Challenge Of Weather And Climate

Question 0

Impacts of 2005-2006 drought on Niger.

Answer 0

1. Potato growers face a poor harvest.
2. Thousands migrate to refugee camps in neighbouring countries.
3. Thousands of people starved to death.
4. Widespread malnutrition and death.
5. Millions of animals dead as grazing land becomes barren.
6. Crops die and local people are without food.
7. Food prices risen and farmers income affected badly.

Question 1

Impacts of the summer 2006 drought in UK.

Answer 1

1. Hosepipe bans in force.
2. Record sales of ice cream, barbecue meat, salad, foods and soft drinks in shops.
3. Seaside and in-land holiday resorts reported one of their best ever seasons.
4. Foreign holidays were left unsold.
5. Economies relying on export of crops, badly hit.

Question 2

Affect of global warming on the UK.

Answer 2

POSITIVE IMPACTS:
1. Plants and shrubs will be able to grow better.
2. The length of growing seasons will increase meaning number of crops will increase.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS:
1. Forest fires.
2. Cost of building and maintaining sea defences because of increased flood risk.
3. Valuable farmland lost to flooding.
4. Diseases and pests.
5. Important buildings flooded in London due to the failure of the Thames barrier.

Question 3

Global response to global warming: Kyoto conference 1997.

Answer 3

BENEFITS:
1. The conference increased the awareness of global warming all around the world.
2. Clear set of targets to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.
3. Encouraged the whole world to do something about it by giving them a clear set of targets. Mainly wind farms.
GLOBAL RESPONSES:
1. China and India were not included in setting targets.
2. The USA did not agree with it.
3. Not all types of emissions were including such as aircraft, shipping and transporting goods.

4.

Question 4

Impacts of hurricane lilli on the state of Louisiana, USA in 2002.

Answer 4

IMPACTS:
1. No deaths few injuries.
2. $1 billion of damage and evacuation.
3. Destroyed the sea bed and wildlife habitats for fish and seabirds.
STRATEGIES:
1. Weather satellites to monitor tropical storms and give warnings.
2. Evacuation procedures.
3. Preparation advice is given to residents.
4. Levees/ sea walls constructed around the coast to stop flooding.
5. Reinforced houses in low lying coastal zones.

Question 5

Impacts of cyclone Nargis on the Irrawaddy delta in Burma, 2008.

Answer 5

IMPACTS:
1. 140000 people died.
2. Between 25 to 95% of homes/ buildings destroyed.
3. Farmers land and crops were destroyed causing major food shortage and hunger.
4. Roads, rail links and bridges were destroyed making it difficult to get emergency aid in.
PHYSICAL CAUSES:
1. Low lying coastal zone close to the tropics.
2. Lots of rivers flooded.
3. The cyclone scored a direct hit.
HUMAN CAUSES:
1. Poor country and cannot afford flood defences.
2. High population.
3. People cannot afford to construct well protected homes.
4. Few roads and rail links, so evacuation was difficult.
5. The government were slow to allow international aid, so many suffered from shortage of food, medical care and shelter.