Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
457 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
atmosphere
|
the mixture of gases surrounding the earth |
|
|
mesosphere
|
the layer of atmosphere above the stratosphere to an altitude of around 80km above the surface of the earth |
|
|
stratosphere |
the layer of atmosphere above the troposphere in which temperature does not decrease with altitude |
|
|
thermosphere |
the outermost layer of the earth's atmosphere to around 100km above the surface of the earth where temperature falls with height |
|
|
tropopause |
the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere |
|
|
troposphere |
the layer of atmosphere extending around 8-17km above the surface of the earth in which temperature decreases with height |
|
|
insolation |
incoming solar radiation from the sun |
|
|
energy surplus
|
occurring at the equator and low latitudes, more energy is obtained than necessary due to proximity to sun |
|
|
energy deficit
|
occurring at the poles and higher latitudes, less energy is obtained than needed due to the angle at which insolation reaches the earth |
|
|
albedo
|
a surface's ability to reflect energy, if a surface is white it will reflect more |
|
|
altitude |
the height above sea level |
|
|
latitude |
the distance in degrees north or south of the equator |
|
|
what are the gases in the atmosphere held to earth by? |
|
|
|
which layer is most important? why? |
the weather happens here |
|
|
by how much do temperatures generally decrease with each km gained in altitude? |
6.5 degrees C |
|
|
what 2 things does the atmospheric heat budget depend on?
|
the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing radiation from the planet |
|
|
general atmospheric heat circulation
|
the pattern of wind and pressure belts within the atmosphere, the circulation is complex but patterns are present |
|
|
jet stream |
bands of fast moving air that can be hundreds of kilometres in width but have a vertical thickness of only 1,000-2,000m |
|
|
what are jet streams the result of?
|
the large temperature gradient between 2 air masses |
|
|
how fast do jet streams move?
|
up to 250km/hr -1 |
|
|
lapse rate
|
the rate at which temperature changes with altitude |
|
|
name the three different types of lapse rate |
- dry adiabatic - saturated adiabatic |
|
|
Rossby waves
|
a series of large waves that occur in the westerlies in the mid-latitudes in both hemispheres |
|
|
how many Rossby waves are typical in the westerlies? |
between 4 and 6 and can stretch from polar to tropical latitudes |
|
|
Hadley cell
|
form the basis of tropical air circulation and are responsible for seasonal changes in the climate of those regions |
|
|
ITCZ
|
area of low pressure between Hadley cells that experiences high levels of insolation, evaporation and condensation |
|
|
coriolis effect
|
result of the earths rotation that deflects winds |
|
|
Ferrell cell
|
occurring at 30 degrees N/S and 60 degrees N/S and are responsible for the climate types in the mid-latitudes |
|
|
Polar cell |
third cell occurring at 60 degrees N/S and 90 degrees N/S that create high pressure at the poles |
|
|
trade winds |
air moving back towards the equator as part of the Hadley cell affected by the coriolis effect that form the ITCZ when they reach the equator |
|
|
gyre
|
an oceans own circular pattern of currents produced by masses of water moving from one climatic zone to another |
|
|
What can the temps rise to in the atmosphere? |
1500
|
|
|
draw the diagram to show the structure of the atmosphere
|
did you do it?
|
|
|
Name the 3 main instruments for measuring weather
|
barometer thermometer radiomonde |
|
|
to main gases in the atmosphere
|
oxygen |
|
|
what are variable gases in the atmosphere such as water vapour responsible for?
|
Cloudformation, precipitation, reflects/absorbs incoming radiation, keeps globaltemperatures constant, natural greenhouse effect
|
|
|
pollutants such as SO2 and nitrogen oxide cause _____ _____ in the atmosphere |
acid rain |
|
|
there is a _____ _____ in radiation everywhere except... |
polar latitudes due to albedo |
|
|
there is a _____ _____ in radiation throughout the atmosphere
|
net loss |
|
|
there is a surplus between ____S and _____N due to insolation. The degrees are different due to the... |
40 larger landmasses in the northern hemisphere |
|
|
name the two processes that take place to prevent tropical overheating |
horizontal heat transfer |
|
|
horizontal heat transfer |
heat is transferred away from the tropics towards poles through mechanisms such as wind |
|
|
vertical heat transfer |
atmosphere must not get colder and earth not warmer so heat is transferred through conduction, convection, radiation and transfer of latent heat |
|
|
winds account for ____% of horizontal heat transfer whilst oceans account for _____% |
20 |
|
|
name the four factors that affect the amount of incoming solar radiation |
The solar constant Distance from the sun Altitude of the sun in the sky length of day and night |
|
|
on a global scale hat is the most important factor determining heat
|
latitude |
|
|
name the two factors that influence temperature
|
angle of overhead sun |
|
|
insolation |
short wave radiation emitted by the sun |
|
|
____% of solar energy is reflected back into space whilst ____% is absorbed by theearth and the atmosphere |
69 |
|
|
transfer of heat by ocean currents affects...
|
Regulation of temperature extremes Stabilisation of global climate patterns cycling of gases regulation of local temperatures |
|
|
two types of ocean currents
|
surface |
|
|
surface circulation |
occurs in top 400m and accounts for 10% of overall circulation in oceans |
|
|
thermohaline circulation |
driven by density and salinity indicators and accounts for 90% of overall circulation
|
|
|
global conveyor belt |
Constantlymoving system of deep-ocean circulation driven by temp, salinity and densitythat includes both surface and thermohaline currents |
|
|
Theglobal conveyor belt circulates the globe every _____ years as a result of twosimultaneous processes which are … |
1000 Warm less dense water is carried away from the equator Cold more dense water is carried away from thepoles |
|
|
how does ocean circulation affect climate?
|
Asheat is absorbed by the ocean from insolation some of it evaporates causinghumidity and increase in temperature which results in storms and rain that areblown vast differences by trade winds |
|
|
surface currents are generally driven by...
|
winds as they come into contact with the ocean and friction is created |
|
|
gyres are created due to the ________ _______ |
coriolis force |
|
|
surface currents are generally found in... |
basins rather than belts |
|
|
what and where drives the belt? |
Coldand salty water sinks in Greenland driving the system and as it reaches theequator warms and rises creating the belt
|
|
|
how does the water become more salty as it moves through the belt? |
Asit moves towards the north Atlantic evaporation makes the water more salty aswater is evaporated rather than the salt and so it sinks due to density |
|
|
describe the general relationship between temperature, altitude and latitude
|
the higher the latitude the colder it is |
|
|
describe a convection cell in the atmosphere
|
- Long wave radiation heats the ground or ocean - Short wave radiation is re-radiated and trapped in the atmosphere heating the air - Air rises as it is warm causing it to expand as pressure decreases - Air condenses as it cools - Produces rain and other precipitation and begins global circulation - Latent heat energy needed to evaporate water is taken up with the rising air and released when water condenses - Airsinks at the tropics where it is dry and begins to warm up again |
|
|
when is maximum convection and why?
|
Earlyafternoon between 1-2pm as the ground has been sufficiently heated whilst lateron clouds begin to form limiting the suns insolation |
|
|
draw the tri-cellular model |
did you do it?
|
|
|
Whatair pressure is needed to create a cyclone environment? |
Low pressure Converging air |
|
|
Whatair pressure is needed to create an anticyclone environment?
|
diverging air |
|
|
what is the basis for the global circulation?
|
all to do with the imbalance of temperatures globally |
|
|
Foranticyclonic or cyclonic conditions _____ doesn’t matter |
temperature |
|
|
Ifthe uni-cellular model was right then wind patterns would be ….. and the UKwoul d have a _______ prevailing wind |
northerly |
|
|
Whichway does the Coriolis force deflect in the north? |
to the right
|
|
|
Thetrade winds at the equator are affected by the Coriolis effect and so aredeflected _________ -________ in the northern hemisphere |
north easterly
|
|
|
the ITCZ is initially driven by the sun, why?
|
because it overhead at the equator at 90 degrees |
|
|
Inthe winter, where are the ITCZ and the sun found directly overhead? Specificdate?
|
Dec 22 |
|
|
Inthe summer, where are the ITCZ and the sun found directly overhead? Specificdate?
|
June 22 |
|
|
TheITCZ moves _____ in winter and ____in summer
|
north |
|
|
Thetropopause becomes narrower as it moves towards the poles. True or false? |
true |
|
|
Windsmove from areas of ____ pressure to areas of ____ pressure creating the _________ ______ |
low pressure gradient |
|
|
steeper pressure gradients are created when..
|
air changes pressure rapidly over a short distance
|
|
|
jet streams |
Currentof fast moving air found in the upper levels of the atmosphere |
|
|
where are jet streams located? |
60and 30 degrees north and south between the circulation cells where thetemperature difference is great |
|
|
non-geostrophic winds |
Ifthe isobars are curved the centrifugal force pushes the winds away from thecentre of a circle so the winds flow parallel to the isobars |
|
|
dimensions of jet streams
|
Thousandsof kms long, a few hundreds of kms wide and few kms thick |
|
|
where are jet streams typically found? (height) |
10-15km |
|
|
position of the upper jet stream denotes the location of... |
Thelocation of the strongest surface temperature contrast |
|
|
jet streams occur due to variables such as |
warm and cold air seasonal changes |
|
|
anticylones/high pressure areas are created by the jet stream when.. |
Windsslow down and converge which forces air out of the jet stream and down onto theearth’s surface |
|
|
Thereare _____ and ____in the jet stream that are part of creating high and lowpressure
|
ridges |
|
|
Jetstreams are mainly found in which layer of the atmosphere? |
tropopause |
|
|
major jet streams are.. |
high speed winds flowing from west to east
|
|
|
Rossby waves
|
large scale motions in the atmosphere |
|
|
Coriolis force
|
Anapparent movement due to the fact that the earths speed of rotation is slowerat the poles than at the equator |
|
|
what causes Rossby waves?
|
Temporaryareas of high pressure block the jet stream and divert its path |
|
|
areas of low pressure are created by the jet stream when... |
Windaccelerates as it goes towards the ridge and air gets sucked up into the jetstream from the surface |
|
|
CTWM climate
|
Theseasonal pattern of weather experienced in the mid-latitudes (between 45 and 60degrees) on the western side ofcontinental land masses, cool temperate western climate |
|
|
frontal rain |
Warmair rises over colder air or is undercut by it causing it to rise, cool andcondense creating clouds |
|
|
relief rain |
Whenwarm humid air is forced to rise over an upland area causing it to cool andcondense which leads to heavy rain |
|
|
convectional rainfall |
Earth’ssurface heats the air above it causing it to rise, condense and rain and thencold air moves in to replace the warm air leading to thunderstorms |
|
|
depression |
Low-pressureweather system frequently experienced in the CTWM climate associated withrising air, wind and precipitation |
|
|
which way do depressions blow in the northern hemisphere? |
Low-pressureweather system frequently experienced in the CTWM climate associated withrising air, wind and precipitation |
|
|
anticyclone |
Highpressure weather system with diverging air near the ground |
|
|
which way do anticylones blow in the northern hemisphere?
|
clockwise |
|
|
air mass |
Ablanket of air that originates in a certain area that has the characteristicsassociated with that area |
|
|
continentality
|
Climaticeffect that causes the climate inland to be different to that on the coasts asit is not regulated or controlled by ocean or winds currents |
|
|
prevailing winds |
Themost common direction from which the wind blows |
|
|
prevailing wind direction in the UK |
south-westerly
|
|
|
north Atlantic drift |
GulfStream, a warm ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and travelsnorth east across the Atlantic that helps regulate the climate of the UK |
|
|
what is each air mass separated by?
|
Atransition zone or boundary called a front |
|
|
where are the main source regions for air masses?
|
Highpressure belts in the sub-tropics and around the poles |
|
|
why is tropical air unstable but polar air stable? |
Becauseit is heated from below whilst polar air is cooled from below |
|
|
why is maritime track air moist but continental air dry? |
Becauseas the air travels over the ocean it picks up moisture and deposits it on land |
|
|
what is used to classify air masses? |
temperature and humidity characteristics |
|
|
name the 6 major air masses affecting the UK |
- Tropical continental - Polar continental - Tropical maritime - Polar maritime - Returning polar maritime - Arctic maritime |
|
|
name the 3 types of front
|
warm cold occluded |
|
|
name the stages in the formation of a depression |
- Origin and infancy - Maturity - Occlusion - Death |
|
|
depressions follow the....and usually move at around _____mph and occur in ______
|
Zigzag path of the fast jet stream in the upper troposphere 40 families |
|
|
Whyis the western side of the UK warmer in the winter compared to the rest of thecountry?
|
prevailing winds |
|
|
four conditions needed for major precipitation to form |
Air cooling Condensation and cloud formation Accumulation of moisture Growth of cloud droplets |
|
|
what is pressure measured in?
|
Millibars |
|
|
isobars are usually drawn at intervals of...
|
4 millibars |
|
|
Pressurevalues are corrected to ______ to ensure that ______ doesn’t affect the mapping
|
Mean Sea Level Pressure MSLP Altitude |
|
|
isobars close together show..
|
strong winds |
|
|
anticyclones |
- Large area of widely spaced isobars - Centre of high pressure - Warm sunny summers - Cold foggy winter |
|
|
WEATHER CHARTS depressions |
- Closely spaced isobars - Centre of low pressure - Accompanied by fronts - strong winds and heavy rain |
|
|
WEATHER CHARTS troughs |
- Elongated extensions of areas of low pressure - depression weather |
|
|
WEATHER CHARTS
ridges |
- Elongated extensions of areas of high pressure - anticyclone weather |
|
|
WEATHER CHARTS col |
Areaof slack pressure between two anticyclones and two depressions |
|
|
WEATHER CHARTS cold fronts |
- Bold blue lines with triangles on - Points of triangle indicate direction of wind - short spells of heavy rain |
|
|
warm fronts |
- Bold red lines with semi-circles on - Direction of humps show wind direction - Prolonged heavy rainfall and strong winds |
|
|
WEATHER CHARTS occluded front |
- Bold lines with triangles and semi-circles on - Direction of shapes show direction of wind |
|
|
WEATHER CHARTS warm sector |
- Of a depression - Located behind the warm front and ahead of the cold front - Mild temperatures - Overcast and drizzle |
|
|
plotted weather charts
|
- Made up of individual station circles - Each observation takes a graphical format |
|
|
PLOTTED WEATHER CHARTS wind speed and direction |
- Single line coming from circle which indicates direction from which wind is blowing - feathers’ on the end show direction |
|
|
PLOTTED WEATHER CHARTS feathers |
- Whole feather is 10 knots - Triangle is 50 knots - Combinations get it to nearest five |
|
|
PLOTTED WEATHER CHARTS
cloud cover |
Indicatedby shading of centre of station circle |
|
|
PLOTTED WEATHER CHARTS
temperature |
- Plotted to nearest degree - Top left hand corner |
|
|
PLOTTED WEATHER CHARTS pressure |
- top right hand corner |
|
|
PLOTTED WEATHER CHARTS weather |
- total of 99 codes for weather |
|
|
depressions
|
Lowpressure systems frequently experienced in CTWM climate associated with risingair, wind and rain, they blow in an anticlockwise direction |
|
|
warm front |
Leadingedge of depression where warm less dense air rises over the colder air ahead |
|
|
cold front |
Rearedge of the depression where colder dense air pushes against warm air ahead |
|
|
warm sector |
Areaof warm moist air that lies between the two fronts |
|
|
occlusion |
where the cold front catches up to the warm front and undercuts it, lifting it so it no longer touches the ground |
|
|
veer |
|
|
|
back |
Windchanges direction from southeast to east to northeast to east experienced innorthern UK |
|
|
instability
|
Airmasses can be modified and are made unstable when heated from below |
|
|
stability |
Airmasses can be modified and are made stable hen cooled from below |
|
|
synoptic chart |
Chartshowing atmospheric conditions of an area at a particular time showingconditions such as weather, temperature and pressure |
|
|
pressure gradient |
Differencein pressure between areas of high and low that controls the speed of wind |
|
|
pressure gradient is directly proportional to the... |
speed of wind |
|
|
where do depressions affecting the UK originate?
|
NorthAtlantic where the polar maritime and tropical maritime meet |
|
|
temp differences between the polar and equatorial climates is one of the... |
Oneof the driving forces that creates depressions |
|
|
where are most weather systems found?
|
on the polar front
|
|
|
is the temperature gradient stable of unstable?
|
unstable |
|
|
weather systems are a bit like waves. when the wave breaks...
|
Thisis an effective way of distributing global temperatures |
|
|
draw the diagram showing the wave breaking system |
did you do it?
|
|
|
atmospheric pressure |
Theweight of the column of air above us to the top of the atmosphere |
|
|
Ina depression the _____ of air is greater than the _____ of air |
inflow |
|
|
Strongerpressure gradients lead to weaker winds. True or false? |
false |
|
|
what would make depressions fade quickly? |
Ifthere wasn’t an input of moist air into the system |
|
|
first sign of an emerging weather system? |
Aband of cloud at the warm conveyor belt |
|
|
signs of developing weather system? |
Anemerging cloud head associated with the cold front |
|
|
Whatshows that a depression is developing into an occluded front? |
the hook of the cloud appears |
|
|
when does the depression decay? |
When the warm conveyor belt air ceases |
|
|
describe the mid-latitude depressiom across the UK
|
- ahead of the depression in the cold sector - warm front passes overhead - in the warm sector - cold front passes overhead - behind the cold front |
|
|
ahead of the depression in the cold front |
- temperatures rise - pressure falls steadily |
|
|
warm front passes overhead |
- amount of cloud increases - continuous rain as pressure falls |
|
|
in the warm sector |
- pressure stabilises - amount of clouds decrease - precipitation stops - slight rise in pressure - temperatures fall slightly |
|
|
cold front passes overhead
|
- heavy rain with possible thunder - pressure rises - temperatures drop |
|
|
behind the cold front |
- pressure rises - fince and cool with some showers |
|
|
in what year did the Great Storm hit the UK? |
1987 |
|
|
what month did the Great Storm of 1987 hit?
|
October |
|
|
days before what was predicted or known about the Great Storm?
|
- not much to suggest what was about to happen - severe winds were expected - due to pass south of the country |
|
|
what happened on the 15th of October in regards to the Great Storm?
|
- depression forming over Bay of Biscay |
|
|
where is the Bay of Biscay?
|
the bay between France and Spain |
|
|
what was unusual about the depresson forming over the Bay of Biscay that led to the Great Storm?
|
it formed to the south of the UK rather than developing over the Atalntic and approaching from the west as most autumnal storms do |
|
|
by 12:00 noon on the 15th of October where was the depression and what was its pressure?
|
970mb |
|
|
by midnight on the 15th of October where was the depression and what was its pressure?
|
953mb |
|
|
what direction did the depression continue to move? what did it bring? example?
|
high temperatures as the warm front passed over some areas experienced a 6degree increase oer 5 hours |
|
|
what caused the depression in the Bay of Biscay? [3] |
- pressure at the centre of the depression rose rapidly due to ascending air creating huge pressure difference - remnants of Hurricane Floyd which left energy behind in the upper atmosphere increasign thermal contrast |
|
|
sting jet
|
distinct and violent jet of cold dry air |
|
|
at what height does the jet stream start?
|
3-4 km above the surface |
|
|
how does the sting jet work?
|
- most damaging winds are here - sting jet enlarges over a few hours - cold jet eventually wraps aroud the cold centre and catches up with the sting jet |
|
|
what speeds can wind reach as part of a sting jet?
|
100mph |
|
|
were warnings put out before the 1987 Great Storm? what were they? |
warnings given to military and London Fire Brigade for example public recieved warnings for heavy rain |
|
|
why weren't the public warnings given out good for the 1987 Great Storm? |
they warned of heavy rains not stong or severe winds |
|
|
strongest gust felt in UK during 1987 Storm? where? what did other inland locations experience?
|
80 knots |
|
|
which other two countries were affected by the Great Storm of 1987?
|
northern France Netherlands |
|
|
impacts on UK of Great Storm
|
- 15 million trees blown down - buildings damaged - ships or boats blown onland - Shanklin Pier on south-east coast of Isle of Whight was shattered into 3 pieces by waves - National Grid sustained damage |
|
|
why were the trees blown down an issue? |
- they went on to roads and raliways - took down electricity and telephone lines leaving thousands without power for 24 hours or longer |
|
|
how many calls did the Fire Brigade recieve in 24hours during the Great Storm?
|
6000
|
|
|
the Great Storm cost the insurance industry how much?
|
$2 billion making second most expensive storm |
|
|
examples of ships or boats affected by the Great Storm? |
- channel ferry blown onshore near Folkestone |
|
|
impacts on France of Great Storm of 1987?
|
- quater of Brittany's forest destroyed - total damage cost estimated at 23billion French Francs |
|
|
responses to Great Storm IMMEDIATE |
- gale warnings given throughout the storm - severe weather warnigns for emergency services - people started to claim for damage afterwards |
|
|
responses to Great Storm LONG TERM |
- resolution of computer models has gone from 150km to 25km globally - temperatures, humidities an wind speeds are now available at a variety of heights for use by the MET office - increases availability of information - National Severe Weather Warning system established by government allowing information to be given to police and emergency services at a county level |
|
|
what dates did the Cumbria storm hit? |
|
|
|
|
Keswick Workington Cockermouth Dumfries |
|
|
what was the cause of the weather that caused the 2009 Cumbria storm? |
warm and dry conditions experienced at the start of October led to rainfall and high winds that were emphasised by depressions crossing from the Atlantic that meant soils were saturated and river levels were pushed higher than average |
|
|
what was spotted on 16th November 2009 as part of the Cumbria storm?
|
a large depression with a long trailing cold front |
|
|
what did the large depression mean for Cumbria in 2009? |
the long trailing cold front showed the boundary between the tropical maritime air and the polar maritime air and depression waves were noticed along the cold front that brought heavy rainfall |
|
|
impacts of the Cumbria 2009 storm? |
- 445 commercial properties were flooded - 80% of Cockermouth businesses were flooded - 1-1.5m of floodwater in Cockermouth - 8 bridges closed - PC Bill Barker died - 110 farmers suffered severe consequences - schools closed temporarily |
|
|
responses in Cumbria 2009 storm? |
- army built temporary bridge in Workington - temporary railway stations - Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund reached £1 million in 10 days - flood defences put up around the town - river dredging |
|
|
anticyclone |
large mass of subsiding air that causes high pressure at the surface leading to hot sunny dry days in summer and cold crisp sharp days in winter |
|
|
which way do the winds blow in an anticyclone? |
clockwise |
|
|
dew point |
the temperature at which condensation occurs and dew is formed |
|
|
radiation fog |
fog associated with anticyclones in the winter caused by rapid heat loss at night, can develop into smog in industrial areas |
|
|
advection fog
|
forms when a mass of relatively warm air moves horizontally across a cooler surface where it is cooled to its dew point and condensation occurs
|
|
|
temperature inversion
|
when air at altitude is marginally warmer than air at lower levels causing pollutants to be trapped |
|
|
blocking anticyclone |
high pressure systems that persist for days as they are stable and block out any depressions |
|
|
frets are haars |
advection fog that is found around coasts ad over the sea in summer that evaporates as it moves inland |
|
|
how are anticyclonic ad anticyclones different?
|
the first refers to high pressure systems of belts on a larger scale such as globally whereas the other refers to weather systems
|
|
|
what can blocking anticyclones result in?
|
sustained weather conditions such as heat waves or big freezes |
|
|
anticyclones tend to be ______ than depressions and can be ______ of miles across
|
thousands |
|
|
diagram of how anticyclones form in relation to polar jet stream? |
|
|
|
anticyclone weather in winter
|
- sunny but cool days with heights of 6 degrees - long cold nights - frost and fog on valley floors - radiation fog - trapped pollutants |
|
|
why are there cold days in winter during an anticyclone?
|
- weak winter sun - long angle of incidence so insolation is low |
|
|
why is there frost in winter during an anticyclone?
|
clear skies allow heat loss from ground at night which leads to ice when moisture comes into contact with it |
|
|
why is there fog in winter during an anticyclone?
|
- under the clear night skies as moist atmosphere is cooled through radiation of heat from the ground that leads to condensation as air is cooled to dew point |
|
|
summer weather under anticyclones
|
- strong sunshine - clear cloudless skies - heat waves - hot days of over 23 degrees - warm night may not fall below 15 degrees - advection fog - thunderstorms |
|
|
why are there hot days in summer during an anticyclone?
|
- cloudless skies - sun at high angle so greater insolation |
|
|
when dates did the July 2013 heatwave occur?
|
3rd-22nd |
|
|
how did the July 2013 heatwave end?
|
with heavy thunderstorms on 23rd July which led to flooding and the lightning to power cuts and fires
|
|
|
what caused the July 2013 heatwave? |
high pressure in first 2/3rds of July |
|
|
the July 2013 heatwave was the .... since ....
|
2006 |
|
|
despite being warm, July 2013 heatwave wasn't a record breaker with... rain: hours of sunshine: mean temp: |
588hrs 15.2 degrees |
|
|
highest temperature experienced during 2013 heatwave
|
34.1 degrees at Heathrow |
|
|
how many additional deaths in the UK were caused by the 2013 heat wave? |
760 |
|
|
when did the June 2003 heatwave take place?
|
June - mid-August
|
|
|
what caused the June 2003 heat wave?
|
huge blocking anticyclone anchored over western Europe |
|
|
the death toll from the 2003 heatwave had the highest death toll from a natural hazard in 50 years, what was it?
|
estimated 300,000 deaths |
|
|
impacts of the June 2003 heatwave |
- Alpine Glaciers were down by 10% - France's energy exports fell by over half as nuclear reactors had to be switched off - more than 250,000 forest fires in 8 countries |
|
|
NHS key messages for the public in heatwaves
|
- cool yourself down - keep environment cool - look out for others especially old, young and sick |
|
|
what's the aim of the NHS's heatwave plan?
|
make the public aware of the dangers of the heat |
|
|
effectiveness of NHS heatwave plan
|
2,000 in 2003 300 in 2009 |
|
|
monsoon |
the seasonal reversal of pressure and wind direction commonly associated with heavy rainfall, experience when winds blow in from the ocean in southeast Asia during May-October |
|
|
convection |
when the lower air in the atmosphere is heated from below by the ground causing it to expand and rise which in turn leads to instability within the atmosphere and the formation of cumulonimbus clouds |
|
|
orographic enhancement
|
moist air is forced over mountains which causes it to condense which leads to rainfall experienced in monsoons, the Western Ghats for example |
|
|
ITCZ
|
occurs along a line where the northeast trade winds blowing away from the sub-tropical high pressure cell in the N hemisphere meet the south east trade winds blowing in a similar way from a sub-tropical high in the S hemisphere and is a major influence on the monsoon climate and the role of subtropical anticyclones |
|
|
subtropical high pressure (anticyclones)
|
as air moves towards the subtropics as part of the global circulation of air, it descends over the oceans and creates semi-permanent circulation features which result in sunny skies and dry weather due to the air warming and drying as it descends |
|
|
NE monsoon |
period of time from October to December that sees the major period of rainfall activity over the south peninsula of India, particularly in the east, as the ITCZ moves south creating low pressure over oceans
|
|
|
SW monsoon
|
period of time from July to September where Indian sub-continent warms up as the ITCZ moves north causing low pressure overhead which results in moist which from the ocean moving inland where it condenses causing the rain of the monsoon |
|
|
the frequency of storms is increased on the __________ side of oceans because .....
|
the tendency for air to be lifted by convergence is greater there |
|
|
ITCZ marks an area of ... |
low pressure |
|
|
land mass is heated and cooled quicker than oceans, true or false? |
true |
|
|
ITCZ moves _____ in ______ to a high of ____ degrees over India and ______ in ______ |
northwards June 30 southwards January |
|
|
what is a monsoon?
|
the seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing or strongest wind evident in the area
|
|
|
where is a monsoon climate found?
|
most of the tropics southeast Asia south Asia central Africa Australia |
|
|
characteristics of the monsoon climate
|
- mean temperature of above 18 degrees each month - more than 1000mm of rainfall each year - small variation in temperature - driest month after the winter solstice - can experience less than 60mm of rain in driest month |
|
|
how is the monsoon climate caused?
|
- in summer as the ITCZ moves north over India, the ground is heated causing pressure differences between land and ocean - this leads to south-westerly winds being created which blow moist air onto land as the air goes from high pressure on the oceans to low pressure on the land - as the moist air reaches the land, it encounters mountains, is forced to rise, condense leading to rain and thunderstorms - in the winter, this process is reversed as the winds blow from a north-westerly direction causing dry air to be blown onto the oceans |
|
|
how do sub-tropical anticyclones and monsoon climate link?
|
as winds move onland during summer monsoon, an area of sub-tropical high pressure/anticyclone is created over the ocean |
|
|
why is the wettest place on earth in eastern India?
|
the mountains in south India split the monsoon rains to travel up the western sides and eastern sides of the country meaning that the eastern side has a longer sea track over the Bay of Bengal so more moisture is available to be deposited and the Himalayas |
|
|
why is it drier behind the Himalayas?
|
the rainshadow effect |
|
|
which part of India experiences the longest monsoon? why?
|
because the monsoon both travels inland through the south and retreats that way also |
|
|
why does the south of India experience two peak rainfalls during monsoon season?
|
because the rains travel north accounting for one and then the retreat accounts for another
|
|
|
tropical cyclone |
slow moving systems of extreme low pressure that form over very warm tropical oceans
|
|
|
when are tropical cyclones most common? |
autumn |
|
|
other names for tropical cyclones?
|
hurricanes |
|
|
where are tropical storms found? |
in the trade wind belt |
|
|
in what direction do tropical cyclones travel and how do they move? |
travel westwards on unpredictable courses and once they make landfall they move towards the poles |
|
|
eye |
the area in the centre of the cyclone that has a diameter of around 30-50km
|
|
|
conditions in the eye of a cyclone
|
high temperatures clear skies subsiding air |
|
|
when does the eye develop? |
when the storm is in the mature stage |
|
|
latent heat
|
heat required to turn liquid into a vapour and is transferred to the rising air as a tropical cyclone develops and is released through the condensation and subsequent heavy rainfall as it develops further driving the storm as a system |
|
|
storm surge |
large rises in sea level caused by the low pressure and high winds of a storm, water rushes inland and causes extensive flooding in low lying areas of the coast |
|
|
Saffir-Simpson Scale
|
scale of five levels based upon central pressure, wind speed, storm surge and damage potential used to measure tropical revolving storms |
|
|
FEMA
|
Federal Emergency Management Agency, an organisation in the USA that coordinates all the emergency work during a disaster such as a hurricane |
|
|
formation of a tropical cyclone
|
- if a constant supply of heat and moisture is maintained then it develops from a depression into a tropical cyclone - as winds sweep over the ocean, evaporation is increased and latent heat is transferred to the rising air - moist air then rises and condenses into clouds and heavy rainfall which releases latent heat drives the storm - in the mature stage an eye develops and the descending air increases instability by warming and intensity - once a storm reaches land it declines rapidly as moisture and heat are lost |
|
|
average lifespan of a tropical storm
|
7-14 days |
|
|
ENGINEERING |
- levees built to withstand a category 1-3 storm - calls to fix levees went unnoticed and ignored - Mississippi River Gulf outlet built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1968 provided a 76 mile long and 200m wide inlet for the storm surge - levees and flood walls were built with a 1.3 safety factor which is way lower than todays standard - bad engineering meant the flood walls were breached - in 2004 Army Corps asked for $22.5 million to put towards storm protection in NO but it was slashed to $3.0 million by Bush in 2005 |
|
|
in what ways was Katrina a man made disaster? ENVIRONMENT |
- failure by politicians to fix the decades long assault on Louisiana coast wetlands that they had pledged to do - Army Corps water projects either reduced silt content or cut through marshlands directly - Obama pledged a $19 million fund to restore coast but it was never funded - oil and gas extraction increased subsidence |
|
|
quote from Obama about Katrina and man made disaster |
what started out as a natural disaster became a man-made disaster - a failure of government to look out for its own citizens |
|
|
what percentage of NO lies below sea level? |
80% |
|
|
- |
- 1/3rd live below the poverty line |
|
|
name of hurricane in the simulation before Katrina
|
Pam |
|
|
what was learned from the hurricane Pam simulation? |
- 300,000 would have to be rescued as they couldn't leave themselves - almost half had no cars so transport would have to be provided - rescuing 30,000 people a day would take 10 days but 30,000 is ideal - FEMA promised to provide resources after the disaster - tent cities were suggested |
|
|
how many hours before Katrina did FEMA have access to everything they could have needed?
|
48 hours |
|
|
was an evacuation ordered in New Orleans?
|
by the Mayor but it was last minute |
|
|
what time did Katrina hit NO?
|
6:10pm |
|
|
how powerful was Katrina?
|
10x that of an atomic bomb |
|
|
how many people turned up at the super dome in Katrina? for how many people had FEMA planned for? |
26,000 15,000 |
|
|
when was a public health emergency declared in NO as part of Katrina?
|
aug 31st |
|
|
conditions in the aftermath of Katrina were similar to what? |
a third world country as people had no food or water |
|
|
death toll for Katrina |
1,213 |
|
|
aftermath of Katrina
|
- military was called in - people took things into their won hands - people continued to show up at the dome but there were still no provisions - more helicopters in NO than in Iraq in 72 hours - forced evacuation |
|
|
for how long was relief waiting on the edge of NO
|
3 days
|
|
|
on what date did the head of FEMA resign? |
September 10th |
|
|
in what year did Katrina occur?
|
August 2005 |
|
|
KATRINA TIMELINE 25th August |
- predicated track goes over one of most densely populated areas on Gulf coast - intensified over warm waters of Gulf of Mexico going from category 3 to 5 |
|
|
KATRINA TIMELINE 26th August |
- very warms waters of Loop Current reduce central pressure and raise wind speed
|
|
|
KATRINA TIMELINE 27th - 28th August |
- reached category 5 at 1:00pm on 28th - mayor ordered evacuation |
|
|
KATRINA TIMELINE 29th August |
- winds of 280km/hr - central pressure of 902mb - storm surge of 3 - 8.2m - torrential rain with peaks of 380mm - artificially enhanced levees break - flood walls breached |
|
|
KATRINA TIMELINE 30th August and onwards |
- FEMA supply one fifth of 700,000 requested trailers - FEMA pays for temporary hotel costs of around 12,000 people - government criticised |
|
|
factors that made Cyclone Nargis worse
|
- most of delta is just above sea level - since 1962 the country has been run by military junta with limited communication with the outside world |
|
|
NARGIS TIMELINE 29th April |
- storm veers north-eastwards and becomes stronger
|
|
|
NARGIS TIMELINE 1st May |
- cyclone rapidly intensifies as it heads east due to presence of an upper level trough that reduces pressure |
|
|
NARGIS TIMELINE 2nd May |
- winds of 215km/hr - makes landfall at peak strength on the south east coast of Burma - 3.5m high storm surge - roads were flooded or washed away - 42% of food stacks were destroyed - winds of 130 km/hr now |
|
|
aftermath |
- aid agencies refused entry - lack of information and a state of confusion - 75% of hospitals damaged - diarrhoea, dysentery and skin infections broke out - pledges of foreign aid build up |
|
|
what temperatures do oceans need to be above for hurricanes to form?
|
27 degrees |
|
|
when did Haiyan hit the Philippines?
|
8th November 2013 |
|
|
what was Haiyan classified as?
|
a super typhoon |
|
|
was Haiyan the strongest typhoon at landfall?
|
yes |
|
|
why was Haiyan so strong? |
- it had ideal conditions - system was very compact and intense - moved unusually quickly meaning cold water that weakens a typhoon was upturned and the eyewall was not replaced so wind speed was maintained - configuration of islands steered storm straight at Tacloban - shallow water forced surge higher |
|
|
how many landfalls did Haiyan make?
|
started with Guiuan in Samar |
|
|
what strength was Haiyan at when it made landfall?
|
category 5 |
|
|
how high was Haiyan's storm surge?
|
15m |
|
|
preparation for Haiyan in the Philippines
|
- as it made landfall, the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters was initiated so relief agencies could have access to satellite images to help recovery - military deployed planes and helicopter in advance to expected worst hit-areas - community buildings are storm shelters - whole island evacuations took place - Purok system in which community members agree to deposit money into a community fund to be used post-disaster rather than wait on aid agencies |
|
|
impact of Haiyan
|
- death toll of 6021 - all buildings not made of concrete were destroyed - no clean water, food or electricity - storm surge destroyed terminal building at Tacloban - fishing industry badly affected with 95% of boats/equipment being destroyed in some areas |
|
|
relief in Haiyan
|
- government response was slow - roads were covered in debris so aid distribution was slowed - UK and USA sent diggers, land rovers, heavy lifting gear and helicopters - European Commission released $4m in emergency funds |
|
|
albedo
|
the reflectivity of a surface, the ratio between the amount of incoming insolation and the amount of energy reflected back into the atmosphere |
|
|
which type of surfaces and area have a higher albedo?
|
light surfaces rural areas |
|
|
microclimate
|
areas of small-scale variation in temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed and evaporation that occur in areas such as mountains, coastal and forests |
|
|
photochemical smog
|
associated with high pressure weather systems, exhaust fumes and volatile organic compounds become trapped by temperature inversions and react with the sunlight to form the yellowy-brown smog found in cities |
|
|
temperature inversions |
atmospheric conditions in which temperature increases with height rather than decreasing creating stable conditions that trap pollutants as they can't rise |
|
|
urban heat island UHI
|
zone around and around an urban area which has higher temperatures than the surrounding rural areas |
|
|
convectional rainfall |
the earth's surface heats the air above it causing it to rise, the water vapour to condense and then rainfall happens as cold air moves into replace the warm air which leads to thunderstorms |
|
|
condensation or hygroscopic nuclei
|
water attracting particles produced by industrial processes and as water gathers around them, smog and fog form and hours of sunshine are reduced |
|
|
particulate matter |
the solid matter in the urban atmosphere which derives from power stations and vehicle exhausts and other sources such as cement dust, ash, coal dust and pollen |
|
|
Clean Air Act |
in the 1950s the UK put this in place and saw smoke production and particulate emissions dramatically reduce and the number of foggy days declined also |
|
|
Venturi effect
|
pressure within the gap between two buildings that causes the wind to pick up speed and reach high velocities |
|
|
why do cities tend to be warmer than rural areas? |
- industries burn fuel and release heat - air pollution traps radiation - little water means more heat for atmosphere |
|
|
example of an area that experiences UHI? minimum temperatures?
|
London |
|
|
draw an urban heat island profile
|
|
|
|
studies in which USA cities have found that urban-induced rainfall and thunderstorms are mainly the result of the UHI?
|
NY Chicago Washington |
|
|
benefit of UHI? researchers opinion about this?
|
negatives in summer outweigh this positive |
|
|
UHI mitigation strategies
|
- painting buildings - white membrane over building materials - white topping pavements - green roofs - planting trees strategically e.g. in front of windows or on the east and west of buildings |
|
|
causes of the UHI
|
- urban canyons inhibit heat escape - production of waste heat |
|
|
impacts of the UHI
|
- if it continues in the future the rural to urban thermal ratio may double - increase in overall energy consumption - heat related illness like heat stroke and exhaustion - aggressive behaviour and murder rates increase - increase in thunderstorms as cold rural air converges on urban areas so warm air rises and condenses - reduced snowfall - flowers bloom one month earlier - worse air and water quality |
|
|
case study of UHI mitigation
|
- installed a green roof on the city hall that includes 20,000 plants, shrubs and trees - expected to save $3,600 annually - designed to test effectiveness of different types of native and non-native vegetation, the success rates of different rooftop garden systems and reduction in surface runoff - raised awareness |
|
|
urban canyon
|
urban artefact similar to natural canyon created by streets cutting through dense blocks of structures especially skyscrapers
|
|
|
examples of urban canyons
|
Magnificent Mile in Chicago Canyon of Heroes in Manhattan |
|
|
there is a __________ within an urban canyon |
microclimate |
|
|
aspect ratio
|
ratio between the average height of buildings to width of the street in an urban canyon |
|
|
what does the aspect ratio affect?
|
wind speed
|
|
|
sky view factor |
|
|
|
how does the sky view factor affect temperature?
|
the more sky that is visible the quicker the heat can escape and so the area cools quicker |
|
|
canyons have impacts on various local conditions including... |
- wind speed/venture effect - temperature is elevated by 2-4C - decreased air quality due to stagnant air |
|
|
case study of air pollution facts/causes/impacts |
LOS ANGELES - photochemical smog - 90% of journeys are made by car - 160km driven a day - frequent sunshine allows chemical reaction - light winds inhibit diffusion - basin site in the valley of the San Gabriel mountains inhibit lateral diffusion - highest level of ozone nationwide - more than 90% of Californians live with unhealthful air - caused by car emissions and manufacturing plants for example |
|
|
case study of air pollution strategies |
- emission control on vehicle exhausts so that the 10 million cars today produce less pollution than the 2 million in the 1950's - use of electric vehicles planned - public transport schemes like new rail networks and car pooling - failing to keep up with development though |
|
|
National Air Quality Strategy |
UK law that sets out air quality objectives and standards for reducing levels of health threatening pollutants |
|
|
case study for pollution reduction policies causes |
- expansion of middle class means more cars on the road - lack of strict controls on local industry - population growth leads to construction sites - near to other polluted cites like Tianjin - mountains surround the city from the SW to the NE |
|
|
case study for pollution reduction policies effects |
BEIJING - airports are sometimes shut down in Jan 2012 150 flights were cancelled - premature births - respiratory ailments - Beijing throat where pollution irritates noses and throats of citizens - 300,000 deaths a year |
|
|
case study for pollution reduction policies solutions |
- plans are in place to shut all coal fired power stations by 2017 - invested £75.8bn to improve air quality by 2017 - plant 133,000 hectares of new forests - vehicles labelled yellow, which fail to meet Euro emissions standards, or green which do, and yellow face fines in certain zones |
|
|
precipitation is ___% more likely in urban areas because...
|
there is more convection from the heat and so more convectional rainfall |
|
|
reasons for precipitation in urban areas
|
- presence of high rise buildings - large amounts of water vapour produced from industrial sources and power stations leads to hygroscopic nuclei effect |
|
|
reasons for precipitation in urban areas UHI generates heat |
concrete buildings absorb heat and re-emit it causing warming of the air so it rises and condenses |
|
|
reasons for precipitation in urban areas high rise buildings |
presence of skyscrapers and other sized buildings induces air turbulence and increase vertical movement of air |
|
|
reasons for precipitation in urban areas hygroscopic nuclei effect |
without condensation nuclei all the particles wouldn't clump together and rainfall wouldn't occur in this way |
|
|
there is a ____% greater chance of thunderstorms in urban areas because.... |
of the higher temperatures |
|
|
why is fog more common in urban areas?
|
higher concentration of condensation nuclei in urban areas because of the higher levels of industrialisation that produce pollution and dust |
|
|
when does fog usually form in urban areas?
|
at night under high pressure conditions |
|
|
what condition emphasises fog formation? |
anticyclonic conditions because of their stable nature |
|
|
types of fog that occur in urban areas?
|
- radiation - photochemical - urban |
|
|
why is wind speed generally slower in urban areas? |
friction experienced from buildings |
|
|
when is wind fastest in urban areas?
|
when not obstructed such as in urban canyons or altitude |
|
|
what is created by the differing pressure in front and behind buildings, which way round is it?
|
turbulence is created by the high pressure behind the building and low in front of |
|
|
when wind hits a building how does it split?
|
- one goes up - one goes down - two go round the sides |
|
|
what does the wind that goes downwards create?
|
a reverse eddy as it hits the ground and reverses |
|
|
a building's ..... have an impact on wind
|
orientation size height |
|
|
two types of particulate matter |
- PM10 - 2.5-10 micrometres in diameter - fine dust particles - PM2.5 - 2.5 or less micrometres in diameter |
|
|
what can particulate matter cause?
|
- lung problems - irritation of eyes, nose and throat |
|
|
how is photochemical smog formed?
|
- VOCs also undergo a reaction - sunlight breaks this down causing other reactions to take place that lead to the formation of low level ozone |
|
|
there is a general consensus that ________ are ________ but there is disagreement over....and there is debate about...
|
increasing by how much they are the extent to which human activity is responsible |
|
|
climate change can be defined as...
|
- changes in average conditions - changes in variability of extreme events |
|
|
physical evidence for climate change
|
- seafloor analysis - ice core analysis - glacial deposits |
|
|
physical evidence for climate change RADIOCARBON DATING |
- carbon is taken in by plants and as C-14 decays radioactively at a set rate, its levels can be compared to C-12 which does not decay |
|
|
physical evidence for climate change SEAFLOOR ANALYSIS |
- isotopes of carbon and oxygen give information - O-16 is lighter than O-18 and so if more of it is found it means it was warmer as it wasn't trapped in the ice and was released when the ice was melted |
|
|
physical evidence for climate change ICE CORE ANALYSIS |
- in colder periods less CO2 is trapped in the ice on formation and the reverse is true if warmer |
|
|
GLACIAL DEPOSITS |
- shows where glaciers once were but are no longer |
|
|
biological evidence for climate change
|
- beetles (coleoptera) - pollen analysis |
|
|
biological evidence for climate change dendrochronology |
- warm and wet years produce thicker rings than cold dry years - patterns of growth create timelines |
|
|
biological evidence for climate change coleoptera |
- many species inhabit specific regions - analysis of previous distribution can indicate earlier climate belts |
|
|
biological evidence for climate change pollen analysis |
- pollen grains are preserved showing location and relative abundance - changes in concentrations at increasing depth |
|
|
observational evidence for climate change |
- historical observations |
|
|
observational evidence for climate change landscape |
- fjords were created by glaciers moving through the landscape |
|
|
observational evidence for climate change historical observations |
- frost fairs held on the frozen river Thames - paintings in caves of animals there at specific times |
|
|
natural causes of climate change |
- Milankovitch's Cycles - plate tectonics - volcanic activity - change in ocean circulation - meteorites |
|
|
natural causes of climate change variation in solar energy |
sunspot activity occurs in cycles and temperatures on earth are highest when its at its maximum |
|
|
natural causes of climate change Milankovitch's Cycles |
changes in the earth's tilt, orbit and wobble result in changes in the amount of solar radiation reaching the earths surface |
|
|
natural causes of climate change plate tectonics |
land masses drift into different latitudes or the sea bed is pushed upwards to form fold mountains forming colder climates |
|
|
natural causes of climate change volcanic activity |
world temperatures are lowered after a large eruption as the increase in dust particles abosrbs and scatters the more of the icoming radiation and the increase in condensation nuclei means more rain |
|
|
natural causes of climate change changes in ocean circulation |
the currents in the oceans could be affected by hte changes in the exchange of heat between land and water causing long term effects such as the reverse of major currents and short term affects such as differences to El Nino |
|
|
natural causes of climate change meteorites |
can cause reduction in incoming radiation , a depletion of hte ozone layer, a lowering of global temperatures and increase in acid rain |
|
|
the greenhouse effect is a _________ process that has been exacerbated by _________ actions some believe as more gases such as ____ are pumped into the atmosphere so _______ happens quicker |
human CO2 warming |
|
|
how does the greenhouse effect happen? |
- solar radiation passes through the clear atmosphere - some is reflected back by the atmosphere and the earth's surface - some is absorbed by earth's surface - some of radiation is absorbed and re-emitted by GHG molecules in all directions causing heating - some passes through the atmosphere and back into space |
|
|
without the greenhouse effect the earth would be
|
30 degrees C colder |
|
|
anthropogenic greenhouse effect |
humans are having an enhanced impact on the greenhouse effect by putting more gases into the atmosphere such as CO2 causing heat to be trapped quicker and more easily
|
|
|
GHG
CO2 |
- released by animals during respiration, burning of fossil fuels and vegetation - contributes to around 50% of total warming |
|
|
GHG why do levels of CO2 fluctuate? |
seasonal differences in vegetation growth means lots is absorbed in summer but not in winter |
|
|
GHG methane |
- released as bacteria break down organic matter - contributes around 18% |
|
|
why have levels of methane increased over the last 200 years? |
increase in the number of ruminating animals such as cows which produce methane |
|
|
GHG ozone |
- formed naturally from 3 oxygen atoms and UV radiation |
|
|
GHG why is ozone vital to life on earth? |
it filters out harmful short-wave radiation from the sun |
|
|
CFCs |
- released from aerosol sprays during 60s + 70s - account for 24% |
|
|
how long can CFCs remain in the atmosphere for? |
100 years |
|
|
nitrous oxide |
- concentrated in lower troposphere - released through combustion of fossil fuels - 5% of total warming |
|
|
by what percentage are nitrous oxide concentrations rising each year? |
0.3%
|
|
|
views of sceptics about global warming when looking at graphs |
- when looking further back than the hockey stick graph a rapid increase in temp was seen 10,000 years earlier - thermometers have only been used in the last 100 years so other temps are estimates at best - once thermometers were used temperatures rocketed...coincidence? |
|
|
global impacts of climate change RISING SEA LEVELS figures/causes |
- IPCC say sea levels rose by average of 3.1mm per year from 1993-2003 - collapsing Antarctic ice sheets are expected to rise sea levels by 2 metres by 2100 - melting ice caps and ocean expansion cause rising levels |
|
|
global impacts of climate change RISING SEA LEVELS |
- mega deltas like the Bengal delta will be under threat - small coral islands/tolls of the Caribbean and Pacific like Kiribati will be under threat from being submerged |
|
|
global impacts of climate change GLOBAL WARMING figures/causes |
- land areas will warm more quickly - humans are pumping out carbon 10x faster than ever before - 10 billion tonnes of carbon is released into the atmosphere every year |
|
|
global impacts of climate change GLOBAL WARMING |
- some parts of Alaska experienced temps 10C higher than average - France had warmest winter ever in 2015 - southern Argentina experienced temps below average - Arctic sea ice lost 1.7million km2 since 1980 - Siberian land frozen for 45,000 years is now thawing |
|
|
global impacts of climate change DROUGHT |
- Ethiopia experience one of worst in history with 10 million people needing emergency assistance as cattle died and crops failed - Yangtze river basin experienced record drought in 2011 - Africa, Middle East and India likely to see reduction in cereal yields due to lack of rainfall - North Africa, Middle East and India likely to experience increased water stress |
|
|
global impacts of climate change HEALTH |
- expected that 7.2million more people will be at risk from malaria in Africa - China and central Asia see an additional 290 million at risk from malaria by 2080 - 70-80% of the additional people at risk from hunger will be in Africa |
|
|
global impacts of climate change ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
- in Africa, people's health, ability to fight illness, ability to feed themselves and girls enrolment in school will all be undermined by climate change impeding economic development |
|
|
monsoon impacts of climate change general |
- increase variability and intensity of monsoon - monsoon rains are getting heavier - monsoons are 10% more frequent than they were in 1950s - frequency of severe rains has doubled since 1950s |
|
|
monsoon impacts of climate change changes due to water/heat changes |
- some have linked a warmed sea-surface with increased hurricane frequency
- likely to increase intensity of tropical storms - alterations to water cycle could result in increase in waterborne disease - increased flooding will lead to crop damage |
|
|
monsoon impacts of climate change specifics |
- people of Bengal delta could be environmental refugees by 2050 - as Asian monsoon intensifies knock on impacts will be felt around the world such as severe droughts in southern Australia |
|
|
UK impacts of climate change RISING SEA LEVEL |
- increased storm occurrences - zone of mixing impacted affecting water supplies - low lying areas especially the southeast are at risk - loss of coastal habitats - increased damage on human resources at coast - increased storm surge probability |
|
|
UK impacts of climate change RISING TEMPERATURES |
- increase in infectious diseases - average temperatures will rise from 9C to 10.6C - could disrupt Gulf Stream and therefore weather - wetlands dry out more frequently - heaths subject to wild fires - species composition altered - 90% less snow |
|
|
UK impacts of climate change NORTH SOUTH DIVIDE |
- movement of farming zones northwards around 200-300km per centigrade increase - 200km shift of climate along a south-east north-west gradient - wet/dry divide exaggerated as flooding/drought become more common - increase in timber yields by 25% in north - decrease in crop yields in south east |
|
|
PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 key elements: adaptation |
- strengthen the ability of society to cope with impacts |
|
|
international responses to climate change
PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 key elements: transparency |
- report to other countries and public about progress - come together every five years to set more ambitious goals |
|
|
international responses to climate change
PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 key elements: mitigation |
- aim to limit increase to 1.5C - long term goal of keeping increase in temp way below 2C |
|
|
international responses to climate change
PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 how many countries? |
195 |
|
|
international responses to climate change
PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 when is it set to come into force and what has to happen for this to be accomplished? |
- 55 countries that account for 55% of total global emissions have to ratify the agreement |
|
|
what stops countries form ratifying agreements?
|
some more developed countries like Japan require parliaments approval |
|
|
international responses to climate change
PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 which countries promised to sign this time and what could this mean? |
the target date of 2020 forward as they account for a lot of global emissions which would help to attain 1.5C goal and shows serious commitment |
|
|
international responses to climate change
PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 before the countries came together they... |
submitted comprehensive national climate plans but they aren't enough to keep temps below 2C yet |
|
|
international responses to climate change PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 global economies |
- rich countries promised to raise $100billion/yr by 2020 to help poor countries transform economies |
|
|
international responses to climate change
PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 issues |
- depends on political will - agreement still condemns hundreds of millions of people living in low-lying areas and small islands - already been warming by 1C |
|
|
international responses to climate change
PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 long term goal |
to reach net zero emissions in second half of century |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 goal |
industrialised countries agreed to reduce GHG emissions by 2012 |
|
|
international responses to climate change PARIS UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 good points |
- sets ambitious targets - keeps people's mind on issue |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 targets |
- EU countries reduce by 8% - Japan by 5% - some countries can increase emissions such as Greece which can increase by 25% |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 how were targets achieved? |
- emissions trading - Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 joint implementation |
any industrialised country can invest in a emission reduction policy in any other Annex 1 country as an alternative to reducing domestic emissions |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 emissions trading |
international transfer of emissions allocations between industrialised counties |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) |
developed countries can go and set up or implement green/clean technology projects in developing countries and then emit more as emissions are reduced in the developing country and therefore worldwide |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 example of CDM |
India's National Solar Mission is reducing emissions, creating jobs and bringing clean energy to rural areas |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 as part of the agreement each country must.... |
credibly measure its contribution and meet its commitment |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 how are countries quotas allocated? |
- sinks and sources are included in deciding caps |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 issues |
- some countries are disproportionately responsible for emissions like the US (25%) - developing countries like China were exempt but emit loads - too many industrialised countries moved polluting industries to countries not covered by protocol |
|
|
international responses to climate change KYOTO PROTOCOL 1997-2013 future? |
- expired in 2012 |
|
|
how many meetings have happened since 1992? |
7 |
|
|
international responses to climate change timeline of meetings |
1997: Climate Change Protocol, Kyoto 2005: G8 meeting, Gleneagles 2007: UN Climate Change Convention, Bali 2008: G8 meeting, Japan 2009: Summit, Copenhagen 2015: UN Climate Change Conference, Paris |
|
|
international responses to climate change WORLD BANK |
- $16bn a year - move to help countries change to renewables, develop green transport and build sustainable cities |
|
|
international responses to climate change WORLD BANK examples |
- build early warning systems for climate-related disasters for 100 million people |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change NATIONAL POLICIES AND STRATEGIES climate change act of 2008 |
- made UK first country to have a legally-binding long-term framework to cut CO2 - part of EUs ETS - created a framework for building UKs ability to adapt to climate change - UK wide climate change risk assessment every 5 years - national adaptation program reviewed every 5 years - mandate giving government power to require water and energy utilities to report on what they are doing to prevent risk in their sector |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change NATIONAL POLICIES AND STRATEGIES climate change programme 2006 |
- promise to increase renewable use |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change NATIONAL POLICIES AND STRATEGIES 2006: how did the gov make it easier for individuals to live more sustainable lives? |
- insulation grants - Code for Sustainable Homes sets out voluntary standards beyond those required and contribute to reducing the environmental impact of housing growth - Energy Performance of Buildings Directive includes key provisions such as regular inspection of boilers/AC, requirement to consider renewables in buildings of certain size and minimum energy performance requirements |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change what is the UK committed to doing? |
reducing CO2 levels to 80% of what they were in 1990 by 2050 |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change EU emissions trading system (ETS) |
- companies get an allowance that they can sell/use to others as well as buy from others -2005 |
|
|
ETS: what does it cover? where? |
- 27 member states and Iceland, Croatia, Norway and Lichtenstein - limits 45% of total EU emissions |
|
|
ETS: cap and trade |
allows companies the flexibility to cut emissions in most cost-effective way for them |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change ETS: international |
- major source of investment in environmentally sustainable development in developing nations - accountable for 3/4s of international carbon trading - inspiring development of national/regional trading schemes around the world - linking with others such as Australia |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change mitigation: geo-engineering - CCS |
- relatively new - process of collecting CO2 as it emerges from point sources such as chimneys - then is stored in either deep geological formations or deep ocean basins |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change mitigation: geo-engineering - CCS figures |
- geological storage alone could hold up to 70 years of emissions at current rates |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change mitigation: geo-engineering - CCS issues |
- unsure nature of geological capacities - unknown risk of carbon leakage - ocean acidification if sea water used as storage media |
|
|
mitigation: geo-engineering - CCS White Rose CCS |
- in line to win £250 million grant - gas will be siphoned off from new power station and stored in undersea rock formations - major political commitment - new power station built next to existing Drax one - gas transported through National Grid's proposed pipeline - stored under North Sea - oxy-fuel technology used to create gases high in CO2 concentration so further separation will not be necessary - capture 90% of gas from plant |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change
mitigation: geo-engineering - CCS White Rose CCS benefits |
- low-carbon electricity - reduces CO2 so legislation can be met - anchor project for further development in UK |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change mitigation: geo-engineering - carbon sequestration |
remove carbon directly from atmosphere
|
|
|
UK national responses to climate change reducing sources of CO2 alternative sources of energy - renewables |
- Irish Sea - set to becomes largest in the world - 200 turbines - Danish energy giant Dong proposed it in 2013 - power up to 559,000 homes - 75 locals already employed - 1million a month contributed to local economy |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change reducing sources of CO2 developing more carbon sinks |
planting forests
|
|
|
UK national responses to climate change reducing sources of CO2 improving energy efficiency - Green Deal |
- Green Deal Assessment first step where assessment done and schemes discussed - Green Deal Home Improvement Fund gives cashback where possible if certain insulation/ boilers are installed - Green Deal Finance companies give loans to pay for some or all of installation which is repaid through electricity bill |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change reducing sources of CO2 improving energy efficiency - Feed-In Tariff |
- paid for energy used and that which goes back into Grid |
|
|
UK national responses to climate change reducing sources of CO2 improving energy efficiency - Energy Company Obligation (ECO) |
- affordable warmth obligation means they have to provide heat and insulation improvements for low-income and vulnerable households |
