Physical Geography-Weather Hazards

Tropical storms are called hurricanes around the Americas and they occur between August-October at 30^ North.

Tropical storms are called typhoons around South-East Asia and they occur between June-November at 30^ North.

Tropical storms are called tropical cyclones around Australia and they occur between November-April at 30^S.

• Usually occur over tropical seas (at least 27^)
• The warm ocean heats the air above it causing it to rise rapidly. 
• Water evaporates quickly from the hot surface of the ocean so contains a lot of water vapour. 
• The rising air starts to spin clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
• The eye is calm and as the air rises it cools, condenses and forms cumulonimbus clouds. 
• The rapidly rising air creates an area of intense low pressure which sucks in air and causes
• strong winds. 
• Once the storm moves over land it starts to lose energy and fade. 

• Most sea levels stay at 27^ or more (due to global warming) so more tropical storms will occur. 
• Wind speeds potentially increase from 2 to 11 %. 
• Rainfall rates during storms are projected to increase by about 20%.

Monitoring and Predicting- The National Hurricane Centre in Miami keeps daily records of storms growing in the Atlantic Ocean.

• Able to see where the storm is headed and its magnitude so they can see how it will affect the land and infrastructure. 

Planning- Storm drains are constructed in urban areas in hurricane zones. 

• The drains can cope with huge volumes of water which reduces the risk of surface flooding. Allows emergency services to respond to damage quicker. 

Protection-Early warning systems are put in place in LICs and HICs to advise people when to evacuate. 

• Help to reduce fatalities as it allows more people to evacuate from targeted areas. 

Primary Effects  - Tablocan Aiport terminal badly damaged.

• The typhoon destroyed 30,000 fishing boats. 
• Strong winds destroyed crops. 

Secondary Effects - Flooding blocked roads cutting off aid 

• Ferry services and airline flights disrupted. 
• Jobs lost, hospitals damaged, shops and schools and destroyed. 

Immediate Responses

• 1200 evacuation centres help the homeless 
• Philippines Red Cross delivered basic food aid. 

Long-term Responses

• People paid to help clear debris and rebuild the city. 
• Rice farming and fishing were quickly established. 

Prediction - Warning systems give people time to prepare for extreme weather. 

e.g. The Met Office warned people about the snow at the start of November. 

Protection - Individuals and local authorities prepared for extreme weather before it happened. 

e.g.  Councils stocked up on gritters and salt supplies to keep roads safe and open in cold weather. 

Planning - Emergency services and local councils planned how to deal with extreme weather events in advance. 

e.g. They made plans to close schools when it would be too dangerous to travel.