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Geography > Stormy weather > Flashcards

Stormy weather Flashcards

1
Q

Define Hazard risk

A

The degree of level of harm that will be caused by a natural hazard

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2
Q

Define natural hazard

A

A natural event that has the potential to cause harm

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3
Q

Economic impact

A

an impact which affects wealth of a place or sometimes income

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4
Q

Environmental impact

A

An impact that affects the natural world

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5
Q

Extreme weather

A

A weather event that is significantly different from the average weather pattern

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6
Q

What is the enhanced green house effect

A

the stronger impact caused by human emissions of green house gases

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7
Q

What is mitigation

A

A process which tries to reduce and prevent the effects of something from happening

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8
Q

What is adaption

A

The process of changing something that can become better suited to its use/ surrounding environment

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9
Q

Define weather

A

The state of the atmosphere at a particular place or time, including temperature, precipitation, humidity and wind speed

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10
Q

Define climate

A

the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period

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11
Q

define insolation

A

the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area

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12
Q

define latitude

A

the angular distance of a place north or south of the earth’s equator, usually expressed in degrees or minutes

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13
Q

what factors affect a places climate

A

Land relief e.g above sea level, latitude, altitude
Distance from the sea
Distance from the equator
Aridity e.g lack of air moisture
Prevailing wind
Season

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14
Q

Why is the Earth’s atmosphere in constant motion

A

It is driven by the energy we receive from the sun. We get more energy in tropical areas near the equator and less at the poles. Air movements or winds help to balance this out

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15
Q

How does insolation vary considerably

A

Places at low latitude have higher levels of insolation as rays are spread over a smaller area (more concentration)
Places at higher latitude e.g poles have lower levels of insolation as the rays are spread over a greater distance/larger area

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16
Q

What is atmospheric pressure

A

the force by the weight of air above us

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17
Q

Explain convection currents

A

Warm air rises because it is less dense creating low pressure
Cool air sinks as it is more dense creating high pressure

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18
Q

What causes wind

A

air particles move from areas of high to areas of low pressure

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19
Q

Describe the global atmospheric circulation model

A
  1. air cools and sinks, creating a belt of high pressure and a cold, dry climate
  2. At about 60 degrees north and south cold polar air mixes with warmer air and rises, creating a blet of low pressure
  3. Cool air sinks creating a belt of high pressure, as it sinks it becomes warmer and dryer
  4. warmer air rises, it then cools. Clouds form then and release precipitation
  5. Above the air will eventually separate and move to higher latitudes
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20
Q

What is low pressure air

A

Rising air
Creates cold, wet climates

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21
Q

What is high pressure air

A

Sinking air
Creates warm, dry climates

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22
Q

Why does the equator receive higher levels of insolation

A

the solar energy strikes the ground at 90 degrees, so energy is concentrates on a small foot print causing eat metre squared to be heated strongly

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23
Q

Describe the Hadley cell

A

Taking the Hadley cell, warm air at the equator (0° of latitude) rises and then cools in the upper atmosphere, then circles back down towards the tropics (i.e. 30° of latitude).

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24
Q

Describe the ferrel cell

A

The air in the Ferrell cell moves in the opposite direction to the air in the Hadley cell with warm air moving toward the polar regions. The warm air that has travelled up from the equator converges with the cold air at 60° of latitude that has travelled down from the polar regions. As the air converges the warm air is forced to rise and move back towards the equator.

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25
Q

Describe the polar cell

A

The overall effect of the Polar cell is to move cold air towards the equator. At the poles (i.e. 90° of latitude) the cold air sinks. It then moves towards the equator. At 60° the combination of warm and cold air causes the warm air to rise, resulting in low air pressure at 60°. At 60° latitude the polar front is found. This is the result of the warm air that has travelled up from the equator and cold air from the poles being unable to mix well.

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26
Q

Describe how the cells are controlled

A

The Hadley and polar cell are controlled by the sun’s heat whilst the Ferrell cell is controlled by the movement of air in the other two cells

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27
Q

Describe precipitation at the Equator

A

The intense heating of the Earth’s surface near the equator causes warm, moist air to rise rapidly. As the air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and eventually leading to precipitation. Rainfall is constant throughout the year at the equator

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28
Q

Describe precipitation at the intertropical convergence zone

A

Near the equator, the trade winds from the northern and southern hemispheres converge. This convergence zone is characterized by rising air, which promotes cloud formation and rainfall, even torrential rain.

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29
Q

Describe precipitation in western Europe

A

Western Europe typically experiences moderate rainfall throughout the year. However, the distribution and intensity of rainfall vary from region to region. Coastal areas tend to receive more precipitation due to the influence of maritime air masses. In addition jet streams/prevailing winds from the Atlantic bring air full of moisture causing prolonged periods of rain

30
Q

Describe precipitation in the tropics of cancer and Capricorn

A

Rain fall is often low but dry air often descends there as part of the Hadley cell resulting in arid conditions

31
Q

Describe the precipitation at the polar regions

A

Experience low precipitation due to cold air’s limited capacity to hold moisture. Mostly snow caused by warm-cold air condensing in freezing conditions

32
Q

Define trade winds

A

Trade winds are consistent east-to-west prevailing winds found between approximately 30 degrees latitude north and south of the equator. They are driven by the temperature difference between the equator and poles and the Coriolis effect.

33
Q

Define arid conditions

A

Arid environments normally have very low rainfall, such as deserts - dry

34
Q

Define prevailing winds

A

Prevailing winds are the dominant winds that consistently blow from a particular direction over a specific area. These winds are determined by global atmospheric circulation patterns

35
Q

So what causes global circulation of wind

A

Heating at the equator and cooling at the poles

36
Q

What would happen without wind transporting heat energy

A

The equator would continually get hotter and the poles cooler

37
Q

How is wind formed

A

Air moves from high to low pressure

38
Q

what is the coriolis affect

A

the deflection of objects like wind due to the earth’s spin

39
Q

What happens due to the Coriolis affect

A

Deflects wind to the right in the northern hemisphere (back where it can from) and back to the left in the southern hemisphere (back where it came from)

40
Q

Define jet streams

A

High altitude currents of air

41
Q

Define a tropical storm

A

Strong winds sustained over 74 miles per hour, moving in a spiral around the calm central area. Tropical regions have low pressure where rainfall is heavy. They usually occur in the tropics (mainly ITCZ) at low latitudes between 5-30 degrees, north and south of the equator

42
Q

Describe the tropical storms that take place in the Atlantic ocean

A

hurricanes usually during august-october
generally from west to north west to north east with about 1-2 per year

43
Q

describe the tropical storm which takes place in the indian ocean

A

cyclones during december-march
generally varies with hemispheres

44
Q

describe the tropical storm that takes place in the pacific ocean

A

typhoons during may to december
Direction varies with hemispheres with about 3 per year

45
Q

What are the characteristics of tropical storms

A

Warm, low-pressure systems with strong winds and heavy rain. They spin clockwise and form over warm ocean waters, impacting large areas with their high winds, rain, and storm surges.

46
Q

Why do tropical storms happen

A

Due to the influence of the Coriolis affect

47
Q

How can we categorise tropical storms

A

Using the Saffir Simpson scale

48
Q

What 4 things help cause a tropical storm

A

Ocean depth of 60-70m
Sea temperature above 27C
Low wind shear
Not along the equator

49
Q

What is the effect of ocean depth and sea temp in causing tropical storms

A

This provides the heat and moisture that causes air to rise rapidly. Latent heat is released which powers the storm

50
Q

Define latent heat

A

Latent heat is the energy that is transferred to a substance without the substance’s temperature changing.

51
Q

How does low wind shear cause a tropical storm

A

Winds which remain constant and do not vary with height allow the tropical storms to rise to high levels without being torn apart

52
Q

How does the tropical storm not being along the equator help it form

A

The coriolis effect isn’t strong enough at the equator for it to spin, so needs to be somewhere else

53
Q

What happens after a storm makes landfall

A

It soon dissipates - looses strength and fizzles out

54
Q

Why does the tropical storm dissipate

A

There is no longer enough evaporation and energy occurring to fuel the storm

55
Q

Describe the formation of a tropical storm

A
  1. The sun’s incoming solar radiation to Earth warms our oceans, most within the tropics.
  2. This warms the oceans to a critical 27°c
  3. This causes warm moist air to rise under low air pressure conditions
  4. strong winds form as more air is drawn upwards
  5. This air cools as it rises, at 1°c per 100m, this causes condensation to occur, Cumulonimbus clouds form and torrential rain occurs.
  6. The air starts to spin clockwise due to the coriolis effect
  7. Some cooled air sinks back down at the centre helping to create the calm central eye
  8. Air rushes in from higher pressure areas outside of the storm to lower pressure areas at the centre of the storm creating winds.
  9. The whole storm rotates because of the Earth’s spin.
56
Q

How is the weather likely to change as the storm passes over a place

A

Increasing Winds: Winds will strengthen.
Heavy Rainfall: Intense rainfall leading to flooding.
Decreased Visibility: Due to cloud cover and rain.
Temperature Fluctuations: May decrease slightly during the storm.
Drop in Atmospheric Pressure: Before the storm and a rise afterward.

57
Q

How might climate change affect the distribution of tropical storms

A

Distribution - significant/random areas of the globe experience tropical storms. This is because areas now have warmer oceans. The map shows that we will experience changes in the Power Dissipation index.

58
Q

How might climate change affect the frequency of tropical storms

A

The total number of storms in the north Atlantic has increased. This is because there is more energy available in the atmosphere and ocean waters to fuel tropical storms more often. We have also seen an increase in the number of short duration storms.

59
Q

How might climate change affect the intensity of tropical storms

A

There are more storm surges and greater damage to human property. This is because due to the rise in temperature, accumulated storm energy has increased causing stronger winds.

60
Q

Define primary effects

A

The initial impact of a natural event on people and property, caused directly by it.

61
Q

Define secondary effects

A

The after-effects that occur as indirect impacts of a natural event, sometimes on a longer timescale.

62
Q

Suggest some primary effects

A

People injured/killed by debris blown around
Buildings are damaged or destroyed by debris or storm surge
People drown
Infrastructure + Services become contaminated

63
Q

Suggest some secondary effects

A

If crops/food destroyed result in food shortage
People left homeless
Electric supplies cut off due to power destroyed
Sewage released due to flooding
Lack of clean water + sanitation can lead to disease
Transport networks blocked by debris making it hard to bring aid
Unemployment is caused by damaged businesses

64
Q

Suggest immediate responses to tropical storms

A

People evacuated before storm lands
People who are trapped rescued
Provided medical support for injured people
Temporary shelters set up for homeless
Provided water and food for people
Dead bodies recovered
Aid provided by government

65
Q

Suggest long term responses to tropical storms

A

properties re-build and repaired + peopled rehoused
Infrastructure and services repaired
Improved forecasting and early warning systems
Improve building regulations for properties to withstand impacts
Offer incentives such as tax breaks to encourage economic recovery

66
Q

What factors affect the effectiveness of immediate responses and longterm response3s

A

Road conditions - transport
Intensity - amount of damage
Economic stability - LIC or HIC
Population - aging, amount
Relationships with other countries - aid

67
Q

How does monitoring reduce the effects of tropical storms

A

Monitoring tropical storms reduces their effects by providing early warnings, enabling accurate track and intensity predictions, facilitating resource allocation, promoting public preparedness, and protecting infrastructure.

68
Q

How does prediction reduce the effects of tropical storms

A

Intensity Forecasting: Predictive models also estimate the intensity of tropical storms, including factors like wind speed, rainfall, and storm surge potential.

69
Q

How does protection reduce the effects of tropical storms

A

Reinforce building material, coastal defences, no building zones, Natural Buffer Zones- wetlands, mangroves, and dunes can mitigate the impacts of tropical storms by absorbing floodwaters, reducing erosion, and providing habitat for wildlife. These ecosystems act as natural barriers, dissipating wave energy and protecting coastal communities from storm surges and erosion.
vegetation cover

70
Q

How does planning reduce tropical storm impacts

A

raise community awareness, education, disaster suppl kits, evacuation routes, fuelled vehicles

71
Q

Formation of tropical storm

A
  1. Air on the surface of ocean warmed
  2. Warm moist air rises under low pressure conditions
  3. Strong winds form as more air is drawn upwards
  4. The air starts to spin clockwise due to the coriolis affect
  5. Rising air cools and condenses to form cumulonimbus clouds which release torrential rain
  6. Latent heat is released outwards which powers the storm
  7. Cold air sinks down the centre of the storm creating the calm central eye
  8. Prevailing winds push the storm towards land (tracks north in the northern hemisphere and south in the southern hemisphere)
  9. When the storm reaches land it looses heat and moisture so dissipates (fizzles out do to the loss in energy)

Geography (9 decks)

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