Weather hazards and tropical storms

• Air rises at the Equator, giving low pressure, cloud and heavy rain. Air sinks at about 30 degrees north and south, giving high pressure and dry weather. Surface winds blow from high pressure to low pressure.
• A tropical storm forms over warm ocean water of about 27 degrees C or more, roughly 5 to 30 degrees north or south of the Equator, in late summer and autumn. It does not form on the Equator itself.
• A storm has a calm eye where air sinks, an eyewall with the strongest winds and heaviest rain, and spiral rain bands. High winds, storm surges and flooding are primary effects. Disease, shortages and lost jobs are secondary effects.
• People cut the effects of a storm by monitoring and prediction (satellites and forecasts), protection (shelters, sea walls) and planning (evacuation routes, drills).
• UK weather hazards include floods, storms, heatwaves, drought and snow. You need UK evidence that the UK is getting more extreme weather, not examples from other countries.

Low pressure

Air rising, which brings cloud and rain.

High pressure

Air sinking, which brings dry, settled weather.

Eye

The calm centre of a tropical storm, where air sinks.

Eyewall

The ring of cloud around the eye with the strongest winds and heaviest rain.

Storm surge

A rise in sea level caused by a storm that floods the coast.

Extreme weather

Weather far outside what is normal for a place, such as a heatwave or severe flood.

• Thinking sinking air gives low pressure. Rising air gives low pressure and sinking air gives high pressure.
• Saying tropical storms can form anywhere hot at any time of year. They need very warm ocean water, which happens in late summer and autumn.
• Mixing up secondary effects with responses. Effects are what the storm causes. Responses are what people do about it.

6 questions, 10 marks. Answer, then press Check. The marking guide explains how the marks are worked out. Nothing is saved.