Weather Hazards

Question 1

What are tropical storms?

Answer 1

Tropical storms are areas of intense or very low air pressure (spinning masses of clouds) that generally develop between the tropics.

Question 2

Where do tropical storms form?

Answer 2

Tropical storms form in tropical regions as the intense heat makes the air unstable/rise rapidly

Question 3

Where are tropical storms called hurricanes?

Answer 3

In the Atlantic and eastern Pacific regions (e.g. North America, Europe)

Question 4

Where are tropical storms called cyclones?

Answer 4

South-east Asia (e.g. India, Bangladesh, and Australia)

Question 5

Where are tropical storms called typhoons?

Answer 5

In Japan, China and the Philippines

Question 6

What conditions are needed for tropical storms to form?

Answer 6

1. Large areas of tropical oceans where the ocean temperature is above 26-27°C
2. A considerable depth of warm water - at least 70m
3. An intense low pressure resulting in the strong upward movement of warm, moist air
4. Winds generally blowing in the same direction

Question 7

How are tropical storms distributed?

Answer 7

• Most tropical storms tend to occur between the tropics (between 5° and 20° north and south of the equator)
• They tend to move in a westerly direction (occurring in the easterly wind belt) and usually strike the east coast of continents

Question 8

Why don’t tropical storms form at the equator?

Answer 8

Tropical storms do not occur on the equator (between 0° and 5°) as the ‘spin’ from the earth’s rotation (Coriolis effect) isn’t strong enough.

Question 9

How do tropical storms form?

Answer 9

1. Rising air causes water to evaporate over a warm ocean surface
2. Thunderstorms develop as evaporated air cools and condenses, releasing heat which powers the storm, resulting in more evaporation
3. More thunderstorms join together into a larger storm which spins due to rotation of the earth
4. Cooler air then begins to descend resulting in the development of the eye - the most intense weather conditions (strongest winds an heaviest rainfall) develop in the ‘eyewall’ on the outer edge of the eye
5. The storm continues to gain strength as it moves over warm oean surfaces.
6. Upon reaching land it weakens rapidly as it gets cut off from its energy source (warm moist air) and experiences friction with the land, slowing winds down.

Question 10

How many °C have ocean temperatures risen over the last 20 years?

Answer 10

0.5°C

Question 11

What country experienced Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 11

Philippines

Question 12

What is a landslide?

Answer 12

The movement of earth or rock from a slope as a result of it becoming unstable, usually from heavy rainfall

Question 13

What is infrastructure?

Answer 13

Networks such as transport, power supplies and telecommunications

Question 14

What are the immediate risks of tropical storms caused by?

Answer 14

• Winds - can damage builidings, infrastructure, trees and crops. Flying objects can cause damage to people and property.
• Heavy rainfall - torrential rain can lead to flooding
• Strom surges - These are caused by a combination of very low air pressure and strong winds which cause the sea level to rise by seeral metres and cause large waves

Question 15

What were the primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 15

• Storm surges - people drowned by the storm surge
• Homes damaged or flattened by the wind - people displaced and 90% of Tacloban city destroyed
• Tacloban airport terminal damaged - people stranded, flights delayed
• Fishing boats destroyed - people lost their income
• Strong winds - damaged buildings, power lines and crops destroyed
• Heavy rainfall - caused flooding

Question 16

What were the secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 16

• People left homeless - 14 million people affected and most have lost their source of income
• Flooding - caused landlslides and blocked roads which cut off aid to remote countries
• Ferry services and airline flights disrupted - slowed down aid efforts
• Shortage of water, food and shelter - this affected people leading to outbreak of diseases such as cholera
• Shops destroyed, jobs lost - loss in income
• Hospitals and schools damaged - difficult to help people as not enough resources to support the injured. Disruption in people’s education
• Looting and violence - people felt unsafe, increase in crime

Question 17

What were the immediate responses to Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 17

• International government and aid agencies - provided food, water and temporary shelter
• US aircraft carrier and helicopters - assisted with search and resuce and delivery of aid
• 1200 evacuation centres set up - to help the homeless
• UK government sent shelter kits - provided emergency shelters for families
• French, Belgium and Israeli field hospitals set up - to help the injured
• Philippins Red Cross - Delivers basic food aid such as rice, canned food and cooking oil

Question 18

What were the long-term responses to Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 18

• The UN, US and UK, Australia and Japan donated aid - such as financial aid, supplies and medical support
• Rebuilding - roads, bridges and airport facilities
• ‘Cash for work’ programmes - people paid to help clear debris and rebuild the city
• Foreign donors - e.g. US and EU supported new livelihood opportunities
• Rice farming and fishing re-established - to help people get income
• Aid agencies e.g. Oxfam - Supported the replacement of fishing boats
• Cyclone shelters built - To accomodate people evacuated from coastal areas

Question 19

What are the three P’s?

Answer 19

Monitoring and Prediction, Protection and Planning

Question 20

What is the cone of uncertainty?

Answer 20

The area defined by forecasters where a tropical storm may cause damage

Question 21

What is mandatory evacuation?

Answer 21

An evacuation that is commanded by authorities

Question 22

What is monitoring?

Answer 22

Monitoring agencies like the National Hurricane Centre in Florida and the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre in Hawaii identfy storms and track their paths and strength

Question 23

What is prediction?

Answer 23

Weather agencies use this information to update tropical storm forecasts. These forecasts cover a large area known as the cone of uncertainty

Question 24

What are the two levels of warning issued by the National Hurrican Centre?

Answer 24

• Hurricane Watch - advises that hurrican conditions are possible
• Hurricane Warning - Advises that hurricane conditions are expected and that people should take immediate action e.g take shelter or evacuate

Question 25

What are possible methods of protection?

Answer 25

• Build sea walls - to protect key properties from storm surges
• Build large storm drains - to quickly take away rain / run-off and prevent flooding
• Board windows - to prevent flying debris from smashing them and allowing rain in
• Use windproof tiles - that won’t be ripped off by strong winds
• Houses close to the coast at risk from a storm surge should be built on stilts (Bangladesh) - The water will go through the stilts and the house is less likely to be washed away

Question 26

What is the climate of the UK?

Answer 26

The UK has a maritime climate (influenced by the sea) and is fairly mild or moderate

Question 27

What is weather?

Answer 27

Weather refers to the day to day conditions of the atmosphere e.g. temperature

Question 28

What is climate?

Answer 28

Cliimate is the average weather conditions of a place over a long period of time

Question 29

What is extreme weather?

Answer 29

Weather that is different to the normal pattern - unseasonal, unusual, severe

Question 30

What are examples of extreme weather in the UK?

Answer 30

• Thunderstorms
• Prolonged rainfall
• Heavy snowfall
• Strong winds
• Drought and extreme heat

Question 31

Where is Somerset located?

Answer 31

Somerset is a county in SW England

Question 32

What were the causes of the 2014 floods in Somerset?

Answer 32

• Wettest January since 1910 - 350mm of rain fell during this month and 100mm in February
• High tides and storm surges - This swept waters from the Bristol Channel and stopped fresh water reaching the sea which resulted in spilling over the rier banks
• River not dredged for last 20 years - river was clogged with sediment which meant there was less space to hold the water

Question 33

What were the economic impacts of the flood?

Answer 33

• Somerset County Council estimated damage cost £10 million - very expensive, to rebuild damaged property and infrastructure
• Agricultural land under water for 3-4 weeks - farmers lost income as crops were damaged
• 1000 livestock evacuated - cost of moving them to area of safety

Question 34

What were the social impacts of the flood?

Answer 34

• 600 houses flooded - all possessions destroyed
• Farms and residents evacuated - livestock and residents needed temporary shelter
• Power supplies cut off - black out, no electricity

Question 35

What were the environmental impacts of the flood?

Answer 35

• Floodwaters were contaminanted - by sewage and other pollutants such a soil and chemicals
• Debris - This had to be cleared as it was a hazard to people
• Stagnant water - had to be reoxygenated before being pumped back into the rivers