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Geography > 1.3 Weather Hazards > Flashcards

1.3 Weather Hazards Flashcards

1
Q

Wind

A

The movement of air on a large scale

The air is made up of a mixture of gases

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2
Q

What causes wind

A

Differences in air pressure cause winds

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3
Q

What changes air pressure

A

Different temperatures cause movement like with convection currents

The equator is warmer than the North Pole or the South Pole

This difference causes different air pressures

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4
Q

Where does wind move in terms of air-pressure

A

Winds move from high-pressure areas of the Earth to lower-pressure areas of the Earth

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5
Q

Trade winds

A

Surface winds that blow from 30° north or 30° south back towards the equator

In the southern hemisphere, trade winds will blow from south-east to north-west until they reach the equator

In the northern hemisphere, trade winds blow from north-east to south-west until they reach the equator

Trade winds from the northern & southern hemisphere meet at the equator, where they are heated and the cycle begins again

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6
Q

Westerlies

A

Surface winds that blow from 30° north towards the North Pole or from 30° south out towards the South Pole

In the southern hemisphere, westerlies blow from north-west to south-east until they reach the South Pole

In the northern hemisphere, westerlies blow from south-west to north-east until they reach the North Pole

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7
Q

Global atmospheric circulation

A

Describes how air circulates between low and high-pressure belts as a result of differing conditions at different latitudes

This involves the transfer of heat via circulation cells

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8
Q

The equator

A

The Earth’s surface is warmed by the Sun at the equator

The Earth transmits this heat to the nearby air

This air gets hotter and rises. The rising, hot air forms a low-pressure belt. As the hot air rises, the air will begin to cool, with water vapour condensing, creating rain and clouds

The rising air cools and moves away from the equator towards 30o north and 30o south

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9
Q

30o north and south

A

The air is further from the equator and the cool air falls

This results in a high-pressure belt with minimal rainfall and no clouds

When the cool air reaches the Earth’s surface, surface winds blow the cool air either towards the equator, or away from the equator towards the Poles

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10
Q

60o north and south

A

At 60° north and south, cold air blown from the poles meets warm air surface winds

Because the warmer air is less dense, it rises and forms a low-pressure belt

The air splits, with some returning back towards the equator and the rest heading to the poles

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11
Q

The poles

A

At the North Pole and the South Pole, cool air will sink, forming a high-pressure belt

This high-pressure belt will move back towards the Earth’s equator as a surface wind

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12
Q

What are tropical storms

A

Very intense low-pressure weather systems

Have extreme rain and extreme winds

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13
Q

What are tropical storms called in North America

A

Hurricanes

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14
Q

What are tropical storms called in the Indian ocean

A

Cyclones

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15
Q

What are tropical storms called in south-east Asia

A

Typhoons

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16
Q

What are tropical storms called in Australia

A

Willy willy

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17
Q

In what conditions do tropical storms form

A

Tropical storms form over water that is 26.5oC or warmer and when there’s a small difference in wind speeds between the upper atmosphere and the lower atmosphere

18
Q

When do tropical storms form

A

Tropical storms form over water that is 26.5oC or warmer

Lots and lots of energy is released when air evaporates, rises or cools. This increases the speed and energy of a storm

The strength of a storm falls as they move further away from warm water (so when storms are above land or above cooler parts of the ocean)

19
Q

Why do tropical storms move west

A

Near the equator, surface winds are mainly trade winds moving east

The trade winds and the Coriolis Effect means that tropical storms move from east to west

20
Q

Hows does spin affect tropical storms

A

The rotation of the Earth causes the Coriolis effect, which makes tropical storms spin by deflecting winds

Storms spin anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere

Storms spin clockwise in the southern hemisphere

21
Q

Features of tropical storms: eye

A

Descending air, low pressure, no clouds, rain or wind, high temperature

22
Q

What are the features of a tropical storm’s eyewall

A

Rising air, very strong winds, storm clouds, torrential rain, low temperature

23
Q

What are the features of a tropical storm’s edge

A

Smaller, scattered clouds, less rain, rise in temperature, winds speed falls

24
Q

Features of tropical storms

A

Circular shape

Hundred of kilometers wide

Last 1-2 weeks

25
Q

Structure of tropical storms

A

A storm’s centre is known as the eye of the storm

Cool air descending from the eyewall creates the eye of the storm, which can be 50km wide

In the eye, there is no rain and low pressure (and a warmer ground temperature)

The eyewall surrounds all sides of the eye of the storm

In the eyewall, hot air rises, winds are very strong and there is a lot of rain

At the edges of storms, conditions are intermediate: wind speeds, rain intensity and temperatures are moderate, and clouds are small and scattered

26
Q

Effects of climate change on storms: Distribution

A

Climate change is expected to lead to increases in temperatures

Currently, most tropical storms happen close to the equator, where the sea temperature is above 26.5oC

More of Earth’s seas will be warmer than 26.5oC, so there will be more storms and those that happen will have more energy

27
Q

How does climate change affect the frequency of tropical storms

A

Oceans will be warmer than 26.5°C, so the frequency of storms will rise and storm season will get longer

The number of storms varies a lot, but warmer seas will lead to more storms

28
Q

How does climate change affect the intensity of tropical storms

A

The higher the temperatures of the oceans, the more energy tropical storms will accumulate, the greater the intensity of the storm

More intense storms will cause more damage to buildings, infrastructure, and people

29
Q

What are the primary effect of tropical storms

A

Damage to infrastructure - transport networks, railway lines, roads, and bridges can be damaged or flooded

Flights and train journeys are often cancelled because high winds make travel dangerous

Flying debris blown by the winds can kill or injure people

Electricity cables and pylons above ground can be damaged by wind or debris

Rivers and coastal towns can be flooded and the water damage can last for years

Floods can also cause sewage to overflow out of drains, potentially mixing with water supplies

30
Q

What are the secondary effects of tropical storms

A

Floods can damage people’s houses causing homelessness. Without finding shelter, people could freeze to death outside

If water or electricity supplies are cut off, people can become isolated and stranded from basic health requirements. This can cause illness and viruses to spread

People may not be able to get work and earn money if airports and train lines are damaged

Damaged roads, airports, and train lines could stop aid and emergency services helping those affected

Damage to crops, the death of livestock, and the blocking of supply lines can all contribute to food shortages

31
Q

Reducing the effects of tropical storms: Prediction

A

Scientists can monitor storms using satellites, planes, and innovations like radar

Meteorologists build models to try to forecast the weather and cyclones. However, the weather is very complicated and accurate prediction a long time in advance is very difficult

32
Q

How does protection reduce the effects of tropical storms

A

Planning regulations on buildings and construction can ensure that buildings are built safely and only in areas that are unlikely to be flooded or damaged by hurricanes

Stilts are used in some nations to help stop flooding. Reinforced concrete is a stronger material that is better protected against floods

Flood defences can be constructed in vulnerable areas

33
Q

How does planning reduce the effects of tropical storms

A

Firefighters and ambulances should receive specific disaster training

The 1st of September is Japan’s National Disaster Preparation Day

Special plans for evacuation and rescue could save lives

34
Q

Weather in the UK: Heatwaves

A

Heatwaves are extended periods of hot weather

If heatwaves go on too long, it can lead to periods of drought, like in Cape Town in 2019

Humans and animals can suffer from heat exhaustion and transport links can also be disrupted as rails buckle and the tarmac on roads melts

Trains often have to limit their speed to 50mph in very hot conditions

35
Q

Weather in the UK: Droughts

A

Drought happens when an area does not get enough precipitation

Water supplies and reservoirs can dry up

This can lead to a lack of drinking water and crop failures if there is not enough irrigation

The UK government sometimes introduces hosepipe bans to preserve water in these situations

36
Q

Weather in the UK: Rain

A

Cardiff is the UK’s wettest city, with 115cm of rain each year

If there is too much rainfall, areas can flood. In 2004, Boscastle town in Cornwall flooded after heavy rain

People can be trapped in their homes, the foundations of houses can be damaged and people can drown

Repairing flood damage is very expensive and houses on areas vulnerable to flooding can be impossible to insure

37
Q

Weather in the UK: Ice and snow

A

Slipping on ice can cause head injuries that kill some people

Homeless people are particularly vulnerable to the cold and many die in the winter each year

If there is too much snow, businesses may be forced to shut, along with schools, railway lines, roads, and airports

Harsh, cold winters and kill crops or reduce crop yields, causing problems for farmers, and potentially causing food shortages

38
Q

Weather in the UK: Wind

A

Wind in the UK is rarely as strong as Hurricane Patricia’s 345km/h winds

However, Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis in 2020 caused the UK’s Avanti railway lines and airports like Heathrow to cancel flights

Many areas in Yorkshire and Wales were flooded and people were killed by falling trees

The UK coast and upland regions suffer from the strongest winds in the UK

39
Q

Weather in the UK: Hail and thunderstorms

A

Cyclones are rare in the UK

Thunderstorms with torrential rain, thunder and lightning are more common

During the summer, hailstorms are possible

Hailstones fall and they can break windows and reduce visibility on roads, potentially causing injuries

40
Q

Changing weather in the UK: Temperature

A

The UK’s 10 hottest years on record (since 1884) have all been since 2002

The winter of 2010-2011 was the coldest winter since early records in 1659

41
Q

Changing weather int eh UK: Rain

A

December 2015 was the wettest month on record in the UK and temperatures were 4.1 degrees celsius higher than average for December

42
Q

Changing weather in the UK: Flooding

A

Storms and heavy rainfall have led to major flooding in:

Boscastle (2004)

South Wales (2020 - Storm Ciara & Storm Dennis)

West Wales (2012)

Cumbria (2005, 2009 and 2015)

Geography (10 decks)

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