'Weather Hazard' Key Words

Question 1

Aid

Answer 1

Money, goods and services given by single governments or an organ like the World Bank or IMF to help the quality of life and economic of another country.

Question 2

Atmosphere

Answer 2

A highly complex mass of gasses, liquids and solids ghat envelopes the Earth

Question 3

Atmospheric circulation

Answer 3

Circular movement of air within Earth’s atmosphere

Question 4

Cells

Answer 4

Section of Earth’s atmosphere where air moves in circular motions, together these form the overall circulation of Earth’s atmosphere

Question 5

Climate

Answer 5

The average weather over a long period of time

Question 6

Climate change

Answer 6

A long-term change in the Earth’s climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature

Question 7

Coriolis effect

Answer 7

The spinning effect caused by the rotation of the Earth

Question 8

Cyclone shelter

Answer 8

Accommodation for people who have been evacuated from areas threatened by cyclones (tropical storms), often built from strong concrete and on stilts to prevent flooding

Question 9

Equator

Answer 9

An imaginary line that divides Earth’s surface into a northern and southern hemisphere

Question 10

Evacuation

Answer 10

Movement of people away from danger to a place of safety

Question 11

Extreme weather

Answer 11

When a weather event is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern, and is especially severe or unseasonal.

Question 12

Eye (of the storm)

Answer 12

A small area at the centre of a storm where relatively cold air descends rapidly.

Question 13

Eye wall

Answer 13

The outer edge of the eye of a storm where the most intense weather condition occur.

Question 14

Flood risk

Answer 14

The predicted likelihood and frequency of floods in an area.

Question 15

Flood

Answer 15

Where river discharge exceeds river channel capacity and water spills onto the floodplain.

Question 16

Global warming

Answer 16

The increase of global temperatures

Question 17

Latitude

Answer 17

Lines that run parallel to the Earth’s equator, measured in degrees.

Question 18

Hazard prediction

Answer 18

Using historical evidence and monitoring, scientists can make predictions about when and where a hazard may happen.

Question 19

Pressure belts

Answer 19

Zones of either high or low pressure that encircle the Earth between circulation cells.

Question 20

Protection

Answer 20

Actions taken before a hazard strikes to reduce its impact, such as educating people or improving building design

Question 21

Saffir-Simpson scale

Answer 21

Scale used to measure the strength of hurricanes based on wind speed.

Question 22

Storm surge

Answer 22

A wall of water often 3-5 meters high

Question 23

Adaptation

Answer 23

Actions taken to adjust to natural events such as climate change, to reduce damage, limit the impacts, take advantage of opportunities, or cope with the consequences.

Question 24

Atmosphere

Answer 24

A high complex mass of gasses, liquids and solids that envelopes the Earth

Question 25

Carbon sinks

Answer 25

The removal of CO2 from the atmosphere

Question 26

Orbital change

Answer 26

The path of the earth as it orbits the sun

Question 27

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 27

The increased effectiveness of the greenhouse effect, believed to be the cause of recent global warming

Question 28

Fossil fuel

Answer 28

A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

Question 29

Greenhouse effect

Answer 29

The blanketing effect of the atmosphere in retaining heat given off from the Earth’s surface

Question 30

Greenhouse gasses

Answer 30

Atmospheric gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane that can absorb heat

Question 31

Mitigation

Answer 31

Action taken to reduce the long-term risk from natural hazards, such as earthquake-proof buildings or international agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Question 32

Quaternary period

Answer 32

The geological time period that covers the last 2.6 million years.

Question 33

Renewable energy

Answer 33

A resource that cannot be exhausted i.e. wind, solar and tidal energy

Question 34

Volcanic eruption

Answer 34

When volcanoes blast ash, gasses and liquids onto the Earth’s surface and atmosphere