Stormy weather

Question 1

Define Hazard risk

Answer 1

The degree of level of harm that will be caused by a natural hazard

Question 2

Define natural hazard

Answer 2

A natural event that has the potential to cause harm

Question 3

Economic impact

Answer 3

an impact which affects wealth of a place or sometimes income

Question 4

Environmental impact

Answer 4

An impact that affects the natural world

Question 5

Extreme weather

Answer 5

A weather event that is significantly different from the average weather pattern

Question 6

What is the enhanced green house effect

Answer 6

the stronger impact caused by human emissions of green house gases

Question 7

What is mitigation

Answer 7

A process which tries to reduce and prevent the effects of something from happening

Question 8

What is adaption

Answer 8

The process of changing something that can become better suited to its use/ surrounding environment

Question 9

Define weather

Answer 9

The state of the atmosphere at a particular place or time, including temperature, precipitation, humidity and wind speed

Question 10

Define climate

Answer 10

the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period

Question 11

define insolation

Answer 11

the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area

Question 12

define latitude

Answer 12

the angular distance of a place north or south of the earth’s equator, usually expressed in degrees or minutes

Question 13

what factors affect a places climate

Answer 13

Land relief e.g above sea level, latitude, altitude
Distance from the sea
Distance from the equator
Aridity e.g lack of air moisture
Prevailing wind
Season

Question 14

Why is the Earth’s atmosphere in constant motion

Answer 14

It is driven by the energy we receive from the sun. We get more energy in tropical areas near the equator and less at the poles. Air movements or winds help to balance this out

Question 15

How does insolation vary considerably

Answer 15

Places at low latitude have higher levels of insolation as rays are spread over a smaller area (more concentration)
Places at higher latitude e.g poles have lower levels of insolation as the rays are spread over a greater distance/larger area

Question 16

What is atmospheric pressure

Answer 16

the force by the weight of air above us

Question 17

Explain convection currents

Answer 17

Warm air rises because it is less dense creating low pressure
Cool air sinks as it is more dense creating high pressure

Question 18

What causes wind

Answer 18

air particles move from areas of high to areas of low pressure

Question 19

Describe the global atmospheric circulation model

Answer 19

1. air cools and sinks, creating a belt of high pressure and a cold, dry climate
2. At about 60 degrees north and south cold polar air mixes with warmer air and rises, creating a blet of low pressure
3. Cool air sinks creating a belt of high pressure, as it sinks it becomes warmer and dryer
4. warmer air rises, it then cools. Clouds form then and release precipitation
5. Above the air will eventually separate and move to higher latitudes

Question 20

What is low pressure air

Answer 20

Rising air
Creates cold, wet climates

Question 21

What is high pressure air

Answer 21

Sinking air
Creates warm, dry climates

Question 22

Why does the equator receive higher levels of insolation

Answer 22

the solar energy strikes the ground at 90 degrees, so energy is concentrates on a small foot print causing eat metre squared to be heated strongly

Question 23

Describe the Hadley cell

Answer 23

Taking the Hadley cell, warm air at the equator (0° of latitude) rises and then cools in the upper atmosphere, then circles back down towards the tropics (i.e. 30° of latitude).

Question 24

Describe the ferrel cell

Answer 24

The air in the Ferrell cell moves in the opposite direction to the air in the Hadley cell with warm air moving toward the polar regions. The warm air that has travelled up from the equator converges with the cold air at 60° of latitude that has travelled down from the polar regions. As the air converges the warm air is forced to rise and move back towards the equator.

Question 25

Describe the polar cell

Answer 25

The overall effect of the Polar cell is to move cold air towards the equator. At the poles (i.e. 90° of latitude) the cold air sinks. It then moves towards the equator. At 60° the combination of warm and cold air causes the warm air to rise, resulting in low air pressure at 60°. At 60° latitude the polar front is found. This is the result of the warm air that has travelled up from the equator and cold air from the poles being unable to mix well.

Question 26

Describe how the cells are controlled

Answer 26

The Hadley and polar cell are controlled by the sun's heat whilst the Ferrell cell is controlled by the movement of air in the other two cells

Question 27

Describe precipitation at the Equator

Answer 27

The intense heating of the Earth's surface near the equator causes warm, moist air to rise rapidly. As the air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and eventually leading to precipitation. Rainfall is constant throughout the year at the equator

Question 28

Describe precipitation at the intertropical convergence zone

Answer 28

Near the equator, the trade winds from the northern and southern hemispheres converge. This convergence zone is characterized by rising air, which promotes cloud formation and rainfall, even torrential rain.

Question 29

Describe precipitation in western Europe

Answer 29

Western Europe typically experiences moderate rainfall throughout the year. However, the distribution and intensity of rainfall vary from region to region. Coastal areas tend to receive more precipitation due to the influence of maritime air masses. In addition jet streams/prevailing winds from the Atlantic bring air full of moisture causing prolonged periods of rain

Question 30

Describe precipitation in the tropics of cancer and Capricorn

Answer 30

Rain fall is often low but dry air often descends there as part of the Hadley cell resulting in arid conditions

Question 31

Describe the precipitation at the polar regions

Answer 31

Experience low precipitation due to cold air's limited capacity to hold moisture. Mostly snow caused by warm-cold air condensing in freezing conditions

Question 32

Define trade winds

Answer 32

Trade winds are consistent east-to-west prevailing winds found between approximately 30 degrees latitude north and south of the equator. They are driven by the temperature difference between the equator and poles and the Coriolis effect.

Question 33

Define arid conditions

Answer 33

Arid environments normally have very low rainfall, such as deserts - dry

Question 34

Define prevailing winds

Answer 34

Prevailing winds are the dominant winds that consistently blow from a particular direction over a specific area. These winds are determined by global atmospheric circulation patterns

Question 35

So what causes global circulation of wind

Answer 35

Heating at the equator and cooling at the poles

Question 36

What would happen without wind transporting heat energy

Answer 36

The equator would continually get hotter and the poles cooler

Question 37

How is wind formed

Answer 37

Air moves from high to low pressure

Question 38

what is the coriolis affect

Answer 38

the deflection of objects like wind due to the earth's spin

Question 39

What happens due to the Coriolis affect

Answer 39

Deflects wind to the right in the northern hemisphere (back where it can from) and back to the left in the southern hemisphere (back where it came from)

Question 40

Define jet streams

Answer 40

High altitude currents of air

Question 41

Define a tropical storm

Answer 41

Strong winds sustained over 74 miles per hour, moving in a spiral around the calm central area. Tropical regions have low pressure where rainfall is heavy. They usually occur in the tropics (mainly ITCZ) at low latitudes between 5-30 degrees, north and south of the equator

Question 42

Describe the tropical storms that take place in the Atlantic ocean

Answer 42

hurricanes usually during august-october generally from west to north west to north east with about 1-2 per year

Question 43

describe the tropical storm which takes place in the indian ocean

Answer 43

cyclones during december-march generally varies with hemispheres

Question 44

describe the tropical storm that takes place in the pacific ocean

Answer 44

typhoons during may to december Direction varies with hemispheres with about 3 per year

Question 45

What are the characteristics of tropical storms

Answer 45

Warm, low-pressure systems with strong winds and heavy rain. They spin clockwise and form over warm ocean waters, impacting large areas with their high winds, rain, and storm surges.

Question 46

Why do tropical storms happen

Answer 46

Due to the influence of the Coriolis affect

Question 47

How can we categorise tropical storms

Answer 47

Using the Saffir Simpson scale

Question 48

What 4 things help cause a tropical storm

Answer 48

Ocean depth of 60-70m Sea temperature above 27C Low wind shear Not along the equator

Question 49

What is the effect of ocean depth and sea temp in causing tropical storms

Answer 49

This provides the heat and moisture that causes air to rise rapidly. Latent heat is released which powers the storm

Question 50

Define latent heat

Answer 50

Latent heat is the energy that is transferred to a substance without the substance's temperature changing.

Question 51

How does low wind shear cause a tropical storm

Answer 51

Winds which remain constant and do not vary with height allow the tropical storms to rise to high levels without being torn apart

Question 52

How does the tropical storm not being along the equator help it form

Answer 52

The coriolis effect isn't strong enough at the equator for it to spin, so needs to be somewhere else

Question 53

What happens after a storm makes landfall

Answer 53

It soon dissipates - looses strength and fizzles out

Question 54

Why does the tropical storm dissipate

Answer 54

There is no longer enough evaporation and energy occurring to fuel the storm

Question 55

Describe the formation of a tropical storm

Answer 55

1. The sun's incoming solar radiation to Earth warms our oceans, most within the tropics. 2. This warms the oceans to a critical 27°c 3. This causes warm moist air to rise under low air pressure conditions 4. strong winds form as more air is drawn upwards 5. This air cools as it rises, at 1°c per 100m, this causes condensation to occur, Cumulonimbus clouds form and torrential rain occurs. 6. The air starts to spin clockwise due to the coriolis effect 5. Some cooled air sinks back down at the centre helping to create the calm central eye 6. Air rushes in from higher pressure areas outside of the storm to lower pressure areas at the centre of the storm creating winds. 7. The whole storm rotates because of the Earth's spin.

Question 56

How is the weather likely to change as the storm passes over a place

Answer 56

Increasing Winds: Winds will strengthen. Heavy Rainfall: Intense rainfall leading to flooding. Decreased Visibility: Due to cloud cover and rain. Temperature Fluctuations: May decrease slightly during the storm. Drop in Atmospheric Pressure: Before the storm and a rise afterward.

Question 57

How might climate change affect the distribution of tropical storms

Answer 57

Distribution - significant/random areas of the globe experience tropical storms. This is because areas now have warmer oceans. The map shows that we will experience changes in the Power Dissipation index.

Question 58

How might climate change affect the frequency of tropical storms

Answer 58

The total number of storms in the north Atlantic has increased. This is because there is more energy available in the atmosphere and ocean waters to fuel tropical storms more often. We have also seen an increase in the number of short duration storms.

Question 59

How might climate change affect the intensity of tropical storms

Answer 59

There are more storm surges and greater damage to human property. This is because due to the rise in temperature, accumulated storm energy has increased causing stronger winds.

Question 60

Define primary effects

Answer 60

The initial impact of a natural event on people and property, caused directly by it.

Question 61

Define secondary effects

Answer 61

The after-effects that occur as indirect impacts of a natural event, sometimes on a longer timescale.

Question 62

Suggest some primary effects

Answer 62

People injured/killed by debris blown around Buildings are damaged or destroyed by debris or storm surge People drown Infrastructure + Services become contaminated

Question 63

Suggest some secondary effects

Answer 63

If crops/food destroyed result in food shortage People left homeless Electric supplies cut off due to power destroyed Sewage released due to flooding Lack of clean water + sanitation can lead to disease Transport networks blocked by debris making it hard to bring aid Unemployment is caused by damaged businesses

Question 64

Suggest immediate responses to tropical storms

Answer 64

People evacuated before storm lands People who are trapped rescued Provided medical support for injured people Temporary shelters set up for homeless Provided water and food for people Dead bodies recovered Aid provided by government

Question 65

Suggest long term responses to tropical storms

Answer 65

properties re-build and repaired + peopled rehoused Infrastructure and services repaired Improved forecasting and early warning systems Improve building regulations for properties to withstand impacts Offer incentives such as tax breaks to encourage economic recovery

Question 66

What factors affect the effectiveness of immediate responses and longterm response3s

Answer 66

Road conditions - transport Intensity - amount of damage Economic stability - LIC or HIC Population - aging, amount Relationships with other countries - aid

Question 67

How does monitoring reduce the effects of tropical storms

Answer 67

Monitoring tropical storms reduces their effects by providing early warnings, enabling accurate track and intensity predictions, facilitating resource allocation, promoting public preparedness, and protecting infrastructure.

Question 68

How does prediction reduce the effects of tropical storms

Answer 68

Intensity Forecasting: Predictive models also estimate the intensity of tropical storms, including factors like wind speed, rainfall, and storm surge potential.

Question 69

How does protection reduce the effects of tropical storms

Answer 69

Reinforce building material, coastal defences, no building zones, Natural Buffer Zones- wetlands, mangroves, and dunes can mitigate the impacts of tropical storms by absorbing floodwaters, reducing erosion, and providing habitat for wildlife. These ecosystems act as natural barriers, dissipating wave energy and protecting coastal communities from storm surges and erosion. vegetation cover

Question 70

How does planning reduce tropical storm impacts

Answer 70

raise community awareness, education, disaster suppl kits, evacuation routes, fuelled vehicles

Question 71

Formation of tropical storm

Answer 71

1. Air on the surface of ocean warmed 2. Warm moist air rises under low pressure conditions 3. Strong winds form as more air is drawn upwards 4. The air starts to spin clockwise due to the coriolis affect 5. Rising air cools and condenses to form cumulonimbus clouds which release torrential rain 6. Latent heat is released outwards which powers the storm 7. Cold air sinks down the centre of the storm creating the calm central eye 8. Prevailing winds push the storm towards land (tracks north in the northern hemisphere and south in the southern hemisphere) 9. When the storm reaches land it looses heat and moisture so dissipates (fizzles out do to the loss in energy)