Cyclones

Question 1

What is a tropical cyclone?

Answer 1

A term used to describe a rotating system of clouds and storms that that form and develop over tropical and sub-tropical waters

Question 2

Impacts of strong winds?

Answer 2

Strong winds can destroy buildings, lift roofs, vehicles and trees, and destroy power lines

Question 3

Impacts of storm surges?

Answer 3

High tides cause flooding, which is due to low pressure as the weight the of air isn’t holding down the sea as much

Question 4

What are the hazards that come with cyclones?

Answer 4

• strong winds
• intense rainfall
• storm surges
• landslides

Question 5

What are source regions?

Answer 5

The area where the cyclone forms

Question 6

How big are cyclones on average

Answer 6

650 km across

Question 7

What conditions are needed for a tropical cyclone to form?

Answer 7

• A large, still, warm ocean where the surface temperature is over 26.5° for a long period of time
• Strong winds in the troposphere that are 10-12km above the earth’s surface as they rapidly draw warm air up from the earth’s surface
• the Coriolis force - a strong force caused by the earth’s rotation which is why cyclones only form between latitudes of 5°-30° away from the equator and not on it

Question 8

Where was the location of hurricane Katrina?

Answer 8

New Orleans, in Louisiana

Question 9

When did hurricane Katrina start and end?

Answer 9

From 24th August 2005 to the 30th August 2005

Question 10

What category storm was hurricane Katrina

Answer 10

4-5

Question 11

What was the wind speed of hurricane Katrina

Answer 11

145mph

Question 12

What were the social impacts of hurricane Katrina?

Answer 12

• 1836 people died from drowning
• 1 million were displaced
• 100,000 temporary homes were needed

Question 13

Economic impacts of hurricane Katrina?

Answer 13

• $100 billion worth of reparations making it the most costly US hurricane since 1930
• The dairy industry lost $12 million
• Timber industry lost $5 billion

Question 14

Environmental impacts of hurricane Katrina?

Answer 14

• Oil rigs were destroyed polluting waters
• 90,000 sq miles of land was affected
• 9 million chickens lost their lives

Question 15

Responses to hurricane Katrina?

Answer 15

• Housing was reconstructed
• FEMA helped 108,000 people with unemployment benefit
• Red Cross provided 902 shelters over 24 states
• EU sent 500,000 food rations
• China offered $5 million
• George Bush signed a $10.4 million aid package

Question 16

What factors affect a country’s vulnerability to natural disasters?

Answer 16

• Preparation
• Education
• Population density
• Building design
• Time of day
• Economy
• Type of sediment