Weather and Climate

How does distance from the sea affect climate?

- Areas near the sea are warmer than inland areas in winter because the sea stores up heat and warms the land. - Areas near the sea are cooler in the summer because the sea takes a long time to heat up and so cools the land down. - The west of the UK gets warmed more than the east because of a warm ocean current coming from the south-west called the North Atlantic drift

Long-term response to Nargis?

- Burma is reliant on international aid to repair the damage (fewer than 20 000 homes have been rebuilt and half a million survivors are still in temporary shelters).

Short-term response to Nargis?

- Burma's Government initially refused foreign aid. They were only allowed after 3 weeks. - UN launced a massive appeal to raise money.

Human activity resulting in global warming?

- Burning fossil fuels - Farming - Deforestation They've all caused an increase in concentration of CO₂ (gone up from 280ppm to 1850ppm) and CH₄.

Environmental effects of Nargis?

- Coastal habitats such as mangrove forests were damaged. - The salinity of soil in some areas has increases because of flooding (sea water) this makes it more difficult to grow plants.

Impacts of extreme weather on agriculture?

- Droughts can cause crop failure. - Increased rainfall can lead to higher crop yield. - A warmer climate means a diversified crop range e.g. new crops such as olives.

Short-term response to Katrina?

- During: coast guard, police, fire, army and volunteers reduced over 50 000 people. - About 25 000 people were given temporary shelter at Louisiana Super-dome immediately after.

Impacts of extreme weather on health?

- Flooding can cause deaths by drowning - Heatwaves can cause deaths by heat exhaustion. - Milder winters may reduce cold-related deaths.

Impacts of extreme weather on transport?

- Floods can block roads, railways and disrupt transport systems. - high temperatures can cause railways to buckle so they are no longer useable.

Farming?

- In higher latitudes, warmer weather means some farmers will have increased crop yield and increased diversity so increased profit. - In lower latitudes, famers' income may decrease because conditions may become too hot and dry.

Preparation for Nargis?

- Indian and Thai weather agencies warned the Burmese government, yet the Burmese reporters forecasted little or no risk. - No emergency or evacuation plans occurred.

Social effects of Nargis?

- More than 140 000 people were killed - 450 000 houses were destroyed. - 2 to 3 million people were left homeless. - 1700 schools were destroyed.

Social effects of Katrina?

- Move than 1800 people were killed - 300 000 houses were destroyed - 3 Million people left without electricity - Main route out of New Orleans closed because parts of the 1-10 bridge collapsed.

Environmental effects of Katrina?

- The hurricane caused the sea to flood parts of the land destroying some coastal habitats e.g. sea turtle breeding beaches.

Economic effects of Katrina?

- Total of around $300 billion of damage - 230 000 jobs were lost from destroyed businesses. - 30 off shore oil platforms sunk increasing the price of fuel - Shops in New Orleans were looted by residents.

Economic effects of Nargis?

- Total of around $4 billion of damage - Millions of people lost their livelihoods. - 200 000 farm animals were killed, crops were lost and over 40% of food stores were destroyed.

Long-term response to Katrina?

- US government spent over $800 million rebuilding flood defences. - Around $34 billion has been set aside for the re-building of houses and schools.

Other causes?

- Variation in solar output: the Sun's output of energy is not constant, in periods of more energy, the Earth gets warmer. - Changes in the Earth's orbit: affects how much energy the Earth receives. If it receives more, it will get warmer.

Impacts of extreme weather on homes and lives?

-Floods damage homes and possessions which can cost a lot to repair or replace. -Businesses can be damaged by floods so some people can lose their income. -Water use can be restricted during droughts e.g. hosepipes may be banned. - Increased rainfall may mean water supplies are increased.

Preparation for Katrina?

-The USA has many monitoring systems to predict if a hurricane will hit (e.g. satillate imaging) - so the people were warned. -Mississippi and Louisiana declared states of emergency setting up control centres and supplies. -70-80% of New Orleans were evacuated before the hurricane reached the land.

What are the local responses?

1) Congestion charging: central London 2) Recycling: recycling plants/bins -> less new materials so less emissions. 3) Conserving Energy: insulation, switching off gadgets.

Economic impacts of climate change?

1) Faming 2) Weather 3) Industries

Social impacts of climate change?

1) Less food 2) Extreme weather 3) Hotter average weather 4) Too hot and dry

Examples of extreme weather last ten years?

1) Major flooding causign by storms and high rainfall in SE in 2000, Cornwall in 2004, Cumbria in 2005. 2) Strong winds and high tides caused flooding in Norfolk in 2006. 3) High temperatures led to a heatwave and drought conditions in the summer of 2003.

How to reduce the negative impacts of extreme weather?

1) Preparing: individuals and local authorities can prepare e.g. flood defences. 2) Planning: emergency services and local councils can plan how to deal with extreme weather events e.g. how to rescue people. 3) Warning: warning systems give people time to prepare e.g. flood warnings for people to remove belongs and evacuate.

Examples of how the UK is becoming more extreme?

1) Raining more: summer of 2007 was the wettest summer on record. 2) Rainfall is more intense, e.g. in Winter in Scotland; volume of rain has gone up by 60%. 3) Temperature is increasing: highest ever UK temperature was recorded in 2003 (38.5)

Environmental impacts of climate change?

1) Sea levels rise, so some habitats will be lost as low-lying land in submerged. 2) Rising temperature and decreased rainfall leads some areas to become desert. 3) The distribution of some species may change due to climate change; species that can't move may die out.

What are the national responses to climate change?

1) Transport strategies: Government can improve public transport networks like buses and trains. E.g. faster, covering a wider area which encourages increased public use reducing CO₂ emissions from cars. 2) Increase taxes: on cars with high emission e.g. in the UK. This encourages people to buy cars with lower emissions reducing overall emissions.

Political impacts of climate change?

1) Water will become more scarce in some places. 2) Climate change may cause people to move leading to increased immigration and emigration. 3) Governments are under pressure to come up with strategies to slow climate change or reduce its effects.

How did the kyoto protocol work?

1. Aimed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 5% below 1990 levels by 2012. 2. Each country was set a target e.g. Uk 12.5% 3. Another part was the carbon credits trading scheme. 4. Some countries disagreed, e.g. USA who has highest emissions in the world (22% in 2004).

How do anticyclones form?

1. Air is falling, creating high pressure with light winds blowing outwards from high pressure to low pressure. 2. There air no clouds or condensation as the falling air gets warmer giving clear skies and no rain. 3. In summer, anticyclones cause light winds, hot, dry weather and high temperatures. This is as no clouds absorb the sun's energy so more gets through to the Earth's surface. 4. In winter, anticyclones cause light winds, cold, frosty and foggy conditions. This is as, at night, temperature is lost to the atmosphere, as there are no clouds to reflect it back. Also, the Earth's surface temperature drops, and condensation occurs near the surface forming fog.

What are the three structural parts of a tropical storm?

1. Eye 2. Eyewall 3. Edges of the storm.

Two tropical storms to compare?

1. Hurricane Katrina South East USA 29th August 2005 2. Cyclone Nargis Irrawaddy Delta, Burma 2nd May 2008

What conditions are needed to form a tropical storm?

1. Sea water above 27° 2. Late summer and autumn, when sea temperatures are highest. 3. Warm, moist air rises and condensation occurs. This releases huge amounts of energy, making the storm powerful. 4. The move west because of the easterly winds near the equator. 5. They lose strength when they move over land because the energy supply from the warm water is cut off. 6. Mos tropical sotrms occur between 5° and 30° north and south of the equator - any further and the water isn't warm enough. 7. The Earth's rotation deflects the path of the winds which causes the storms to spin.

Evidence for global warming?

1. Temperature 2. Climate reconstruction 3. Comparing 4. Ice sheets are melting 5. Sea level is rising

Brief conditions?

1. Warm sea water. 2. Summer or autumn 3. Rising warm moist air 4. Moves west 5. Loses strength over land 6. 5° and 30° N or S of equator 7. Spin due to Earth's rotation.

How do they form?

1. Warm, moist air from the tropics meets cold, dry air from the poles. 2. The warm air is less dense so it rises above the cold air forming a warm front. 3. The cold air undercuts the warm air from behind forming a cold front. 4. The cold front eventually catches up the warm front and the warm air is squeezed upwards. 5. Rising air also causes low pressure at the Earth's surface, at the centre of the depression. 6. Winds blow into the depression in a spiral from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. 7. As the warm air rises, the cold air makes the vapour in the warm air condense causing rain clouds to develop. 8. This results in heavy rain and high winds.

What are anticyclones?

Anticyclones are high pressure weather systems.

What is climate change?

Any change in the weather of an area over a long period.

How do these gases effect the globe?

CO₂ and CH₄ are greenhouse gases; they trap heat elected off the Earth's surface. Increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere means too much heat is trapped and the Earth will rise in temperature.

Weather?

Climate change means weather is becoming more extreme. More money will have to be spent on predicting extreme weather events, reducing their impact and rebuilding afterwards.

Climate reconstruction?

Climate reconstruction: over the last 1000 years using historical records, tree rings and cores from ice sheets.(by scientists)

What did the carbon credits trading scheme involve?

Countries that can under their emission target got carbon credits which they could sell to countries that didn't meet their emission target - reward for low emission. Countries could earn carbon credits by helping poorer countries reduce their emissions. The idea was that poorer countries would be able to reduce their emissions more quickly.

What are depressions?

Depressions are low pressure weather systems.

What is the UKs temperature like?

Follows a seasonal pattern. Highest: Jul-Aug (Average 19) Lowest: Jan-Feb (Average 6) Range: 13 degrees c

What are the UKs Sunshine hours like?

Follows a seasonal pattern. Highest: May-August (170-180 hours per month) Lowest: Dec-Jan (40 hours per month)

What is the UKs Precipitation like?

Follows a seasonal pattern. Highest: Oct-Jan (120mm per month) Lowest: Apr-Jul (70mm per month) Fluctuates: Feb-Mar

Temperature evidence?

Global temperature: measured using thermometers over the last 150 years. During the last 100 years, average global temperatures have risen by about 0.9 degrees. Average UK temperature has risen by 1.0 degree.

Hotter average?

Hotter weather will result with increased spread of infectious diseases leading to increases ill health and death from disease.

What is latitude?

How far north or south of the equator a place is.

Ice sheets?

Ice sheets are melting as global temperature is increasing: Greenland Ice sheet lost an average of 195km³ of ice every year between 2003-2008

Industries?

Industries that help to reduce the effects of climate change will become larger with increased profit.

What are tropical storms?

Intense low pressure weather systems. They are huge storms with strong winds and torrential rain.

Five main reasons why climate varies within the UK?

Latitude Winds Distance from the sea Pressure Altitude

How does pressure affect climate?

Low pressure weather systems have a lot of rainfall because the air is rising and the water vapour is condensing. High pressure weather systems have dry weather because the air is falling. Low pressure weather systems come from the West, so the West of the UK is wetter.

What to look for using climate graphs?

Max temp. - value and month Min temp. - value and month Annual range - highest minus lowest Describe shape - gradient of the line

Extreme weather?

More people will die as a result of more frequent and more dangerous extreme weather.

What to look for using precipitation bars?

Most precip. - month and amount Season with most - name and amount Month with lowest - month and amount Season with less - name and amount Total annual - low, moderate, high, v high.

Where do they form?

Over the Atlantic ocean and move east over the UK.

Less food?

People won't be able to grow as much food in lower latitude which could lead to malnutrition, ill health and death from starvation e.g. central Africa.

What are the weather conditions as the warm front passes?

Rain: Heavy Clouds: Low and thick Pressure: Falling Temperature: Rising Winds: Strong Wind direction: SE to SW

What are the weather conditions as the cold front passes?

Rain: Heavy showers Clouds: Towering, thick Pressure: Suddenly rising (once past the centre) Temperature: Falling Wind speed: Strong Wind direction: SW to NW

What are the weather conditions ahead of the warm front?

Rain: None Clouds: High, thin Pressure: Falling Temperature: Cool Wind Speed: Increasing Wind Direction: SE

What are the weather conditions as warm air is overhead?

Rain: None Clouds: None Pressure: Steady Temperature: Warm Winds: Decreasing Wind Direction SW

What are the weather conditions as there is cold air overhead?

Rain: Showers Clouds: High, broken Pressure: Rising Temperature: Cold Wind speed: Decreasing Wind direction: NW

Sea levels?

Sea level is rising- increasing temperature causes ice on the land to melt and ocean to expand. Sea level has risen by 20cm over the last century.

Comparing?

Shows that global temp. is rising sharply now compared to the past.

Too hot and dry?

Some areas will become so hot and dry they are uninhabitable. People will move which could lead to overcrowding in other areas.

However?

Some people say the evidence is a bit dodgy. E.g. they say temperature measurements have shown an increase in temperature because human settlements have got close to where they are taken. - Absorb and radiate more heat energy.

What is the UK's climate?

Temperate maritime climate (cool, wet winters and warm, wet summers)

What does temperate mean?

The UK experiences neither the heat of the tropics nor the coldness of the poles.

How do these factors explain the UK's climate?

The UK is mid-latitude and has the North Atlantic Drift so is not really hot or cold. It has both dry and rainy weather, because it has both high and low pressure weather systems.

How do winds affect climate?

The UK's most common (prevailing) winds are from the south west. They bring warm, moist air, which makes the UK warm and wet. The west of the UK gets more of the warmth and rain that the east because the winds come from the south west.

What is the eye of the storm like?

The centre of the storm is known as the eye. It's up to 50km across and caused by descending air. There's a very low pressure, light winds, no clouds, no rain and high temperature. (Anticyclonic conditions in a low pressure place!)

What does maritime time?

The climate is strongly influenced by the sea. One effect of the sea is to reduce temperature differences between winter and summer. Another effect is increased precipitation.

Why are the effects of tropical storms different?

The effects of tropical storms, and the responses to them are different in different parts of the world. A lot depends on how wealthy that part of the world is.

What is the eyewall like?

The eye is surrounded by the spiralling eyewall where there's spiralling rising air, very strong winds (160km per hour) storm clouds, torrential rain and low temperatures.

How does latitude affect climate?

The higher latitude, the colder it gets: The sun is at a lower angle in the sky, so its heat energy is spread over more of the Earth's surface so each place receives less heat energy than at lower latitudes. Southern parts of the UK are warmer than northern parts because of their lower latitude.

How does altitude affect climate?

The higher up, the colder it is, as the air is thinner and therefore less heat energy is trapped. Higher areas get more rainfall as air is forced upwards and the water vapour condenses into rain clouds. So high altitude parts of the UK (e.g. Snowdonia) are colder and wetter than low altitude areas.

What is global warming?

The increase in global temperature over the last century. It is a type of climate change, and it causes other types of climate change e.g. increased rainfall.

What was the global response to climate change?

The kyoto protocol; in 1997, most countries agreed to monitor and cut greenhouse gas emissions by signing an international agreement called the kyoto protocol.

What is climate?

The summary of a place's long term weather conditions.

What are the characteristics of a tropical storm?

They spin anticlockwise, move north west (in the N hemisphere). They are circular and hundreds of kilometres wide usually lasting between 7 and 14 days.

What is pressure in regards to the atmosphere?

Think of it as the weight of the atmosphere.

What are the edges of the storm like?

Towards the edges of the storm, the wind speed falls, the clouds are smaller and more scattered, rain is less intense and temperature increases.

When is UK weather described as extreme?

When it is more severe than what is normally expected. - Very cold in winter - Very hot in summer (summer 1995) - Heavy rain - Drought - Gales (Hurricanes of October 1987) - Snow (Winters of 1947) - Thick fog day and night

When and where do depression form?

When warm air meets cold air, typically over the Atlantic ocean then move east over the UK.