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Weather hazards Flashcards

1
Q

Natural hazard definition

A

a natural event that has the potential to cause damage to people/property

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2
Q

Weather definition

A

state of the atmosphere at a particular time

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3
Q

climate definition

A

the weather conditions prevailing in an area

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4
Q

insolation definition

A

the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area

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5
Q

Factors affecting a place’s climate

A

Height above sea level (altitude) - (higher = cooler)
Distance from se - coastal areas cooler and wetter
Prevailing wind
Distance from equator - more focus from sun
Aridity
Prevailing wind
Ocean currents
latitude

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6
Q

insolation

A

areas closer to the equator have a higher level of insolation because the rays are spread over a smaller area

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7
Q

convection currents

A

warm air rises as it is less dense
cool air sinks as it is more dense
rising air creates low pressure, sinking air creates high pressure

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8
Q

air pressure

A

air particles move from areas of high pressure to low pressure
wind

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9
Q

order of cells

A

polar
ferrell
hadley
hadley
ferrell
polar

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10
Q

tropical storm definition

A

Strong winds (>74 mph) moving in a spiral around the calm central area (eye).
Low pressure, high rainfall

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11
Q

Where are tropical storms located

A

areas of low latitude between 5 and 30 degrees north and south of the equator

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12
Q

what causses the storm to spiral

A

coriolis effect

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13
Q

how do we categorise tropical stroms

A

saffir simpson scale

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14
Q

causes of tropical storms (3)

A

Ocean depth 60-70m and sea temperature >27 degrees –> provides heat and moisture allowing the air to rise rapidly –> latent heat is released to power the storm

Low wind shear –> allow tropical storms to rise to high levels without being torn apart

Not along the equator –> coriolis effect not strong enough here

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15
Q

What happens after a storm makes landfall

A

it soon dissipates because it has lost the ocean depth and there is no longer enough evaporation to fuel the storm

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16
Q

formation of a tropical storm

A
  1. sun’s insolation warms the oceans to a critical temp of 27 degrees
  2. this causes moist air to rise in thermals, giving low pressure at the centre of the storm
  3. the air cools as it rises causing condensation, clouds and rain
  4. some cooled air sinks to create the eye
  5. air rushes in from high pressure outside to low pressure inside creating winds
  6. the storm rotates because of the earths spin
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17
Q

how will climate change affect distribution, frequency and intensity of tropical storms

A

distribution - change - areas that did not previously experience tropical storms now have warmer oceans

intensity - increase - temperature has risen so storms have more energy

frequency - increase - more energy available due to warmer climate

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18
Q

Primary effect definition

A

the initial impact of a natural event on people and property, caused directly by the hazards

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19
Q

Secondary effect definition

A

the after effects that occur as an indirect impact of a natural event

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20
Q

Primary effects of tropical storms

A
  • people injured or killed by blowing debris
  • buildings destroyed or damaged by debris
  • drowning
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21
Q

Secondary effects of tropical storms

A
  • crops destroyed - food shortage
  • people left homeless
  • electric supplies cut off due to power lines being destroyed
  • sewage released due to flooding
  • unemployment - businesses damaged
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22
Q

factors affecting effectiveness of immediate responses

A

road conditions
LIC/HIC
population
amount of damage
intensity

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23
Q

factors affecting effectiveness of long term responses

A

financial state
relationships with other countries
number of people affected
amount of damage - intensity

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24
Q

Typhoon Haiyan facts and figures

A

Philippines
Most people live on the coast
widespread poverty (LIC)
category 5
Tacloban city badly affected
13 million people affected

25
Short and long term responses of Typhoon Haiyan
immediate - over 1200 evacuation sites set up for the homeless, international aid long term - HIC's donated money, 'cash for work' programmes (people paid to help rebuild), rebuilding
26
Primary and secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan
Primary - 6300 people killed, 90% Tacloban city destroyed, 40,000 homes damaged, widespread flooding Secondary - 6 million people lost their source of income, flooding blocked roads and caused landslides
27
Monitoring tropical storms
Tracking the course/weather using technology to determine the course Allows people to prepare - evacuation E.g. satellites monitor cloud patterns
28
Predicting tropical storms
Tracking the course/weather using technology to determine the course Allows people to prepare E.g. supercomputers give warning and predict a location
29
Tropical storm protection
Designing buildings to withstand the damage E.g. reinforce buildings, develop coastal flooding defences
30
Tropical storm planning
Raising community/individual awareness to reduce the effect Evacuate easier/quicker and be ready for level of disaster E.g. preparing disaster supply kits and knowing where evacuation centres are
31
Extreme weather definition
When a weather event is significantly different from the usual weather pattern, and is especially severe and unseasonal
32
Examples of extreme weather
Storm surge Heat wave Extreme cold temperatures Wind/gales Drought Flooding Landslides Storms Snow storm/blizzard
33
Impact of droughts on human activity
Crop failure - higher food prices, lower income for farmers
34
Impact of heavy rain on human activity
Flash floods damage to buildings, transport or energy supplies Flooded farmland kills livestock and crops
35
Impact of heatwaves on human activity
Deaths and health issues - exhaustion, dehydration Road surfaces melt - disrupt transport Crops scorch and livestock die
36
Impact of gales on human activity
buildings, transport, electricity lines damaged fallen trees and branches block roads and cause injury
37
Impact of extreme cold weather on human activity
Schools and businesses close due to safety concerns and disruptions Crops damaged and livestock die Slippery - fall Council spend money on salting, gritting and snow ploughing
38
Impact of thunderstorms on human activity
Lightening can cause fires, electricity surges and damage to buildings Winds may damage crops and buildings Flash floods damage buildings and transport links
39
The beast from the east facts and figures
2018 caused by a change in the polar jet stream reached -13 degrees at night the sea brought snow flights cancelled coast badly affected country covered in snow people trapped on motorways unusual - officially spring
40
Evidence of climate change from quaternary period to now
increased sea level increased temperatures (oceans and atmosphere) ice melting increased frequency of flooding and drought decline in some species
41
Measuring climate change techniques (6)
ice cores temperature rise historical records melting ice/glacial retreat tree rings (age of tree) - warmer = bigger because the tree grew more pollen data - growth of plants
42
why does climate change cause glacial retreat
the glacier has retreated because the earth has got warmer so it has melted
43
why does climate change cause sea levels to rise
when temperatures rise the freshwater stored in the ice sheets melt - then flows into the sea when the ocean gets warmer it expands in volume (thermal expansion)
44
List the natural causes of climate change
Orbital changes Volcanic activity Solar output/sun spots
45
Solar activity (natural cause of climate change)
Leads to an uneven amount of solar energy hitting the earth more sunspots = more solar energy - temperature of the earth increases every 11 years
46
Orbital changes (natural cause of climate change)
Axial tilt - some countries closer to the sun - hotter Procession - 'wobble' - some countries experience longer days/nights Eccentricity - the earths orbit is not always circular - it is elliptical - sometimes closer to the sun
47
Volcanic activity (natural cause of climate change)
Volcanic ash blocks out the sun - reducing the temperature on earth (short term impact) Fine droplets form as a result of sulphur dioxide becoming sulphuric acid - these reflect radiation from the sun (long term impact)
48
List the human causes of climate change
Combustion of fossil fuels Changing agriculture Deforestation
49
Explain the greenhouse effect
there is a thicker layer of greenhouse gases due to physical and human activity, meaning less heat can escape, so stays trapped on the earth, causing global warming
50
Combustion of fossil fuels (human cause of climate change)
Used in industry, transportation, building and heating homes Increased wealth and population growth = increased demand for energy produces CO2 adding to the greenhouse effect
51
Changing agriculture (human cause of climate change)
Increased wealth and population = increased demand for meat (mostly middle class) Cattle produce methane in digestion Paddy fields in Asia release methane Nitrous oxide from fertilisers Increased greenhouse gases - enhanced greenhouse effect
52
Deforestation (human cause of climate change)
Middle income countries need to develop economically - clearing of forests Trees are a carbon sink so removing them means there is more CO2 in the atmosphere - enhances greenhouse affect
53
Social effects of climate change
Diseases such as malaria will spread as the climate gets warmer, putting up to 60% of Africa at risk Heat stroke and dehydration Freshwater supplies expected to decrease - increased pressure on water sources increases in droughts and fires - agriculture will decline
54
Environmental affects of climate change
Less sea ice in polar regions will effect plants, birds and mammals By the middle of the century it is predicted that the savannah will replace rainforests in South America - loss of biodiversity Coral reefs and swamps destroyed
55
Mitigation definition
local or global strategies to reduce the causes of climate change and thereby reduce the negative impacts of it (removing it)
56
Adaptation definition
local or global strategies to respond to the new conditions created by climate change to make populations less vulnerable to the negative impacts (living with it)
57
Mitigation examples
Alternative energy production - solar, wind, tidal - reduces GG - last longer but expensive and unreliable Planting trees - remove CO2 and provide habitats - however land may be limited International agreements - encourage countries to reduce CO2 emissions - however some may disagree and not achieve targets Carbon capture - take CO2 and safely store it underground - expensive and unclear if it is captured long term
58
Adaptation examples
Changing agricultural systems - required to deal with changing weather - irrigation may be necessary, adaptations hard for farmers who are affected most Managing water supplies - need to face change in rainfall - lower demand higher supply, security may be threatened in areas of deficit Reducing risk - constructing defences (rising sea levels), raising properties on stilts, relocating

Geography (9 decks)

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