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Geography > Topic 2 - Weather hazards and climate change > Flashcards

Topic 2 - Weather hazards and climate change Flashcards

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1
Q

Define atmospheric circulation.

A

Movement of air around the earth due to pressure and temperature.

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2
Q

Define climate change

A

A distinct change in global or regional patterns of climate.

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3
Q

Define the Coriolis effect.

A

The effect of the Earths rotation on wind movements, causes air to curve as it travels across the earths surface

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4
Q

Define drought.

A

A prolonged dry period in the natural climate cycle, which can appear anywhere in the world

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5
Q

Define the eye of the cyclone.

A

An area of a tropical cyclone with extremely low pressure and calm conditions.

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6
Q

Define the eyewall of the cyclone.

A

An area of a tropical cyclone with the most intense, powerful winds and torrential rain.

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7
Q

What happens in the Ferrel cell?

A

Around 60 degrees north and south of the equator moist air rises and travels to around 30 degrees north and south of the equator. Here it sinks.

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8
Q

What is a Hadley Cell?

A

Warm, moist air rises near the equator and then cools as it travels to higher latitudes (30 degrees) where it sinks.

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9
Q

What is the difference between a hurricane and a cyclone?

A

A hurricane hits the USA, Latin America or the Caribbean.
A cyclone hits Oceania or Madagascar.

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10
Q

What is a ice core?

A

A section of ice drilled from a glacier showing the layers of ice created over time.

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11
Q

What are Milankovitch cycles?

A

Long-term variations in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, which causes long term changes in climate.

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12
Q

What is obliquity?

A

The tilt of the earths axis which can change from 21.5 to 24.5 degrees.

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13
Q

What is the purpose of ocean currents?

A

They transfer heat energy from areas of surplus to areas of deficit.

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14
Q

What is a Polar Cell?

A

At 60 degrees north or south of the equator moist air rises and travels to the poles (90) where it sinks.

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15
Q

What is precission?

A

The wobble of the earths axis.

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16
Q

What is a storm surge?

A

When a tropical cyclone pushes a large amount of sea water onto the shore causing a rise in sea level.

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17
Q

What is the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?

A

A process where the Earth’s surface is heated by the greenhouse effect at an increased rate due to larger greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.

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18
Q

What are tree rings?

A

A ring in a tree that grows annually, indicating the conditions in the year that it grew.

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19
Q

What is a tropical cyclone?

A

A very large, spinning storm with high winds and torrential rain, that forms in the tropics, 30 degrees north and south of the equator.

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20
Q

What is a typhoon?

A

A tropical cyclone that hits India, Japan and the Philippines.

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21
Q

What is another word for obliquity?

A

Axial tilt

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22
Q

Explain how oceanic currents work.

A

In the Artic and Antarctic water gets very cold and dense, so it sinks. Warmer water from equator replaces this surface water and colder water flows back towards the equator, creating ocean currents.

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23
Q

Give two examples of a warm oceanic current.

A

Gulf stream, North Atlantic Drift

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24
Q

Give an example of a cold current.

A

Humboldt Current

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25
Q

How are tropical cyclones formed? (4 steps/points)

A
  1. They need a source of warm, moist air. Which is produced by tropical oceans of about 27 degrees.
  2. Winds converge and causes air to rise and storm clouds to form.
  3. As the air rises it accelerates and spirals due to the Coriolis effect.
  4. Meaning an area of very low pressure forms at the centre of converged storms.
26
Q

Why are tropical cyclones mostly located in the tropics?

A

Storms are powered by warm ocean temperatures - the water needs to be above 26.5 degrees.

27
Q

What season do tropical cyclone form in typically?

A

Late summer and Autumn.

28
Q

What is the name given to the route that the cyclone takes?

A

Track

29
Q

What is a jet stream?

A

A fast moving current of air which forms on the boundaries of Ferrel and Polar cells.

30
Q

What are the negative impacts of climate change?

A

Loss of habitat
Increasing sea level
More frequent weather disasters
Harder to farm

31
Q

UK climate now vs past

A

NOW
On the rise due to increased use of greenhouse gases
THEN
Constantly changing (Medieval Warm Period, Little Ice Age)

32
Q

What are the reasons for natural climate change?

A

Milankovitch Cycles
Sunspot theory
Eruption theory
Surface Impact

33
Q

What are sources that give evidence of climate change?

A

Tree Rings
Ice Cores
Pollen Records
Historical Sources

34
Q

What are pollen records?

A

Pollen found in different layers of sediment in lakes, bogs, or river deltas that indicate changes in plant communities.

35
Q

What are the effects of drought on California? (3)

A

Reservoir supplies drinking water for 27 million people - when it drys out they don’t have access to water anymore

Forest fires - reduction in biodiversity

Farmers earn less which impacts the economy

36
Q

What were the responses to the drought in California?

A

National Government introduced new measures - limiting water during winter, warning areas

37
Q

What are the effects of drought on Ethiopia? (3)

A

Agriculture is the main part of Ethiopia’s economy
43% of Ethiopians rely on springs, rivers and lakes to provide water
85% live in the country side and depend on farming.

38
Q

What is eccentricity?

A

Changes in the shape of the Earth’s orbit.

39
Q

What does a circular eccentricity mean for Earth’s climate?

A

Warm periods (interglacial)

40
Q

What does an elliptical eccentricity mean for Earth’s climate?

A

Colder periods (glacial)

41
Q

What is the Quaternary period?

A

The current period of geological time.

42
Q

What is an ocean current?

A

A directed movement of ocean water, caused by forces such as, wind, different temperatures and the Earth’s rotation.

43
Q

What is solar variation?

A

The Sun’s activity which means more energy reaches the Earth leading to warmer temperatures.

44
Q

What is a tropical cyclone?

A

Wind speeds of over 63 kmph.

45
Q

What can tropical storms develop into?

A

Tropical cyclones, hurricanes or typhoons with winds speeds of over 119km per hour.

46
Q

What is weather?

A

The day to day conditions of the atmosphere.

47
Q

Social impact of Hurricane sandy.

A

Homes and businesses damaged.
Death toll of 150.
Areas left without electricity.

48
Q

Economic impact of Hurricane Sandy.

A

65 billion dollars of damage

49
Q

Environmental impact of Hurricane Sandy.

A

Sewage leaked into waters around New York and New Jersey, damaging habitats

50
Q

What were the responses to Hurricane Sandy?

A

Concert to raise money.
American red cross providing relief to victims.
Government spent billions of dollars to help with rebuilding and supporting victims.

51
Q

Social impact of Typhoon Haiyan.

A

6000 people killed
Homes destroyed
600,000 people displaced

52
Q

Environmental impact of Typhoon Haiyan.

A

Oil spills - sea pollution
Trees uprooted
Mangroves damaged

53
Q

Economic impact of Typhoon Haiyan.

A

2 billion USD.

54
Q

Individual response to Typhoon Haiyan.

A

People in UK and Canada gave money to help.

55
Q

Organisation response to Typhoon Haiyan.

A

WHO coordinated the international response to help the Phillipine government meet the need for health care services.

56
Q

Government response to Typhoon Haiyan.

A

Aid in loans and grants given by countries like the UK, which gave 10 million pound package including emergency shelter, water and household items.

57
Q

How did Organisations respond to California?

A

University of California research project for effectively managing ground water.

58
Q

How did Individuals respond to California?

A

Homeowners encouraged to check for leaks.
Protestors campaigned against companies selling bottled local water.

59
Q

What were the individuals response to Ethiopia?

A

Live Aid helped raise awareness and money.

60
Q

What were the organisations response to Ethiopia?

A

Oxfam and UNICEF helped people to get water supplies.

61
Q

Government response to Ethiopia?

A

USA gave 128.4 million USD in food aid for Ethiopians in 2015.

62
Q

Context to Ethiopia.

A

Short rainy season got shorter, long rainy season got later and less predictable. Happens due to CC.

Geography (8 decks)

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