Weather and climate

The greenhouse effect is a natural process where the atmosphere traps heat from the sun.

Possible causes of global warming are:

• increase in carbon dioxide
• increase in methane
• deforestation
• variations in the earth

Causes in change of climate are:

• altitude
• latitude
• pressure
• continentality
• winds

Anticyclone - area of high pressure (dry and calm) LOW chance of rain

Cyclone - area of low pressure (wet and windy) unsettled weather

Isobars - measured in mbs (millibars)

Altitude - the higher you go the colder

Latitude - how close you are to the line of latitude the warmer (equator)

Hurricanes are formed over tropical seas. They are intense low pressure systems formed over seas at 27 degrees sea temp. They are warm, damp air spirals and as they rise they release warm air creating condensation. When at sea it picks up warm moisture for the cycle to start all over again and can only happen as long as the sea is warm.

Technology can be used to reduce the impact of weather hazards, but how? Weather hazards such as hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, heatwaves and drought. Satalites can be used to track low and high pressure systems. More detailed weather readings. Hurricane history and advice on preparation.

How can weather hazards affect people and the environments in which they live? It can force thousands the be evacuated from homes with nowhere to live, no jobs similar to what happened in America when Hurricane Katrina struck. The environmental affects such as significant amounts of industrial waste and raw sewage similar to again what happened in America. Hurricane Gilbert caused 49 deaths in Jamaica. The death toll for Hurricane Katrina was 1800.

Drought - a prolonged period without rainfall. In UK it is 15 days without rain and in Libya it is 2 years.

How can drought affect people in different ways? It can have significant affects on agriculture because the lack of rain can cause a loss of corn crops like in south america. Various farmers had no choice but to sell their cattle for money but in the end they were spending more money than they earned.

Rainfall - relief, convection and frontal

Relief - rain affected by the height and shape of the land

Convection - rain triggered by heat

Frontal - light, warm air rises over cold air and then the 3 C's (cooling air, condensation then clouds formed)