hurricane katrina Flashcards
what is the difference between ‘weather’ and ‘climate’?
weather: the day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere at a particular place
climate: the average weather conditions of a place recorded over a period of time
give an example each of an atmospheric, hydrological, geological and biological hazard:
atmospheric:
- hail, frost, snow, rain/freezing rain, hurricanes
- wind, fog, thunder/lightning
hydrological:
- river flooding, tsunami, coastal flooding
- drought
geological:
- erosion, earthquake
- volcanic eruption
biological:
- forest and bush fires
- severe disease/epidemic in plants/animals/humans
what are the different layers of the Earth and their temperatures?
- lithosphere (22 degrees celsius)
- mantle (1400-3000 degrees celsius)
- outer core (3000-6000 degrees celsius)
- inner core (6000 degrees celsius or more!)
what was hurricane katrina?
hurricane katrina was a category three hurricane that hit new orleans and its surrounding areas in august 2005. (it was category 5 before it hit new orleans, but was category 3 when it hit)
what were the social impacts of hurricane katrina?
- 1 million people were evacuated, while 100,000 stayed behind
- 90% of buildings across the coast were destroyed by storm surge
- in mississipi, 200,000 homes were left without electricity or water
- there was a risk of water diseases as dead, rotting bodies couldn’t be buried
what were the economic impacts of hurricane katrina?
- total damage was $89 billion
- looting of local shops and businesses occurred in the days after
- oil production was disrupted, resulting in price rises in the USA and the rest of the world
- productive farm land was ruined and many farmers’ profit was hit months later
what were the environmental impacts of hurricane katrina?
- 80% of new orleans was submerged under 6ft of water
- oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico were ripped from their anchors
what were the immediate responses of Hurricane Katrina?
- 1.7 million were evacuated from Louisiana and Mississipi before the hurricane struck.
- 20-30% of people had to stay in New Orleans, and these were the poorest who couldn’t afford to evacuate.
- more than 35,000 people were rescued by the New Orleans coastguard.
- charities provided food, water and aid to those affected.
what were the long-term responses of Hurricane Katrina?
- the waters that flooded into New Orleans were pumped into a nearby lake - this took over a month.
- the US government allocated $62 billion to be spent in aid, helping feed and re-house the victims of the hurricane.
- the US governments have spent $20 billion rebuilding New Orleans’ flood defence systems, with levees, gates, pumps, and floodwalls.
how can tropical storms be monitored using satellites?
- satellites monitor cloud formations and patterns.
- rain clouds reaching 16km in altitude are an indication that a tropical storm may occur.
- the ‘global precipitation measurement’ satellite monitors rainfall between 65 degrees north and south of the equator every three hours.
how can tropical storms be monitored using aircraft?
- aircraft fly through tropical storms at roughly 10,000 feet
- sensors are released into the storm, which take measurements
- data is collected (rainfall, wind speed, air pressure)
- this helps scientists understand if the storm is intensifying, etc.
how can tropical storms be predicted using computer modelling?
- data collected from satellites and aircraft is used by supercomputers to predict the intensity and path of a tropical storm
- 5 to 7 day warnings are now possible because of this
- the path of a tropical storm can be predicted within 400km, but it’s not always reliable
- gives us time to evacuate people from areas at risk and protect valuable property and infrastructure
how can buildings be protected from tropical storms?
- secure tiles to the roof (or have no tiles at all); prevents tiles flying off and causing death and damage
- add storm shutters to windows; prevents glass from shattering, which would cause death and damage
- install an emergency generator; electricity lines may become loose or damaged
- build buildings on stilts; reduces risk of flooding
what are other protection techniques that can be put in place?
- mangrove trees can be planted and sea walls can be placed at the coastline to reduce wave energy during a storm surge
- sea walls are incredibly expensive though
how can we plan for tropical storms?
- in the USA, they host the ‘American National Hurricane Preparedness Week’, educating people on what to do in the event of a tropical storm, and provide them with the resources required to protect their buildings
- they plan evacuation routes, know where official evacuation shelters are, and give them the opportunity to buy emergency survival kits
