NH- Weather Hazards

Question 1

How do tropical storms form?

Answer 1

1) The sun heats the ocean
2) Warm moist air evaporates and rises
3) More air rushes in to replace the air that has just evaporated. It is also evaporated.
4) As the air rises it condenses to form thick clouds
5) The earth rotation causes the clouds to spin forming the tropical storm’s distinctive spinning shape.
6) Cold air sinks in the centre of the storm forming the eye of the storm.
7) It moves in the prevailing wind direction.
8) It reaches land and loses energy as its energy source (warm water) is gone. Friction of the land also reduces its energy.

Question 2

What conditions are needed for a tropical storm to form?

Answer 2

• warm water > 27
• cluster of thunderstorms
• latitudes between 5 - 20 degrees N and S of the equator
• the earth’s rotation here is enough to spin the clouds
• Low pressure
• Sea Depth 50m

as a result they are often found in tropical areas and occur in the summer such autumn where seas are at their hottest

Question 3

What is a tropical storm?

Answer 3

A spinning mass of clouds

Question 4

Typhoon Haiyan
Where and when was it?
What category was it?
What wind speeds were there?
How high were the waves?

Answer 4

Where: Philippines Asia
When: November 2013
Category: 5 on the saphir Simpson scale
Wind speed: 170 mph
Wave height: over 15 meters high

Question 5

What were the Primary Affects of Typhoon Haiyan?
(9)

Answer 5

• 6,300 dead
• 27,000 injured
• 40,000 homes destroys
• 90% of tacloban destroyed
• 30,000 fishing boats destroyed
• schools hospitals and shops destroyed - 400 mm of rain flooded agricultural land transportation routes roads rail ports
• airports blocked by trees and debris (eg. the Tacloban airport was damaged) - service lines (water gas electricity) destroyed

Question 6

What were the secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?
(8)

Answer 6

• Trauma and diseases from dead bodies
• 600,000 people in temporary camps
• 6 million lost their income/ employment (Farmers and fishing companies) crops destroyed
• loss of 53 million due to Rice crops not being exported
• crime rates increased supplies could not reach victims
• some areas had no power for 1 month
• shortage of water, food and shelter which led to disease

Question 7

What were the immediate responses to Typhoon Haiyan?
(6)

Answer 7

• People are evacuated to 1200 evacuation centers that were created
• USA search and rescue (aircrafts and helicopters)
• people cleared rubble
• emergency food from Philippine Red Cross
• emergency hospitals from France, Belgium and Israel (FBI)
• emergencies shelter kits from UK

Question 8

What were the long-term responses to Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 8

• Reconstruction - 1000s of new homes built in flood safe areas
• Reconstruction of roads, bridges and airports
• NGOs (eg. Oxfam) replaced fishing boats
• UN, EU, UK, Australia, Japan and USA provided long-term medical supplies and financial aid to start new lives
• Cash for work programs were created to help people earn money in the long term