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Weather Hazards and Climate Change Flashcards

1
Q

What is oceanic circulation?

A

The large-scale movement of currents in the oceans redistributing thermal energy around the surface of the earth

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2
Q

Give an example of an oceanic circulation

A

The Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Drift

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3
Q

Where do oceanic currents go?

A

They go from areas of energy surplus (warm areas) to areas of energy deficit (cold areas).
Most of the time, warm water from the equator travels towards the poles and cold water from the poles travels to lower latitudes.

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4
Q

What drives oceanic currents?

A
  1. Wind across the top of the water - surface ocean currents.
  2. Water sinking and rising due to changes in temperature - deep ocean currents
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5
Q

How do ocean currents redistribute heat energy?

A
  1. The sun heats up the ocean at the equator.
  2. The warm, low density water flows towards the poles, driven by surface air currents.
  3. The water cools as it reaches the poles, which increases its density.
  4. The cold, high density water sinks at the poles and flows back to the equator as a deep ocean current.
  5. Repeats at equator again.
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6
Q

How does North Atlantic Drift impact UK’s climate?

A
  1. Warm water heated in Gulf of Mexico.
  2. Due to surface winds, this warm water is transferred/redistributed towards the West of the UK.
  3. As this current of water reaches the poles, it cools and sinks (due to its increase in density) and is transferred back to the equator off the East coast of USA and Canada.
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7
Q

What is atmospheric circulation?

A

The large-scale movement of air redistributing thermal energy around the surface of the Earth.

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8
Q

What is oceanic circulation?

A

The large-scale movement of currents in the oceans redistributing thermal energy around the surface of the Earth.

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9
Q

Why does heat vary around the world?

A

The Earth’s surface is curved, meaning sunlight is more concentrated at the equator.

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10
Q

What are the three cells involved in redistributing heat around the world by air?

A
  1. Hadley cell (30°N –> 30°S)
  2. Ferrell cell (30-60°S + 30-60°N)
  3. Polar cell (60-90°S + 60-90°N)
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11
Q

What happens at the Hadley cell?

A

High temperature at equator, leads to low air pressure, formation of clouds + precipitation.

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12
Q

What happens at the Ferrell cell?

A

High pressure leads to no clouds forming, no precipitation = deserts.

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13
Q

What happens at the Polar cell?

A

Cold temperature leads to denser air, no clouds or rain.

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14
Q

What are the three factors affecting temperature?

A
  1. Altitude
  2. North Atlantic Drift
  3. Proximity to the equator
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15
Q

How does altitude affect temperature?

A

As altitude increases, temperature decreases. The air at higher altitudes is thinner, less dense, and has fewer molecules to trap and retain heat. Every 100 metres = -1°C. This leads to difficult climates in areas that have the same altitude, for example snowfall.

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16
Q

How does the North Atlantic Drift affect temperature?

A

Warm water is brought from the gulf of Mexico to the UK, making its climate milder. This keeps winters warmer than places like Canada at the same latitude. It also shifts the polar front more north, raising temperature.

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17
Q

How does the proximity to the equator affect temperature?

A

UK is a moderate distance away from the equator. It receives less direct sunlight than tropical rainforest regions, so temperature is cooler generally, but warm enough to avoid extreme cold like polar areas.

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18
Q

What are the three factors affecting amount of rainfall?

A
  1. Maritime influence
  2. Prevailing winds
  3. Altitude
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19
Q

How does maritime influence affect amount of rainfall?

A

UK’s maritime influence means it is surrounded by sea, which provides a constant source of moist air. It is carries inland by prevailing winds, leading to frequent rainfall.

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20
Q

How does altitude affect rainfall?

A

Higher altitudes causes air to rise and cool, leading to condensation and rainfall. For example, upland areas such as Scotland receive more rainfall than lowland areas.

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20
Q

How do prevailing winds affect rainfall?

A

Prevailing winds from the south west bring moist air from the Atlantic ocean. This air rises over hills and mountains, especially in the west, it then cools and condenses, causing high levels of rainfall.

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21
Q

What are the 5 air masses that affect climate in the UK?

A
  1. Polar Maritime
  2. (returning polar maritime).
  3. Arctic Maritime
  4. Polar continental
  5. Tropical Maritime
  6. Tropical Continental
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22
Q

What do the tropical air masses do?

A

Maritime - from Caribbean and Atlantic. Brings warm, wet air, brings mild, wet weather.
Continental - From Africa. Brings dry, hot air. Brings, mild, dry weather.

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23
Q

What do the polar air masses do?

A

Maritime - From Greenland/arctic. Wet cold air, brings cold, showery weather.
Continental - From Siberia/Russia. Brings dry, cold air. Brings cooler weather

24
What does the arctic maritime do?
From the arctic. Brings wet, cold air. Brings cold, showery weather.
25
What are the three main pieces of evidence of past climate change?
1. Historical Records 2. Tree Rings 3. Ice cores
26
How do historical records provide evidence?
Diary entries and official records would show. since 19th century.
27
How do tree rings provide evidence?
Every year a new ring grows round. Thinner rings in colder climate. Thicker rings in warmer climate. Average tree age is 20-30 years old.
28
How do ice cores provide evidence?
When snow falls, it traps air into the ice. When scientists take a sample of ice, it reveals the atmospheric gas concentrations.
29
List the 4 natural causes of Climate Change?
1. Milankovitch cycles - the long-term, natural variations in Earth's orbit and axial tilt that affect the amount of solar radiation received, and therefore its climate 2. Volcanic Activity 3. Solar variation 4. Surface impact
30
What is the Enhanced Greenhouse effect?
Human activities increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leading to global warming.
31
What are 3 ways that humans cause the Enhanced Greenhouse effect?
As global population increases... 1. More food is in demand ---> more cattle farming ----> more methane is released into atmosphere. 2. More people are demanding electricity --> more energy needs to be produced ---> more fossil fuels are burnt so more co2 released. 3. More trees are cleared and burnt to make space for housing ---> more deforestation occurs globally ---> more co2 released.
32
Define the Coriolis Effect?
The deflection of air movement by the Earth's rotation. North = trade winds bends right. South = bends left.
33
What is a tropical cyclone?
Large, rotating, low - pressure weather system that forms over oceans in tropical areas. Very warm.
34
What is the eye and eye wall of a tropical cyclone?
Eye - Calm, dry region located at the centre of the storm. Eye Wall - Ring of thunderclouds surrounding the eye.
35
3 Essential conditions needed for formation of tropical cyclones?
1. Heat: Above 27°C. 2. Moisture: Oceans, Over 60m of tropical water. 3. Spin: The Coriolis Effect 5° -30N/S
36
What is the 5 step process in the formation of a tropical cyclone?
1. Water surface temperatures above 27°C 2. Rapid evaporation and condensation to form thunderclouds 3. Warm, rising air forms the destructive eye wall. Cool, sinking air forms the calm eye. 4. The Coriolis effect causes the storm to spin. 5. Trade winds blow the cyclone towards land.
37
`What is the Scale that measures tropical cyclones?
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Only wind speed is taken into consideration when determining the category of storm.
38
What are 3 enhancing factors of the impact of tropical cyclones?
1. Level of development 2. Population density - disease spread 3. Physical isolation - speed of response/aid retrieval.
39
What was the Tropical Cyclone that hit America? (case study)
Hurricane Sandy - hit the west coast of USA.
40
What was the Tropical Cyclone that hit the Philippines?
Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines.
41
Which Tropical cyclone was more powerful? USA vs Philippines?
Typhoon Haiyan had much faster wind speeds and more devastating effects.
42
What is an Arid region?
Areas with little rainfall and high temperatures
43
What is drought?
Drought - an unexpected period of below-average precipitation resulting in pro-longed shortages of water supply.
44
Describe the distribution of arid environments?
Arid regions are found 30°N and S of equator. Examples: Africa, Australia, Sahara. High pressure zone in between Hadley and Ferrell Cell, resulting in little to no rainfall.
45
What is meteorological drought?
When there is a prolonged period of below average precipitation, which creates a natural shortage of available water. Lack of rainfall.
46
What is hydrological drought?
The impact of low precipitation on a water supply (e.g. river basin, groundwater, reservoir or lake). Refers to the water in soil, rivers and lakes. Meteorological Drought causes this; increased temperatures.
47
What are the three human causes of drought?
1. Agriculture 2. Dam Building 3. Deforestation
48
How does agriculture cause drought?
Irrigation (artifical watering) will increase when water supply decreases/meteorological drought occurs. More strain on overall water supply.
49
How does Dam building cause drought?
restricts the water supply downstream. Increases hydrological drought Increased evaporation from reservoir.
50
How does deforestation cause drought?
Less transpiration occurring. Less water in the local hydrological system.
51
What was the drought that hit America?
California Drought (2011-2019)
52
Why are droughts hazardous?
reduce available water supplies Leading to impacts on agriculture, food security. human health ecosystems the economy
53
What are the main impacts of drought?
Crop failures, food shortages, increased risk of disease, malnutrition.
54
What did the US government do in response to the drought?
Government provided support to farmers and nature reserves. Funded for infrastructure damage. Minimising impacts.
55
What was the drought in a developing country?
Ethiopia
56
Why were the economic impacts worse in Ethiopia?
36% of Ethiopia's population are farmers, whereas most of Americans are tertiary sector, so can buy food at supermarket, whereas farmers had no income due to water shortages. However, food prices rose in California, causing a financial strain on many of the pop.
57

Geography (3 decks)

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