Section A - Weather Hazards

Question 1

Explain Low and High Pressure and give Millibars.

Answer 1

High Pressure- When air is sinking causing very dry deserts

Low Pressure- When air is is rising to cause Tropical Rainforests with less than 1000 MB (Millibar)

Question 2

Name and explain the 3 atmospheric Cells.

Answer 2

Polar Cell; Ferrel Cell; Hadley Cell, Each cell is separated by 30 degrees north and south with the Equator line being 0 degrees and the hottest part due to latitude.

Question 3

What is the Coriolis Effect?

Answer 3

wind moves at an angle due to Earth rotating Constantly causing clouds to spin

Question 4

What is the Distribution of Tropical Storms?

Answer 4

Distribution- Form on the ocean when it’s 27 degrees and at a depth of 60-70 metres in areas of low latitude between 5 to 30 degrees north and south of the Equator near the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (23.5 degrees north and south). This is because the weather is generally hot and wet due to low pressure which is optimal conditions.

Question 5

Explain the 7 step formation of Tropical Storms.

Answer 5

1- Air is heated above the surface of the warm tropical oceans. The warm air rises rapidly under low-pressure conditions.
2- The rising air draws up more air and large volumes of moisture from the ocean, causing strong winds.
3- The Coriolis effect causes the air to spin upwards around a calm central eye of the Strom.
4- AS the air rises, it cools and condensed to form large cumulonimbus clouds, which generate torrential rainfall. The heat released powers the tropical storm.
5- Cold air sinks into the eye, therefore there are no clouds, so it is drier and much calmer
6- The tropical storms travel across the ocean in direction of the prevailing winds
7- When the tropical storm meets land, it is no longer fuelled by the source of moisture and what from the ocean, so it loses power and weakens.

Question 6

Explain the Structure of Tropical Storms

Answer 6

Thanks to the Coriolis Effect’s impact on air and water, the movement happens in a curved direction; the north goes to the right and the south goes to the left. This is why hurricanes rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and cyclones in the southern hemisphere rotate clockwise. It also consists of Rain Bands, Eye, Eye Wall, Outflow Cirrus Shield

Question 7

What is the effect of climate change on Tropical Storms?

Answer 7

Climate change is expected to increase the intensity of tropical storms and for the frequency of tropical storms to decrease or stay the same as the Category 4-5 storms are expected to become more frequent whereas category 1-3 storms are expected to become less frequent. However, it does not affect the distribution of tropical storms and is expected not to change significantly.

Question 8

Typhoon Haiyan Philippine Case Study- Category, Location, Max Wind Speed, Year.

Answer 8

Category 5 typhoon struck the Philippines with record wind speeds of up to 313 km/h, 2013

Question 9

Typhoon Haiyan Philippine Case Study- Name 3 Primary Effects

Answer 9

Over 6000 dead, $12 billion overall damaged, Over 1 million farmers and 600,000 hectares of agriculture and affected, 1.1 million tonnes of crops destroyed, 1.1 million houses damaged, 4.1 million people made homeless

Question 10

Typhoon Haiyan Philippine Case Study- Name 3 Secondary Effects

Answer 10

8 people died in a stampede for food supplies, Fishing water was contaminated as an oil tanker ran aground causing an 800,000-litre oil leak, Seawtare, along with chemicals from industry and sewage systems contaminated the surface and groundwater.

Question 11

Typhoon Haiyan Philippine Case Study- Name 3 Immediate Responses

Answer 11

800,000 evacuated people, 1 million food packs distributed and 250,000 litres of water distributed, $1.5 billion+ pledged in foreign aid

Question 12

Typhoon Haiyan Philippine Case Study- Name 3 Long-term Responses

Answer 12

“Build Back Better” initiative- no-build zone along the coast in Eastern Visayas, new storm surge warning system, mangroves replanted, plans to build Tacloban_Palo-Tanaun Road Dike

Question 13

How is Monitoring used in Tropical Storms?

Answer 13

using satellite to see if rainclouds reach 16km in height that are likely to develop in a tropical storm, drones fly at 10,000 feet through hurricanes to collect air pressure, rainfall and windspeed to make estimations

Question 14

How is Planning used in Tropical Storms?

Answer 14

prepare disaster supply kit, spare fuel for vehicles, know where official evacuation shelters are, store loose objects, planning with family

Question 15

How is Prediciton used in Tropical Storms?

Answer 15

2 new supercomputers make in 1992 to track and give a 3-day warning with an estimated range of 480 km, track cone produce storm path and intensity for up to 7 days with room for error, 2013 Cyclone Phailin India predicted but only 21 died, 1999 not predicted similar storm and 10,000 died, National Hurricane centres issue warnings and evacuations.

Question 16

How is Protection used in Tropical Storms?

Answer 16

Emergency Management Agency advice- install hurricane straps between the roof and walk, install window storm shutters, install an emergency generator, tie-down windborne objects, reinforce garage doors, remove trees close to buildings. Low lying land is not built on or supported by coastal flood defences

Question 17

Cumbria Flooding 2015 Case Study- Cause

Answer 17

Very deep Atlantic Depression (is an area of low pressure) brings strong winds and heavy rainfall which can cause storm surges near the coast. Depression brought over a month of rain in two days. Also just experienced a storm with moderate rainfall so the soil was already saturated therefore could not soak up any of the rainfall from the new Storm Desmond causing flooding.

Question 18

Cumbria Flooding 2015 Case Study- Name 3 Social Effects

Answer 18

43,000 homes suffered power cuts, 700+ families cant return home for 2 years, community cohesion- strengthen the community through a shared experience of struggle and recovery

Question 19

Cumbria Flooding 2015 Case Study- Name 3 Economic Effects

Answer 19

People couldn’t get to work due to transport disruptions, 100s of businesses in Allerdale closed for a year, Cost £1.3 billion and increased insurance bill

Question 20

Cumbria Flooding 2015 Case Study- Name 3 Environmental Effects

Answer 20

Landslides and mudslides were reported which damaged A591 road, Cattle death due to landslides and riverbank erosion, and River Eden broke its banks before reaching record flow levels.

Question 21

Cumbria Flooding 2015 Case Study- Name 3 Management Strategies

Answer 21

The government provided £150 million to support short-term recovery, Emergency Agency (EA) improved its strategy by providing residents with flood warning information so that they have more time to evacuate or prepare their homes, Individuals- Affordable flood insurance available, £5,000 grant give to resident to better protect homes, raise heights of buildings by 1 metre to improve flood protection, utilising social media to report any transport problems, use stone tiles instead of carpet for lower floors as it takes a very long and stressful time to repair carpets after flooding

Question 22

Suggest Evidence for increased Extreme Weather UK.

Answer 22

Maximum winter rainfall in 2014 with 550mm, Only exceeded 430 mm once before 1950 but increased by 450 mm 4 times since 1950, an Increasing trend suggesting that the mean temperature increases as the year progresses which can cause less rainfall and more droughts.