Topic 1:(part 2) Tropical Cyclones Flashcards
Give the correct terminology for tropical cyclones in their continents
Hurricanes: North America
Typhoons: Asia
Cyclones: Madagascar/Europe/Indian ocean
Willy - willies: Australia
Give 5 parts of a tropical cyclone
The eye- centre of the whole thing
The eye walls - biggest clouds, surrounding the eye
Dense cirrus canopy: top of the cumulonimbus clouds
Cumulonimbus clouds: top layer of clouds of the eye walls
Describe how a tropical cyclone is formed (steps 1 to 3 (before movement)
Step 1: start
Warm, moist air must be rising above a water body, which is 26 degrees. This most commonly occurs in the tropics. As the air rises, more air rushes in to take its place. A cycle begins, like a low pressure zone
Step 2: development
This rising air contains lots of water vapour due to its location. Therefore, cumulonimbus clouds form. This condensation produces lots of energy which causes the storm to be powerful. The earths rotation deflects the winds path, causing the cyclone to spin
Step 3: further development:
The rising air spirals around the centre due to Coriolis force (formation away from the equator. This makes it resemble a whirling cylinder. It rises and cools, so some air descends in the centre to create the eye. It starts to curve east
Describe how a tropical cyclone is formed (steps 4 and 5 (before movement))
Step 4: movement
As the tropical cyclone moves away from its source, it gains new energy and size from new heat and moisture from new waters and winds. So it grows and intensifies
Step 5:
Once the tropical cyclone moves away from the sea it loses its main fuel, so air pressure rises, winds drop, rainfall decreases and and it decays to a storm
Name 5 hazards caused from tropical cyclones
High winds Intense rainfall Storm surges Coastal flooding Landslides
Give the 3 preparation techniques used and examples of them
Forecast/tracking:
Satellite tracking, sea buoy monitoring, weather planes
Warning/evacuation:
Evacuation zones, broadcasts, evacuation kits, suffir simpson scale
Building scales:
CBA: Cost Benefit Analysis, flood levees, houses
Give 2 response techniques and examples:
Rescue:
Emergency services rescue people, check safety of buildings, deliver aid
Rebuild:
Bodies disposal in mass graves, roads and infrastructure repaired shortly after the disaster
Give the two tropical cyclone examples
Hurricane Katrina (USA) Cyclone Nargis (Burma/Myanmar)
Give the consequences of Hurricane Katrina (USA)
1800 dead
300,000 homes destroyed
Loss of electricity, roads, bridges
230,000 jobs lost
Environmentally:
Costal habitats destroyed, coastal conservation areas destroyed, oil refineries
Give the consequences of Cyclone Nargis
140,000
Lots of diseases spread
450,000 houses destroyed, 350,000 damaged
65% rice paddies damaged - very bad for farmers who only grow what they have to eat
Forecasting in Hurricane Katrina (USA)
The USA had a sophisticated monitoring system, and the NHC(National hurricane centre) in Florida which tracks and predicts hurricanes with satellite images and planes
Warning and evacuation in Hurricane Katrina
A hurricane warning was releases by the NHC for three states, and tracked it to see where it would hit. Two states declared a state of emergency and 70-80% of New Orleans were evacuated
Defences in USA
The defences in New Orleans failed and the city was badly damaged. 80% of the city was underwater
The levees had not been maintained and the pumping stations didn’t work
Evacuation procedures were hampered by fleeing traffic and people didn’t use public transport
Forecasting in cyclone Nargis
There was no real surveillance as the country is corrupt and poor
Warning and evacuation in Cyclone Nargis
Cyclone was viewed 48 hours before it hit. Warnings were issued on TV and radio, but reached few poor farmers. No emergency preparation or evacuation plans were made. Many died because they didn’t know what to do
