Paper 1- Weather/ Natural Hazards Flashcards
how are tropical storms different from mid-latitude depressions
they are stronger low pressure systems
winds can exceed 155mph
Precipitation can exceed 2500mm in a day
cover a smaller area than mid latitude storm systems but more intense
What are intense tropical storms different in parts of the world
hurricanes in the atlantic and east pacific
typhoons in the west of the north pacific
Cyclones in the indian ocean and in the west of South pacific
The formation of tropical storms
occur in late summer when areas of warm tropical ocean exceed 27 degrees, causing convective uplift to start the low pressure
rising air causes condensation, this releases latent heat keeping air warm enough to continue rising. Latent heat release is the fuel of the storm
Away from the equator, the coriolis force causes the storm to rotate
Storm builds strength as it travels over the warm ocean, sucking up more humid air
learn annotations for cross section of tropical storms
poo
Saffir-Simpson Scale
is used to classify tropical storms according to strength
Speed categories
1= 74 - 95 (mph) 980 (Pressure) 4-5 (surge)
2= 96-110 965 - 980 6-8
3= 111 - 130 945-965 9-12
4= 131-155 920-945 13-18
5=>155 >920 >18
What causes tropical storms to end?
Over land or a cold area of sea, the air is less humid so when a tropical strom makes landfall or crosses colder seas, the “fuel” (warm humid air) is cut off and the storm loses strength
distribution of tropical storms
everywhere above and below the equator except countries like South America, Portugal and South Atlantic
What direction do storms travel
in low latitudes they move from East to West because of the trade winds. Only at higher latitudes do they begin to veer eastwards due to mid latitude westerly winds
Hazards associated with tropical storms
High winds - damage to buildings
Heavy rain - causing flooding and Landslides
Storm Surge - strong wind, and low pressure under the storm creates a bulge of higher sea level that rushes onshore
how might climate change affect the distribution, frequency, and intensity of tropical storms?
climate change = warming seas - could lead to either more frequent, bigger or where one has not been before
Primary and Secondary effects of tropical storms
Primary - Deaths, damage to buildings
Secondary- landslides due to heavy rainfall, problems caused by flooding, contamination of water supplies and spread of disease, long term economic problems
Immediate responses to effect of tropical storms
evacuation to higher ground/ storm shelters, Distribution of emergency aid
long term responses to effect of tropical storms
improving predictions and warnings repairing infrastructure Investing in new sea defences Restoring coastal wetlands Preventing new development in risk zones
what are long term responses about
achieving more sustainable development in areas at risk from tropical storms
impacts of tropical storms on HICs and LICs tend to contrast
HICs experience damage in monetary terms. E.g. Hurrican Andrew Florida 1992 => 27 billion worth of damage
LICs tend to experience higher casualties e.g. 300,000 killed in Bangladesh 1970)
Impacts tend to last longer for LICs
Typhoon Haiyan intro facts
4:40 am 8th November 2013 Category 5 Originated in NW Pacific ocean Winds speeds of 314 km/h 6,190 died
Primary effect of typhoon Haiyan
Homes destroyed Evacuation centre badly damaged Roads blocked Power interupted Airport damaged Leyte + Tacloban had 5 meter storm surge 400ml of rain 90% of Tacloban destroyed
Secondary effects of typhoon Haiyan
Before, coconut, sugar cane and rice made up 12.7% of GDP => these were lost in the storm damage to rice = 53million $
three quarters of farmers + fisherman lost their income
UN totalled recovery costs for f+a = $724 million
Oil barge ran aground at Estancia contaminated 10km
Flooding spread diseases
Immediate responses
President televised a warning
Evacuated 800,000 people
Indoor stadium for refuge (people died when it flooded)
Government ensured supplies
Emergency aid arrived after 3 days
Took 1 week for power restoration
Curfew was imposed
33 countries pledged to help
long term responses of typhoon haiyan
July 2014- government declared working towards long term recovery
not just re built but upgraded
new storm surge warning
Mangroves replanted
No build zone in certain areas
Plans to build citys like Tacloban
