HAZARD - storms

Question 1

what percentage of tropical storms occur in eastern asia?

Answer 1

33%

Question 2

what areas are particularly prone to storms?

Answer 2

east pacific
west australia
caribbean

Question 3

typhoon

Answer 3

N HEMISPHERE tropical storms in asia

Question 4

hurricane

Answer 4

N HEMISPHERE atlantic and north pacific

Question 5

cyclone

Answer 5

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE tropical storm in the south pacific and indian ocean

Question 6

what is the average wind speed needed to be classified as a tropical storm?

Answer 6

75mph

Question 7

what are the 4 conditions required for the formation of a tropical storm?

Answer 7

• sea water above 27*C
• disturbance in the air, near the sea surface (low pressure)
• convergence of air in the lower atmosphere (warm and cold air)
• corriolis effect , over 5* from equator

Question 8

how many degrees from the equator are tropical storms able to form?

Answer 8

over 5*

Question 9

What is the Coriolis effect

Answer 9

force caused by the earths rotation, deflects the path of winds accelerating spinning = circular wind patterns
weak at the equator

Question 10

diameter of a typical tropical storm

Answer 10

500km

Question 11

what direction do cyclones turn

Answer 11

anticlockwise - northern hemisphere

clockwise - southern hemisphere

Question 12

latent heat

Answer 12

heat required to turn solids to liquids to gas

this energy drives the storm

Question 13

Formation of a tropical storm

Answer 13

• sun warms sea to 27*c
• evaporation of water = warm air rise
• cools, condenses, forms rain clouds
• pressure gradient = cool air rushes in to replace lost warm air
• Coriolis effect- warm air rushed up from sea surface begins to spin
• strong winds carry the storm across the ocean.

Question 14

what causes tropical storms to become stronger

Answer 14

if the ocean is hot enough

Question 15

what weakens a tropical storm

Answer 15

moves over land or cooler oceans

Question 16

ITCZ

Answer 16

intertropical convergence zone
= 5-25*C north and south of the equator
where most tropical storms originate

Question 17

Storm hazards

Answer 17

high winds= destroy buildings, uproot trees,
storm surges = large rise in sea levels
heavy rain 
flooding
landslides

Question 18

what percentage of deaths during a storm are due to storm surges?

Answer 18

90%

Question 19

saffir-simpson scale

Answer 19

measures the intensity of tropical storms based on the highest wind speed.

Question 20

category 1 wind speed

Answer 20

74mph 119km/h

Question 21

category 2 wind speeds

Answer 21

96 mph 154km/h

Question 22

category 3 wind speed

Answer 22

111 mph 178km/h

Question 23

category 4

Answer 23

131mph 210km/h

Question 24

category 5

Answer 24

156mph+ 250km/h+

Question 25

limitations of the Saffir-Simpson Scale

Answer 25

doesn’t assess the impacts of rainfall or areas affected

lower categories may have larger impacts on vulnerable or highly populated areas.

Question 26

frequency

Answer 26

recent yrs have seen an increase in numbers of storms

but pattern is erratic

Question 27

preparedness

Answer 27

train and prepare emergency services for a storm
evacuation routes.
educate

Question 28

adaption

Answer 28

building design to withstand tropical storms
(reinforced concrete, fix roofs securely)
flood defences
stilts

Question 29

prevention

Answer 29

impossible

but scientists study storms to understand which areas are at the highest risk so we can avoid them.

Question 30

has the magnitude increased

Answer 30

in theory it should: increased temp= warmer oceans = moire moisture and therefore more intense storms.
BUT the increased winds act as negative feedback so the magnitude has not increased.

Question 31

what months of the year are storms most common

Answer 31

august to October

Question 32

NOAA

Answer 32

national oceanographic and atmospheric administration

Question 33

how does the NOAA predict tropical storms

Answer 33

sea surface temp, atmospheric conditions, short term climate cycles ( el nino and la nina)

Question 34

hurricane return period

Answer 34

the frequency at which a hurricane of a given (saffir-simpson )category can be expected to return within a given distance to a certain location.
(other factors are also at play)

Question 35

social impacts

Answer 35

flooded sewage  = water borne disease
property damage
homelessness
looting
loss of jobs
rise in insurance
stress and trauma

Question 36

economic impacts

Answer 36

cost of repairs
businesses loss of profit
damage crops
oil prices increase due to difficulties in extraction

Question 37

environmental impacts

Answer 37

damage sensitive ecosystems
fish killed due to silting - freshwater fish killed from storm surge
flooding and mudslides

Question 38

mitigation strategies

Answer 38

warning systems
evacuation drills
flood defences and schemes
disaster aid

Question 39

preparedness

Answer 39

increase awareness
structural improvements
emergency supplies
plan evacuation route
insurance -risk sharing
warning

Question 40

safe homes programme

Answer 40

insurance department gives grants to improve structural support in homes (USA)

Question 41

cloud seeding

Answer 41

attempt to dissipate the storm by changing the amount or type of precipitation
but was not affective

Question 42

storm surge elevation mark

Answer 42

show which buildings are at risk and where to build in the future

Question 43

land zoneing

Answer 43

flood land is low value and used for recreation

Question 44

adaptions

Answer 44

land zoning, storm surge elevation mark and building codes