Year 10 - Geography
Tropical storms – distribution, formation and development
Weather hazards
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit teaches pupils about weather hazards at the global and national (UK) scales. Pupils learn about global atmospheric circulation before focusing on the formation, impacts and responses to tropical storms. Pupils also learn about extreme weather events in the UK.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how tropical storms develop as a result of particular atmospheric conditions and where they are found.
Key Notes
- Tropical storms have distinctive structural characteristics and are widely distributed within the tropics.
- Tropical storms are related to the atmospheric circulation and are formed by particular meteorological conditions.
- Tropical storms form in source areas, intensify as they track over oceans and then dissipate.
- Climate change may affect the distribution, frequency and intensity of tropical storms.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Coriolis effect: deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation
- wind shear: the change in wind speed and direction at different altitudes
- latent heat: the energy stored in water vapour when it evaporates, that is released when the vapour condenses back into liquid water
- climate change: long-term changes in Earth's climate, mainly caused by human activities which increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Tropical storms can form over land.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
Tropical storms have distinctive structural characteristics and are widely distributed within the tropics. Tropical storms are related to the atmospheric circulation and are formed by particular meteorological conditions.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'Coriolis effect'
deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: Tropical storms can form over land. Correction: Tropical storms form over warm ocean waters where they can draw energy from the heat and moisture. Once over land, they lose their energy source and weaken.
More Lessons In This Unit
- An example of a recent extreme weather event in the UK Study Guide
- Example of a tropical storm Study Guide
- Global atmospheric circulation model, pressure belts and surface winds Study Guide
- Reducing risks from effects of tropical storms Study Guide
- Tropical storms – hazards and effects Study Guide
- Tropical storms – responses Study Guide
- Using GIS to map the track of a tropical storm Study Guide
- Weather hazards in the UK Study Guide
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