Topic....3? Natural Hazards

Question 1

Define Differential heating:

Answer 1

the heat projected to a certain area of earth, ie: tropical of cancer

Question 2

Low pressure=?

Answer 2

Warm air rising into atmosphere, LOTS of rainfall as rising warm air+cool air=condensation

Question 3

What are trade winds?

Answer 3

Caused by corrillos effect-spinning earth-pushing cool air from equator 30° north and south and also warn pushing air to the equator

Question 4

Westerlies?

Answer 4

Surface winds to higher latitudes

Question 5

Albedo effect

Answer 5

Where 30% suns short wave radiation reflected by clouds, deserts, glaciers…this leads to “global energy budget” as 70% absorbed and let out as radiant heat

Question 6

What does Co2 do in regards to global energy budget

Answer 6

Traps radiant heat leading to greenhouse effect

Question 7

Natural forcings?

Answer 7

Factors that determine temp. Earth

Question 8

Climate forcing?

Answer 8

Sub-sect of Natural forcings: sunspots where solar flares occur, may have lead to medieval warm period

Question 9

What are the 3 ideas in the Milankovitch cycles( AKA orbital forcings) presented?

Answer 9

Sub-sect of Natural forcings:

Eccentricity-the shape of Earths orbit, presumably changes every 100,000 years

Obliquity-sometimes Earths axis changes from gravity from larger planets pulling it determining strength of our seasons. Occurs every 41, 000 years

Precession-earth wobbles like a spinning top due to sun and moon gravity acting. Large wobble every 26,000 years. Determines how much solar energy hemisphere gets

THESE FACTORS CAUSE GLACIAL PERIODS

Question 10

How much has earths temp risen since 1800?

Answer 10

1°c

Question 11

Name some HUMAN causes enhancing greenhouse effect

Answer 11

1kg cement=9kg carbon (5% Earths Co2)
¼ from food production
Methane x30 more dangerous than Co2….cows

Question 12

Name effects of climate change

Answer 12

+21cm sea

90% glacial retreat

Question 13

Tropical cyclones, what are the names for the local ones?

Answer 13

Hurricane=USA/Northern America
Cyclone=India/Indian Ocean
Typhoon=Japan/West Pacific

Question 14

How cyclone form?

Answer 14

Cumulonimbus clouds from evaporating sea water, low wind shear means they stay intact
Increased wind speed from low air pressure zone forming under cloud
Coriolis effect causes air currents and clouds to spiral while increasing speed/size
Cold air sinks to eye forming small, calm area of dense air at center
Storm starts to track west, in northern hemisphere, east in south, further pressure drop
Once reaching land cyclone looses energy source, decays

74+mph wind=tropical cyclone

Question 15

Effects of cyclone Sidr in bangladesh

Answer 15

$2.3bn damage

3447 dead

Question 16

Hurricane Katrina damage

Answer 16

Social:
300,000 homes destroyed
1883 dead-1500 new Orleans
Economic
\++gas in uk/usa as oil rigs gulf of Mexico destroyed
$108bn damages
Environmental:
Local ecosystem destroyed with spilled oil