Weather Hazards

Global atmospheric circulation

It creates pressure belts and wind patterns, moving heat around Earth.

Rising air at the equator

Low pressure areas that lead to rainforests.

Sinking air at 30°

High pressure areas that lead to deserts.

Tropical storms

Found between 5°-30° north and south of the equator, requiring warm oceans (27°C+), Coriolis force, and low wind shear.

Formation of tropical storms

Warm ocean water evaporates, rises, cools, and condenses, creating low pressure and thunderstorms.

Coriolis effect

Causes air to spin, contributing to the development of tropical storms.

Climate change effects on tropical storms

Distribution may shift further from the equator, frequency is unclear, but intensity is likely to increase due to warmer seas.

Typhoon Haiyan (2013)

Category 5 storm in the Philippines with winds of 275 km/h and a storm surge of 5m.

Primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan

Deaths, flooding, homes destroyed.

Secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan

Looting, disease outbreaks, rice prices rose, fishing industry disrupted.

Responses to Typhoon Haiyan

Immediate: 800,000 evacuated, Red Cross food aid. Long-term: Cash-for-work schemes, Oxfam replaced fishing boats, cyclone shelters built.

Monitoring and predicting tropical storms

Satellites detect cloud patterns, aircraft monitor storm development, computer models predict path, early warning systems save lives.

Reducing tropical storm effects

Protection: Storm shelters, raised homes. Planning: Evacuation routes, drills. Education: Preparedness in schools and communities.

Weather hazards in the UK

Floods, snow/ice, drought, heatwaves, storms.

Recent UK extreme weather case study

Yorkshire Floods 2015 or UK Big Freeze 2010 caused by heavy rainfall/snow and poor drainage.

Causes of the Yorkshire Floods

Physical: Heavy rainfall, saturated ground. Human: Urbanisation, deforestation, poor river management.

Impacts of the Yorkshire Floods

Social: Homes flooded, people displaced. Economic: Shops closed, transport disrupted. Environmental: Pollution, erosion, wildlife impacts.

Hard engineering to reduce UK flood risk

Dams, embankments, flood walls.

Soft engineering to reduce UK flood risk

Afforestation, floodplain zoning, river restoration.

UK weather becoming more extreme

Yes - more frequent heavy rainfall, longer droughts, hotter summers, colder winters, backed by Met Office data.