Hazards From Small Scale Atmospheric Disturbances

Question 1

Hazards caused by tornadoes

Answer 1

• high winds = over 200 km/h - strong enough to blow a house down, pick up cars + blow heavy debris at high speed
• precipitation = flooding due to heavy rainfall - could lead to landslides + hail can develop in a supercell to a size large enough to smash windows + cause serious injury
• pressure imbalance = huge pressure imbalance between inside the tornados (very low pressure) + its surroundings = if tornado passes through a house the difference in pressure is enough to rip off a roof or worse

Question 2

Primary + secondary environmental hazards

Answer 2

• primary = destruction of habitats from high winds + rain, wildlife killed
• secondary = flooding from heavy rainfall, landslides or natural structure failures

Question 3

Primary + secondary economic hazards

Answer 3

• primary = businesses destroyed, agricultural land damaged
• secondary = rebuilding + insurance payout, sources of income lost, economic decline from sources of income destroyed

Question 4

Primary + secondary social hazards

Answer 4

• primary = debris carried by high winds can injure or kill, homes + other buildings destroyed
• secondary = widespread power failure, trauma, homelessness

Question 5

Primary + secondary political hazards

Answer 5

• primary = govt buildings destroyed
• secondary = issues paying back international aid, pressure on govt to provide aid