Geography - Weather Hazards

• What is global atmospheric circulation?

  The transfer of heat from the equator to the poles by the movement of air.
• How does air move in the cells of the global atmospheric circulation process?

  • Warm rising air creates low pressure belts
  • Cold sinking air creates high pressure belts
• What is the order of cells moving away from the equator?

  1. Hadley
  2. Ferrell
  3. Polar
• Where are low pressure belts found and how does air move here?

  • Found - 0 degrees, 60 degrees N/S
  • Air - Warm and rises
• Where are high pressure belts found and how does air move here?

  • Found - 30 degrees N/S
  • Air - Cold and falls
• Where do trade winds form and how do they move?

  • Found - 30 degrees N/S
  • Move - West towards the equator
• Where do westerlies form and how do they move?

  • Form - 30 degrees N/S
  • Move - East towards 60 degrees N/S
• Why do wind patterns curve?

  Coriolis effect
• What are tropical storms?

  Intense low pressure weather systems with heavy rain and strong winds that spiral around the center.
• What conditions do tropical storms need to form?

  • 50m+ deep oceans
  • 27C+ ocean temperatures
  • Low wind shear
  • Not on the equator
• In what direction do tropical storms move? Why?

  West - due to their anticlockwise spin
• Where does air rise and fall in a tropical storm?

  • Rise - Outside clouds
  • Fall - Eye
• How might climate effect tropical storms?

  • Allow them to form for longer periods each year
  • Allow them to form in new areas
  • Make them move powerful
• How can you predict and monitor tropical storms?

  • Monitor using radars and satellites
  • Calculate predicted paths
  • Predict intensity
• How can you plan for tropical storms?

  • Avoid high risk areas
  • Plan evacuation routes
  • Emergency services can prepare
• How can you be protected from tropical storms?

  • Buildings can be designed to withstand tropical storms
  • Flood defenses
• What are the main types of weather hazards in the UK, and what are their impacts?

  • Strong winds - damage to property, injury/death
  • Heavy rainfall - flooding, expensive recovery
  • Snow and ice - injury/death , transport disruptions, economic impacts
  • Drought - low water supplies , economic impacts
  • Thunderstorms - fires, strong rain , wind
  • Heatwaves - build up in pollution, health problems, transport disruptions, economic impacts.
• What is extreme weather?

  Unexpected or abnormal weather events
• What are some examples of extreme weather in the UK and why are they examples?

  • Storm Ali - 100mph winds
  • Storm Callum - 180mm of rain in 48 hours
  • Beast from the East - 50cm of snow
  • 2022 heatwave - 40C+ temperatures, 62% dryer than usual