WEATHER HAZARDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE Flashcards
Explain why insolation is unevenly distributed.
earth is round, high angle, concentrated, more insolation at the equator
name the circulation that redistributes heat energy
global atmospheric circulation
name the three cells
polar, ferrel, hadley
how is heat energy redistributed through wind
- temperature affects air pressure
- wind blows from high pressure to low pressure
- heat is transferred from the equator and redistributed
talk about jet streams
jet streams= fast moving wind that blows in the Westerly direction
-warm air from the S collides with cool air from the N
-warm air from the S is warmer and rises over cool air air from the N (as it is less desnse)
-Earth is spinning westerly
-Jet stream is deflected and flows towards the direction of the spin
define ocean currents
large scale movements of water to transfer heat energy from warm to cool regions
name a surface current
gulf stream (caribbean to eastern europe)
talk about deep ocean currents
thermohaline circulation
-water freezes, water becomes saltier, more dense, sinks
warm water flows over it, creating a current
warm water gets cold, cycle repeats
define natural climate change
significant, long term change in climate over a long period of time
name 3 types of natural climate change
- milankovitch cycle
- solar variation
- volcanic activity
how does milankovitch cycles affect climate change?
- tilt, the greater the tilt, the more insolation nothern hemisphere receives in summer
- eccentricity, circularal orbit receives more insolation in the Northern hemisphere in summer than an ellipiical orbit
- precession, earth closer to sun in july means more insolation for northern hemisphere in summer
*** if tere is more insolation for northern hemisphere in summer, then ice will melt, less reflection of insolation by ice, increased temperature.
talk about how solar varition affects temperature
- sunspots are cool regions on the sun’s suface that INCREASES THE SUN’S OUTPUT OF ENERGY
-the more sunspots there are, the more insolation, the higher the temperature
talk about how volcanic activity increases affects temperature
- less volcanic erruptions
-less volcanic ash blocking insolation
-more insolation
increased temperature
name and explain oen proxy indicator
- tree rings
-thicker rings indicate warmer, wetter conditions because trees experience more GROWTH due to these conditions
explain the anthropogenic greenhouse effect
primary 3 GS things
name 3 ways humans intensify global warming, with evidence
- energy– burning fossil fuels (25% CO2 emission)
- transport– increased car ownership (21% total GHGs emission)
- farming (CH4 is 4 times as potent a greenhouse gas than CO2)
name 3 impacts of global warming
- sea level rise
-extreme weather hazards
-change of pattern in crop yielt (India to suffer from a 50% decreasein farmland)
discuss UK climate’s temporal variation
medieval warm period
little ice age
maritime climate (small temp range 4-15, prevailing wind from the SW)
discuss UK temperature’s regional variation
- temperature S and W are warmer
–> closer latitude to equator and closer proxemtity to the sea (heat up by convection, acts as moderator) - precipitation West more than East
–>prevailing wind from SW brings warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean, which is forced to rise up hgih altitudes
as temperature, decreases, water holding capacity decreases
water condenses to form clouds, leading to lots of precipitation in the West
As it decends mountains in the East, temperature increases, and so does water holding capacity. This causes air to absorb moisture instead of releasing them, forming a rain shadow in the East. - wind patterns North and West receive more wind
–> prevailing wind comes from the SW
Discuss the impact of UK’s location on its climate
- continentiality
UK is surrounded by sea, heats up by convection and acts as a moderator for cooler summers and warmer winters - UK is part of the Gulf stream (carribean–> eastern Europe), ocean current brings heat energy to the West coast of UK, keeping it warm
- Maritime influence
most air reaching UK is moist, as UK is surrounded by sea–> year round rainfall.
define tropical storms
intense low pressure systems that form in the tropics
conditions for tropical storms
-summer and autumn (convection)
-between tropics of cancer and capricorn
*NOT IN EQUATOR DUE TO ABSENCE OF CORIOLIS EFFECT
explain the formation of tropical storms
- warm ocean temperature of 27
- warm air rises, condenses to form cumulus clouds
- air from sides rush into low pressure zone, forming high suface winds
- coriolis effect makes the system spin, creating a low pressure eye
- system drifts sideways due to the influence of trade winds
- HIGH ENERGY SYSTEM compresses ocean underneath, creating a storm surge
- tropical storm reaches land loses enegy and dissipates
define hazard
something with potential to cause significant loss of human life and property
EFFECT of tropical storm (superstorm sandy) on developed countries
- social 117 deaths
- economic $60.3 billion reparation costs
- environmental 1.5 billion litres of sewage washed into the Raritan river
effect of tropial storm (superstorm sandy) on developing country
- 11 deaths
- 5% drop in GDP
- 6.5 million m3 od trees fell
USA responses to superstorm sandy
individual: rebuilt homes/ helped otehrs rebuild homes
organisation: red cross sheltered 11000 people
government: paid $60.3 billion reparation costs
Cuba responses to superstorm sandy
individual: 340000 people evauated
organisation: UN sponsered 5 million recovery costs
government: 50% discount on reconstruction materials
3 criterias to make an arid environment
- continual severe lack of water (100-300mm)
- sparse vegetation (xerophytic plants only
- short growing season (75 days)
where do we usually find arid environments?
30S and 30N
- cooling air from Ferrel and Hadley meet at 30
- high pressure and sinks
-temperature increases, and so does moisture holding capacity
-water is aborbed by air
define drought
period of below averge rainfall leading to shortages in water supply
3 types of causes with explainations for droughts
- meterological causes (changes in global atmosheric circulation leads to less than average rainfall in high pressure zones)
- hydrological causes (decreased rainfall leads to decreased input in water cycles)
- human causes (deforestation, less roots to retain water// agrilculture, water used as irrgation water for water intensive crops such as avacadoes)
impacts of california drought
social: needed to collect water from emergency tanks
economical: agrilcutural industry lost 17,000 jobs
environmental: dry vegetation with low moisture content is very vulnerable to fire
responses towards california drought
individual: shared water resources/ collect water from emergency water tanks
organisation: Stone coral elementary purchased bottled water for students
government: set up emergency water tanks
impact of namibia drought
social: 1/3 people at risk of malnutrition
economical: 2014 agrilcultural output 42% lessthan that of 2012
environmental: mass migration puts pressure on non-drought areas
responses to namibia drought
individual: migration/ farmers sell livestock in return for water
organisation: lutheran charch donated water to isolated communities who cannot access government distribution
government: minister of agrilculture offered the opition of trading livestock in return for food and water
