Unit 1A: UK Weather Hazards Flashcards
Give examples of UK weather hazards.
Rain: Can cause flooding which can damage homes and transport. Could force businesses to close.
Wind: Damage properties. Can damage crops.
Snow and Ice: Can cause injuries due to slipping and major disruption to road, rail and air.
Could damage crops and plants.
Thunderstorm: Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds occur in thunderstorms.
Lightning can cause death and fires.
Hailstorms: Can make driving very dangerous and can damage property and crops.
Drought: Water supplies can run out causing economic impacts.
Heat Waves: Can cause deaths from heat exhaustion as pollution builds in the air.
Roads melting can cause economic impact.
What are the evidence for climate change?
Ice and sediment cores.
Ice sheets are made from layers of ice each year.
Scientists can analyse the gases trapped in the layers of ice, they can tell what temperature it was each year.
Tree rings.
As a tree grows, it forms a new ring each year, the tree rings are thicker in warm, wet conditions.
Pollen analysis: Pollen from plants gets preserved in sediment. Scientists can identify and date the preserved pollen to show which species are living at that time.
Temperature records.
Global temperatures have been measured accurately since 1850; this is a reliable source.
How can the effects of extreme weather in UK be reduced?
Prediction: Warning systems can allow people to prepare for extreme weather.
Protection: Councils stocked up on gritters and salt supplies to keep roads safe and open in the cold weather.
Planning: Emergency services and Councils planned how to deal with extreme weather events in advance.
E.g. planning to close schools when its too dangerous for people to get there.
