Weather Hazards Flashcards
Describe each stage of tropical storm formation.
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Warm SEA TEMPERATURES of 27°C cause EVAPORATION. As the WARM, MOIST AIR rises, it CREATES an area of LOW PRESSURE.
-> COOLER AIR then moves towards the LOW-PRESSURE area to REPLACE the RISING WARM AIR and also WARMS UP as it RISES.
->This CYCLE continues which INCREASES WIND SPEEDS the STORM and INCREASES the RATE of the CORIOLIS EFFECT.
->The CORIOLIS EFFECT causes the AIR to spiral, leading to the ROTATION of the STORM. As the air continues to rise, it forms the EYE of the STORM
What is the Eye?
An AREA of EXTREMELY LOW PRESSURE where COOL, DRY AIR DESCENDS
What are the weather conditions like in the Eye?
Usually CALM and CLOUD FREE
What are the weather conditions like in the Eyewall?
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The MOST INTENSE and POWERFUL with HIGH WINDS and TORRENTIAL RAIN, an area of LOW PRESSURE
What happens in the Eyewall?
WARM MOIST AIR RAPIDLY RISES
What is a Storm Surge?
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An ABNORMAL RISE in SEA LEVEL which is PUSHED ONTO the COAST due to LOW PRESSURE and STONG WINDS
Why does a Storm Surge occur when a Tropical Storm reaches the coast?
A TROPICAL STORM’S LOW PRESSURE EYE and STRONG WINDS cause SEA WATER to RISE and EXPAND. As the COAST NEARS, the WATER becomes more SHALLOW, its HORIZONTAL SPREAD is RESTRICTED, causing the WATER to RISE VERTICALLY
Why does a Tropical Storm collapse and dissipate when it reaches land?
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It has NO SUPPLY of ENERGY (warm, moist air from the sea) which causes the EYE to COLLAPSE and the STORM to DISSIPATE
What is the temperature required for Tropical Storms to form?
27 degrees
What does the Air Pressure need to be like for a Tropical Storm to form?
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LOW PRESSURE so that the AIR can RISE
Why is air pressure important in the formation of Tropical Storms?
Without LOW PRESSURE, the WARM AIR would NOT be ABLE to RISE, meaning the LOW PRESSURE AREA beneath would NOT be FORMED. This means COOLER AIR wouldn’t be able to REPLACE IT, and the CONTINUOUS RISE of AIR , which is ESSENTIAL for STORM FORMATION, would be IMPOSSIBLE.
Why can’t winds be too strong during the formation of a Tropical Storm?
If WINDS are TOO STRONG they CAUSE the STORM from DISPERSE or PREVENT the WARM AIR from RISING
What does warm water provide the Storm with?
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Energy
-> The EVAPORATION of HEAT and MOISTURE from the OCEAN creates an AREA of LOW PRESSURE
How deep does the Water have to be?
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50 metres
Why don’t Tropical Storms occur on the Equator?
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CORIOLIS EFFECT is EXTREMELY WEAK at the EQUATOR as the EARTHS ROTATION DOESN’T cause WINDS to CURVE there
How far from the Equator do most Storms occur?
5 to 20 degrees north or south of the equator
Describe the structure of a Tropical Storm
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Eye: An AREA of LOW PRESSURE and LIGHT WINDS
EYEWALL: EXTREMELY LOW PRESSURE, an AREA where WARM, MOIST AIR is CONSTANTLY RISING. As the AIR RISES, it RELEASES LATENT HEAT and COOLS and CONDENSES to FORM CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS
Draw and Label the Structure of a Tropical Storm
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What three factors cause air in the atmosphere to move in different directions?
-THE CORIOLIS EFFECT
-PRESSURE DIFFERENCES
-TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES
What happens at the Hadley Cell?
(BLURT)
- Since THE HADLEY CELL is NEAR the EQUATOR, the AIR WARMS very QUICKLY, causing it to become LESS DENSE and RISE
- As the WARM AIR RISES it then COOLA and SPREADS OUT, around 30 DEGREES NORTH and SOUTH of the EQUATOR
- When the AIR SINKS it CREATES AREAS of HIGH PRESSURE around 30 DEGREES NORTH AND SOUTH of the EQUATOR
- The SINKING AIR is DRY, which REGULATES and FORMS DESSERTS
- As the AIR SINKS, it RETURNS to the EQUATOR, creating TRADE WINDS that blow from the NORTHEAST (NORTHERN HEMISPHERE) to SOUTHEAST of the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
What happens at the Ferrel Cell?
(BLURT)
- AIR from the SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURE ZONES (30 DEGREES LATITUDE) towards the SUBPOLAR LOW PRESSURE ZONES (60 DEGREES LATITUDE)
-> These winds are known as WESTERLIES and they flow from NORTHERN NORTHWEST to SOUTHERN SOUTHWEST - As the WESTERLIES approach the POLAR REGIONS they AIR is FORCED to RISE, creating LOW PRESSURE ZONES, CLOUD FORMATION and PRECIPITATION
- After the AIR RISES at around SIXTY DEGREES it COOLS and SINKS back towards the SURFACE at the SUBTROPICAL HIGH-PRESSURE ZONES (30 DEGREES LATITUDE) to COMPLETE the CYCLE
What happens at the Polar Cell?
(BLURT)
- The AIR is COLD and DENSE so it SINKS, creating HIGH PRESSURE ZONES at the POLES (90 DEGREES LATITUDE)
2.This COLD, DENSE AIR FLOWS moves SOUTH in the NORTHERN HEMISPHERE or NORTH in the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
- The COLD AIR FLOWING TOWARDS the EQUATOR is DEFLECTED by the CORIOLIS EFFECT which CREATES POLAR EASTERLIES, WINDS that BLOW from the EAST TOWARDS the WEST
- As the air MOVES, it MEETS the WARMER AIR from the FERREL CELL around 60 DEGREES LATITUDE. The WARMER SIR RISES leading to CLOUD FORMATION and PRECIPITATION
- As the AIR RISES, it LOSES ENERGY so COOLS and SINKS at around 60 DEGREES LATITUDE , moving towards the POLAR REGIONS again
Describe the Atmospheric Circulation System.
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Draw the Atmospheric Circulation System.
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Describe the pattern of Pressure Belts?
EQUATORIAL LOW PRESSURE BELT: Linked to the HADLEY CELLS, AIR RISES NEAR to the EQUATOR due to INTENSE SOLAR HEATING, creating the LOW PRESSURE ZONE in this REGION
SUBTROPICAL HIGH-PRESSURE BELT :
Linked to the TOP of the HADLEY CELL where AIR SINKS. The AIR that RISES in the EQUATORIAL LOW PRESSURE BELT moves TOWARD 20 DEGREE LATITUDE before COOLING and SINKING, creating HIGH PRESSURE CONDITIONS here
- SUBPOLAR LOW PRESSURE BELT: Linked to the FERREL CELLS. AIR from the FERREL and POLAR CELLS MEET at 60 DEGREES LATITUDE, this CAUSES SIR to RISE and CREATES a LOW PRESSURE ZONE
POLAR HIGH PRESSURE CELLS : Linked to POLAR CELLS, COLD DENSE AIR SINKS which CREATES HIGH PRESSURE ZONES
Why is there low pressure belts located on or near the equator?
AIR NEAR the EQUATOR is WARM so it RISES. At the EQUATORIAL LOW PRESSURE BELT, the AIR is HEATED by INTENSE SUNLIGHT and hence RISES as it BECOMES LESS DENSE. At the SUBPOLAR LOW PRESSURE BELT, the WARM AIR from the FERREL CELL meets COLD AIR from the POLAR CELL, where the WARM AIR is FORCED to RISE over the COOLER, DENSE AIR
Why is there high pressure at the poles?
The AIR is COLD and DENSE and SINKS
Why is the air warmer at the Equator?
The EQUATOR is DIRECTLY EXPOSED to the SUN due to the EARTH’S TILT and SUNLIGHT is CONCENTRATED over a SMALLER AREA
What kind of biomes are found on the Equator?
Tropical Rainforests
Why are Rainforests found on the Equator?
The RISING WARM AIR COOLS and CONDENSES as it RISES, leading to HIGH RATES of PRECIPITATION and CLOUD FORMATION
There is A LOTTA SUNLIGHT which means its VERY WARM
What is the climate like in the subtropics?
HOT, ARID and HUMID in CERTAIN AREAS such as PARTS of SOUTH AMERICA and CHINA
Why is the climate in the subtropics hot and arid?
-SUBTROPICAL REGIONS are OFTEN LOCATED UNDER the SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURE BELT, where SINKING AIR causes CLEAR SKIES and LOW RAINFALL
-TRADE WINDS BLOW DRY AIR from DESERTS or CONTINENTS
What kind of biomes form in the subtropics?
DESERTS, SAVANNAS, SUBTROPICAL FORESTS
What is the climate like at subpolar latitudes?
Cold, with cool summers, low precipitation, and frequent snow or frost.
Why is the climate in subpolar latitudes cold and dry?
-It is COLD because the SUN’S RAYS hit the SUBPOLAR REGIONS at a SLANT, SPREADING ENERGY OVER a LARGER AREA so LESS HEAT is ABSORBED
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Why is the climate at Subpolar latitudes cold?
What are two examples of countries located on the equator?
What are two examples of countries located in the subtropics?
What are two examples of countries located in Subpolar latitudes?
What pressure belt do tropical forms form in?
How have rising sea levels impacted the distribution of tropical storms?
How have the frequency of tropical storms changed over the years?
What does the intensity of a tropical storm refer to?
What is the scale called that measures the intensity of tropical storms?
What numbers is the scale between?
How has climate change impacted the intensity of tropical storms, why?
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How are hurricanes forecasted to change in the future?
How are wind speeds forecasted to change in the future?
What is the Power Dissipation Index?
What are some primary effects of tropical storms?
What are some secondary effects of tropical storms?
How can tropical storms be monitored?
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What two features of a tropical storm can be predicted? How?
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What two factors of tropical storms can be predicted?
When do these predictions become more accurate, locationally?
What is a storm surge?
What does the intensity of a tropical storm tell you about the storm surge?
What are some examples of protection against Tropical Storms?
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When planning for a tropical storm, what is Hazard Mapping?
What are two other planning strategies?
What is one example of a weather hazard in the UK?
How can prolonged rainfall cause damage to properties and infrastructure?
What is another example of a weather hazard in the UK?
What can thunderstorms result in?
What can torrential rainfall lead to”
What is another example of weather hazards in the uk?
How have extreme cold weather patterns changed in recent years?
What are the risks of extreme cold weather?
What is another example of a weather hazard in the UK?
Why do strong winds form in the UK?
What is an example of the source of a strong wind in the UK?
What are some risks of strong winds?
What is another example of a weather hazard in the UK?
What are some risks of extreme heat?
Why are energy levels increasing in the atmosphere?
How does increased energy in the atmosphere fuel storms?
How does atmospheric circulation affect moisture and pressure?
How is the way the atmospheric circulation affecting moisture and pressure changing?
Why / how?
What has this led to?
What’s happening to weather patterns in the uk?
Why are weather events prolonged in the UK?
What is UK weather controlled by?
What is the Jet Stream and why does it become blocked?
What are the consequences of the jet stream becoming blocked?
How are weather events in the uk expected to change in the future?
What has happened to rainfall in the UK in recent years?
Why is rainfall becoming more intense in the UK?
What can this lead to?
