Hurricane Irma in 2017 had wind speeds of 300km/h due to the high pressure gradient of 274mb between the eye and eye wall
Highest wind speed recorded in Wellington, New Zealand was 258km/h
What is a Richter scale?
measures the size of earthquakes based on seismometers. For every whole number increase, amplitude increases 10x and energy 32x
Response to the Big Dry
Multi million dollar desalination plant built in Sydney.
Extreme weather, UK case study
Boscastle flash flood, August2004
How was rainfall a physical cause of the Boscastle flood?
70mm of rain fell in 2 hours
Method of preparation for earthquakes
In Japan National Earthquake awareness day is on 1st September
Place where protection was used to mitigate impacts of a volcano
Heimaey, Iceland 1973
Technological developments used to mitigate impacts of a tectonic hazard
Taipei 101 in Taiwan.Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) used 80 seismometers and 120 GPS antennas
How is the severity of a volcanic eruption measured?
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)
Tectonic hazard case study
Eyjafjallajokull (E15) by the South coast of Iceland
Causes of E15 eruption
NorthAmerican and Eurasian plate boundary is constructive, creating fissures on a composite volcano which erupted on 20th March 2010. Erupted again on 15thApril.
How was the global circulation system a physical cause of the Boscastle flood?
Boacastle is at the meeting point of the Ferrel and Polar cell
Hottest air temperature ever recorded
Al-Aziziyah in Libya,57.8 degrees celsius
Where are volcanoes and earthquakes formed?
Earthquakes formed on all plate boundaries, volcanoes formed on all except conservative
Volcano found at destructive plate boundaries
Composite
volcano found at constructive plate boundaries
Shield and fissure
Volcanic gases
Carbondioxide and monoxide,hydrogensulphide,sulphurdioxide,chlorine
Physical cause of the Big Dry
El Niño
Human cause of the Big Dry
Farmers along the Murray-Darlingriver took too much water, was allowed by New South Wales Government
Consequences of the Big Dry
Water bills rose by 20% in2008 since there wasn’t enough water in the Murray-Darling basin. 10,000 people employed in the cottongrowing industry were affected. Eutrophication in the Murray-Darling basin
How is a dam a human cause of droughts?
GibeIII on the RiverOmo in Ethiopia stopped water getting to Lake Turkana in Kenya
Human causes of droughts
Dams, overgrazing
Physical cause of droughts
Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) - an area of rain
Extreme weather, non Uk case study
Big Dry, Australia. Drought period from 2002 to 2009. Driest period in 125 years. Mainly affected Queensland and NewSouthWales
Climate in Bundarra,New South Wales during El Niño compared to normal
In January temperature is usually 30 degrees, in El Niño it’s 36 degrees. Usually 50-80mm of rainfall per month, in El Niño there’s 10mm
Environmental consequence of Boscastle flash flood
84 cars recovered from streets and harbour. 32 never found. Petrol and coolant could affect the sea life
Economic consequence in Boscastle
90% of economy dependent on tourism. More than 20 hotels and B&Bs forced to shut. Multipliereffect
responses to the Boscastle flood
7 helicopters from the RAF and Royal Navy saved 120 people. Sandbags used in shops and houses to absorb water. EnvironmentAgency spent over £10million on improvements
Physical causes of Boscastle flood
Topography - land was 80m high. Globalcirculationsystem - meeting of Polar and Ferrel cell. Rainfall - 70mm fell in 2 hours
Responses to E15
Route1 damaged so National Emergencry Agency replaced bridges with prebuilt structures to reopen this major road. Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) used 80 seismometers and 120 GPS antennas to issue warnings
Primary effect of E15 that caused international problems
95,000 flights cancelled for a twoweek period
Secondary effect of E15 that caused local problems
Local water supplies contaminated with fluoride
Secondary effect of E15 that caused national problems
Flooding due to glacial meltwater destroyed Route1
Proposals made by Environmental Agnecy for flood defences
Trees to be removed on B3263. River bed to be lowered 0.75 metres and widened