Unit 1: Section A: Weather Hazards Flashcards
What is global atmospheric circulation defined as?
The transfer of heat from the equator to the poles by the movement of air
what are the three different cells called in the global atmospheric circulation model?
Hadley, ferrel and polar
Where do tropical storms commonly form?
Over warm water
How warm does ocean water need to be for a tropical storm to form?
27 degrees or more
How are tropical storms formed?
Warm water evaporates, rises and condenses into clouds, releases lots of energy creating powerful storms
Why do storms spin?
The Coriolis effect
What is the Coriolis effect?
Cool air moves to equator or poles and these winds curve due to the earth’s rotation
Why do storms lose strength over land or cool water?
Because there is no longer a constant energy supply for the storm to keep spinning
What are the two main features of a tropical storm?
The eye and the eyewall
What are the conditions in the eye of a tropical storm?
Very low pressure, light winds, no clouds, no rain and high temperature
What are the conditions in the eyewall of a tropical storm?
Rising air, strong winds, storm clouds, torrential rain and low temperature
Where was the most affected area in Typhoon Haiyan 2013?
Tacloban, Philippines
What were 3 primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan 2013?
- 8000 deaths
- Heavy rain and storm surges flooded 600,000 hectares of farmland
- Strong winds damaged electricity lines and water supplies were contaminated by salt water
What were 3 secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan 2013?
- Triggered several landslides blocking roads delaying arrival of aid
- 5.6 million workers lost their jobs as land was destroyed
- Lack of clean water lead to disease outbreaks
What were 3 immediate responses to Typhoon Haiyan 2013?
- Evacuation of 800,000 people before storm hit
- Charities offered aid in the form of food, water and shelter
- Pit latrines for 100,000 people to prevent spread of disease
What were 3 long term responses to Typhoon Haiyan 2013?
- UN appealed for $300 million to fund rebuilding and relief
- Charities helped build storm-resistant homes
- Tourism board encouraged people to begin visiting again to bring more money in
What 3 factors might climate change affect when it comes to tropical storms?
Frequency, distribution and intensity
What are the three ways used to reduce the effects of a tropical storm?
Prediction
Planning
Protection
What are the 6 common weather hazards in the UK?
Strong winds
Heavy rainfall
Snow and ice
Drought
Thunderstorms
Heat waves
What two parts of UK weather are becoming more extreme?
Temperature and rainfall
What is your UK Weather case study?
Somerset Levels Flooding
What year did the Somerset flooding start and end?
2013 to 2014
What were three social impacts of the somerset flooding?
- 600 homes flooded forcing people to evacuate
- Village roads cut off
- Insurance prices soared
What were three environmental impacts of the somerset flooding?
- 11500 hectares flooded killing crops
- Decreased fertility of the soil
- Tonnes of mud and debris left by floods killing vegetation
