[Part 3] Weather Hazards and Climate change ☂️🌐 Flashcards
1
Q
Where do most tropical cyclones occur?
A
- most tropical cyclones occur in a band of low pressure, and warm temperatures between 5c and 30c north and south of the equator.
2
Q
How do tropical cyclones form ?
A
- Converging surface winds pick up the heat and moisture from the ocean.
- Tropical storms release a lot of the latest heat and warm the core of the developing hurricane.
- winds in the upper atmosphere diverge, and they move from high pressure at the top to low pressure at the edges
- the divergence of winds in the upper atmosphere lowers the surface pressure. When the surface pressure decreases, the storm intensifies.
3
Q
What is the eye of a tropical cyclone?
A
- the eye of a tropical cyclone is the centre of the cyclone.
- the eye is up to 50km across, caused by descending air; there’s also: very low pressure, light winds, no clouds, no rains + a high temperature in the eye.
4
Q
What is the eyewall of a tropical cyclone?
Hint: surrounds
A
- the eye wall of a tropical cyclone, surrounds the eye.
- In the eye wall, there’s: spiralling rising air, very strong winds (roughly 160km per hour), storm clouds, torrential rain + a low temperature.
5
Q
What is a storm surge ?
Hint: sea level
A
- a storm surge is a large rise in sea level, caused by low pressure and high winds.
6
Q
- Fill in the gaps about the structure of a tropical cyclone: Tropical cyclones are ________ in shape and are ________ of kilometres wide. They usually last for 7 to __ days.
A
- Tropical cyclones are circular in shape and are hundreds of kilometres wide. They usually last for 7 to 14 days.
7
Q
What are arid environments?
A
- arid environments are places which usually have very low rainfall.
- many arid environments (deserts) are hot which causes water to evaporate, faster than it can be replaced by rain.
8
Q
Explain how characteristics of arid environments, reflect the lack of water in arid environments ?
A
- one characteristic is plant growth is sparse due to the lack of rainfall. The plants are quite short + there are a few tall trees.
- Because of this, theres hardly any rainfall= the soil is shallow + not very fertile. Lack of rainfall + plant material—-> soil normally dry and dusty.
- Low vegetation; plants + animals have adapted to lack of water.
9
Q
What’s a drought?
A
- A drought is a severe shortage of water, in a particular location, (which normally happens when rainfall is below average for a long period)
10
Q
Explain some of the characteristics of a drought
A
- the characteristics of a drought are:
- random deficits in rainfall, and a drop in rivers and lakes that doesn’t follow a regular pattern.
- vegetation also won’t be adapted to dry conditions, so vegetation may wilt or die during a drought.
11
Q
How can droughts can be hazardous for ecosystems?
Hint: depletion of water
A
- droughts can cause a depletion of water supplies, water shortages and low water levels in rivers/lakes- which means aquatic plants and animals die
- ; droughts also mean that soil can dry out, so plants die. This leaves the soil vunlerable to erosion [by the wind and rainfall]
- with droughts, wildfires are more likely because the soil becomes very dry, and wildfires can destroy: crops, forests animals and people’s homes.
12
Q
How can droughts can be hazardous towards humans ?
Hint: 🦠🧫
A
- droughts can be hazardous in humans because:
- they can lead to a depletion of water supplies. This can then cause shortages of water levels in rivers, lakes or reservoirs- meaning lakes and reservoirs become stagnant.
- this means there’s less freshwater to dilute waste materials [such as sewage], therefore this is an increased risk of contamination of water supplies.
- outbreaks of diseases like cholera can be fatal for young children.
13
Q
Can you please tell me how droughts can be hazardous towards humans ? 👨🏾🌾
A
- droughts can mean farmers lose their livelihoods [as their crops are dryed up, due to not being adapted to drought conditions
- ; hunger and malnutrition can also be caused, by a lack of of water which damages crops, and also harm livestock [such as cattle, as they do not have a reliable source of water]
14
Q
Can you please tell me how droughts can be hazardous towards humans?
Hint: 💨🌧️
A
- erosion from wind and rain removes the topsoil—-> when it rains, difficult to grow crops.
- But if there’s an existing food shortage, this can make the situation worse and lead to starvation.
15
Q
Can you please tell me how droughts can be hazardous towards humans?
Hint: 🏠
A
- Flooding can damage homes, farmland + infrastructure because during a drought, soil hardens + sewers can be blocked.
- So when it does rain, water cannot drain quick enough—-> leading to flooding.
16
Q
How can droughts be caused by meteorological factors? [3]
A
- droughts can be caused by meteorological factors because: it can cause an area to get less rainfall than average.
- [low rainfall can also be caused when high pressure weather systems stop depressions from entering an area]
- also, changes in atmospheric circulation can mean that it doesn’t rain much in an area, for months or years.
17
Q
How can droughts be caused by meteorological factors?
Hint: 🇮🇳
A
- droughts can be caused by meteorological factors because, changes in atmospheric circulation can make annual rains fall.
- For example, monsoons not coming when they usually do I’m places like India.
18
Q
How can droughts be caused by hydrological factors?
A
- droughts can be caused by hydrological factors Aswell, because a lack of water in hydrological stores (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, aquifers) can lead to drought.
19
Q
How can droughts be caused by hydrological factors?
Hint:
A
- Drought can also be caused by hydrological factors, because in some warm + dry conditions, surface water evaporates so it gets depleted faster than in aquifers.
- [ ; some areas rely on rainfall + stores of surface water
- And once they’re depleted, stores of water can take months to years to be replenished]
20
Q
How can droughts be caused by humans?
Hint: 🐄⛲️
A
- Droughts can be caused by humans because of intensive farming, as it depletes water supplies—-> uses large volumes of water.
- Farming livestock also demand lots of water. [e.g- for animals to drink]
21
Q
How can droughts be caused by humans?
Hint: resevoir
A
- Buildings dams across rivers creates reservoirs, providing water for local people.
- But dams can reduce the flow of water downstream, causing droughts in other areas.
22
Q
How can droughts be caused by humans?
Hint: 🌲
A
- droughts can be caused by humans, because deforestation reduces the amount of water that can be held in the soil- therefore the soil dries out quickly.
- Trees also release a lot of moisture into the air through their leaves, meaning deforestation can make the atmosphere of the air drier- adding to the meteorological causes/factors of drought.
23
Q
Why are some places more vulnerable to droughts than others?
A
- some places more vulnerable to droughts than others, because areas found 30* north + south of the equator are more susceptible to droughts.
- This is because of global atmospheric circulation, where cool, dry air sinks at 30* north + south of the equator—->creating a belt of high pressure [where there is also very little rainfall]
