Global Atmospheric Circulation and Tropical storms

Question 1

what is Global atmospheric circulation?

Answer 1

the transfer of heat from the equator to the poles by the movement of air

Question 2

how and why does air move?

Answer 2

due to differences in air pressure - winds blow from high pressure areas to low pressure areas

Question 3

the system is divided into loops (called cells), what are they?

Answer 3

each cell has warm rising air that creates a low pressure belt and cool sinking air that creates a high pressure belt

Question 4

how does Global atmospheric circulation affects weather around the world?

Answer 4

• the Earth’s surface receives a lot of solar radiation, so its hot
• the air reaches 30 degrees north and south of the equator, it has released most moisture as rain
• the UK lies close to the low pressure zone at 60 degrees north

Question 5

what are the features of a Tropical storm?

Answer 5

• the centre of the storm is called the Eye
• the eye is surrounded by the eyewall
• towards the edges of the storm there is rising air
• near the top is descending air

Question 6

what are the structure of a Tropical storm?

Answer 6

• there’s very low pressure, light winds, no clouds or rain and a high temperature in the eye
• there is spiralling rising air and very strong winds at the eyewall
• the wind speed falls, temperature increases and rain becomes less intense towards the edges of the storm

Question 7

what is Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 7

• one of the most powerful storms ever recorded
• a storm surge with waves of up to 2.3m, combined with a high tide meaning it was hit by waves of up to 5m
• this happened in 2013

Question 8

what were the primary effects?

Answer 8

• over 6300 people were killed
• the cost of damage was estimated at around US $13 billion
• 1.9 million people were made homeless

Question 9

what were the secondary effects?

Answer 9

• 5.6 million workers lost their jobs after businesses and agricultural land were destroyed
• flooding triggered several landslides
• the lack of clean water caused outbreaks of diseases (e.g dysentery)

Question 10

what are immediate responses?

Answer 10

• fishermen were warned not to go to sea
• the Philippines declared a state of emergency, leading to many charities offering aid (food, shelter, water)
• Plan International constructed pit latrines for 100,000 people to prevent the spread of disease

Question 11

what are long-term responses?

Answer 11

• charities built new storm-resistant houses for those who lost their homes
• the UN appealed for over $300 million to help fund rebuilding and relief
• the Philippines’ tourism board encouraged people to visit the country after the storm