Understand the background to storm hazards

Question 1

What type of system is a tropical storm?

Answer 1

Intense low-pressie

Question 2

How warm does the sea need to be for a tropical storm to take place?

Answer 2

27 degrees

Question 3

How deep does the ocean need to be for a tropical storm to take place?

Answer 3

70m

Question 4

Why does the ocean need to be 27 degrees for a tropical storm to take place?

Answer 4

To provide a continuous source of heat in order to maintain rising air currents

Question 5

Why does the ocean need to be 70m deep for a tropical storm to take place?

Answer 5

The moisture provides latent heat; rising air causes the moisture to be released by condensation and the continuation of this drives the system

Question 6

What sort of location do you have to be for a tropical storm to take place?

Answer 6

5 degrees north or south of the Equator in order that the Coriolis force can bring out the maximum rotation of the air

Question 7

Where are tropical storms most destructive?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What percentage of tropical revolving storms does the Carribean and gulf of Mexico have?

Answer 8

11%

Question 9

What percentage of tropical revolving storms does the western side of Central America have?

Answer 9

17%

Question 10

What percentage of tropical revolving storms does the Arabian Sea/ Bay of Bengal have?

Answer 10

8%

Question 11

What percentage of tropical revolving storms does southeast Asia have?

Answer 11

33%

Question 12

What percentage of tropical revolving storms does Madagascar have?

Answer 12

11%

Question 13

What percentage of tropical revolving storms does north-western and north-eastern Australia have?

Answer 13

20%

Question 14

How are tropical storms measured?

Answer 14

On the Saffir-Simpson scale

Question 15

What is the Saffir-Simpson scale?

Answer 15

A five-point scale based upon central press, wind-speed, storm surge and damage potential

Question 16

What does the central pressure of a scale 5 tropical storm have to be?

Answer 16

920 mb or below

Question 17

What does the wind speed need to be for a scale 5 tropical storm to take place?

Answer 17

250km/hr or greater

Question 18

How big does a storm surge need to be for a scale 5 tropical storm to take place?

Answer 18

5.5m or greater

Question 19

What does the damage need to be for a scale 5 tropical storm to take place?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What is the average lifespan of a tropical storm?

Answer 20

7-14 days

Question 21

What are the percentage of storms around the world that go on to be tropical revolving storms?

Answer 21

80%

Question 22

How do we predict revolving tropical storm hazards?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

How do the NHC prepare for tropical revolving storms?

Answer 23

By accessing data from geostationary satellites and from both land and sea-based recording centres

Question 24

How much does it cost per kilometre to carry out an evacuation in the USA?

Answer 24

One million dollars

Question 25

Why does it cost so much to evacuate people in the USA?

Answer 25

Because of the losses of business and tourism and the provision of protection

Question 26

How do we prevent tropical storms?

Answer 26

We can't but there has been research into the effect of cloud seeding in order to cause more precipitation.

Question 27

What is the theory of cloud seeding?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

How can one protect themselves from tropical storms?

Answer 28

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)

Question 29

What is an example of a hurricane drill?

Answer 29

'Project Safeside' - a programme in Florida that is composed of precautionary drills for use ion schools and the emergency operations centre of the state.

Question 30

What is an example of a sea wall which was built to protect against storm surges?

Answer 30

Galveston in Texas

Question 31

Why was a sea wall built in Galveston in Texas?

Answer 31

To protect Galveston from further flooding after the storm surge of 1900 that killed over 6,000 people

Question 32

How can we prepare ourselves for tropical storms?

Answer 32

In rich areas people are urged to take out insurance

Question 33

What truly dictates an areas preparedness, prevention, protection, and prediction?

Answer 33

The wealth of the area

Question 34

What is an example of a hurricane which hit a rich area?

Answer 34

Hurricane Katrina 2005

Question 35

What is an example of a hurricane which hit a poor area?

Answer 35

Typhoon Haiyan 2013

Question 36

Why did the Katrina hurricane cost most than the Haiyan hurricane?

Answer 36

Because the area is worth more

Question 37

What is the main example of the two contrasting storm events?

Answer 37

Hurricane Katrina and Typhoon Haiyan

Question 38

When did Hurricane Katrina take place?

Answer 38

2005

Question 39

On what day did Katrina reach a category 5 storm?

Answer 39

28th August

Question 40

How fast were the wind speeds of Katrina?

Answer 40

280km/hr

Question 41

How bad was Katrina in terms of the Atlantic basin?

Answer 41

5th most intense Atlantic basin hurricane

Question 42

When did President Bush declare a state of emergency during Katrina?

Answer 42

27 August - 2 days before it was expected to take landfall

Question 43

When did the Mayor of New Orleans order the city to be evacuated during Katrina?

Answer 43

28 August during a news conference

Question 44

What was the risk and vulnerability of New Orleans during Katrina?

Answer 44

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

Question 45

How many Atlantic hurricanes that have reached Category 5 have there been since 1924?

Answer 45

33

Question 46

What demonstrates the severity of Katrina?

Answer 46

The failed levee system

Question 47

How many people did not evacuate during Hurricane Katrina by choice?

Answer 47

150,000

Question 48

When hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana how high was the storm surge that it brought with it?

Answer 48

10m

Question 49

How many people became a refugees and were displaced from there during hurricane Katrina?

Answer 49

1 million

Question 50

How much of New Orleans was deluged by flood water?

Answer 50

80%

Question 51

Why was 80% of New Orleans deluged by water?

Answer 51

Because the complex system of flood defences was breached

Question 52

How many houses were flooded in New Orleans?

Answer 52

110,000 of the 180,000

Question 53

How much of the area was declared a disaster zone during hurricane Katrina?

Answer 53

233,000 km2 - nearly as large as UK

Question 54

How many people were left without power during hurricane Katrina?

Answer 54

5 million

Question 55

How long did it take for everyone to be reconnected with power during hurricane Katrina?

Answer 55

2 months

Question 56

What was destroyed as a result of hurricane Katrina, causing the price of petrol to reach £1 per litre?

Answer 56

Many oil installations in the Gulf area

Question 57

How much was the financial cost of Katrina?

Answer 57

$200 billion

Question 58

How much did the public donate to the Red Cross after hurricane Katrina?

Answer 58

$1.8 billion

Question 59

What was significant about the about donated to the Red Cross after hurricane Katrina?

Answer 59

It was more than 9/11

Question 60

How much did Typhoon Haiyan cost?

Answer 60

Estimated $14 billion

Question 61

How much did Katrina cost?

Answer 61

$81 billion