Paper 1 - Tropical storms keywords Flashcards
Tropical storm
A very low pressure weather system forming in tropical zones, characterised by very strong winds an intense rainfall
Air pressure
The weight of the atmosphere pressing down on the earth. Sinking air creates high pressure, rising air creates low pressure
Global atmospheric circulation model
The movement of air in convection cells between the equator and the poles
Hadley Cell
Air rising at the equator spreads out, sinks at approximately 30°s north and south then travels back towards the equator as trade winds.
Trade winds
Surface winds blowing from 30°s north and south back to the equator
Jet stream
High altitude winds blowing around the globe at 30°s and 60°s north / south
Coriolis Effect
The way the rotation of the earth makes storms spin
Depression
A low pressure weather system where rising air brings wind, clouds and rain
Cumulonimbus clouds
Towering storm clouds that are form in tropical areas, they bring intense rainfall
The ‘eye’ of a tropical storm
The calm centre of a tropical storm. There is no cloud, no wind and no rain
The ‘eye wall’ of a tropical storm
The wall of clouds around the eye. The strongest winds and most intense rain forms here
Humidity
The amount of water vapour in the air
Storm frequency
How often storms occur.
Storm intensity
Measured by wind speed using the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale
Storm distribution
Where tropical storms form in oceans.
Tropical storm track
The route a tropical storm takes, the land it passes over
Primary impact
Impacts that occur immediately, as a result of the tropical storm
Secondary impact
Impacts that occur from hours to days after the tropical storm.
Immediate response
How governments react in the hours to days before / after the storm
Long term response
How governments etc react in the weeks to years after the storm to rebuild
Typhoon Haiyan
A category 5 storm, wind speeds over 300 km/hour, 5 metre storm surge
Monitoring
Monitoring clouds / storms to better predict where tropical storms will form
Prediction
Methods used to work out where storms will form and their track
Protection
Actions by governments and individuals to protect property and people
Preparation / planning
Actions taken by governments or people when a tropical storm strikes so they are ready. E.g governments build cyclone shelters, families prepare disaster kits
