The Great Storm

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  • Created by: OctaviaL
  • Created on: 04-06-16 12:59
When did the storm occur?
15-16th October 1987.
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Where did the depression form?
Two depression formed over the Atlantic Ocean formed into one over the Bay of Biscay.
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What air masses fed the depression?
Warm, wet air carried by south-westerly winds from the North Atlantic and cold air carried by north-easterly winds from north pole
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What caused the depression to deepen rapidly?
Warm sea surface temperatures and a steep temperature gradient between the two air masses led to low atmospheric pressure and very strong winds.W
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What was the lowest pressure recorded over the English Channel?
951mb.
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Where were there gust of wind up to 196km/hour?
Gorleston, Norfolk.
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What is a 'Sting Jet'?
Cold, dry air descends into the storm and precipitation falls into the jet cooling it further and creating stronger winds.
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What affect did the polar front jet stream have on the location of the storm?
The polar front jet stream was further south than normal so depression formed over southern England and northern France rather than to the North of Scotland.
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Where did the storm hit shortly after midnight? What was it's path after this?
South coast of Cornwall and Devon before moving across midlands and reaching Humber Estuary on East Coast at around 5.30am on 16th.
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Where was the highest hourly mean wind speed? What was it?
Shoreham-by-Sea. Winds of 115mph for 20 mins.
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What were four social impacts?
1) Lorry drivers hospitalised when trucks were blown over. 2) Colossal damage to property and power cuts to 13m homes. 3) Crane blown over at Sheerness. 4) Sealink channel ferry driven onshore near Folkestone.
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What political impacts were there?
1) Pressure on local councils- 600 calls in Ealing. 2) Most insurance policies don't cover 3rd party damage. 3) Four month's of emergency call out in one night- 6000 fire engine call outs in 24 hours.
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Where was the Silver Falcon tanker torn from it's birth?
Felixstowe, Suffolk.
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What was a positive environmental impact?
Dead wood creates more diverse habitats.
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How many trees were uprooted? What sort of impact is this?
15m. Long-term, environmental.
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How many trees were lost at National Trust properties?
350,000.
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What pier was destroyed on the Isle of Wight? Why was this significant?
Shanklin pier. The pier was not insured and the owners could not afford to replace it.
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Where were shopfronts blown out?
West End.
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What created a wider scale global economic impact?
No deals were made on 16th October, workers in London were sent home.
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What was the total insurance claims? What does this make the event?
£1.4bn. The second most expensive British weather event.
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How many flights were cancelled at Heathrow?
More than 100.
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Give an example of an emergency authority that was given a severe weather warning.
London Fire Brigade.
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Who did the Met Office issue a warning to? What did it say?
To the MoD at 01.35 16th Oct saying that military assistance may be needed to deal with consequences of the storm.
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Why did the Forestry Commission have to fell many trees?
Before pine became damaged by bark beetles and fungi.
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Where were 400,000 trees felled?
Rendlesham, Suffolk.
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How much wood was felled in Suffolk? How many men were brought in to do this? For how long?
Enough wood to fill 130 olympic pools. 180 for 18 months.
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What did the Forestry Comission establish?
Forestry Windblow Action Committee to help woodland owners recover fallen trees and give advice on replanting.
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Who was the government environment secretary? What did they do?
Nicholas Ridley gave funding to local authorities for clear up?
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How did Wakehurst Estate respond positively to the storm?
Replace Corsican Pines and Douglas Firs with native broadleaf trees such as oak, maple and wild cherry.
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What did Wakehurst do to reduce impacts in the future?
Planted a 'shelter belt' of trees to withstand elements to protect rest of woodland.
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What three responses were there to the inquiry?
1) Met Office improved quantity and quality of weather observations from ships, aircrafts and satellites esp. over the sea to the South and West. 2) Improved compute models. 3) Government established a national severe weather warning scheme.
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What could have made impacts worse?
If the storm had occured eight hours later during rush hour.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Where did the depression form?

Back

Two depression formed over the Atlantic Ocean formed into one over the Bay of Biscay.

Card 3

Front

What air masses fed the depression?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What caused the depression to deepen rapidly?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What was the lowest pressure recorded over the English Channel?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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