Extreme Weather, Climate Change And Tropical Revolving Storms

Question 1

Give an example of a heatwave

Answer 1

• Europe, 2003
• 38.5°C in Kent
• 2000 people died, railway lines buckled and roads melted

Question 2

Give an example of heavy snowfall

Answer 2

• UK, 2010
• -18.7°C in Castlederg, 76cm of snow
• Travel disruption cost economy £280m per day, 7000 schools closed costing economy £1.6bn

Question 3

Give an example of flooding

Answer 3

• Somerset, 2014
• Series of depressions caused wettest winter for 250 years, 350mm of January rainfall
• 600 houses flooded, 16 farms evacuated = £10m damages

Question 4

What is the ‘stuck jet stream’?

Answer 4

• Jet stream decreasing its natural oscillation north and south causing regions to experience periods of extreme stable weather
• Due to warming of Arctic Ocean

Question 5

Outline the increased distribution of tropical revolving storms

Answer 5

• Surface temp in tropics increased 0.25-0.5°C in last 30 years
• Hurricanes traditionally absent from South America due to cold Benguela current
• Hurricane Catarina hit SE Brazil in 2004, first ever cat. 2 TRS recorded (40,000 homes damaged, 3 killed)

Question 6

How has the frequency and intensity of tropical revolving storms changed?

Answer 6

• Number of hurricanes in N. America increased

- 6 of 10 most active years occurred post 1990 (Due to warmer surface sea temps)

Question 7

What factors influence the risk of extreme weather, climate change and tropical revolving storms?

Answer 7

• Poorer communities more vulnerable to loss of life, wealthier communities more economic assets at risk
• Regions affected by violence or poor governance vulnerable to impacts of climate change
• Development challenges (e.g. Gender inequality) and differences among communities (e.g. Socio-economic status) influence vulnerability to impacts of climate change