Weather hazards Flashcards
Why does heat rise at the equator?
It has low pressure because the suns rays are much more direct
What occurs at the equator?
Rainfall because of the moist air rising and condensing.
What are the three cells called in order?
Hadley cell, Ferrell cell and the Polar cell
Where are the two jet streams and what are they called?
The polar jet stream between the polar and Ferrell cell and the subtropical jet stream between the Ferrell and Hadley cell.
How does air move?
From high to low pressure on a slight angle due to the Coriolis effect
What is the ITCZ?
The inter-tropical convergent zone, where air moves together at the equator
Ingredients for a tropical storm (7)
5 - 30 degrees North and South of the Equator, low pressure, low wind shear, the Coriolis effect, moisture(over a sea), 27 degrees sea, 60-70 metres
What are tropical storms?
A very powerful low-pressure weather system which results in strong winds and heavy rainfall
What do different places call them?
Hurricanes in North America, Typhoons in East Asia and Cyclones affecting the Indian Ocean
Why don’t tropical storms form at the Equator?
Because we need the Coriolis effect
What happens when the tropical storm reaches land?
It slows down, but it can cause storm surges, strong winds and torrential rainfall
How are tropical storms measured?
The Saffir-Simpson scale
What can be done to monitor tropical storms?
Satellites-track cone, High altitude aircraft drop sonds(drop them into a tropical storm so you can monitor the temp and movement
Preparation tropical storms
Emergency kits, storm shelters, hurricane straps and storm shutters
How will climate change affect tropical storms?
Higher storm surges due to sea levels
Heavier rainfall due to a warmer atmosphere
More intense from 2-11%
