Weather and Climate

Question 1

Main ocean current in the Northern Hemisphere

Answer 1

Gulf Stream - North Atlantic Drift

Question 2

North Atlantic Drift

Answer 2

Surface current carried by the South Westerlies - makes the UK winter milder.

Question 3

Milankovitch cycles

Answer 3

Eccentricity, axial tilt and precession - changes in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun or changes in its axis, leading to changes in the Earth’s climate or seasonal variation.

Question 4

High pressure vs low pressure

Answer 4

Little rainfall vs high rainfall.

Question 5

South Westerlies

Answer 5

Warm, moist prevailing wind for the UK - hits the west first, causing more rainfall in the west than the east.

Question 6

Volcanism

Answer 6

Big volcanic eruptions produce ash and sulfur dioxide that block and sunlight reflect it back into space, cooling the planet.

Question 7

Solar variation

Answer 7

More black sunspots = higher temperature.

Question 8

Climate

Answer 8

Average conditions of the atmosphere in an area over a long period of time (e.g. temperature, rainfall).

Question 9

Weather

Answer 9

The short day to day conditions of the atmosphere.

Question 10

Coriolis effect

Answer 10

Deflection of wind due to the spinning of the Earth on its axis.

Question 11

Tropical cyclone weather hazards

Answer 11

High winds, intense rainfall, storm surges, coastal flooding, landslides.

Question 12

Hurricane Sandy date

Answer 12

Made landfall in New Jersey on 29/08/12.

Question 13

Hurricane Sandy - Social impacts

Answer 13

150 people dead, subway stations and road tunnels flooded, schools closed, no power, temporary homelessness.

Question 14

Hurricane Sandy - Economic impacts

Answer 14

$65 billion in property damage, $3.3 billion in insurance claims, NY Marathon cancelled, NY stock exchange closed for several days.

Question 15

Hurricane Sandy - Environmental impacts

Answer 15

NJ beaches damaged, raw sewage released into waters, oil spills destroyed habitats, nature reserves damaged.

Question 16

Hurricane Sandy - Responses by individuals

Answer 16

Social media used to co-ordinate aid, most people had home insurance and rebuilt quickly, people moved in with relatives and into shelters.

Question 17

Hurricane Sandy - Responses to environmental impacts

Answer 17

NJ beaches reopened, farmland and floodplains repaired, nature reserves restored.

Question 18

Hurricane Sandy - Responses by organisations

Answer 18

NGOs sent relief workers and volunteers to hard-hit areas with food and supplies, charity concerts, telethons, corporate donations.

Question 19

Hurricane Sandy - Responses by the government

Answer 19

$60.3 billion in aid, $6.2 million for emergency food assistance, flood-prone homes bought out by government.

Question 20

Typhoon Haiyan date

Answer 20

Hit Philippines on 7/11/13 as a Category 5 cyclone.

Question 21

Typhoon Haiyan - Social impacts

Answer 21

6,000 dead, 25,000 injured, 1500 missing, widespread destruction in Tacloban city, power cut off, looting, transport networks cut off.

Question 22

Typhoon Haiyan - Economic impacts

Answer 22

$2 billion worth of damage, $85 million worth of farm related damage, coconut and rice plantations destroyed.

Question 23

Typhoon Haiyan - Environmental impacts

Answer 23

Chemical leaks, forests destroyed, mangroves destroyed, drinking water contaminated by sea water, lack of sanitation.

Question 24

Typhoon Haiyan - Responses to environmental impacts

Answer 24

Water tanks installed in some areas, work on restoring public sanitation systems began a month after.

Question 25

Typhoon Haiyan - Responses by individuals

Answer 25

Survivors searched the flattened settlements for bodies, street sellers set up an informal economy to sell food, social media was used to co-ordinate relief efforts.

Question 26

Typhoon Haiyan - Responses by organisations

Answer 26

Water tanks installed by Oxfam, Red Cross provided materials for shelters and rebuilt storm-resistant homes, charities sent emergency supplies to Tacloban.

Question 27

Typhoon Haiyan - Responses by government

Answer 27

Troops sent to Tacloban to restore order, EU, UK and USA sent millions in aid, equipment sent to clear debris, initiatives created to reduce disaster and adapt to climate change, water and sanitation set up and privatised.

Question 28

Drought

Answer 28

When an area suffers from a gradual reduction in the availability of water.

Question 29

Meteorological drought

Answer 29

When dry weather patterns dominate an area.

Question 30

Hydrological drought

Answer 30

When there is a very low water supply in streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

Question 31

Natural causes of drought

Answer 31

El Niño, low levels of precipitation, low levels of water in supplies.

Question 32

Human causes of drought

Answer 32

Dams, deforestation, agriculture.

Question 33

California - causes

Answer 33

Lower rainfall than usual over a four year period, reduced water in the Colorado River due to over abstraction, high wastage of water.

Question 34

California - Social impacts

Answer 34

Some land sunk and damaged buildings (subsidence), hydroelectric power reduced, wildfires endangered lives and destroyed homes.

Question 35

California - Economic impacts

Answer 35

Wildfires caused millions of dollars of property damage, $1.8 billion and 10,000 jobs lost by farms, increased food prices, contamination of farmland.

Question 36

California - Environmental impacts

Answer 36

Rivers and wetlands didn't receive much rainfall so plants and animals were at risk, sea water contaminated groundwater supplies, ash and debris contaminated water supplies.

Question 37

California - Responses by individuals

Answer 37

California residents implemented several water saving measures, farmers planted smaller crops and only certain types.

Question 38

California - Responses by organisations

Answer 38

Restaurants didn't put water on the table, hotels asked guests to reuse linen and towels, NASA developed advanced forecasting models.

Question 39

California - Responses by government

Answer 39

State of emergency declared in January 2014, strict water limits, facilities installed to prevent water contamination, education on water use, $183 million given from federal government funds.

Question 40

Ethiopia - causes

Answer 40

Two periods of rain that the country relies on are getting shorter and more unpredictable, 75% of the population rely on farming which leads to over abstraction.

Question 41

Ethiopia - Social impacts

Answer 41

Lack of trees meant lack of building materials, reduced food supplies lead to famine, children are unable to go to school and women are unable to work as they have to walk miles to get water, causes rural to urban migration.

Question 42

Ethiopia - Economic impacts

Answer 42

Crop failure (dropped by 50%-90%), increase in food prices.

Question 43

Ethiopia - Environmental impacts

Answer 43

Hundreds of thousands of livestock have starved, water insecurity and disease due to polluted water supplies.

Question 44

Ethiopia - Responses by individuals

Answer 44

Farmers developed coping mechanisms such as migrating to less affected areas and adapting farming practices.

Question 45

Ethiopia - Responses by organisations

Answer 45

Millions of dollars raised to provide food and water, invested in long term schemes, 'Live Aid' organised to raise money.

Question 46

Ethiopia - Responses by government

Answer 46

Productive Safety Net Programme created which employs people in return for food and cash, early warning systems created, $300 million spent to help those affected by the drought.

Question 47

Ice cores

Answer 47

Compressed layers of ice containing gases - long term.

Question 48

Tree rings

Answer 48

Wider in warmer weather, thinner in cold weather - short or medium term.

Question 49

Pollen analysis

Answer 49

Trapped in ice and rocks, not well preserved - short term.

Question 50

Historical records

Answer 50

Reports, paintings, photos, diaries - short or medium term.