Geography Revision

GCSE, AS and A Level Geography Revision

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Geography Revision geography-revision.co.uk
 GCSE GEOGRAPHY

Natural Hazards
Weather Hazards:
Tropical Storms

Geography Revision geography-revision.co.uk

 1.

REVISION NOTES

Geography Revision geography-revision.co.uk

 GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

Global atmospheric circulation explains the location of the various
climate zones in the world (see map above), and the distribution of
weather hazards. It creates winds across the Earth, which leads to
areas having different levels of rainfall (high to sometimes no rainfall).

Less heat

More heat

Less heat

Latitude influences variations in climate around the Earth. The parallel

rays of the Sun are concentrated on the equator. The Earth’s curved
surface contributes to the distribution of sunlight. At high latitudes, the
amount of sunlight is lower than in lower latitudes. Since the equator
receives more sunlight, air becomes less dense and rises to higher
altitudes.
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 The high concentration of sunlight towards the equator creates a
global climate zone of low pressure. After rising, air spreads out and
flows to the North and South Poles. At low latitudes, cooler and
denser air prevails due to low sunlight. As air descends to the ground,
it spreads and flows to the equator.

Figure 1: Global Atmospheric Circulation

THE CONVECTION CELLS

The combination of the low-pressure belt at the equator and the
high-pressure belt at the Poles enables a simple convection cell to
function (see illustration above). There are three convection cells:
● Hadley Cell - This is the circulation of air that occurs between the
tropics and the equator, which results in high pressure and hot,
dry desert conditions.
● Polar Cell - It occurs at 60 degrees north and south, where the air
warms and rises upwards, which creates a low-pressure zone. As
the air reaches the polar zone, it cools down and sinks down to
the ground as a cold, dry, high-pressure area.
● Mid-Latitude Cell - Also called a Ferrel Cell, it occurs between
30-60 degrees north and south latitudes. These cells are formed
as a result of the presence of high- and low-pressure areas at the
mid-latitudes.
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 PRECIPITATION PATTERNS
Precipitation is influenced by wind patterns and global pressure in
several ways. These are:
● Warm air cools down as it rises. Water vapour is generated by
evaporation of water and, later on, is removed through condensation.
Rainfall is usually high in amount and constant all year round near
the equator.
● Northeast and southeast trade winds converge in the inter-tropical
convergence zone (ITCZ). The ITCZ is located around the equator,
where a wave of low pressure grows. Tropical storms are usually
formed here and travel away from the equator once they gain enough
energy.
● In Western Europe, the amount of rainfall is higher in coastal areas
since rain-bearing weather systems, known as depressions (also
called as cyclones), usually follow high-altitude air currents (or jet
stream). This causes stormy conditions on the west coast of the UK.
● Rainfall is low at the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer (where dry air
goes descends in the Hadley Cell) and polar regions (where cool air
cannot really hold much water vapour).

WEATHER DATA COLLECTION

Land-based weather stations and

rainfall radar: Weather observation
stations, coastguard and automated
stations provide data on the weather.
Rainfall radar is used to identify the
location of the amount of precipitation.

Weather satellites and weather buoys:

Satellites (see photo on the left) were
already being utilised in monitoring the
weather situation since the 1960s (i.e.
geostationary and polar-orbiting). On
the other hand, weather buoys at the
sea provides real-time weather data to
the weather centres in the area.
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 2.

ACTIVITIES

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 Activity 1
Duration: 15 minutes

● In this activity, you will study the map showing the

distribution and frequency of tropical storms in
different parts of the world.

● Identify where tropical storms are usually formed

and discuss one reason for this.

Figure: Distribution and Frequency of Tropical Storms

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 Activity 1
Duration: 15 minutes

● In this activity, you will study the map showing the

distribution and frequency of tropical storms in different
parts of the world.
● Identify where tropical storms are usually formed and
discuss one reason for this.

Tropical storms usually form and occur at the intertropical

convergence zone (ITCZ), which is located at the southern
part of the Tropic of Cancer and the northern part of the
Tropic of Capricorn. In this area, warmer sea temperature
provides heat and moisture, causing warm air to rapidly rise,
which serves as the energy to drive a tropical storm.

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 FLASH CARDS
These are hazards
characterised by extreme
What are weather weather events that could
hazards? potentially endanger people,
property, and even
psychological well-being.

Some examples of weather

What are examples hazards include tropical
of weather hazards? storms and droughts.

A tropical storm is a weather

hazard that occurs when
What is a tropical tropical warm air rises and
storm? forms and intense low
pressure area, which later
brings heavy rainfall.

What does global Global atmospheric

atmospheric circulation tries to explain the
location of the different climate
circulation try to zones in the world, and the
explain? distribution of weather hazards.

Geography Revision geography-revision.co.uk

 GLOSSARY
It is the pressure exerted by the atmosphere’s
Atmospheric Pressure weight, which is usually measured using a
barometer.

Climate graphs are composed of bar and line

Climate Graph graphs that show the average annual rainfall and
temperature for a certain area or locality.

It is enabled by the combination of a low-pressure

Convection Cell belt at the equator and a high-pressure belt at the
Poles.

It is an invisible force deflecting the wind, which

Coriolis Force applies to the movement on rotating objects. Since
the Earth rotates from west to east, the Coriolis
force happens in a north-south direction.

Extreme Weather It is when weather events go beyond the usual

pattern of weather in a locality.

It explains the location of the various climate

Global Atmospheric zones in the world, and the distribution of weather
hazards. It creates winds across the Earth, which
Circulation
leads to areas having different levels of rainfall
(high to sometimes no rainfall).

This is the circulation of air that occurs between

Hadley Cell the tropics and the equator, which results to high
pressure and hot, dry desert conditions.

It is located around the equator, where a wave of

Intertropical low pressure grows. Tropical storms are usually
Convergence Zone formed here and travels away from the equator
once it gains enough energy.

Geography Revision geography-revision.co.uk

 Quiz
1. What does the global atmosphere circulation try to explain?
A. Location and distribution of winds in the world
B. Location of climate zones and distribution of weather
hazards in the world
C. Location and distribution of tectonic plates in the world

2. Which of the following lines of latitude receives more

sunlight?
A. Equator
B. Tropic of Cancer
C. Tropic of Capricorn

3. Which of the following convection cells occurs between 30 to

60 degrees north and south latitude, and formed due to the
presence of high- and low-pressure areas at the
mid-latitudes?
A. Ferrel Cell
B. Hadley Cell
C. Polar Cell

4. Which of the following convection cells occurs at 60 degrees

north and south latitude, where air warms and rises upwards,
creating a low-pressure zone?
A. Ferrel Cell
B. Hadley Cell
C. Polar Cell

5. What instrument provides real-time weather data at the sea?

A. Rainfall radar
B. Weather satellites
C. Weather buoys
Geography Revision geography-revision.co.uk
 Answer Key
1. B
2. A
3. A
4. C
5. C

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 Geography Revision
GCSE, AS and A Level Geography Revision

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 Geography Revision
GCSE, AS and A Level Geography Revision

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