Unit 1A-Weather Hazards

Question 1

What is the global atmospheric circulation?

Answer 1

The transfer of heat from the equator to the poles by the movement of air.

Question 2

Explain what a low-pressure belt is and where they are located.

Answer 2

The Sun warms the Earth at the equator, causing the warmer air to rise, which meets the colder air from the poles.

60° north and south and at the equator.

Question 3

Explain what a high-pressure belt is and where they are located.

Answer 3

As the warm air rises, it cools and moves away from the equator.

30°( in between the low pressure belts) north and south.

Question 4

What are the three cells called and where are they located?

Answer 4

Polar cell – between 60° and the polls, north and south
Ferrel cell – between 60° and 30°, north and south
Hadley cell – between the equator, and 30° north and south

Question 5

How does the Coriolis affect work?

Answer 5

At the ground surface, the cool air moves either back to the equator ( as tradewinds) or towards the polls (as westerlies). These winds curve because of the Earth’s rotation.

Question 6

Explain the U.K’s weather and climate using the global atmospheric circulation affects.

Answer 6

The UK lies close to the low pressure zone at 60° north. Warm rising air brings lots of cloud cover and rainfall.

Question 7

What are the conditions for a tropical storm to form?

Answer 7

Sea temperature is 27°C or higher.

The difference in wind speed between higher and lower parts of the atmosphere is low.

Question 8

How are powerful storms produced?

Answer 8

The warm surface water evaporates, rises and condenses into clouds. This releases huge amounts of energy.

Question 9

Why do storms spin?

Answer 9

Because of the Coriolis effect

Question 10

When do storms lose strength?

Answer 10

When they move over land or cooler water, because the energy supply from the warm water is cut off.

Question 11

Do tropical storms spin anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 11

Northern hemisphere

Question 12

What conditions are there in the eye of the storm?

Answer 12

Very low pressure, light winds, no clouds, no rain and a high temperature.

Question 13

What are the conditions in the eye wall of the storm?

Answer 13

Spiralling rising air, very strong winds (around 160 km/h) storm clouds, torrential rain and a low temperature.

Question 14

What are the conditions of the edges of the storm?

Answer 14

Windspeed falls, clouds become smaller and more scattered, less intense rain and temperature increases.

Question 15

What was the climate like in tacloban and Cebu during the Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 15

280 mm of rain and winds reaching a maximum of 314 km/h.

Question 16

What are two primary effects of the Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 16

The cost of damage was estimated at approximately US, $13 million.

Over 1 million homes were severely damaged or destroyed.

Question 17

What are two secondary effects of the Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 17

5.6 million workers lost their jobs.

The lack of clean water caused outbreaks of diseases, such as dysentery.

Question 18

What are two immediate responses of the Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 18

The Philippines broadcasted warnings about typhoon Haiyan two days before it made landfall. This led to the evacuation of eight 800,000 residents before the storm.

The Philippines declared a state of emergency, which led to many charities offering aid.

Question 19

What are two long-term responses of the Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 19

The UN appealed for over $300 million to help fund rebuilding and relief.

Charities built new storm-resistant houses for those who lost their homes.

Question 20

How can climate change affect the frequency of tropical storms?

Answer 20

Oceans will stay at 27° or higher for longer each year, so there is a longer period when tropical storms can form.

Question 21

How can climate change affect the distribution of tropical storms?

Answer 21

More of the worlds oceans could be above 27°. This may mean that tropical storms can form in areas that haven’t experienced than before.

Question 22

How can climate change affect the intensity of tropical storms?

Answer 22

Higher sea surface temperatures can result in more evaporation and increase cloud formation, so more energy is released. This could mean storms become more powerful.

Question 23

Give two ways in which prediction and monitoring can reduce the effects of tropical storms?

Answer 23

Prediction – gives people time to evacuate and protect homes and businesses.
Monitoring – computer models can be used to calculate the storms predicted path.

Question 24

Give two ways in which planning can reduce the effects of tropical storms

Answer 24

Planning evacuation routes
Emergency services can prepare

Question 25

Give two ways in which protection can reduce the effects of tropical storms?

Answer 25

Buildings can be put on stilts
Flood defences can be built along rivers and coasts