UK Storms
- Created by: Charlie Davies
- Created on: 27-05-14 18:57
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- UK Storms
- They are Temperate Storms
- also called mid-latitude cyclones or extratropical cyclones
- occur in temperate climates
- found at mid-latitudes, 30-60oNorth or South of Equator
- range from mild (rain showers and 15-30km winds) to severe(thunderstorms and 120km/h winds)
- generally cause less damage than tropical storms.
- typical impacts include road closures, power cuts, damage to trees
- caused by depressions
- form over sea in autumn when water is warm- warm surface water leads to warm, moist air which rises.
- When this warm air meets polar front it rises rapidly above cold polar air creating an area of low pressure along with condensation and heavy rain
- steep pressure gradient between two air masses drives strong winds, which spiral around the depression
- steep temperature gradients in a depression affect storms strength - strong temp gradient=stronger pressure gradient =strong winds
- steep pressure gradient between two air masses drives strong winds, which spiral around the depression
- When this warm air meets polar front it rises rapidly above cold polar air creating an area of low pressure along with condensation and heavy rain
- form over sea in autumn when water is warm- warm surface water leads to warm, moist air which rises.
- CASE STUDY: THE GREAT STORM
- 15th October 1987
- Storm was caused by a depression with rapidly falling air pressure
- 1. depression began over Bay of Biscay as south westerly winds carrying warm, wet air from North Atlantic met north easterly winds carrying cold air from the Pole
- 2. depression deepened rapidly due to unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Bay of Biscay and a steep temp. gradient between two air masses. Low atmospheric pressure in the core of depression led to development of very strong winds
- 3. The polar front jet stream was located further south than normal so the depression formed over northern France and southern England rather than North Scotland
- 4. On 15th October pressure in Centre of depression fell from 970mb to 953mb at midnight much lower than average of 1013mb
- 5. The storm hit the south coast of Cornwall and Devon shortly after midnight moved across the Midlands and reached Humber Estuary on the east coast ar around 5:30am on 16th oCT
- 6. South East suffered especially severe winds between 3 and 6 am with gusts up to 196km/h at Gorleston in Norfolk
- 7. After 6am depression began to weaken and moved away over north sea
- 6. South East suffered especially severe winds between 3 and 6 am with gusts up to 196km/h at Gorleston in Norfolk
- 5. The storm hit the south coast of Cornwall and Devon shortly after midnight moved across the Midlands and reached Humber Estuary on the east coast ar around 5:30am on 16th oCT
- 4. On 15th October pressure in Centre of depression fell from 970mb to 953mb at midnight much lower than average of 1013mb
- 3. The polar front jet stream was located further south than normal so the depression formed over northern France and southern England rather than North Scotland
- 2. depression deepened rapidly due to unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Bay of Biscay and a steep temp. gradient between two air masses. Low atmospheric pressure in the core of depression led to development of very strong winds
- 1. depression began over Bay of Biscay as south westerly winds carrying warm, wet air from North Atlantic met north easterly winds carrying cold air from the Pole
- Impacts
- Social
- 18people died in England, and 4 in France
- Power and telephone lines were knocked down
- 150000 Lost their telephone connection
- Historical buildings were damaged or destroyed e.g. Shanklin Pier
- no electricity for 24hours
- Economic
- Insurance claims totalled £1.4billion
- Gatwick airport closed
- Transport was disrupted as fallen trees blocked path
- Environment
- 15million trees were blown down
- 97% loss of trees in area losing abitat of wildlife
- Social
- Responses
- During
- During storm emergency authorities dealt with huge numbers of emergency calls
- four months of phone calls on one night
- During storm emergency authorities dealt with huge numbers of emergency calls
- After
- Phone companies and electricity boards worked around the clock repairing and replacing
- Highways agencies began clearing roads
- Forestry workers began collecting fallen trees in forests
- took over two years
- Forestry Commission established Committe to help woodland owners recover fallen trees and offer advice on replanting
- MET OFFICE
- criticized for how they forecast the storm and issued warnings
- severe storm warnings only issued about 3 hours before storm
- criticized for how they forecast the storm and issued warnings
- During
- They are Temperate Storms
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