Extreme UK weather (and Somerset case study) Flashcards
Why does the UK have Extreme weather?
It is the meeting point of several weather types from many different direction
What is a depression?
An area that has low atmospheric pressure, causing clouds to form, bringing rain.
What are anticyclones?
Areas of high pressure that form when cool air sinks. They spin in a clockwise direction and bring clear skies. In winter, clear spies bring fog and frost. In summer, clear skies bring hot, sunny weather.
What are the types of extreme weather in the UK?
- Thunderstorms
- Prolonged rainfall
- Drought and extreme heat
- Heavy snow and extreme cold
- Strong winds (gales)
Facts about thunderstorms
- In 2014 there were electrical storms
- Resulted in 3000 lightning strikes across southern britain
Facts about prolonged rainfall
- Prolonged rainfall often causes river flooding.
- Most common in winter and early spring.
- There was widespread flooding in England in the winter of 2014.
Facts about drought and extreme heat
- Heatwaves dry up rivers and reservoirs.
- In 2003, Europe was hit by a heatwave that killed 20,000 and gave the UK it’s highest ever recorded temperature.
Facts about heavy snow and extreme cold
- Has become less common in recent years
- Can cause great hardship in the north of the UK
Facts about strong winds (gales)
- February 2014 saw strong winds in Wales.
- 21,000 were left without power.
- 105 mph wind speeds recorded in North West Wales.
- The Clifton suspension bridge had to be shut down.
Describe the landscape, and location of the Somerset levels
- Located in the north of the county of Somerset, which is in the South West of England.
- 3-4m above sea level
- Prone to flooding
When did the Somerset levels flood?
- December 2013
- January 2014
What were the physical causes of the flooding?
- Heavy rainfall
- Saturated soils meant water ran off quickly into rivers
- High tides prevented river water escaping into the sea
What were the human causes of the flooding?
- The rivers hadn’t been dredged for 20 years
- Urbanisation on the flood plain increased impermeable surfaces
What were the social effects?
- 600 houses flooded
- Residents were evacuated and lived in temporary shelters
- Some villages were cut off
- Some people couldn’t get insurance after the floods
What were the economic impacts?
- The floods costed over £100m
- 80% of businesses in the area were affected by the floods
- £200m was lost in the tourism industry
- The Bristol to Taunton railway was damaged and main roads were closed
What were the environmental impacts?
- Floodwater was contaminated with sewage, chemicals, and oil
- Ecosystems were destroyed
- Soil was damaged by stagnant water, leading to agricultural losses
- Debris needed to be cleared from land
What are the 2 types of strategies?
- Immediate
- Long-term
What immediate responses were used to reduce flood risk?
- Flood warnings issued by the met office
- Residents used sandbags to protect their property
- Temporary pumps pumped water back into rivers
- Social media was used to communicate news
- Boats were used to get help and food to stranded people
What long-term responses were used?
- A 20-year flood action plan was launched, costing £100m
- River Tone and Parrett were dredged, costing £6m
- Some road levels were raised
- Pumping stations were made permanent
- A tidal barrage will be built at Bridgewater
What management strategies were used to reduce risk from weather hazards in the UK? (3 p’s)
- Prediction: Warning systems with different colour levels give people time to prepare
- Protection: Individuals and authorities try to prepare for extreme weather before it happens.
- Planning: Emergency services and local councils plan how to deal with extreme weather events in advance.
What evidence is there that the UK’s weather is becoming more extreme?
- The environment agency says that floods are becoming more frequent
- Record heatwaves melted roads and killed 2000 people in 2003
- In 2007 and 2008, extreme flooding occurred in coastal areas in England
- There was 20cm of snow over london in 2009
- In 2010, Northern Ireland recorded a temperature of -18 degrees C
- 2013/2014 had the wettest winter in 250 years, causing the river Thames to burst it’s banks and flood the Somerset beds.
