Depressions and Anticyclones and Extreme Weather

Question 1

What do anticyclones cause?

Answer 1

Clear skies and dry weather

Question 2

Formation of anticyclones.

Answer 2

• Form over Atlantic Ocean and move east over the UK.
• High pressure and light winds blowing outwards.
• No clouds formed as falling air gets warmer, clear skies with no rain

Question 3

Anticyclones in summer

Answer 3

• Long periods of hot and dry weather.

- No clouds to absorb the heat from the sun, so more gets through to the earth.

Question 4

Anticyclones in winter

Answer 4

• Long periods of cold and foggy weather.
• Heat is lost from the earths surface at night because no clouds to reflect it back into the ground.
• Condensation occurs near the surface due to low temperatures, this causes fog.

Question 5

Extreme weather impacts on people’s homes and lives.

Answer 5

• Floods damage possessions which cost a lot to repair or replace.
• Income lost through damaged businesses
• Water use restricted during droughts. Hosepipe bans.
• Increased rainfall means water supplies are increased.

Question 6

Impacts on agriculture by extreme weather

Answer 6

• Droughts can cause crop failures
• Floods ruin crops
• Increased rainfall means higher crop yields.
• Warmer climate means new products can be grown eg. grapes

Question 7

Impacts on health by extreme weather

Answer 7

• Flooding can cause death by drowning and the power it possesses.
• Heatwaves can cause death by heat exhaustion.
• Milder winters may reduce cold-related deaths.

Question 8

Extreme weather impacts on transport

Answer 8

• Floods can block roads and railways, disrupting transport systems
• High temperatures cause railway lines to buckle, trains can’t run

Question 9

Perfect answer for when a depression passes overhead

Answer 9

1) As the warm front passes, temperatures start to rise as the warm air rises over cool air.
2) High and thin cirrus clouds form into low and thick rain clouds because of the falling pressure and condensation of water vapour.
3) As the warm sector passes due to less uplift, there is less or no rain and very few clouds.
4) Mild temperature and steady atmospheric pressure. Wind speed that was strong as warm front passed has now decreased.
5) As the cold front passes, the wind speed increases to its strongest point .
6) There are thick and towering clouds blowing in the north west direction
7) Temperature falls and rain increases to heavy showers.
8) This is due to the cold air undercutting the warm air to cause uplift.