Living with the physical environment: Weather Hazards

Question 1

Hadley cell

Answer 1

Found in the middle of the earth (equator)

Warm air

Moves anti-clockwise

Question 1

Tropical storm

Answer 1

An area of low pressure with high winds moving in a spiral around the eye

Question 1

Polar cell

Answer 1

Located near the North Pole

Cold air

Moves anti-clockwise

Question 1

Ferrel cell

Answer 1

Mild air

Moves clockwise

Some air escapes into Polar / Hadley

Question 1

Conditions needed for tropical storms to form

Answer 1

Sea surface temperature of 27°C and above

5° and 15° north and south of the equator

Question 1

Distribution of tropical storms

Answer 1

In the future tropical storms may affect other areas

Question 2

Frequency of tropical storms

Answer 2

The amount of storms may decrease but the intensity of them will increase

Question 3

Intensity of tropical storms

Answer 3

The increase in sea surface temperatures have increased intensity

Question 4

Typhoon Haiyan - key facts

Answer 4

Date - November 2013

Category - 5

Wind speeds - 170mph

Worst affected city - Tacloban

Question 5

Typhoon Haiyan - primary effects

Answer 5

Social - 6300 people killed, 600000 people displaced

Economic - Tacloban Airport damaged, 40000 homes destroyed

Environmental - 400mm of rain caused flooding

Question 6

Typhoon Haiyan - secondary effects

Answer 6

Social - 14 million people affected, many jobs were lost

Economic - 6 million lost their source of income

Environmental - flooding caused landslides = blocked roads

Question 7

Typhoon Haiyan - immediate responses

Answer 7

Social - 1200 evacuation centers for the homeless

US aircraft assisted with search and rescue

French, Israeli, and Belgian set up field hospitals

Question 8

Typhoon Haiyan - long term responses

Answer 8

Social - Cyclone shelters were built to accommodate people

Economic - ‘Cash for walk’ where the government paid people to clear roads of debris

Rice farming and fishing were quickly re-established

Oxfam supported fisherman

Question 9

Reducing the impacts of tropical storms - monitoring and prediction

Answer 9

Developments in technology have made it possible to track tropical storms effectively

Hurricane Watch advise the severity of conditions and whether people should evacuate

Question 10

Reducing the impacts of tropical storms - protection

Answer 10

Shutters over windows

Build on raised grounds

Storm drains that take excessive amounts of rainfall away

Sea walls protect buildings from storm surges

Question 11

Reducing the impacts of tropical storms - planning

Answer 11

Raise individual and community awareness

Educate people on potential dangers

Question 12

Thunderstorms

Answer 12

Torrential rainfall associated with flooding

Can cause ‘flash’ floods

Question 13

Prolonged rainfall

Answer 13

This can lead to flooding

Common in late winter and early spring, snowmelt makes the problem worse

Question 14

Drought and extreme weather

Answer 14

Rivers can dry up and reservoirs become dangerously low, affecting water supplies and wildlife

It can also cause death to the frail, elderly, and the youth

Question 15

Heavy snow and extreme cold

Answer 15

Cause great hardships, especially in the north

Can disrupt daily life, e.g. going to work or school

Question 16

Strong winds

Answer 16

Disruption to power supplies and damage from fallen trees

Question 17

Why does extreme weather occur in the UK?

Answer 17

Meeting point of several different types of weather from different directions

Question 18

Somerset Levels - facts

Answer 18

Location -

South East of England, bordered by Bristol Channel

Area drained by Tore River and Parrett River

Question 19

Somerset Levels - causes

Answer 19

Causes -

Was the wettest January since records began in 1910

Several depressions brought 350mm of torrential rainfall

Question 20

Somerset Levels - impacts

Answer 20

Social -

600 houses flooded
16 farms evacuated
Many didn’t have power
Residents evacuated

Economic -

Over 1000 livestock evacuated
Damage cost £10 million to repair
Local road cut off by flood

Environmental -

Stagnant water had to be re-oxygenated
Flood water was contaminated

Question 21

Somerset Levels - immediate responses

Answer 21

Boats were used to travel to school or shopping

Volunteers gave support

Question 22

Somerset Levels - long-term responses

Answer 22

£20 million scheme to reduce risk

River banks have been raised

Pumping stations were built

Road levels were raised

Question 23

Evidence of extreme weather in the UK

Answer 23

2003 heatwave -

The UK recorded its highest ever temperature of 38.5°C in Kent

2007 floods -

Several people died and were homeless in Gloucestershire, Hull and Sheffield

2008 floods -

Severe flooding in Somerset, Worcestershire and Northumberland

2009 heavy snow -

Parts of south-west and south-east England were affected by 20cm of snow