tropical storms

Question 1

define a tropical storm

Answer 1

A revolving low pressure system, bringing strong winds, rainfall and storm surges

Question 2

• what happens towards the edges of the storm

Answer 2

towards the edges of the storm wind speed falls, the clouds become smaller and more scattered, the rain becomes less intense and the temperature increases

Question 3

• what is the eye wall [

Answer 3

the eye is surrounded by the eyewall, where there’s spiralling rising air, very strong winds, storm clouds, torrential rain and a low temperature

Question 4

• what is the centre of the storm called

Answer 4

the centre of the storm is called the eye- its up to 50 km across and is caused by descending air

theres very low pressure light winds, no clouds no rain and a high temperature in the eye

Question 5

• what are the characteristics of a tropical storm

Answer 5

tropical storms are circular in shape, hundreds of kilometres wide and usually last 7-14 days. they spin anticlockwise in the nothern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere

Question 6

• describe the formation of a tropical storm

Answer 6

the warm surface water evaporates, rises, and condenses into clouds. this releases huge amounts of energy, producing powerful storms, the rising air creates an area of low pressure which increases surfaces winds. Low wind shear prevents clouds from breaking up as they rise, so the storm stays intact.

easterly winds near the equator move tropical storms to the west 

the storms spin because of the Coriolis effect 

as the storm moves over the ocean the energy from the warm water strengthens the storm, so wind speed increases. storms lose strength when they move over land or cooler water because the energy supply from the water is cut off

Question 7

• how does global atmospheric circulation affect weather and climate

Answer 7

at the equator the son is directly overhead- this means the earths surface recieves a lot of solar radiation, so its hot. Warm, moist air rises and forms clouds, so it rains a lot

by the time air reaches 30 degrees north and south of the equator it has released most of its moisture as rain. the dry air means there are few clouds and little rainfall, so deserts are often found at this latitude 

The UK lies close to the low pressure zone at 60 degrees north. warm rising air brings lots of cloud cover and rainfall, often as low pressure systems carried from the atlantic by westerly wind

Question 8

• how does air move in the three cells

Answer 8

the sun warms the earth at the equator, causing the air to rise. this creates a low-pressure belt.

as the air rises it cools and moves away from the equator 

30 degrees north and south of the equator, the cool air sinks, creating a high-pressure belt 

at the ground surface, the cool air moves either back to the equator as trade winds or towards the poles as westerlies. this winds curve because of the earths rotation- this is called the coriolis effect 

60 degrees north and south of the equator the warmer surface winds meet colder air from the poles. the warmer air rises to create low pressure 

some of the air moves back towards the equator, and the rest moves towards the poles 

at the poles, the cool air sinks, creating high pressure. The high-pressure air is then drawn back towards the equator

Question 9

• what does each cell consist of

Answer 9

each cell has warm rising air that creates a low-pressure belt and cool sinking air that creates a high-pressure belt.

Question 10

• what is the global atmospheric circulation system divided into

Answer 10

the global atmospheric circulation system is divided into cells

Question 11

• why does air move

Answer 11

air moves due to differences in air pressure- winds blows from high pressure areas to low pressure areas

Question 12

• what is global atmospheric circulation

Answer 12

global atmospheric circulation is the transfer of heat from the equator to the poles by the movement of air

Question 13

Coriolis effect

Answer 13

The effect of Earth’s rotation on the direction of winds and currents.

Question 14

Distribution of tropical storms

Answer 14

occur in tropical areas between 5 - 15 degrees north and south of the equator
Strongest are in the East Pacific - Japan / Philippines
none of coast of America due to cold currents

Question 15

Conditions for tropical storms

Answer 15

• latitude between 5-20 N&S
• sea 26C or over
• heat sea to depth of 70m
• coriolis force
• low wind speeds at high altitudes

Question 16

Storm Surge

Answer 16

1. High tide
2. Low atmospheric pressure
3. strong onshore winds

Question 17

Formation of tropical storm

Answer 17

1. Tropical storms form over deep warm tropical seas at 27 °c causing air to rise (low pressure).
2. Coriolis force causes the rising air to rotate anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, clockwise in the southern
3. As the air rises the warm moist air releases latent heat when condensation occurs.
4. Further rising and unstable air cools and condenses to form huge cumulo-nimbus clouds.
5. Cool air descends from the top of the storm. As it falls in the centre (the eye), it warms and becomes dry.
6. As the tropical storm makes landfall, there is little or no warm water to drive the storm and it reduces in intensity

Question 18

What happened during ‘super’ Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 18

On the 8th November 2013, at 4:40 am, a category 5 tropical storm hit the Philippines with wind speeds up to 275 km/h and waves as high as 15 m

Question 19

What were 3 of the primary effects of this storm?

Answer 19

About 6,300 people died, 90% of Tacloban city was destroyed and around 30,000 fishing boats were destroyed

What were 3 of the secondary

Question 20

What were 3 of the secondary effects of this storm?

Answer 20

6 million people lost their source of income, power supplies were cut off for a month and shortages of water, food and shelter affected many people leading to outbreaks of disease

Question 21

What were some of the immediate responses to Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 21

The authorities evacuated 800,000 people, many sought refuge in an indoor stadium in Tacloban but died when it flooded also a curfew was imposed two days after Typhoon Haiyan to reduce looting

Question 22

What were some of the longer-term response to Typhoon Haiyan? [3

Answer 22

In July 2014, The government introduced the ‘Build Back Better’, a new storm surge warning system was developed and mangroves were replanted

Question 23

What were some of the economic consequences of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 23

The damage to rice cost US$53 million, three-quarters of farmers and fishers lost their income and the overall damage was US$12 billion

Question 24

What were some of the environmental consequences of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 24

An oil barge ran aground at Estancia in Iloilo causing an 800,000 litre oil leak. Most of this washed ashore, contaminating 10 hectares of mangroves also The flooding caused surface and groundwater to be contaminated with seawater, chemicals from industry and agriculture, and sewage systems

Question 25

What was the international response to Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 25

Thirty-three countries and international organisations pledged help, with rescue operations and an estimated US$88.871 million but also more than US$1.5 billion was pledged in foreign aid

Question 26

• what happens towards the edges of the storm

Answer 26

towards the edges of the storm wind speed falls, the clouds become smaller and more scattered, the rain becomes less intense and the temperature increases

Question 27

How can the effect of tropical storms be reduced

Answer 27

monitoring
prediction
planning
protection

Question 28

monitoring

Answer 28

satellites monitor cloud patterns associated with tropical storms.

the global precipitation measurement satellite monitors high altitude rain clouds every three hours which indicate whether a tropical storm will intensify within 24 hours

the national aeronautics and space administration monitors weather patterns across the Atlantic in two unmanned aircraft called Global Hawk drones

Question 29

prediction

Answer 29

supercomputers give five days warning and predict a location within 400 kilometres

track forecast cones plot the tropical storms predicted path. approximately 70 per cent occur within the cone

early warnings are issued by national hurricane centres around the world

Question 30

protection

Answer 30

reinforce buildings
develop coastal flood defences
create no build zones in low lying areas

Question 31

planning

Answer 31

prepare disaster supply kits
ensure vehicles are fuelled
know where evacuation centres are
plan what their family will do