Paper 1 Weather Hazards

Question 1

what is global atmospheric circulation?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

what happens at areas of low pressure belts?

Answer 2

warm air rises

Question 3

what happens at areas of high pressure belts?

Answer 3

cool air sinks

Question 4

what happens at the equator?

Answer 4

-the sun warms the air up, causing it to rise, low pressure belt. air rises and cools, moving away from the equator.

Question 5

Explain the GAC model.

Answer 5

-at 30 degrees N and S of the equator cool air sinks, high pressure belt
-trade winds occur as cool air moves back to the equator
-westerlies occur as cool air moves back to the poles.
-these winds curve due earth’s rotation - CORIOLIS EFFECT.
-at 60 degrees N and S of the equator, the warm surface winds meet the cooler air, warm air rises and creates high pressure belts. this is then drawn back to the equator.

Question 6

How does the GAC model cause weather

Answer 6

at areas of low pressure, warm air rises and forms clouds, so it rains a lot
at areas of high pressure, cool air sinks and means there are few clouds and dry air.

Question 7

What must be the case for tropical storms to develop?

Answer 7

-5 and 30 degrees N and S of the equator
-sea temperature is 27 degrees or higher
-there is wind shear

Question 8

How do tropical storms develop?

Answer 8

-warm surface air evaporates, rises and condenses
-this releases lots of energy producing storms
-the rising air creates low pressure which increases surface winds
-low shear prevents clouds breaking up, so they all stay intact.
-easterly winds move tropical storms towards the wrst
-they spin because of the coriolis effect
-as storm moves over ocean, energy strengthens storm so wind speeds increase
-as they hit land they lose energy.

Question 9

when do most tropical storms occur?

Answer 9

in the northern hemisphere between August to October
in the southern hemisphere between December to April.

Question 10

features and structure of a tropical storm

describe the centre of the storm

Answer 10

The eye
-caused by descending air
-low pressure
-low winds
-no clouds
-no rain
-high temperature

Question 11

describe what the eye is surrounded by

Answer 11

The eye wall
-spiraling rising air
-strong winds
-storm clouds and torrential rain
-low temperature

Question 12

describe what happens towards the edges of the storm

Answer 12

-wind speeds drop
-smaller clouds
-less intense rain
-high temperature

Question 13

what is the tropical storm case study we study?

Answer 13

Typhoon Haiyan

Question 14

Main information about typhoon Haiyan

Answer 14

-in the Philippines
-8th November 2013
-winds reached 314kmh
-a storm surge occurred with waves up to 2.3 meters and a high tide, meant Tacloban was hit with 5 m waves.

Question 15

Primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan

Answer 15

-6000 killed
-1 million homes damaged or destroyed
- 1.9 million people made homeless
-damaged electricity lines and contaminated water
-600,000 hectares of farmland was flooded
-cost of damage was about 13 million US dollars.

Question 16

Secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan

Answer 16

-flooding triggered several landslides- blocking roads for the arrival of aid
-5.6 million workers lost their jobs
-lack of clean water caused outbreaks of disease.

Question 17

(any early signs?)

Immediate responses for Typhoon Haiyan

Answer 17

-warnings were issued 2 days before they were hit, 800,000 people were evacuated before the storm, some people still died in these centres.

-fishermen were warned not to go to sea

-charities offered aid for food, shelter and clean water

Question 18

Long-term responses for Typhoon Haiyan

Answer 18

-the UN appealed for over 300 million to help rebuild and fund them
-charities built new storm-resistant homes
-the tourism board encouraged people to visit, so the money could help with the rebuilding process.

Question 19

What 3 factors can affect tropical storms and as a result climate change

Answer 19

-frequency
-distribution
-intensity

Question 20

how does climate change affect the frequency of tropical storms?

Answer 20

-oceans stay at 27 degrees or higher for a longer period now
-resulting in more storms each year

Question 21

how does climate change affect the distribution of tropical storms?

Answer 21

-as the ocean temp rises, new areas could experience tropical storms

Question 22

how does climate change affect the intensity of tropical storms?

Answer 22

-higher sea temps increase evaporation, increasing clouds, so more energy is released
-making them more powerful.

Question 23

how does prediction and monitoring reduce the effects of tropical storms?

Answer 23

-storms can be monitored to see their predicted path
-predicting where and when can help people be evacuated.

Question 24

how does planning reduce the effects of tropical storms?

Answer 24

-future developments can avoid high risk areas
-governments can plan evacuation routes
-emergency services can prepare for disasters

Question 25

how does protection reduce the effects of tropical storms?

Answer 25

-buildings can be designed to withstand these storms, for example on stilts for flooding
-flood defences can be build along rivers

Question 26

The UK weather hazards
What are the impacts of strong winds?

Answer 26

-can damage property and disrupt transport
-uprooted trees can injure people

Question 27

What are the impacts of heavy rainfall?

Answer 27

-damage homes
-disrupt transport
-recovering from floods is expensive

Question 28

What are the impacts of snow and ice?

Answer 28

-can cause injuries due to slipping
-deaths due the cold
-schools and businesses can be forced to shut

Question 29

What are the impacts of droughts?

Answer 29

-water supplies can run low
-crop failures- economic impacts

Question 30

What are the impacts of thunderstorms?

Answer 30

-lightning can cause fires, damaging properties or even killing people
-also heavy rain and strong winds

Question 31

What are the impacts of heat waves?

Answer 31

-can cause heat exhaustion or breathing difficulties for people
-disruption to transport

Question 32

what seems to be becoming more extreme in the UK

Answer 32

the temperature and rainfall

Question 33

Case study of UK weather

Answer 33

Somerset Floods

Question 34

Main information about the Somerset floods

Answer 34

-December 2013 to February 2014, they experienced heavy rain fall
-rain fell on already saturated grounds, with high tides and storm surges
-it was an area of low-lying land

Question 35

Social impacts of the somerset floods

Answer 35

-600 homes flooded
-villages were cut off by road
-transport links e.g. A361 were closed
-insurance prices soared- some people were unable to insure their houses in the future.

Question 36

Economic impacts of the somerset floods

Answer 36

-total cost of damage was over £80 million
-local companies lost over £1.2 million in business
-loss of tourism cost them £200 million

Question 37

Environmental impacts of the somerset floods

Answer 37

-11,500 hectares of farmland were flooded
-standing water made the ground toxic and unproductive for over a year.
-debris left form the flood, damaged vegetation.

Question 38

Management strategies for the somerset floods

Answer 38

Before the flood:
-warning systems helped people prepare
-locals used sandbags and flood boards to limit the flood damage to homes

After the flood:
-‘Somerset levels and moors flood action plan’
this is a 20 year action plan which aims to limit the risk of future flooding
£100 million to be spent on ,turning temp pumping stations into permanent ones, dredging the river often, build a tidal barrage and widen the channel.