AGRI INST 1 – Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction/Management

Question-and-Answer style flashcards covering institutionalization of climate and DRRM in the Philippines, global warming, greenhouse gases, weather vs. climate, forecasting, climate factors, Philippine climate types, and global climate zones.

Why must climate change adaptation and DRRM be institutionalized in the Philippines?

To protect people, preserve development gains, strengthen governance, and build a climate-resilient, disaster-ready nation amid rising vulnerability.

Which two geographic belts expose the Philippines to many natural hazards?

The Pacific Ring of Fire and the Northwest Pacific typhoon belt.

Roughly how many tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility each year?

Around 20, with increasing severity in recent decades.

Give two major local impacts of rising sea levels on Philippine coastal communities.

Flooding of homes/livelihood areas and possible submergence of low islands, which also threatens drinking-water supplies and agriculture.

What does "institutionalizing climate action" mean?

Making adaptation and mitigation permanent parts of national and local policies, planning, and budgeting.

Name four key sectors that require coordinated, long-term climate and disaster policies.

Urban planning, infrastructure, agriculture, and education (others include health and water resources).

Which two national laws mandate climate and DRRM integration in the Philippines?

The Climate Change Act of 2009 and the DRRM Act of 2010.

List the three main components promoted by institutionalized DRRM systems to protect lives and livelihoods.

Preparedness (training & drills), early-warning systems, and resilient infrastructure.

Define global warming.

The long-term rise in Earth’s average surface temperature, mainly from greenhouse-gas emissions produced by human activities.

Define climate change (give at least two manifestations).

Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns, including rising global temperatures, melting ice, stronger storms, shifting rainfall or droughts, and altered ecosystems.

Give one natural and one human-induced cause of climate change.

Natural: volcanic eruptions or solar cycles; Human-induced: burning fossil fuels or deforestation.

What is the greenhouse effect?

A natural process in which certain gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere; human activities enhance it, causing warming.

Name four principal greenhouse gases.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and fluorinated gases.

How much more powerful (per molecule) is methane than carbon dioxide at trapping heat?

About 25 times more powerful.

How much more powerful is nitrous oxide than carbon dioxide?

Roughly 298 times more powerful.

What is the ozone layer and its primary function?

A high-ozone region 10–30 mi (16–48 km) above Earth that absorbs most harmful ultraviolet (UV) solar radiation—Earth’s natural sunscreen.

Which 1987 treaty phased out ozone-depleting substances?

The Montreal Protocol.

By approximately what percentage have controlled ozone-depleting chemicals been reduced since the Montreal Protocol?

About 99 %.

Name a modern activity that now poses a challenge to ozone recovery.

Emissions of aluminum oxide particles from satellite launches such as Starlink.

Differentiate weather from climate in one sentence.

Weather is the short-term state of the atmosphere; climate is the long-term average of weather over at least 30 years.

What is the typical timescale for weather versus climate descriptions?

Weather: hours to days; Climate: decades to centuries.

List six standard elements of weather.

Temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, cloud cover, and atmospheric pressure.

Which instrument measures air temperature?

Thermometer.

Which instrument measures atmospheric pressure?

Barometer.

Which instrument measures humidity?

Hygrometer.

Which instruments measure wind speed and direction, respectively?

Anemometer (speed) and wind vane (direction).

Which instrument measures the amount of rainfall?

Rain gauge.

What is an air mass?

A large body of air with fairly uniform temperature and humidity characteristics.

What typically happens when two different air masses meet?

They form a front, leading to weather changes such as rain, snow, or storms.

State the four main types of fronts and one weather result of each.

Cold front – heavy rain/thunderstorms then cooler air; Warm front – light rain then warmer weather; Stationary front – prolonged clouds/rain; Occluded front – complex weather like rain or snow.

Define a cyclone (low-pressure system).

A large region of low air pressure where air rises and rotates counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, often bringing clouds and storms.

In which rotation direction does air circulate around a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?

Counter-clockwise.

Define an anticyclone (high-pressure system).

A large region of high air pressure where air sinks and rotates clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to clear, calm weather.

Outline the four major steps meteorologists use to produce a weather forecast.

Observation (stations, satellites, radar), Data analysis (computers/models), Making the forecast (model output + expertise), Communicating the forecast (TV, apps, alerts).

Match the forecast type with its time range: nowcasting, short-range, medium-range, long-range.

Nowcasting: 0–6 h; Short-range: 1–3 days; Medium-range: 4–7 days; Long-range: 8 days to months/seasonal.

Give two common limitations of weather forecasting.

Rapidly changing conditions (e.g., pop-up storms) and decreasing accuracy the farther into the future a forecast looks.

Name two human activities that can influence local or global weather patterns.

Urban heat islands from dense cities and air-pollution aerosols affecting cloud formation; broader climate change amplifies extreme events.

List the five primary factors that affect a region’s climate.

Latitude, altitude, proximity to water, wind & ocean currents, and topography.

How does latitude influence climate?

Locations near the equator receive more direct sunlight and are warmer; polar regions receive less and are colder.

How does altitude affect temperature?

Temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude; high mountains are cooler than adjacent lowlands.

Why do coastal areas often have milder climates than inland areas?

Water heats and cools more slowly than land, moderating temperature extremes near large bodies of water.

What is a rain-shadow effect and which climate factor causes it?

A dry area on the leeward side of mountains where descending air warms and dries; it results from topography.

Describe the general climate of the Philippines.

Tropical—generally hot, humid, and rainy.

State the rainfall pattern of Coronas Climate Type I in the Philippines.

Two distinct seasons: a dry period (Nov–Apr) and a wet period (May–Oct).

What characterizes Coronas Climate Type II areas?

No dry season; very wet, especially November–January.

How does Coronas Climate Type III differ from Type II?

No very dry season but rainfall is more evenly distributed and less extreme.

Describe rainfall in Coronas Climate Type IV zones.

Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year.

What is the Amihan and when does it occur?

The Northeast Monsoon bringing cool, dry air from roughly November to February.

What is the Habagat and what weather does it bring?

The Southwest Monsoon (June–September) that carries warm, moist air producing heavy rains.

How does El Niño typically affect Philippine weather?

It produces droughts, heatwaves, and reduced rainfall.

How does La Niña typically affect Philippine weather?

It brings heavier rainfall and increased flood risk.

List the five main global climate types.

Tropical, Dry, Temperate, Continental, and Polar.

Give two defining features of tropical climates.

Average temperatures above 18 °C year-round and over 59 in (150 cm) of yearly precipitation.

Why are dry climates so arid?

Evaporation exceeds precipitation, and moisture is scarce.

Describe a typical temperate-zone seasonal pattern.

Warm, humid summers with thunderstorms and mild to cool winters.

What winter conditions can continental climates experience?

Snowstorms, strong winds, and very cold temperatures that can fall below –30 °C.

Even in summer, what is the usual maximum temperature in polar climates?

It rarely climbs above 10 °C.