GCSE Geography - tropical storms

Explain how tropical storms form

Explain how tropical storms form

The warm air from thunderstorms and the deep warm ocean surface mix together and start to rise to create low pressure

Trade winds at the equator cause the storm to spin due to the Earth's rotation

Air continues to rise and the pressure starts to decrease at higher altitudes

air rises faster and draws in more warm air from the sea surface whilst sucking cooler air downwards

As the storm moves over the ocean it picks up more warm moist air. The speed of its winds increase as more air is sucked in

Characteristics a tropical storm needs to develop

characterised by low pressure and rising air
strong movement of very moist warm air
large areas of tropical ocean. Temp. greater than 26.5 c
at least 70m of water
predominant winds generally blowing in the same direction

Describe the location of the areas where tropical storms form

Topical storms form and progress between the Topic of Cancer and Capricorn. Because there is no coriolis effect, tropical storms don't form on the equator.

What season does most hurricanes happen?

Autumn as the oceans are at its warmest

What does atmospheric circulation help keep the temperature of the earth habitable?

Atmospheric circulation transfers heat away from the equator and transfers cold away from the poles.

Primary effects of tropical storms

Strong winds - damage buildings, infrastructure, trees, loss of crops
Storm surges - low air pressure creates sea levels to rise and cause coastal flooding, collapsed levees from the pressure of storm surge
Heavy rainfall - widespread flooding
looting - desperate for food and water

Secondary effects of tropical storms

Mudslides - saturated unstable slopes
Cholera and water borne diseases - contaminated water from sewage

Immediate responses to Hurricane Katrina

New Orleans evacuated as Katrina approaches

Looting was so bad that police were ordered to concentrate on stopping crime, not saving people

US Senate approved $10.5 billion emergency aid

Air lifting those that were stranded
emergency food and water supplies were given out

Long term responses to Hurricane Katrina

police sent out to collect corpses

Insurance payouts worth $26 billion were made
Infrastructure and power lines needed to be
rebuilt

Existing levees are to be raised higher

Army Corps of Engineers pumping out floodwater

Those still stranded in New Orleans and the people in superdome were evacuated to nearby states by bus

Name some states that were affected by Hurricane Katrina

New Orleans, Ontario, Georgia, North America, Mississippi

Responses generally to hurricanes

treating the injured
accessing remote islands
expanding storm shelters
building temporary shelters
mending boats and nets
rebuilding the roads and homes
fresh water, food and medication
burying the dead

ways to monitor and predict tropical storms

-satellite technology to detect rainfall and wind speeds
-satellite pictures that shows cloud formation
-aircraft designed to be flown through a storm to collect meteorological data

Ways to protect from a tropical storm

-Windows, doors and roofs reinforced to strengthen buildings to withstand strong winds
-storm drains constructed in urban areas to take way excessive amounts of rainfall and prevent flooding
-sea walls built to protect key properties from storm surges
-cyclone shelters are often built in poorer countries to provide refuge

ways to plan to reduce the effect of tropical storms

-Raising awareness of the hazard amongst individuals and communities
-families encouraged to devise their own action plan should a hurricane warning be issued