples of climatic hazards.
drought, flooding, wildfire, typhoon
name an example of a biological hazard.
locust swarm.
What are the most common extreme weather conditions in summer?
rainstorms and typhoons.
describe rainstorms.
strong winds and heavy rains.
what is the cause of rainstorms?
they are brought by high summer temperatures and moist onshore monsoons.
how are we affected by rainstorms?
large amounts of rainfall may disrupt traffic, and cause flooding or landslides.
how do we prevent the losses of rainstorms?
to reduce losses and damage, the Hong Kong Observatory will issue rainstorm warning signals when there is a rainstorm.
Please name and describe the three rainstorm warning signals.
amber rainstorm warning signals: heavy rain (>30mm/hr)
red rainstorm warning signals: heavy rain (>50mm/hr)
black rainstorm warning signals: very heavy rain (>70mm/hr)
why can’t typhoons go to high pressure areas?
this is because they are low-pressure systems.
describe typhoons.
they are strong tropical cyclones with dense clouds, very strong winds, heavy rain and sometimes thunder and lightning.
where is the calmest place in a typhoon? describe the place.
the eye of the typhoon. it is calm and has no clouds at the center of the typhoon, and the pressure is the lowest there.
what are spiral rain bands?
they are the strips of clouds or rain surrounding the eye.
when is the typhoon season?
summer.
describe the air motion of a typhoon, and its relationship with the earth’s rotation.
east to west; it is the opposite of the earth’s rotation, which is west to east.
Where are most of the typhoons that affect Hong Kong and the eastern coast of Asia are formed?
they are formed over the ocean near the Philippines.
Where is the tropical area?
the area between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of capricorn.
what are the ‘birth places’ of typhoons?
warm tropical oceans.