Topic 3 UK Environmental Challenges

• What factors affect the UK's unique climate?

  Air masses, continentality, North Atlantic Drift
• How does the UK's climate compare to Moscow's?

  It is milder and wetter than Moscow's
• What are air masses?

  Large volumes of air that travel
• What influences the weather brought by air masses?

  The surface they have moved over
• Which air masses move northwards to the UK?

  Tropical air masses
• What type of air mass brings heavy showers to the UK?

  Polar Maritime air mass
• What conditions does the Arctic Maritime air mass bring?

  Very cold in winter and spring
• What extreme weather event occurred in winter 2009-2010?

  Heavy snowfall disrupting transport
• What temperatures does the Polar Continental air mass bring in winter?

  Very cold temperatures below 0 degrees C
• When does the Tropical Continental air mass occur?

  Only in summer when sub-tropical air moves north
• What is a significant effect of the Tropical Maritime air mass?

  Mild and wet weather in winter
• How does the North Atlantic Drift affect the UK's climate?

  It keeps the UK warmer than similar latitudes
• Where does the North Atlantic Drift originate?

  Gulf of Mexico
• What happens to air over continents compared to air over oceans?

  It tends to have more extreme temperatures
• What is the effect of maritime air on the UK's weather?

  It moderates temperatures to be mild
• What caused the storms in February 2014?

  Tropical Maritime air mass
• What was the impact of the storms in February 2014 on transport?

  Severe damage to the South West mainline
• What extreme weather event occurred in 2003?

  Heatwave
• What was the economic effect of the 2003 heatwave?

  Increased tourism due to staycations
• What caused the 'Beast from the East' in 2018?

  Polar Continental air mass
• What was a significant effect of the 'Beast from the East'?

  Closure of thousands of schools
• What is a flood?

  When a river overflows its banks
• What caused the Boscastle flood in 2004?

  Warm and moist tropical maritime air mass
• How much rain fell in Boscastle during the flood event?

  6 inches in 6 hours
• What role did the topography of Boscastle play in the flood?

  Steep valley sides caused quick runoff
• What is the significance of the confluence of rivers in Boscastle?

  It funneled too much water into the village
• How did the geology of Cornwall contribute to the flood?

  Granite is impermeable, causing runoff
• What human activity increased flood risk in Boscastle?

  Deforestation reduced vegetation to slow runoff
• How did urbanization contribute to the Boscastle flood?

  Impermeable surfaces increased runoff to rivers
• What was the estimated cost of property damage in Boscastle?

  £300 million
• What environmental effect did the Boscastle flood have?

  Pollution from cars swept into the sea
• How did the flood affect local ecosystems?

  Uprooted trees blocked rivers and habitats
• What local response occurred after the Boscastle flood?

  Local people provided shelter and food
• What regional response was taken during the Boscastle flood?

  Helicopters rescued people from rooftops
• What national response was implemented after the Boscastle flood?

  Environment Agency created new flood defences
• How much money was spent on flood defences in Boscastle?

  £800,000
• What is the role of afforestation in flood management?

  Increases interception and reduces runoff
• What is mechanisation in farming?

  Using machines instead of manual labor
• How has farming changed in the UK due to mechanisation?

  Farming is now done on an industrial scale
• What is the impact of year-round farming on soil?

  Soils become exhausted and less fertile