Weather Hazards and Climate Zones

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What typically occurs at high-pressure areas?

Air flows toward the equator

Air shifts rapidly causing storms

Air rises and forms clouds

Air sinks and creates clear skies (correct)

Hurricanes form in cold ocean waters.

False

Name one key feature of tropical storms.

Eye

The __________ zone is characterized by extreme heat and is often associated with deserts.

Arid Signup and view all the answers

Match the following climate zones with their characteristics:

Tropical Zone = Hot and humid, near the equator Temperate Zone = Moderate climate with regular seasons Polar Zone = Cold and dry, near the poles Arid Zone = Dry, typically deserts Signup and view all the answers

Which process is primarily responsible for the movement of air in the Ferrel Cell?

Air movement between the Hadley and Polar cells Signup and view all the answers

El Niño leads to increased rainfall in Australia.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary cause of droughts?

Natural changes in wind and ocean currents Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main causes of the Millennium Drought in Australia?

El Niño Signup and view all the answers

The Richter Scale measures the visible damage and effects of earthquakes.

False Signup and view all the answers

What type of plate boundary is characterized by plates colliding, leading to the formation of volcanoes?

Destructive boundary Signup and view all the answers

During the Storm Desmond event, there was record rainfall of ______ mm in 24 hours.

341 Signup and view all the answers

Match the following natural disasters with their case studies:

Drought = Australia (Millennium Drought) Flood = Storm Desmond (UK) Volcano = Eyjafjallajökull (Iceland) Earthquake = San Andreas Fault Signup and view all the answers

What type of volcano is known for its steep slopes and explosive eruptions?

Composite volcano Signup and view all the answers

Desertification is one of the social impacts of drought.

False Signup and view all the answers

Name one of the responses made during the Millennium Drought in Australia.

Water-saving campaigns Signup and view all the answers

The _________ Scale measures the explosive power and volume of volcanic eruptions.

Volcanic Explosivity Index Signup and view all the answers

Which tectonic plate interaction results in the formation of new crust?

Constructive boundary Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Weather Hazards

Global circulation system moves air due to temperature differences, creating climate zones.
Hadley Cell: Warm air rises at the equator, cools and sinks at 30° N/S.
Ferrel Cell: Transports air between Hadley and Polar cells.
Polar Cell: Cold air sinks at poles, rises at 60° N/S.
Global winds are influenced by the system, affecting weather patterns.
High pressure (anticyclone): Air sinks, leading to clear skies, dry weather (e.g., Sahara).
Low pressure (depression): Air rises, causing clouds and rain (e.g., UK winter).
Climate zones: Tropical (hot, humid), Arid (dry), Temperate (moderate), Polar (cold).
Weather extremes: Hurricanes, heatwaves, tornadoes, blizzards.
El Niño: Weakening trade winds, warm Pacific water, drought in Australia, floods in South America (e.g., damages in 1997–98).
La Niña: Stronger trade winds, colder Pacific water, floods in Australia, drought in South America.
Tropical storms (hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones): Intense storms, form over warm oceans (5°–30° N/S) when sea temps are above 27°C, eye (calm center), eyewall (strongest winds, rain). Hurricane Katrina (2005) caused $125 billion in damages.
Droughts: Extended low rainfall, water shortage, natural (e.g., El Niño), human (e.g., overuse of water).
Impacts of droughts: Social (crop failure, famine); economic (hydroelectric losses, farming); environmental (desertification, habitat loss).
Case Study: Australian Millennium Drought (1997–2009) – caused by El Niño & overuse of Murray-Darling Basin; impacts: crop failure, rising food prices, wildfires. Responses: Water saving campaigns, desalination plants.
Case Study: Storm Desmond (2015, UK): Intense rainfall from low-pressure system brought moisture from Caribbean; impacts: widespread flooding, over 5000 homes flooded, £500 million damage. Responses: Army deployed for rescue, flood defenses reinforced.

Tectonic Hazards

Earth's structure: Core (inner solid, outer liquid), Mantle (semi-molten rock), Crust (tectonic plates).
Convection currents: Heat from core moves tectonic plates in the mantle.
Slab pull: Dense oceanic plates sink, drag other plates.
Plate boundaries: Destructive (collision, volcanoes, earthquakes), Constructive (spreading, new crust), Conservative (sliding, earthquakes), Collision (uplift, mountains).
Earthquakes: Sudden movement along fault lines due to pressure release, caused by plate friction, occur along plate boundaries. Effects (primary: building collapse, secondary: fires, tsunamis, disease).
Measuring earthquakes: Richter Scale (energy magnitude), Mercalli Scale (damage intensity).
Volcanoes: Magma erupts through crust, found at subduction zones, hotspots, constructive boundaries. Types: Shield (gentle slopes, runny lava), Composite (steep, explosive), Dome (steep, thick lava), Fissure (lava escape from cracks), Caldera (collapsed crater).
Measuring volcanic eruptions: VEI (explosivity index), considers material volume, ash cloud height.
Case Study: Eyjafjallajökull (Iceland 2010): Constructive boundary (North American and Eurasian Plates). Impacts: 100,000 flight cancellations, farm damage. Responses: Evacuations, monitoring.

Exam Tips

Use case studies (facts, stats).
Link causes, impacts, & responses in 6–9 mark questions.
Weigh pros/cons in evaluation questions.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz covers the global circulation system and its impact on weather and climate zones. It explores key concepts such as Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar cells, as well as weather extremes like hurricanes and droughts. Test your knowledge on how these elements shape weather patterns worldwide.