Storm Hazards

Question 1

What are tropical storms?

Answer 1

low-pressure weather systems which form over tropical oceans and move in a westerly direction.

Question 2

What are the 4 key conditions for tropical storm formation?

Answer 2

• Sea surface temperature of at least 27°C.
• Low wind shear to allow the storm to strengthen.
• Coriolis effect (only forms between 5-30° latitude north or south).
• Deep ocean water to supply moisture.

Question 3

What are the 3 key structural features of a tropical storm?

Answer 3

• Tropical storms are usually 200-700km wide
• Eye: 10-15km in diameter (mature tropical storm)
• Eyewall: The strongest winds with speeds sometimes exceeding 300 km/hr.

Question 4

What are the 3 primary hazards of tropical storms?

Answer 4

• High winds (120+ km/h) cause structural damage.
• Storm surges flood coastal areas.
• Heavy rainfall leads to flash floods and landslides.

Question 5

What are the 3 secondary hazards of tropical storms?

Answer 5

• Contaminated water supplies increase disease risk.
• Economic damage from business closures and infrastructure loss.
• Food shortages due to crop destruction.

Question 6

When and where did Hurricane Katrina strike? (Mention 2 things)

Answer 6

• August 2005, Category 5 hurricane.
• Made landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi, USA.

Question 7

What were the 3 primary impacts of Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 7

• 1,800 deaths and $125 billion in damages.
• 80% of New Orleans flooded due to levee failures.
• Wind speeds of 280 km/h destroyed homes and infrastructure.

Question 8

What were the 3 secondary impacts of Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 8

• Looting and civil unrest in New Orleans.
• Mass displacement, with over 1 million people evacuated.
• Oil spills from damaged refineries polluted waterways.

Question 9

How did the US respond to Hurricane Katrina? (Mention 3 things)

Answer 9

• FEMA criticised for slow response.
• $50 billion in federal aid provided.
• Levees and flood defences were strengthened.

Question 10

When and where did Typhoon Haiyan occur? (Mention 2 things)

Answer 10

• November 2013, Category 5 typhoon.
• Hit the Philippines, particularly Tacloban City.

Question 11

What were the 3 primary impacts of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 11

• 6,300 deaths and over 4 million displaced.
• 5m storm surge caused widespread flooding.
• Strong winds (315 km/h) destroyed homes and power lines.

Question 12

What were the 3 secondary impacts of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 12

• Food shortages and outbreaks of disease due to contaminated water.
• $14 billion in damages impacted the economy.
• Infrastructure collapse slowed emergency aid.

Question 13

How did the Philippines respond to Typhoon Haiyan? (Mention 3 things)

Answer 13

• UN launched a $300 million aid appeal.
• Evacuation centres set up for displaced people.
• Stronger storm shelters were built for future resilience.

Question 14

How can we predict and monitor tropical storms? (Mention 3 things

Answer 14

• Satellite tracking provides early warnings.
• Aircraft reconnaissance measures storm intensity.
• Computer models forecast storm paths.

Question 15

What are the 3 mitigation strategies for tropical storms?

Answer 15

• Improved flood defences (e.g., levees, seawalls).
• Evacuation plans and drills.
• Stronger building regulations in storm-prone areas.

Question 16

How do we measure the magnitude of tropical storms?

Answer 16

We use the Safari-Simpson scale

Question 17

Describe the Saffir-Simpson scale?

Answer 17

There are 5 categories 1 being weak but 5 being the strongest