Hazardous Earth Flashcards
What are the 3 cells in the Global atmospheric Circulation
Hadley , Ferrel and Polar
Describe the Hadley Cell
Located nearest to the equator, it is where hot moist air rises moves to higher latitudes and sinks back down
Describe the Ferrel cell
Located at around 60° on either side of the equator, it is where cold air sinks, travels to travels to higher latitudes and rises along with the air travelling from the poles (Polar cell)
Describe the Polar cell
At 60°-90° north or south of the equator, cold air sinks and travels to the poles (90°), where it rises
What happens when air rises
The warmth of the Earth’s surface causes air tor ise, exerting less pressure on the ground forming
low pressure causing rainfall.
What happens when air sinks
The ‘weight’ of sinking air exerts more pressure
on the ground and an area of high pressure is
formed causing areas to become arid.
What are ocean currents
They are the predictable continuous movement of water in the ocean
What impact do Ocean currents have on the worlds climate system?
Ocean currents move around the world transferring energy to other regions. Ocean currents can transfer warmer water to colder regions and colder water to warmer regions
What are the Natural causes of Climate change
Asteroid Collisions
Variations in the Earths orbit around the sun
The effects of volcanic eruptions
Changes in the solar output of our sun
How do Asteroid collisions have an impact on Climate change?
If an asteroid is large enough millions of tonnes of ash and debris would be ejected into the atmosphere when it impacted the earth. This could block the sun, cooling temperatures
How does Orbital change have an impact on Climate change?
There are three main ways of this:
Eccentricity
Obliquity
Procession
What is Eccentricity and how does it affect the earths climate?
The Orbit of the earth around the Sun changes from a circle to a Oval
This affects how strong the suns rays are on the earth
What is Obliquity and how does it affect the earths climate?
Obliquity is the Tilt in the earths axis affects the contrast between summer and winter seasons
What is procession and how does it affect the earths climate?
Procession describes the Wobble in the earths axis , it affects the lengths of days.
How does solar output have an impact on Climate change?
There are variations in the amount of energy that the sun emits which are thought to have an effect on the earths climate
What is the sunspot cycle
an 11 year cycle where the amount of sunspots on the sun varies from a minimum to a maximum and then back to a minimum
How do volcanic eruptions have an impact on Climate change?
The ash and gas that is erupted into the atmosphere when there is a huge eruption can cause a cooling effect, by either blocking out the sun, or can emit sulfurous gases which react to form aerosols which reflect solar radiation.
What are the 3 pieces of evidence which show natural climate change
Tree rings
Ice cores
Historical sources
How are Ice cores used to show past climate change?
Ice cores have past layers of snow turned into ice which show gradual changes temperatures
Carbon dioxide air bubbles may be trapped in the ice cores which may also show past temperatures
How are tree rings used to show past climate change?
Each year trees gain another ring, scientists can use tree rings to work out past temperatures, for example if temperatures were more warmer the tree ring would be larger
How are Historical sources used to show past climate change?
Historical sources created by people can help understand climate before accurate measurements were recorded.
What Human activities cause the enhanced greenhouse effect
Burning Fossil fuels
Agriculture
Deforrestation
What are the consequences on people by the enhanced greenhouse effect
Increasing temperatures
Rising sea levels
damage to property
Crops dying
Give two reasons to why sea-levels increase
Glaciers melting
Thermal expansion ( the sea takes up more space when it is warm)
What are the Characteristics of a tropical cyclone
Strong winds
intense rainfall
Low pressure
Thunder and lightning
What is the Global distribution of tropical cyclones
-Tropical cyclones develop between 5-15° –
north or south of the equator in warm oceans
-Ocean temperatures must be 26-27°c and at least 50 m deep
-must be in areas with unstable air pressure
Why do tropical cyclones develop
Tropical storms usually form between 5° and 30° latitude. When the ocean surface waters reaches at least 27°C , the warm air above the water rises quickly, causing an area of very low pressure. As the air rises quickly more warm moist air is drawn upwards from above the ocean creating strong winds.
Why do tropical cyclones intensify
Increase in water temperatures
Why do tropical cyclones die out
When they reach a land surface they no longer receive energy from the warmth of the ocean
When they go onto land the friction causes them to die out
Why are tropical cyclones dangerous
High winds
Intense rainfall
Coastal flooding
Landslides
What are the effects of tropical cyclones on people
Crops destroyed
Homelessness
death
Contaminated drinking water
Stress
What are the effects of tropical cyclones the environment
Land slides
animal death and habitats destroyed
Coastal habitats like beaches and mangroves can be damaged by storm surge floods.
Why are some countries more vulnerable to tropical storms than others
Education
Wealth
Planning
Location
How can a country manage the impacts of a tropical cyclone
Monitor it using satellites
Having warning systems and evacuation strategies
Building physical defenses
How can weather forecasting technology help reduce the impacts of a tropical cyclone
-It is possible to track cloud formations and movements using satellite technology.
-Scientists can also monitor the intensity and the estimated time until it hits a country. this allows the country to evacuate
How can weather Warnings and evacuation strategies help reduce the impacts of a tropical cyclone
-countries create Evacuation routes and develop warning systems to ensure the
-population is ready for a storm
Raising awareness in communities can lower the risk of death and injury as they know what to do
How can countries create physical defense’s to help reduce the impacts of a tropical cyclone
-Sea walls can be built to block storm surges
-Storm drains can be constructed to divert floodings and high levels of rainfall
-Houses, powerlines, doors and windows can be reinforced
-Houses can be built on higher ground to reduce the chances of flooding
Outline the process that causes circulation cells to distribute warm air:
1) Warm moist air rises at the equator, creating a low pressure belt
2) Cool air condenses and moves out 30° North and South before sinking, creating a high pressure belt
3) The cool air either moves back to the equator or towards the poles
4) At 60° warm and cold winds meet, causing the warm air to rise and the cold air at the poles (high pressure) to return to the equator as surface winds.
What evidence is there for natural climate change?
Ice cores- water isotopes and CO2 levels
Tree rings- the warmer the temperature, the thicker the ring
Historical sources- diaries, religious records and other historical documents can check the accuracy of other records
What is the scale for measuring HURRICANES?
Saffir- Simpson Hurricane Scale
Which physical hazards come from a hurricane?
High winds
Intense rainfall
Storm surges
Coastal flooding
Landslides
How did high winds impact people and the environment in Hurricane Katrina 2005?
The super dome lost its roof (shelter)
1 million people became homeless
Loss of shelter
5300km3 of forest and woodland destroyed
How did high winds impact people and the environment in Typhoon Haitian 2013?
5 million homeless
How did intense rainfall impact people and the environment in Hurricane Katrina 2005?
Ninth Ward flooded, leaving residents homeless
Increased difficulty of evacuation
Mississippi river overflowed
How did intense rainfall impact people and the environment in Typhoon Haitian 2013
Homeless people couldn’t stay dry
- 71,000 hectares of farmland flooded
How did storm surges impact people and the environment in Hurricane Katrina 2005?
Levees overflowed
1 million homeless
-Costal erosion
How did storm surges impact people and the environment in Typhoon Haiyan 2013?
5 million homeless
- Coastal erosion
How did coastal flooding impact people and the environment in Hurricane Katrina 2005?
80% of city flooded
How did coastal flooding impact people and the environment in Typhoon Haiyan 2013?
Spread of cholera
How did landslides impact people and the environment in Hurricane Katrina 2005?
People became trapped or died from falling debris
Where can you find evidence for cyclones?
Social media
Satellite images
Socio-economic data
Which locations are more physically vulnerable to hurricanes?
Low lying regions
Low relief (Storm surges)
High relief (Landslides)
Which locations are more economically vulnerable to hurricanes?
Less developed countries as they have worse weather prediction technology, fewer coastal defences and little to no established evacuation procedures/ response teams.
Which locations are more socially vulnerable to hurricanes?
Areas of poverty
Older populations
Populations with young children
How many people were evacuated in hurricane Katrina?
80%
How much did the total damage cost for hurricane Katrina?
$150 billion
How many jobs were lost from hurricane Katrina?
230,000
How many people were killed from hurricane Katrina?
1800
How many houses were destroyed in hurricane Katrina?
300,000
How many people were made homeless from typhoon Haiyan?
1.9 million with more than 6 million displaced
What is the lithosphere?
A layer consisting of the crust and top layer of upper mantle
How many people were killed because of typhoon Haiyan?
7500
How much did typhoon Haiyan cost in damages?
$2.9 billion
What is the point where earthquakes start called?
The Focus
What is the point on the ground directly above the focus called?
The Epicentre
what piece of equipment is used to measure an earthquake’s power?
A seismometer
What are the smaller earthquakes called that follow a main one
Aftershocks
What was the magnitude of the 2010 Haiti earthquake?
7.0
Why did so many people die in the 2010 Haiti earthquake?
Poor architecture
Unprepared
People were bribed to sign of buildings despite them not meeting regulations
Primary effects of Haiti Earthquake
230,000 deaths
250000 dwellings destroyed by ground shaking
300000 injured
Devastated the capital, Port-au-Prince (infrastructure)
4000 inmates escaped
Secondary effects of Haiti Earthquake
1.5 million people homeless
$11.5 billion in damage
1/5 jobs lost
Cholera outbreak killed several hundred
Responses to Haiti Earthquake
Food
Water
Medical supplies
Temporary shelters
1100 squalid camps with basic water and sanitation
810000 in aid camps
