hazardous earth - extreme weather

Question 1

Dissipation

Answer 1

means losing energy – when have we come across this word before?

When it reaches land it loses energy because it has lost its fuel source (warm water)
When it moves into areas of colder water (below 26.5OC)
When it runs into other weather systems where winds are blowing in different directions

Question 2

What is the minimum temperature needed for Hurricanes to form?

Answer 2

26 0C

Question 3

What air pressure creates the storm?

Answer 3

low

Question 4

What is the name of the winds which blow from the equator and start to spin the Hurricane?

Answer 4

trade

Question 5

When the clouds stretch over such a large distance they are affected by the rotation of the earth this is known as the ______ effect?

Answer 5

coriolis

Question 6

Why do cyclones lose their energy?

Answer 6

The Eye

Question 7

ITCZ

Answer 7

an area of permanently low pressure.
Forms part of the Hadley cell where warm, moist air is pushed up by the intense solar radiation.
The constant thunderstorms strong winds blowing west and warm, moist air make this the main source area for tropical cyclones.

Question 8

The area where a tropical cyclone forms is called its _________________ area. Source areas have the trigger conditions needed for tropical cyclone formation- most importantly _______________________.

These temperatures are only usually reached between ______________ and ____________________ in the northern tropics- hence tropical cyclones have a ____________ distribution.

Tropical cyclones move away from their source area following the direction of __________ and ___________ currents. Northern hemisphere cyclones travel ______________. Where a tropical cyclone travels is called its ___________.

Answer 8

source
warm oceans
june
november
seasonal
ocean
wind
west
track

Question 9

Why will a warmer planet lead to more tropical cyclones?

Answer 9

There is a direct relationship between the warmth of the oceans and the intensity of tropical cyclones.
So, global warming = Predicted to be more frequent & more intense tropical cyclones.
Is this already happening? There might be some evidence but there’s still lots of uncertainty.
Source areas will be larger

Question 10

What hazards can tropical cyclones bring?

Answer 10

Storm surges - which bring flooding caused by unusually high tides high tides are even higher than normal during of cyclone because air pressure is below sea level is raised because there is less weight of holding it Down high tides extend in land causing coastal flooding

strong winds - whip up garden furniture, life roofs, vehicles or caravans, bring down trees, power lines and even destroy whole buildings

intense rainfall- Hence rainfall with thick dense clouds it is not unusual for 1000 mm of rain

landslides - In 2014, 53 people died in landslides in the Philippines caused by tropical storm Jangmi which saturated, heavy ground, causing it to slump

Question 11

Physical hazards of tropical cyclones (high winds, intense rainfall, storm surges, coastal flooding, landslides) and their impact on people and environments.

Answer 11

Physical damage will obviously depend upon the wind speed, which can exceed 30 kph. As the hurricane moves inland it decreases in intensity so damage is less.
Hurricanes usually move at between 6 and 50 kph. Slower moving storms will obviously cause more damage than faster ones.
Storms can bring torrential rain over 2000 mm in two days is not uncommon.
This brings floods and the threat of landslide.
Finally storm surges on the coast can move far inland.

Question 12

There are 3 main types of vulnerability to tropical cyclones:

Answer 12

Physical Vulnerability
Social Vulnerability
Economic Vulnerability

Question 13

physical vulnerability

Answer 13

Physical Vulnerability

• low lying coastlines
• areas in the path of cyclones
• Steep hillsides may increase the risk of landslides

Question 14

Social vulnerability

Answer 14

2. Social Vulnerability
   - buildings are of poorer quality
   - healthcare: struggle to treat casualties
   - Little money for flood defences or emergency teams
   - Harder to rescue people due to poor infrastructure

Question 15

Economic vulnerability

Answer 15

3. Economic Vulnerability
   - LICs have more people dependent upon agriculture - loss of crops (livelihood and food source)
   - LICS have less insurance to recover
   - However HICs have more expensive buildings and infrastructure to damage

Question 16

Explain how a tropical cyclone can cause a storm surge. (2marks)

Answer 16

A tropical cyclone creates an area of low pressure which allows the sea level to rise (1).
This, combined with the high winds produced by the storm, causes a large wave of water to be forced towards the land (1).

Question 17

Name one environmental impact that can result from each of the following physical hazards: (3 marks)
High winds
Landslides
Storm surge

Answer 17

High winds = Trees uprooted by the force of the wind
Landslides = River flooding if the river channel is blocked, sediment from the landslide can kill fish and other wildlife.
Storm surge = Erode beaches, damage crops, damage coral reefs and other habitats

Question 18

Choose 3 factors and explain how they would impact the vulnerability of a country
E.G. If you are more prepared then you are less vulnerable to a tropical cyclone because

Answer 18

Preparation
Strength of the cyclone
distance
time of day
population density
building design
secondary hazards (storm surges, landslides, flooding etc)

Question 19

what is left to revise

Answer 19

preparation prediction, case studies and comparisons most in classbook i think