Weather hazards Flashcards
What are the three cells in atmospheric circulation
Hadley
Ferrell
Polar
What happens when air descends
High pressure
No rain or clouds
What happens when air rises
Low pressure
Cloud and rain
what is a tropical storm
Spinning mass of cloud
Describe the distribution of tropical storms
Close to the equator
5• and 30•C north and south the equator
what are the conditions required for a tropical storm
ocean temp 27•C
60-70m water depth
low air pressure
what is a tropical storm also known as
Typhoon, hurricane , cyclone
what’s the formation of tropical storms
warm air rises
creates low pressure
warm air takes in moisture and cools and condenses
earths rotation causes wind to spiral
prevailing winds push storm towards land
What are the structures of a tropical storm
eye - relatively weak, in the centre of hurricane
eyewall- strongest part (heaviest rain and strongest winds
Convection currents surrounding the eye
cool and dense air and hurricane winds and rains
What is the corilisis force
Causes wind to bend and cyclones to spin due to earths curved surface
What does climate change cause
Heats the world ocean
and causes sea levels to rise
how does climate change affect frequency, intensity and distribution of cyclones
frequency- more frequent + last longer + more severe
INTENSITY- increased heat brings higher rainfall and stronger winds + greater risk of flooding
DISTRIBUTION - more of the worlds ocean will heat above 27 •C therefore will be able to develop in more areas
what is the case study for weather hazard
TYPHOON HAIYAN 2013
what are the primary effects of typhoon haiyan
6,300 dead
90% tacloban destroyed
600,000 people displaced (relocated to somewhere safer)
40,000 homes destroyed
What are the long term effects of typhoon haiyan
6 million jobs lost
diseases increased
schools were forced to close
