Understand the background to storm hazards Flashcards
What type of system is a tropical storm?
Intense low-pressie
How warm does the sea need to be for a tropical storm to take place?
27 degrees
How deep does the ocean need to be for a tropical storm to take place?
70m
Why does the ocean need to be 27 degrees for a tropical storm to take place?
To provide a continuous source of heat in order to maintain rising air currents
Why does the ocean need to be 70m deep for a tropical storm to take place?
The moisture provides latent heat; rising air causes the moisture to be released by condensation and the continuation of this drives the system
What sort of location do you have to be for a tropical storm to take place?
5 degrees north or south of the Equator in order that the Coriolis force can bring out the maximum rotation of the air
Where are tropical storms most destructive?
In the Caribbean Sea/Gulf of Mexico On the west side of Central America Arabian Sea/ Bay of Bengal Off Southeast Asia Off Madagascar Off north-western and north-eastern Australia
What percentage of tropical revolving storms does the Carribean and gulf of Mexico have?
11%
What percentage of tropical revolving storms does the western side of Central America have?
17%
What percentage of tropical revolving storms does the Arabian Sea/ Bay of Bengal have?
8%
What percentage of tropical revolving storms does southeast Asia have?
33%
What percentage of tropical revolving storms does Madagascar have?
11%
What percentage of tropical revolving storms does north-western and north-eastern Australia have?
20%
How are tropical storms measured?
On the Saffir-Simpson scale
What is the Saffir-Simpson scale?
A five-point scale based upon central press, wind-speed, storm surge and damage potential
What does the central pressure of a scale 5 tropical storm have to be?
920 mb or below
What does the wind speed need to be for a scale 5 tropical storm to take place?
250km/hr or greater
How big does a storm surge need to be for a scale 5 tropical storm to take place?
5.5m or greater
What does the damage need to be for a scale 5 tropical storm to take place?
Damage potential that refers to ‘complete roof failure of many buildings with major damage to lower floors of all structures lower than three metres above sea level
What is the average lifespan of a tropical storm?
7-14 days
What are the percentage of storms around the world that go on to be tropical revolving storms?
80%
How do we predict revolving tropical storm hazards?
Weather bureaux such as the National Hurricane Centre in Florida, surveillance through weather aircrafts
Information is compared with computer models so that a path can be predicted and people can be warned
How do the NHC prepare for tropical revolving storms?
By accessing data from geostationary satellites and from both land and sea-based recording centres
How much does it cost per kilometre to carry out an evacuation in the USA?
One million dollars
Why does it cost so much to evacuate people in the USA?
Because of the losses of business and tourism and the provision of protection
How do we prevent tropical storms?
We can’t but there has been research into the effect of cloud seeding in order to cause more precipitation.
What is the theory of cloud seeding?
If the cyclone could be forced to release more water over the sea, this would result in a weakening of the system, as it approaches land - concerns about global energy systems
How can one protect themselves from tropical storms?
People are made aware of how to strengthen their homes and commercial properties to withstand the high winds
Drills can take place
Land-use planning - limiting expenditures (where storm surges are a problem)
Sea-walls, breakwaters and flood waters (where storm surges are a problem)
What is an example of a hurricane drill?
‘Project Safeside’ - a programme in Florida that is composed of precautionary drills for use ion schools and the emergency operations centre of the state.
What is an example of a sea wall which was built to protect against storm surges?
Galveston in Texas
Why was a sea wall built in Galveston in Texas?
To protect Galveston from further flooding after the storm surge of 1900 that killed over 6,000 people
How can we prepare ourselves for tropical storms?
In rich areas people are urged to take out insurance
What truly dictates an areas preparedness, prevention, protection, and prediction?
The wealth of the area
What is an example of a hurricane which hit a rich area?
Hurricane Katrina 2005
What is an example of a hurricane which hit a poor area?
Typhoon Haiyan 2013
Why did the Katrina hurricane cost most than the Haiyan hurricane?
Because the area is worth more
What is the main example of the two contrasting storm events?
Hurricane Katrina and Typhoon Haiyan
When did Hurricane Katrina take place?
2005
On what day did Katrina reach a category 5 storm?
28th August
How fast were the wind speeds of Katrina?
280km/hr
How bad was Katrina in terms of the Atlantic basin?
5th most intense Atlantic basin hurricane
When did President Bush declare a state of emergency during Katrina?
27 August - 2 days before it was expected to take landfall
When did the Mayor of New Orleans order the city to be evacuated during Katrina?
28 August during a news conference
What was the risk and vulnerability of New Orleans during Katrina?
Area can expect severe tropical storms considering its location on the Gulf Coast of the USA
First hurricane however, to reach New Orleans
City is also at risk because of the original flood control measures have resulted in the shrinkage of soils - 50% of the land was now below sea level
How many Atlantic hurricanes that have reached Category 5 have there been since 1924?
33
What demonstrates the severity of Katrina?
The failed levee system
How many people did not evacuate during Hurricane Katrina by choice?
150,000
When hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana how high was the storm surge that it brought with it?
10m
How many people became a refugees and were displaced from there during hurricane Katrina?
1 million
How much of New Orleans was deluged by flood water?
80%
Why was 80% of New Orleans deluged by water?
Because the complex system of flood defences was breached
How many houses were flooded in New Orleans?
110,000 of the 180,000
How much of the area was declared a disaster zone during hurricane Katrina?
233,000 km2 - nearly as large as UK
How many people were left without power during hurricane Katrina?
5 million
How long did it take for everyone to be reconnected with power during hurricane Katrina?
2 months
What was destroyed as a result of hurricane Katrina, causing the price of petrol to reach £1 per litre?
Many oil installations in the Gulf area
How much was the financial cost of Katrina?
$200 billion
How much did the public donate to the Red Cross after hurricane Katrina?
$1.8 billion
What was significant about the about donated to the Red Cross after hurricane Katrina?
It was more than 9/11
How much did Typhoon Haiyan cost?
Estimated $14 billion
How much did Katrina cost?
$81 billion
