CLIMATIC HAZARDS

Characteristics of tropical storms:

spin anticlockwise

circular in shape, 100s of km wide

7-14 days

eye = low pressure, no clouds, no rain & light winds

eyewall = spiralling rising air, strong winds (160km/h), storm clouds, torrential rain

towards the edges of the storm the wind speed falls, clouds are smaller and more scattered, and rain becomes less intense

Reducing the impacts of tropical storms:

predictions = when and where, gives people time to evacuate

planning = new houses built to avoid risky areas, emergency services trained and prepared, evacuation routes planned

building techniques = buidlings designed to withstand storms (strengthened and on stilts), flood defences built along rivers

education = how to prepare and evacuate, told how to make a survival kit

aid = sent to reduce impacts e.g food, water & tents

Climatic conditions that cause drought:

changes in atmospheric circulation reduce rainfall, high pressure ssytems block depressions (which would cause precipitation)

Secondary impacts of drought:

animals die from starvation, shortage of food, soil erosion increased, conflicts over water supplies, farms close, dust storms, psychological problems

More severe in LEDCs because:

more people depend on farming = lose livelihoods

less money to prepare for or respond to droughts e.g cant afford to build reservoirs

To reduce impacts:

prediction, farming techniques, water conservation, increase water supplies and aid