Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Geography > Extreme Weather > Flashcards

Extreme Weather Flashcards

0
Q

What device is used to measure pressure?

A

Barometer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

What device is used to measure precipitation?

A

Rain gauge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What device is used to measure wind speed?

A

Anemometer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What device is used to measure wind direction?

A

Weather vane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a depression?

A

A region of low atmospheric pressure which revolves in an anti clockwise direction. It’s rising air brings unsettled weather - wind and precipitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Summarise the events in the passage of a depression

A

Warm maritime air meets cool air. It rises and triggers rain. This is the warm front

Cold front marks return of cold air pushed around anticlockwise by the spin of the depression - there is heavy showers here

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Summarise the warm front

A

Long period of persistent light rainfall (front not as steep but cover larger area)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Summarise what happens at the cold front

A

Shorter periods of very heavy rainfall (front steeper but covers less area)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the possible hazards from a depression?

A

Floods

Gales

Blizzards

Storm surges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is an anticyclone?

A

A region of high pressure bringing calm conditions. Precipitation less likely but temperatures can be extreme (winter frosts and summer heat waves)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the possible hazards of an anticyclone?

A

Summer - drought, heat wave, wildfire

Winter - frost, fog, snow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the conditions of temperature at the cold front?

A

In rear - little change

At passage - significant drop

Ahead - slight fall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the conditions of clouds at the cold front?

A

In rear - shower clouds, clear skies and cumulus clouds

At passage - heavy cumulo nimbus

Ahead - low stratus and strato cumulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the conditions of precipitation at the cold front?

A

In rear - bright intervals and scattered showers

At passage - heavy rain and thunder storms

Ahead - light rain and drizzle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the conditions of wind at the cold front?

A

In rear - veering north west, decreasing speed

At passage - sudden veer south west to west, increase in speed

Ahead - southwest but increasing in speed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the conditions of temperature at the warm front?

A

In rear - little change

At passage - marked rise

Ahead - steady an little change

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the conditions of clouds at the warm front?

A

In rear - overcast, stratus and strato cumulus

At passage - low nimbo stratus

Ahead - increasingly overcast, cirrus to alto stratus to nimbo stratus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the conditions of precipitation at the warm front?

A

In rear - light rain and drizzle

At passage - rain stops or very light

Ahead - light rain becoming heavier

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the conditions of wind at the warm front?

A

In rear - steady south west, constant

At passage - sudden veer south to south west

Ahead - slight backing ahead of front, increase in speed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is a hurricane?

A

A tropical storm with sustained wind speeds in excess of 120 kmh-1 which originates in the tropics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the inter tropical convergence zone?

A

A zone of low atmospheric pressure near the equator. It migrates seasonally, creating conditions that favour hurricane formation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does hurricane formation require?

A

Sea temperatures over 27 degrees celcius

Deep water over 60m

Lack of upper atmospheric winds

Latitudes 5-20 degrees from equator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Summarise the formation of a hurricane

A

Falling air pressure pulls in dense cold air - creates an anti-clockwise upward spiral of increasing wind speeds

Water vapour from ocean rises and cools - creates cumulonimbus clouds around central eye

Condensation releases latent heat which increases energy and wind speeds

Cooling air spreads outwards creating cirrus clouds

As well as strong winds, torrential rain and massive storm clouds are produced

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the Coriolis effect?

A

The way in which moving objects are deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere by the spin of the earth. This determines the general path of hurricanes and their general rotation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
What hurricane occurred in New Orleans and when?
Katrina August 2005
25
New Orleans sits on the Gulf of Mexico, what happened when hurricane Katrina met the gulf?
When it met the gulf it was only category 3 but it met the right conditions and built up to category 5
26
What were the economic impacts of hurricane Katrina?
30 offshore oil platforms destroyed Hundreds of thousands left unemployed Total economic loss estimated at over $150 billion
27
What were the social impacts of hurricane Katrina?
Over one million evacuated, displaced or homeless Most major roads into or out of city damaged Water and food supplies contaminated
28
What were the environmental impacts of hurricane Katrina?
16 national wildlife refuges destroyed Storm surges destroyed sections of barrier islands
29
What is a tornado?
A violent rotating column of twisting air often seen as a twisting vortex of water vapour and debris which touches the ground
30
How do tornadoes form?
Form from weather events called super cells Requires instability in the atmosphere Air has to be moist/warm - rises - forms clouds Temperature gradient needed Wind in the atmosphere - forces tornado to spin (often wind speeds of over 250mph)
31
Why are tornadoes difficult to record accurately?
They are unpredictable and short lived
32
When is the peak tornado season?
March to July
33
Where do the most violent tornadoes often occur?
In what the Americans call tornadoes alley in the states of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas
34
Give an example of a tornado and its impacts
Oklahoma City, May 3rd 1999 A long track EF5 tornado city hit the city Left a trail of destruction over 1km wide 1800 homes destroyed and 2500 damaged 43 died 700 injured $1.2 billion repair bill
35
What is drought?
A lack of or shortage of water for an unusually long time, involving 50% less than the usual rainfall over 3 months
36
What were some of the impacts of the 2007 Australia drought?
Lowest ever flow recorded in the river Murray Algal blooms triggered by warmer water Forest fires endangered people and wildlife in the suburbs of Sydney Water shortages threatened political agreements Irrigation supplies rationed
37
What is a blizzard?
A snowstorm becomes a blizzard when wind speeds reach more than 56kmh-1
38
What is an ice storm?
When a rain bearing warm front arrives in an area of cold, dense air and the rain freezes as soon as it hits land
39
What is a storm surge?
The combined effects of strong winds and low barometric pressure causing waves to pile up against the coast
40
What are the conditions of a polar continental air mass?
Cold and dry
41
What are the conditions of a tropical maritime air mass?
Warm and wet
42
How can you modify vulnerability in a hurricane?
Evacuation procedure - regional - road signs, to broadcasts, - personal plan - where to go, what to take etc Community education programmes Increase level of preparedness Computer model risk using satellite data
43
How can you modify losses in a hurricane?
Federal and state aid Personal insurance policies Photograph all possessions
44
How can you modify vulnerability in a tornado?
Evacuation procedure - regional - road signs, to broadcasts, - personal plan - where to go, what to take etc Community education programmes - e.g. Tornado watch and warning issued by tornado centre, Oklahoma Increase level of preparedness Computer model risk using satellite data
45
How can modify losses in a tornado?
Federal and state aid Personal insurance policies Photograph all possessions
46
How can you modify the event in a drought?
Cloud seeing with chemicals to induce rain (not v successful) GM crops designed more drought tolerant
47
How can you modify losses in a tornado?
Restrict loss of moisture - e.g. Water harvesting in Tunisia International aid - live aid, comic relief, world bank loans F.E.M.A
48
How can you modify vulnerability vulnerability in a tornado?
Appoint a drought task force - responsible for identifying high risk areas and developing appropriate mitigation Use of satellite data to predict drought location and speed of onset Modelling of El Niño events that cause drought in SE Australia Build dams Collect and reuse water Hose pipe bans Stagger planting crops Reduce irrigation - drip fed irrigation
49
How can you modify the event In a wildfire?
Possible to manage spread - clear fuel (litter, vegetation etc) in path of the fire - controlled burning Use of helicopters to water bomb the fire Structural measures - land use planning Building of low density housing with fire resistant material
50
How can you modify the vulnerability in a wildfire?
Increase level of preparedness via use of infrared heat sourcing Lighting detection systems and also infrared sensors for early warning Computer modelling of the predicted spread of the fire Community preparedness and training as an auxiliary fire fighting force Public education
51
How can you modify the losses in a wildfire
Federal and state aid Personal insurance policies Photograph all possessions
52
What is continental rainfall?
Sun heats ground Water evaporates Moist air rises, cools and condenses It rains
53
What is frontal rainfall?
When two air masses meet the warm air is forced above the cold air It cools and condenses to form clouds - rain
54
What is frontal rainfall?
Wind passes over the sea - picks up moisture When it hits land it is forced to rise Cools, condenses and forms clouds Opposite happens as it comes down other side of mountain - as it falls it heats and stops raining
55
How is wind generated?
By air moving from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure The greater the difference between high and low pressure the faster the wind
56
What is cyclogenesis
How storms form
57
What are the functions of a Stevenson screen?
4ft tall Barometer Anemometer (on top) Rain gauge (in soil at side) Site them in the middle of a field - not influenced by anything else
58
What are the advantages of using mobile telephone calls and SMS as a flood warning?
95% of working population own a mobile Different family members can all be warned individually Even rural areas are now well served by mobile networks
59
What are the disadvantages of using mobile telephone calls and SMS as a flood warning?
Ownership is much lower for elderly people Mobiles have limited battery life which may mean they are switched off
60
What are the advantages of using email and Internet as a flood warning?
Over half of UK households have access to the Internet Email could serve as a flood warning medium Internet allows use of the EA's flood line and flood warning services
61
What are the disadvantages of using email and Internet as a flood warning?
Less than 1/5 of over 75s use the Internet Only 1/8 of the poorest 10% of the UK's population have access to a PC Poorer groups may not turn on computers to check emails frequently enough to receive flood warnings
62
What are the advantages of using digital television as a flood warning?
Allows viewers access to 24hour news 62% oh households have digital television and 85% of the population live in areas that receive digital signal
63
What are the disadvantages of using digital television as a flood warning?
Can minority interest channels be relied upon to issue regional water warnings in the same way that the BBC and ITV do?
64
What are the advantages of using digital radio as a flood warning?
Digital radio signals could be used to trigger alert systems inside people houses
65
What are the disadvantages of using digital radio as a flood warning?
Reception is still poor in some remote areas Devices can be switched off and warnings will not be received
66
Define antecedent
The previous weather, soil moisture or flow conditions
67
What is meant by river discharge?
The rate of river flow measured in cumecs
68
How can the met office be used when investigating flooding risk?
Secondary Www.metoffice.co.uk Case study of event and antecedent conditions that cause flooding. Monitor rainfall levels over time and assess risk level
69
How can the environment agency be used when investigating flooding risk?
Secondary Www.environmentagency.gov.uk Monitor discharge levels in the wansbeck over time
70
How can newcastle uni be used when investigating flooding risk?
Secondary Www.ncl.ac.uk official report into the flood and likelihood of reccurance
71
How can Morpeth be be used when investigating flooding risk?
Secondary Www.northumberland.gov.uk Info on the flood alleviation scheme
72
How can newspapers be used when investigating flooding risk?
Secondary The Morpeth herald Current flooring issues, public opinion of defences etc
73
How can a Stevenson screen be used when investigating flooding risk?
Primary Rainfall, temperature, air pressure, wind speed/direction
74
How can rainfall data be used when investigating flooding risk?
Primary Rain gauges Collect rainfall data across the wider catchment
75
How can soil saturation be used when investigating flooding risk?
Primary Soil saturation gauges Collect soil saturation data across the catchment
76
How can land use mapping be used when investigating flooding risk?
Primary Map residential, business, open space et Overlay with flooded area to show areas most at risk
77
How can flood mapping be used when investigating flooding risk?
Primary Use photos of the flood and locate them on a map to study the area effected
78
How can questionnaires be used when investigating flooding risk?
Primary Questionnaire of residents to determine their current risk level and improvement they think have been made
79
What were the results and conclusion of our met office data?
Results - flood was caused by blocking anticyclone that trapped a depression over UK - more than 80mm rainfall fell in 24hrs Conclusion - indicates similar event could occur in future if similar conditions present
80
What were the results and conclusion of our environment agency research?
Results - flood early warning given but mistakes made to some locations e.g. Middle green Conclusion - reliance on EA for flood warning is risky as danger of human error
81
What were the results and conclusion of our national five flow archive research?
Results - during flood a peak river height of nearly 5meters was recorded - highest ever Conclusion - significant impacts from such high levels
82
What were the results and conclusion of our newcastle uni report research?
Results - identified areas where river banks were overtopped e.g. Mitford road, low stanners Conclusion - risk of similar event occurring would depend on combination of factors and reoccurrence of weather conditions
83
What were the results and conclusion of our newspaper reports?
Results - 400 evacuated - 100 properties effected - losses estimated at £40 million Conclusion - significant impacts
84
What were the results and conclusion of our land use mapping?
Results - land in flooded area a mix of park land and residential and flood water reached high street causing a number of businesses to close Conclusion - impacts greatest for those using land as residential/business purposes
85
What were the results and conclusion of our flood Impact questionnaire?
Results - 60/170 affected - 51% said property flooded - flood defences scored 2 out of 5 Conclusion - large amount of residents disrupted but most feel risk now lowered after new flood defences out in place
86
What were the results and conclusion of our flood defence mapping?
Results - new flood walls and gates built in middle greens, Mitford road and high stanners - extra drainage put in at Mitford road Conclusion - risk reduced due to flood defences but Pretoria avenue identified as still being unprotected

Geography (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions