Weather And Climate-CS

Question 1

Hurricane Michael, Northern Florida, USA (Background)

Answer 1

• October 2018
  -was the strongest storm to make landfall in the USA since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
  -Initially, it developed as a tropical depression in the northern Caribbean, between Cuba and Mexico
• category 5 storm.

Question 2

Risk and vulnerability-Hurricane Michael

Answer 2

-The storm came ashore on the coast of Florida near Mexico Beach, with a population of 1,000.
-It then reduced in strength as it headed inland to hit parts of Georgia and North and South Carolina, which were already suffering from the effects of Hurricane Florence earlier that year.
-winds at landfall estimated to be over 250 kph.
- was one of only four category 5 hurricanes to ever reach land in the USA.

Question 3

Impacts of Hurricane Michael

Answer 3

• caused a trail of destruction stretching from Florida to Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
- flash flooding that turned roads into rivers.

• Wind, storm surge and rain (floods) were directly responsible for 16 deaths. Additionally, the storm was responsible for an additional 43 deaths caused by falls during the post-storm clean-up, traffic accidents and medical issues made worse by the hurricane.

• Winds and storm surge caused devastating damage in Bay County, Florida, with more than 45,000 structures damaged and more than 1,500 destroyed, including two hospitals with severe damage. Trees were uprooted and power lines were brought down. Roofs were ripped off and swept into the air and homes were ripped open by fallen trees.

• Power cuts affected nearly 400,000 electricity customers in Florida, about 4% of the whole state.

•$18.4 billion in damages total
•Agricultural and forestry losses totalled about $3.87 billion

•in US there were at least $6.23 billion in insurance claims related to the hurricane.

Question 4

Responses before Hurricane Michael

Answer 4

9 October 2018- residents were advised by the governor of Florida to prepare for the storm. The governor declared a state of emergency for 26 counties

-The governor declared a state of emergency for an additional nine counties
- A mandatory evacuation issued for three coastal counties
-Schools were closed
-President Donald Trump approves a major disaster declaration request for Florida, giving access to federal resources and money for relief and recovery efforts.
-A state of emergency is declared in Georgia and plans for evacuation are made As the storm approached, more than 20 million people in five states remained under either a hurricane or tropical storm warning
- Emergency Preparedness organisations provided emergency medical packs to health facilities that were in the storm’s path

Question 5

Responses to hurricane Michael (after the storm)

Answer 5

• Bay County, Florida had to borrow more than $250 million to pay for the clean-up whilst it waited for reimbursement from state and federate government.

• On 11 October 2018, President Trump declared a major disaster in five counties.
•Residents were able to receive grants for house repairs, temporary shelter, loans for uninsured property losses and business loans.
•He also signed an emergency declaration for Georgia, authorising funding for 75% of the cost of emergency protective measures and the removal of storm debris

Question 6

Typhoon Haiyan, 2013-Background

Answer 6

-One of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded.
- Originated from an area of low pressure in Micronesia
-Tracking westward, it gradually developed into a tropical storm by
-It began a period of rapid intensification that brought it to a typhoon
-the system was assessed as a category 5 (super-typhoon) with wind speeds already reaching over 250 km/hr
- reached the Philippines where it caused great destruction in the area around Tacloban, which was struck by the northern eyewall, the most powerful part of the storm.
- By this time, central pressure had dropped to 895 mb and the highest wind speeds reached 315 km/hr. -After crossing the Philippines, it continued westward towards southeast Asia, eventually reaching the north of Vietnam as a severe tropical storm. -It eventually dissipated as a tropical depression over southern China

Question 7

Risk and vulnerability -Tyhpoon Hayian

Answer 7

-Tacloban lies in the centre of the Philippines where tropical storms cross from the Pacific Ocean towards southeast Asia, which makes the region the most affected in the world by this type of hazard.
-In recent years many Filipinos have moved in large numbers from countryside areas to cities such as Tacloban looking for opportunities to work and make money.
-led to high densities of population and often overcrowded residential areas
- built poorly constructed houses on the flat land nearest the sea and such locations make people there vulnerable to storm surges and flooding.
-Others have built houses on steep hillsides, which makes them vulnerable to the high rainfall of tropical cyclones which, on slopes where vegetation has been removed, will cause landslides that can devastate whole communities.
-people are dependent on foreign government help

Question 8

Impact from the storm-Tyhpoon Hayian

Answer 8

•Severe winds
•Very heavy rainfall. In one area of the Philippines, nearly 300 mm was recorded, much of which fell in under 12 hours
•Huge storm surges, measuring up to six metres, were responsible for most of the damage and loss of life.

Question 9

Effects of Typhoon Hayian

Answer 9

• 6,000 fatalities, with over 1,000 people declared missing.
• Bodies were being discovered well into 2019
•estimated nearly 2 million people were made homeless and more than 6 million people displaced, with at least 20,000 fleeing to the capital Manila.
• The low-lying areas on the eastern side of Tacloban were particularly vulnerable with some areas completely washed away.
• Large areas were cut off, with communication and power systems destroyed.
• With flooding and landslides, major roads were blocked which made relief work almost impossible except from the air.
•Tacloban city’s airport was damaged by the storm surge but facilities had to be repaired quickly as it became the centre of the international relief operation.

Question 10

Responses-Typhoon Haiyan

Answer 10

-lots of survivors did not have basic necessities and remained inaccessible for relief operations, as roads and bridges have been destroyed.

-Many countries contributed to the relief effort through cash donations or practical help

• The UK gov deployed 2 navy ships, supplying over 200,000 tonnes of aid.

-After the event, it was feared that there would be outbreaks of diseases such as cholera
- Prompt actions by the WHO and other relief agencies ensured that outbreaks were kept isolated

-The Philippine government were criticised for reacting slowly

• Long-term responses include a ‘Build Back Better’ where houses were rebuilt but upgraded to withstand storms better, and a ‘no build zone’ along Eastern Visayas’ coast

• The government provided essential equipment and medical supplies. A curfew was introduced two days after the typhoon to reduce looting. Over 1,200 evacuation centres were set up to help the homeless. Three days after the storm, the main airport was reopened, and emergency aid arrived

• Farmers reduced the agricultural damages by quickly harvesting their crops before the storm hit, volunteers were effective to mobilise and pre-position supplies and communication equipment, and perhaps most importantly, a mass evacuation of the population helped reduce the casualties dramatically.

Question 11

Climate Change policies pursued by: Vale of Glamorgan Council-Background

Answer 11

-Project Zero is the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s response to the Climate Change Emergency.
- It brings together the wide range of work and opportunities available to tackle climate change, reduce the Council’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2030 and encourage others to make positive changes.

Question 12

Climate Change policies pursued by:
Vale of Glamorgan Council-What they are already doing:

Answer 12

•The Council purchases 100% of electricity from renewable sources and has granted planning permission to a number of solar farms.
•68% of the Council’s street lighting has been converted to LED with plans to increase this to 92% by the summer of 2021.

•reduced food miles by changing our milk supplier to a local dairy farm just outside Bridgend.
•We have gone straight to the milk producer who now supplies all of our schools rather than using a company to supply on behalf of farmers.

•We are working with our schools to encourage cycling and 6 balance bikes have been provided to every primary school in the Vale and there are plans to provide 48 bikes for Years 5/6 to complete cycle proficiency training at selected schools in deprived areas.
•33 scooterpods have been provided to 26 schools.
•3 cyclepods were provided to schools and cycle shelters were installed at 4 schools in 2020/21.
•The Council has designed a net-zero carbon primary school building which is being delivered as part of the 21$ Century Schools Programme.

Question 13

Climate Change policies pursued by:
Vale of Glamorgan Council-what they plan on doing. green spaces

Answer 13

Challenge
-To protect and enhance green and blue space-biodiversity and ecosystem resilience and improve understanding of the importance of our natural environment.

Steps to minimise challenge
-Work with local communities to increase the number of allotments and community garden space.
-Replace lost trees and promote tree planting across the Vale including working with owners with large areas of land

Question 14

Climate Change policies pursued by:
Vale of Glamorgan Council-what they plan on doing. Waste

Answer 14

Challenge-
Reduce waste and put in place the necessary facilities, services and awareness raising for a more circular economy with a strong emphasis on reuse, repair and recycling.

What they plan on doing:
-Establish a Reuse Shop to take in products, repair as necessary and sell them on.
-Commit to avoiding the export of any residual waste or recycling materials from the UK.
-Adopt a new Waste Management Strategy with a strong emphasis on working with the community.

Question 15

Pressure Groups (Greenpeace)-Background

Answer 15

• investigates, documents and exposes the causes of environmental destruction.
•They work to bring about change by lobbying, consumer pressure and mobilising members of the general public.
•They take peaceful direct action to protect the Earth and promote solutions for a green and peaceful future.

Question 16

Pressure Groups (Greenpeace)-Investigations

Answer 16

•Investigations are a fundamental part of Greenpeace’s campaigns. •we can expose those responsible for environmental destruction and shed light on the areas of operation that they would rather stay in the dark.
•They provide research, evidence and intelligence about environmental crimes and their perpetrators to inform and enable our campaigns.
• Using a variety of techniques from field work, satellite imagery, business and financial analysis, and working with whistleblowers, our investigations provide the facts and evidence. Greenpeace needs in order to bring about change.

•Since 2015 Greenpeace has also been producing investigative journalism stories. Unearthed (the journalism story)is able to take on big, risky stories that require time and resources many mainstream media outlets don’t have but that need to be told.

Question 17

Pressure Groups (Greenpeace)-Lobbying

Answer 17

•Through lobbying, Greenpeace can encourage and persuade those in positions of power to take the bold steps needed to protect the planet.
•We meet with politicians to build political support for our campaigns, produce and disseminate reports and briefings.

•Through the political lobbying network, a network of trained volunteers who lobby MPs and councillors around the UK, we are able to take national and international issues that Greenpeace works on and make them relevant and impactful at the local level.
•The networkengages MPs, councillors and other decision makers around our campaigns.

•Globally, Greenpeace campaigns to influence international treaties and conventions environmental protection so they are as strong and ambitious as possible.
• We work behind the scenes at COP climate conferences, and engage policy makers and diplo international forums like The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Liv Resources (CCAMLR) to encourage countries across the world to work together and stronger environmental protections for the benefit of all.

Question 18

Greenpeace-Peaceful direct action

Answer 18

•Guiding all of our actions, always, is a commitment to nonviolence and personal responsibility.
•These principles are inspired by the Quaker concept of ‘bearing witness’, which is about taking action based on conscience. Everyone on every Greenpeace action is trained in the principles of nonviolent direct action (NVDA).

•Our fleet of ships allows us to take action and bear witness at the scenes of environmental crimes around the world, often in remote and difficult-to-reach places.
•When taking physical action to stop an environmental wrong isn’t possible, ‘bearing witness’ through one’s physical presence at the scene of the crime is another way to act on conscience and remind those responsible that they have a higher responsibility than the corporate bottom line.

Question 19

What can be done by individual households to combat climate change?
-Diet

Answer 19

-Avoiding meat and dairy products. Studies suggest that a high-fibre, plant-based diet is also better for your health, and replacing meat with protein-rich pulses can also be cost-effective.
• The National Food Strateg shows we need to reduce our meat intake by 30% by 2032 to meet health, climate and nature commitments.
• Eat fewer or smaller portions of meat, especially beef and lamb, which has the largest environmental impact, and reduce dairy products or switch them for non-dairy alternatives.
• Try to choose fresh, seasonal produce that is grown locally to help reduce the carbon emissions from transportation, preservation and prolonged refrigeration.

Question 20

What can be done by individual households to combat climate change?
Travel

Answer 20

•Leave your car at home
•Instead of getting in the car, walk or cycle. For longer journeys, use public transport, try car sharing schemes such as Bla Bla Car or Liftshare, or consider investing in an e-bike.
•Not only do cars contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, but air pollution caused by exhaust fumes and tyre wear poses a serious threat to public health.
•It has been shown to affect the health of unborn babies and increase the risk of dementia.
•research shows that poor air quality in the capital leads to around 1,000 London hospital admissions for asthma and serious lung conditions every year
•air pollution in the United States is associated with 30,000 deaths and reduced life expectancy.
•Investigate trading in your diesel or petrol car for an electric vehicle. Alternatively there are some all-electric car hire companies, or you could use a car club, such as Zipcar, for short-term hire.

Question 21

An El Niño year-Background

Answer 21

-In an El Niño year: the trade winds become weaker, and may even reverse
low pressure develops over the eastern Pacific, with high pressure to the west
warm water replaces cold water off the coast of Peru
-waters off the coast of northern Australia become cooler
rainfall totals in northern Australia and
Indonesia reduce, and the dry conditions often spread to India and southeast Asia rain falls in northwestern South America

Question 22

El Nino impacts

Answer 22

•In South America, there are a varity of impacts:
• an increased possibility of flooding on the western coast of noniem South America
•drier conditions east of the Andes, in Amazonia
•wetter conditions in southern Brazil and northan Argentina

In Australia and the western Pacific basin:
•weaker monsoons across much of Asia
•reduction in number and intensity of tropical storm
•An increase in wildfires with the drier conditions

Question 23

A La Nina year -Background

Answer 23

•La Niña events act independently; they are not associated with El Nino events: La Nina occurs when the trade winds blow faster and the Walker circulation is strengthened.
•they involve the build-up of cooler-than-usual subsurface water in the eastern Pacific Ocean
very warm waters build up in the western Pacific
•they create severe drought conditions in the eastern Pacific coastlands/western and southern South America
very wet weather can be experienced in northern Australia and Indonesia

Question 24

La Nina impacts

Answer 24

•A variety of global phenomena have been linked to La Niña events:
•flooding in Queensland, Australia in 2010/11 - more than 80 people were killed
•heavy snowstorms in northern USA/southern Canada in 2010
•strong tornadoes in the southern USA in 2011
•increases in transmissible diseases in wetter areas, e.g. malaria in southeast Asia and Australian encephalitis (or Murray Valley encephalitis), in southeast Australia

Question 25

The horn of Africa-Kenya

Answer 25

-In Kenya, sustainable solutions clude water saving, water rescue d water treatment.
- Small- scale adaptive strategies include stone stripes, rainwater harvesting, more efficient irrigation and sand dams.
-Regional and National- scale strategies include replanting schemes, diversification and developing opportunities for small business enterprises.

Question 26

The horn of Africa-Ethiopia

Answer 26

•The Ethiopian government established the Productive Safety Net Programme in 2005.
•PSNP, a collaborative effort between the Ethiopian government and development partners, aimed to provide transfers to people in chronically food-insecure areas and structured to prevent asset- depletion for households and create additional assets for communities.
• PSNP prevented beneficiary households from sliding deeper into poverty and selling household assets.

•In Ethiopia, there is now a food “safety net” scheme assisting some eight million people vulnerable to chronic food shortages.
•Ade supplied for food in return for work, and the idea is that many can also get access to micro- credit and to ways of helping them generate their own income.
•The advantage of supplying food aid on a planned basis and not just once an emergency has struck, aid officials say, is that it can help prevent the need to sell off livestock or take children out of school

Question 27

Strategies to mitigate climate change- international

Answer 27

• (UNFCCC) entered into force in 1994.
• have been a number of international conferences with varying degrees of success and agreement.
•The Kyoto (1997) and Montreal Protocols (2005) were the first to set clear emissions targets for countries. •However, many of these targets allowed countries to undertake carbon trading and to offset their emissions: The US government never fully ratified the agreement and so were not bound to its targets.
• The Copenhagen conference of 2009 was meant to strike an ambitious agreement to take targets beyond the end of the Kyoto agreements in 2012. •No binding agreements wore struck. •However, in 2015 at the Paris climate change conference 98% of parties agreed on ambitious targets to be met from 2020 onwards

Question 28

Straiges to mitigate to climate change-national

Answer 28

• In the UK the Government set its first ambitious targets in the 2008 Climate Change Act.
•The Act makes it the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that the net: UK carbon account for all six Kyoto greenhouse gases for the year 2050 is at least 80% lower than the 1990 baseline.

•Other policy pledges in recent years Include:
•Setting targets for energy companies to clove to renewable forms of energy.
•Grants to Improve household energy efficiency and renewable energy use Improving customer information on products
•Afforestation schemes with grants for farmers in rural areas.

Question 29

Improving air quality- London

Answer 29

• most serious pollutants in the urban atmosphere are ozone, nitrogen oxides (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO) and particulate pollution.
•Vehicle emissions from industrial sites and chemical solvents are the major sources of these.
•Trees are an important, cost- effective solution to reducing pollution and improving air quality
• Trees help to lower air temperatures and reduce runoff into rivers.
•The pores on the leaf surface take in polluting gases which are then absorbedby water inside the leaf.
• trees also act as filters intercepting airborne particles and reducing the amount of harmful particulate matter

Question 30

London air quality strategy 2010

Answer 30

Policy 1-Encouraging smarten choices and sustainable travel
-Encourage walking and cycling
-Efficient freight transport
-Improve public transport

Policy 2-Promoting technological change and cleaner vehicles. Support a switch to electric vehicle

Policy 3-Identifying priority locations and improving air quality through KIDOCA a package of local measures Improve arcess to major transport habis eng. Heathrow and Gatwick Work with local councils to support local greening strategies

Policy 4-Reducing emissions from public transport. Encourage the use of hybrid and gas powered buses and taxis

Policy 5-Non transport measures
• Making new developments air quality neutral or better ensuring that new developments do not have a negative impact on air quality in London

• Moving towards a zero carbon energy supply

Energy efficiency schemes making buildings mene energy efficient

• Improving air quality in public spaces by planting urban vegetation Encouraging innovation-encouraging new ideas that will improve air quality

Question 31

Land use planning and improved urban design-London

Answer 31

•Many things can be done to reduce the heat island effect such as incorporating more green areas to increase water absorption and particular pollution •Sustainable transport strategies will help to reduce air pollution
•The layout of the city can be made far less dense with fewer higher rise buildings
•The BedZED development in London has shown that, on a small scale at least, sustainable communities with zero emissions can be created.

Question 32

Horn of Africa -Background

Answer 32

-started in late 2010 untill 2012
-due to weather conditions over the Pacific including unusually strong la nino