Weather Hazards And Climate Change Flashcards
What is global atmospheric circulation?
Air currents in the atmosphere which are used to help explain weather patterns
What conditions cause tropical storms?
- Low latitudes
- Temp of ocean above 27
- Low wind shear
- Summer and autumn
How is climate change expected to affect tropical storms?
- more topical storms expected in south Atlantic
- frequency stay the same, but category 4 + 5 increase
- increase in intesity, every 1 degree increase in surface sea temp is 3-5% wind speed increase
When did typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines?
8th November 2013
What category was typhoon haiyan?
Category 5
What were the primary effects of typhoon haiyan?
Social - 4.1 million homeless
Economic - $12 billion worth of damage
Environmental - 1.1 million tonnes of crops destroyed
What were the secondary effects of typhoon haiyan?
Social - infection and disease spread due to contaminated water
Economic - by 2014 rice prices had risen by 12%
Environmental - flooding caused land slides
What were the immediate responses to typhoon haiyan?
- 800,000 people evacuated by authorities
- emergency aid supplied by plane 3 days later
- 1 million food packs supplied in 2 weeks
What were the long term responses to typhoon haiyan?
- Oxfam replaced fish in boats
- more cyclone shelters
- ‘no build zone’, no homes were rebuilt in areas that were at risk from flooding
What type of pressure is rain created in?
Low
What are the cells called on the global atmospheric circulation model?
Polar
Ferrel
Hadley
Hadley
Ferrel
Polar
Where are hurricanes?
Atlantic Ocean
Where are cyclones?
Indian Ocean
Where are typhoons?
Pacific ocean
What is a primary effect?
The initial impact of a natural event on people or property
What is a secondary effect?
The after effects that occur as an indirect impact of a natural event
What are some examples of immediate responses to tropical storms?
- people are evacuated
- temporary shelters are set up for people made homeless
- provide water and food for people
What are some examples of long term responses to tropical storms?
- repair and rebuild properties
- rehouse people
- improve forecasting and early warning systems
How many people were affected by typhoon Haiyan?
13 million
How many people were killed in Tanoa?
1200
What year was the beast from the east?
2018
What caused the beast from the east?
- northern polar jet stream changed direction
- caused by a jump in temperatures above the artic (sudden stratospheric warming)
- uks normally westerly winds turned easterly
- air picked up moisture over the sea bringing snow
- storm Emma then arrived bringing more snow
What were some of the primary effects of the beast from the east?
- up to 50cm snow in Dartmoor and exmoor
- coastlines issued with flood warnings
- gusts up to 60-70mph
What were some of the secondary impacts of the beast from the east?
- BA cancelled hundreds of flights from Heathrow
- thousands of schools closed
- many lorries jack knifed
- a baby was born on the road
What were the responses to the beast from the east?
- gritters and snow ploughs sent out
- red warnings issued
- army and Royal Air Force personnel called to help move health workers through blocked roads
What are some techniques which show evidence for climate change?
- ice cores
- pollen analysis
- tree rings
- instrumental record
- sea level rise
What are sun spots and how can they cause climate change?
They are areas of more intense energy on the sun, which causes the earth to temporarily warm
What are milankovitch cycles?
- axial tilt
- precession (wobble of the earth)
- eccentricity (circular to rugby ball shape)
How can volcanic activity cause climate change?
- ash clouds can black out the sun, reducing the temperature on earth for a short time
- fine droplets form acid which act like tiny mirrors reflecting radiation from the sun, this is a long term impact
How does combustion of fossil fuels cause climate change?
- creates the enhanced greenhouse effect, which is were the natural layer of greenhouse gases is thicker, meaning more heat is reflected back to earth
How is changing agriculture causing climate change?
- produces 20% of greenhouse gases
- methane and carbon dioxide released
How does deforestation lead to climate change?
- trees are a carbon sink, so removing them means less carbon stores
- this leads to the enhanced greenhouse effect
What are some social impacts of climate change?
- ski resorts will suffer from a lack of snow
- increased pressure on water sources
- greater risk of flooding
What are some environmental issues caused by climate change?
- loss of sea ice in polar regions means a loss of wildlife
- coral reefs could be destroyed
- biodiversity reduced
How does carbon capture work?
- capture CO2 at emission sources and then store or bury in a suitable location
How does planting trees help?
They act as a carbon sink
What is alternative energy production?
Renewable energy sources reduce greenhouse gas emissions
How has renewable energy sources increased in the uk?
10.7% in 2014 to 39.5% in 2023
How can we manage water supply?
- reservoirs and dams
What are changes in agricultural systems?
Changing levels in rainfall and higher temperatures
Farmers can change crops which are more suited to new conditions
How do you reduce risk from rising sea levels?
Construct defences such as walls
Raise properties on stilts
Relocate people at risk
What is mitigation?
Reducing the impacts of climate change
What is adaptation?
Strategies to respond to new conditions created by climate change
What are some mitigation examples?
Alternative energy production
Carbon capture
Planting trees
COP
What are some adaptation examples?
Change in agricultural systems
Managing water supply
Reducing risk from rising sea levels
