Atmospheric Hazards- EOY (L)

Question 1

Atmospheric hazards

Answer 1

natural hazards associated with Earth’s atmosphere, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wind, snow,
drought, lightning and rain.

Question 2

Weather:

Answer 2

this is the day to day recording of the temperature and precipitation in an area.

Question 3

Climate:

Answer 3

describes what the weather is like over a longer period of time (a 30 year average). It is the average weather conditions in an area.

Question 4

Atmosphere

Answer 4

this is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth’s surface that is in constant motion. The majority of our weather occurs in the layer of the atmosphere between 0-15 km above sea level.

Question 5

air pressure

Answer 5

the weight of the air pressing down on the Earth’s surface. Although
we cannot feel it, all the air above us is pressing down and this plays a role in
changing our weather.

Question 6

warm air

Answer 6

If air is warm it rises. As it rises, there is less pressure on the Earth, therefore we have low pressure.

Question 7

cold air

Answer 7

Cold air is heavier than warm air. It sinks and stays close to the Earth. This puts pressure on the surface and is called high pressure.

Question 8

deppresions

Answer 8

areas of low pressure

Question 9

anti-cyclones

Answer 9

areas of high pressure

Question 10

how to measure the weather

Answer 10

Temperature (celcius)
Wind speed (knots)
Wind direction* (N,E,S,W)
Air pressure* (bars)
Cloud Cover (ochts/eighths)
Humidity (%)
Hours of Sunshine (hours)
Visibility (metres)

Question 11

relief rainfall

Answer 11

Relief rainfall occurs when warm moist air from the Atlantic Ocean rises up over mountains. When the warm air rises, it cools and condenses to form clouds, which bring rain. Once the air has passed over the mountains, it descends and warms. This creates drier and warmer conditions .

Question 12

convectional rainfall

Answer 12

Convectional rainfall occurs when the heated air from the earth’s surface rises upwards along with the water vapour and condenses at higher altitude. large water droplets fall as heavy rain, often with thunder and lightning. This often results in spells of sunshine followed by heavy showers.

Question 13

frontal rainfall

Answer 13

when cold air meets warm air. Warm air rises, so when it bumps into the cold air, it rises above it. the higher you go up in the atmosphere, the colder it is. So the warm air that has risen up in the atmosphere now begins to cool down.

Question 14

whats a microclimate?

Answer 14

A microclimate is a climate within a climate. It is a small area which has different
conditions to the average for that day.

Question 15

factors of a microclimate

Answer 15

Slope of an area
Height of an area
Different surfaces
Urbanisation
Vegetation
Bodies of water

Question 16

Location of a tropical storm (Coriolis effect)

Answer 16

…between 5-15° North or South of the Equator. The effect
of the Earth’s rotation is strongest here and surface winds
cause the warm air to ‘spin’.

Question 17

What do the conditions have to be like for a tropical storm

Answer 17

…over warm open
water that is between
60-70 metres deep and
above 27°C.

Question 18

When does a topical storm occur

Answer 18

…in late summer and autumn
months.

Question 19

What is a low wind shear

Answer 19

(wind that remains constant and does not vary in height)

Question 20

Why do tropical storm need a low wind shear

Answer 20

So the clouds can rise without being torn apart

Question 21

What tropical storm did we study

Answer 21

Hurricane Katrina

Question 22

When did Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans

Answer 22

Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005.

Question 23

Why was New Orleans effected so badly

Answer 23

80% of the New Orleans metropolitan area is below sea level along Lake Pontchartrain.

New Orleans has a history of hurricanes.

Question 24

What were the effects of Hurricane Katrina