Weather hazards in the UK

Question 1

How do tropical storms develop?

Answer 1

when the sea temperature is 27 degrees or higher and the wind shear between higher and lower parts of atmosphere is low

Question 2

Explain process of tropical storms?

Answer 2

• warm moist air rises and condensation occurs. releases huge energy
• rising air creates an area of low pressure which increases surface winds
• storm moves towards west
• earths rotation deflects the paths of winds causing it to spin
• storm gets stronger from energy of warm water and speed increases
• loose strength when they move over land or cooler eter because energy removed

Question 3

Describe general features of a tropical storm?

Answer 3

• circular
• hundreds of kilometere wide
• last 7-14 day

Question 4

Describe eye of storm?

Answer 4

• 50 km across
• caused by descending air
• low pressure, light winds, no clouds, no rain
• high temp

Question 5

Describe area surrounding eye of storm?

Answer 5

• eyewall
• spiralling rising air
• very strong winds
• storm couds
• torrential rain
• low temp

Question 6

Describe outskirts of storm?

Answer 6

• lower wind speed
• smaller clouds
• less intense rain
• higher temp

Question 7

How may climate change affect tropical storms?

Answer 7

• global temperates are expected to rise
• higher average sea temp meaning more tropical storms
• stronger tropical storms

Question 8

Name a tropical storm?

Answer 8

typhoon haiyan

Question 9

Descibe typhoon haiyan?

Answer 9

• one of strongest cat 5 ever recorded
• winds up to 275km/h
• 90% of Tacloban destroyed

Question 10

Primary effects of haiyan?

Answer 10

• 6300 killed
• 600000 displaced
• 40000 homes destroyed and damaged
• 400 mm of rain caused widespread flooding

Question 11

Secondary effects of haiyan?

Answer 11

• 14 mill affected
• 6 million job loses
• landslides from flooding
• power, water and food shortages
• looting and violance

Question 12

Immediate responces of haiyan?

Answer 12

• overseas aid
• US helicopter assisted search and rescue
• field hospitals for injured
• 1200 evacuation centers set up

Question 13

long term responces of haiyan?

Answer 13

• UN international financial aid
• rebuilding of infrastructure
• rice farming and fishing reastablished
• homes rebuilt in safer areas
• more cyclone shelters built

Question 14

What is weather?

Answer 14

day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere

Question 15

What is climate?

Answer 15

average weather pver a 30 year period

Question 16

5 types of extreme weather?

Answer 16

• thunderstorms
• prolonged rainfall
• drought and extreme heat
• heavy snow and extreme cold
• strong winds

Question 17

Example of UK extreme weather?

Answer 17

somerset level floods

Question 18

Describe somerset floods?

Answer 18

in 2014 due to area of extensive low lying land surrounded by rivers

Question 19

Causes of somerset floods?

Answer 19

• sequence of south westerly depressions
• high tides and storm surges swept water from bristol channel preventing normal flow
• rivers not dredged in 20 years

Question 20

Immediate responces of somerset floods?

Answer 20

• huge media
• cut of villagers
• commuities and volunteers gave invaluable support

Question 21

Long term responces of somerset?

Answer 21

• 20 mill flood action plan
• 80km of rivers dredged
• road levels raised
• vulnerable communities have flood defences
• river banks strengthened and raised
• tidal barrages by 2024

Question 22

Impacts of somerset?

Answer 22

• over 600 houses flooded
• 16 farms evacuated
• villages cut off, dirupting school, work and shopping
• 10 mill in damage
• power supply roads and railway cut off
• debris clearance required
• flood waters contaminated with sewage, oil and chemicals

Question 23

4 ways climate change can be managed?

Answer 23

• alternative energy
• carbon capture
• planting trees
• international agreements

Question 24

Explain alternative energy?

Answer 24

• using more sustainable sources

- Uk aims to produce 15% of its energy sources by 2020

Question 25

Explain carbon capture?

Answer 25

• uses technology to capture carbon and is compressed, piped and injected underground for lomg term storage

Question 26

Explain planting trees?

Answer 26

• remove CO2 from atmospheere

- release moisture producing more cloud and then less solar radiation

Question 27

Explain international agreements>

Answer 27

• paris agreement was first global climate deal and aims to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial level

Question 28

WHat are the global impacts of climate change?

Answer 28

• reduced crop yield and water supply
• more heat related illnesses
• low-lying coastal areas threatened by flooding
• changing ecosystems and animal habitats
• more extreme weather events (droughts)
• stronger tropical storm
• desertification

Question 29

WHat are the two main ways to adapt to climate change?

Answer 29

agricultural adaption and reducing risk from rising sea levels

Question 30

How does agriculture need to adapt?

Answer 30

• cope with extreme weather
• manage water supplies by storing water, using irrigation systems, drought resistant crops
• change livestock and crops to suit new climate conditions
• plant trees to shade seaslings

Question 31

What will rising sea levels do?

Answer 31

• threaten important agricultural land
• increase coastal erosion rates and damage from storm surges
• contaminate freshwater supplies

Question 32

How can we adapt to rising sea levels?

Answer 32

• building houses on stilts
• constructing sea walls
• create articial islands up to 3 meters hugh
• restoration of coastal mangrove forests as their roots trap sediment