Paper 1 - Tropical storms keywords

Question 1

Tropical storm

Answer 1

A very low pressure weather system forming in tropical zones, characterised by very strong winds an intense rainfall

Question 2

Air pressure

Answer 2

The weight of the atmosphere pressing down on the earth. Sinking air creates high pressure, rising air creates low pressure

Question 3

Global atmospheric circulation model

Answer 3

The movement of air in convection cells between the equator and the poles

Question 4

Hadley Cell

Answer 4

Air rising at the equator spreads out, sinks at approximately 30°s north and south then travels back towards the equator as trade winds.

Question 5

Trade winds

Answer 5

Surface winds blowing from 30°s north and south back to the equator

Question 6

Jet stream

Answer 6

High altitude winds blowing around the globe at 30°s and 60°s north / south

Question 7

Coriolis Effect

Answer 7

The way the rotation of the earth makes storms spin

Question 8

Depression

Answer 8

A low pressure weather system where rising air brings wind, clouds and rain

Question 9

Cumulonimbus clouds

Answer 9

Towering storm clouds that are form in tropical areas, they bring intense rainfall

Question 10

The ‘eye’ of a tropical storm

Answer 10

The calm centre of a tropical storm. There is no cloud, no wind and no rain

Question 11

The ‘eye wall’ of a tropical storm

Answer 11

The wall of clouds around the eye. The strongest winds and most intense rain forms here

Question 12

Humidity

Answer 12

The amount of water vapour in the air

Question 13

Storm frequency

Answer 13

How often storms occur.

Question 14

Storm intensity

Answer 14

Measured by wind speed using the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale

Question 15

Storm distribution

Answer 15

Where tropical storms form in oceans.

Question 16

Tropical storm track

Answer 16

The route a tropical storm takes, the land it passes over

Question 17

Primary impact

Answer 17

Impacts that occur immediately, as a result of the tropical storm

Question 18

Secondary impact

Answer 18

Impacts that occur from hours to days after the tropical storm.

Question 19

Immediate response

Answer 19

How governments react in the hours to days before / after the storm

Question 20

Long term response

Answer 20

How governments etc react in the weeks to years after the storm to rebuild

Question 21

Typhoon Haiyan

Answer 21

A category 5 storm, wind speeds over 300 km/hour, 5 metre storm surge

Question 22

Monitoring

Answer 22

Monitoring clouds / storms to better predict where tropical storms will form

Question 23

Prediction

Answer 23

Methods used to work out where storms will form and their track

Question 24

Protection

Answer 24

Actions by governments and individuals to protect property and people

Question 25

Preparation / planning

Answer 25

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