Paper 1: Extreme Weather in UK

Question 1

What is the UK climate?

Answer 1

The UK has a temperate climate. In general, this means that Britain gets cool, wet winters and warm, wet summers.

Question 2

Extreme weather:

Answer 2

When a weather event is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern.

Question 3

Drought and heat waves
Drought:

Answer 3

a long period with low or no rain compared to the average

Question 4

Cause: drought

Answer 4

Occurs when high pressure systems approach the UK, usually the Tropical Continental air mass which brings hot, dry air.

Question 5

Features - drought

Answer 5

Features: In the UK defined as 15 consecutive days with no rain. In summer clear skies also lead to heatwaves.
Shortages of water impacts farming
May need to ration water domestically e.g. hosepipe bans
2003 drought in Europe also led to a heatwave that killed 20,000 people.
Wildfires disrupt businesses, transport, people may need to be evacuated from homes.

Question 6

storms - cause

Answer 6

Cause: Low pressure systems from the south west (across the Atlantic), driven by the jet stream. Warm air from the south meets cool air from the north. The warm air is forced to rise rapidly, it condenses forming heavy rain and very strong winds

Question 7

storms - features

Answer 7

Features:
Very heavy rain can lead to flash flooding, where ground is quickly saturated and rain flows straight to rivers.
Strong winds can damage buildings, blow down trees, turn over lorries, bring down power lines leading to power cuts. people may be killed by falling trees, debris.

Question 8

Flooding - cause

Answer 8

Cause: Most commonly caused by heavy or persistent rainfall when low pressure depression is blocked and remains over the UK

Question 9

Flooding - features

Answer 9

Features:
Intense rainfall saturates ground, meaning rivers overflow their banks. Extensive damage to properties and great cost to individuals and insurance companies for repairs. Temporary closure of businesses. People may be unable to get to work/ school if roads are flooded.
Environmental damage as polluted flood water soaks into open ground, burrowing animals drown, predators cannot hunt.

Question 10

Extreme cold - cause

Answer 10

Cause: Occurs when the jet stream moves further south than usual, dragging cold Arctic/Polar maritime air with it. This brings depressions which bring ice and snow.

Question 11

Cold - features

Answer 11

Features:
Freezing conditions create transport chaos as roads are icy, accidents, trains cannot run, planes cannot safely take off and land. Schools, businesses may have to close as a result.
Extreme cold increases health risks, especially to the elderly.
Impact on agriculture crops, cattle, lambs may not survive freezing temperatures

Question 12

Strategies to manage drought risk

Answer 12

Hosepipe ban to reduce unnecessary use of water
Water companies can apply to the government for a drought order, water supplies to homes are cut off and people use a standpipe in the street.
Water companies encourage people to have water metres that charge for the amount used.

Question 13

Strategies to manage storm risk

Answer 13

The UK Met Office predicts storms and warns the public of potential risk.
Severe weather warnings and flood risk issued on media and to smartphones
Airlines and rail companies cancel their services during very strong winds to minimise risk to the public.
High road bridges may be closed to tall lorries so they don’t blow over

Question 14

Strategies to manage flood risk

Answer 14

Hard Engineering strategies e.g. dams in the upper course, flood relief channels, river straightening, embankments and more commonly temporary flood walls
Soft engineering strategies: River restoration, tree planting, flood warnings, flood plain zoning

Question 15

Strategies to manage cold risk

Answer 15

Councils responsible for keeping roads clear of snow and ice, using gritting lorries etc.
Organisations like Public Health England use media to warn people to take extra care in icy conditions
Charities for the elderly raise awareness about dangers to the elderly and encourage the public to check on / elderly neighbours etc

Question 16

Causes of the extreme weather event:

Answer 16

In November 2015, a depression formed in the Atlantic where cold polar maritime air met warm tropical maritime air. The depression became ’blocked’ over the UK bringing persistent rainfall to Cumbria in north west England.
In early December, a depression brought further heavy rainfall. This rain fell onto ground that was already saturated. The rainfall ran over the ground as surface runoff into the Rivers Cocker and Derwent that meet in the town of Cockermouth creating flooding.

Question 17

Social Impacts

Answer 17

6000 homes in Cumbria flooded. It was months before some could return to their homes.

40,000 homes without electricity for several days

An elderly man died as he was washed away by flood water from the River Kent in the town of Kendal

Very strong winds brought down trees that damaged homes and cars

Roads and railway lines closed due to flooding or landslides

Question 18

economic impacts

Answer 18

Home owners had to claim thousands of pounds on their insurance to pay for repairs to their flooded homes. Flood insurance premiums are now far more expensive.

House values dropped by over 30% in heavily damaged areas, making it hard for residents to sell their homes.

4000 businesses affected by flooding. Profit loss puts hundreds of jobs at risk.

The tourism industry was damaged as the main railway line could not open and many roads were severely damaged.

Flood damage estimated to cost £500 million

Question 19

environmental impacts

Answer 19

Flood water covered moorland and woodland. This means many animals were without food or shelter, leading to a decline in numbers.

Lots of burrowing animals e.g. rabbits were drowned.

Question 20

Moveable flood wall

Answer 20

£4.5 million was provided to build temporary flood walls that protect communities during a flood but that can be removed so that cafes and restaurants still overlook the river (important of tourism)

Question 21

Improved flood warnings

Answer 21

The Environment Agency provides residents with improved flood warnings to their smartphones. This improves safety by giving people more time to evacuate and protect their properties.

Question 22

Investment in flood response kits

Answer 22

Temporary flood barriers and water pumps have been purchased and staff trained so that vulnerable communities can be better protected in future floods

Question 23

What is the evidence for more extreme weather in the UK?

Answer 23

Rainfall and temperature records indicate recent and rapid changes in temperature and rainfall. The speed of change suggests climate fluctuations are man-made rather than natural. Overall temperatures are rising, and extreme heat events are becoming more frequent. The UK has seen a temperature increase of 1℃ since 1980 which has been linked to hotter summers and greater chance of drought. Overall rainfall levels have increased during the winter, the UK is on average 12.5% wetter this decade when compared with the average, increasing the frequency and magnitude of winter floods. Most of the UK has seen a decrease in rainfall during the summer, increasing drought risk.