Weather Hazards

Question 1

Name the 3 cells in the global atmospheric circulation model.

Answer 1

Hadley
Ferrel
Polar

Question 2

What does the global atmospheric circulation model show?

Answer 2

How air moves in the atmosphere

Question 3

What causes the difference in air pressure across the surface of the Earth?

Answer 3

Differences in temperature between the equator and the poles.
Differences in pressure create winds that blow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

Question 4

What is the weather like in a high pressure belt?

Answer 4

Dry, cloud free. There is little moisture in the air.

Question 5

What is a tropical storm?

Answer 5

Intense low pressure weather system with heavy rain and strong winds.

Question 6

What latitudes do most tropical storms develop?

Answer 6

5-30 degrees north and south of the equator.

Question 7

What conditions are needed for a tropical storm to develop?

Answer 7

Sea temperature 27 degrees Celsius
50m sea depth
Low pressure

Question 8

Explain why tropical storms move and spin.

Answer 8

Easterly winds near the equator cause tropical storms to move towards the west. Storms spin as the Earth’s rotation deflects the path of the winds (Coriolis Effects). They spin anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemipshere.

Question 9

Give the name, date and location of a tropical storm you have studied.

Answer 9

Hurricane Katrina
2005
New Orleans, USA

Question 10

Name 4 primary effects Hurricane Katrina.

Answer 10

1,800 people died
300,000 homes destroyed
3 million left with no electricity
$300 billion worth of damage

Question 11

Name 3 secondary effects of Hurricane Katrina

Answer 11

Storm surge 6m high
1 million homeless
Oil prices rose as a result of damaged oil facilities

Question 12

Name 3 immediate response of Hurricane Katrina

Answer 12

UK sent food aid
25,000 given temporary accommodation
Emergency services rescue 50,000 people

Question 13

Name 2 long term responses of Hurricane Katrina

Answer 13

$34 billion set aside for building repairs

$800 million set aside to renew flood defenses

Question 14

How are tropical storms monitored?

Answer 14

Radar, satellites and aircraft

Question 15

Explain how education has reduce the impacts of tropical storms.

Answer 15

It can educate people on how to stay safe. Education can also provide drills in schools so pupils are aware of how to stay safe.

Question 16

Name and date an extreme weather event in the UK.

Answer 16

Storm Jude, 2013

Question 17

Outline the causes of Storm Jude.

Answer 17

Storm Jude was a depression.
Cold air coming south east from Canada met warm, moist air coming up from the Caribbean.
This caused an area of low pressure to develop and the storm began to form.
The storm was carried across the Atlantic Ocean and swept across the country, causing high winds and torrential rain.

Question 18

Name 3 primary effects of storm Jude.

Answer 18

Structural damage to buildings from wind and flooding
Trees uprooted / felled
17 deaths overall in Europe ( 4 in UK )

Question 19

Name 3 secondary effects of storm Jude.

Answer 19

Power supplies cut off – 660,000 homes
Rail networks disturbed – 5 companies cancelled all trains in SE
130 flights cancelled or delayed

Question 20

Name 3 immediate responses to storm Jude

Answer 20

Caravans anchored to ground
Met Office monitored storm - warnings and advice given
Social media used to share warnings and updates – 10% increase following met office twitter and YouTube

Question 21

Name 3 long term responses to storm Jude.

Answer 21

Compensation provided for those affected
Rebuilding buildings
Fixing infrastructure such as rail networks

Question 22

What is drought?

Answer 22

A long period of time without rain

Question 23

In the UK, how can rain become a hazard?

Answer 23

Too much rain in too short a time can cause flooding.

This can damage homes, possessions, transport and businesses.