UK Extreme Weather Flashcards
Define Extreme Weather
Extreme weather is when a weather event is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern. This may take place over one day or a period of time.
Give examples of extreme weather in the UK
A flash flood or heat wave are two examples of extreme weather in the UK
Give examples of Extreme weather
Storm Events
Flooding
Drought
Extremes in cold weather
Extreme heat waves
What weather is associated with storm events? Why?
The UK is regularly hit by depressions which bring very heavy rain and trigger floods
What part of the UK is at risk of great storm damage
The West Coast of the UK is at risk of great storm damage.
What was responsible for widespread wind damage in 2013
Strong depressions were responsible for widespread wind damage in 2013.
What was responsible for widespread wind damage in 2013. Give an EXAMPLE
During Storm Jude of 28th October 2013, 160km/hr winds killed 5 people, felled trees and toppled lorries. Thousands lost power and travellers were stranded at Gatwick Airport.
What are the 4 different types of flooding
There are four different types of flooding: coastal flooding, river flash flooding, slow-onset river flooding and surface water flooding.
How is flooding in the UK caused
Flooding in the UK is caused by heavy rainfall or strong waves brought by a depression.
What can flooding cause (secondary hazard) Give an example
Flooding may also trigger landslides as a secondary hazard. At Ockley in Southern England in 2013, more than 40 meters of major railway embankment collapsed after heavy rainfall, disrupting London commuters for weeks.
Give an example of flash flooding
An example of flash flooding is Boscastle in 2004, where 185mm of rain fell in 5 hours.
Define drought
Drought is defined as an extended period of low or absent rainfall relative to the expected average for a region.
How is drought defined in the UK
In the UK, a drought is where there is 15 consecutive days with less than 0.2mm of rain on any one day
What can drought result to
Drought results in insufficient moisture for average crop production, particularly if there is low water reserves in reservoirs.
Give an example of drought in the UK
The longest drought in the UK occurred over an 18 month period in 1975 and 1976. In Cheltenham, the temperature exceeded 32 degrees celsius for seven successive days.
When has drought hit the UK
Drought has hit the UK in 2003, 2006 and 2012. The 2003 drought killed 20,000 across Europe.
What years were winters considered extreme
The winters of 1946-47, 1962-63 and 1978-79 were exceptionally cold. Other unusually cold winters include 2010-11 and 2014-15
How are cold conditions caused in the UK
Cold conditions take over if depressions are not passing over the UK as usual.
Name and explain 3 weather risks of extreme cold
Frost - crops and cattle may not survive extremes of around -10 degrees celsius.
Freezing conditions - over 17,000 trains were cancelled in January 2014 because of freezing conditions.
Blizzard conditions - transport grinds to a halt, creating costly airline delays.
Define heatwave
A heat wave is defined as a period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity
How are heat waves measured
Heatwaves are measured relative to the usual weather and temperature of an area.
How is a heatwave defined in the UK
In the UK, any temperature above 24 degrees celsius is considered to be a heatwave.
Give an example of a UK heatwave
In the summer of 2003, Europe suffered from an intense heat wave. In the UK the temperature of 38.5 degrees celsius was the highest to ever be recorded.
Describe and explain the impacts of one type of extreme weather experienced in the UK.
The impacts of extreme cold weather are freezing conditions. Freezing conditions can cause roads (with old tarmac) to crack. This could then result in road accidents.
Another impact of extreme cold weather is that it could freeze and destroy crops and cattle. This could lead in a loss in profit for a farmer.
Also, extreme weather can freeze the ground. This could lead to flooding as if it rains, the rain will not be able to fully permeate through the ground.
