Explain why the weather changes with the passage of a depression.

Temperature cool initially and then getting warmer as warm front approaches. Cloud cloud thickens, layer cloud stratus and cirrus as warm air rises over cold, then thins and possible breaks as warm sector passes to be followed by thick, vertical, cumulus clouds as cold front approaches and cold air forces warm air to rise quickly. Precipitation prolonged, relatively light rain as the wider warm front passes, then drier, possibly drizzle and breaks in rain and heavy rain, possibly snow with cold front. Wind increases as warm front approaches and pressure falls as warm front approaches, steadies as warm sector passes and increases to be at its strongest as cold front passes. Pressure starts to fall ahead of the warm front, continuing to do so as the warm front passes. It then steadies before rising as cold front passes. Outline one possible cause of global climate change Changes in way earth orbits around the sun will lead to closer proximity and so greater warmth Burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil leads to the release of carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas. Describe and explain the global response(s) to the threat of climate change. Reference should be made to international agreements such as Kyoto and strategies for looking at worldwide emissions via carbon credits. Explanation should relate to the way in which all countries must take responsibility as atmosphere does not recognise political barriers. There is no point some countries reducing levels of greenhouse gases and others not. However, within this context, more national/regional strategies may also be appropriate i.e. a recognition of how targets to reduce emissions may be reached, Thus, switching to renewable sources of energy, use of vehicle excise tax in UK, recycling, traffic management To try and reduce greenhouse gas omissions, 37 countries signed the Kyoto Protocol. These countries must reduce their 1990 carbon emissions levels by 5.2% by 2012. This is a step to reducing emissions worldwide where all countries need to take part as gases are not contained by political boundaries. Carbon credits aim to identify an overall amount of emissions by allowing countries to trade in amounts. Local strategies are also important as every little helps so turning lights off, using buses rather than cars will reduce our use of fossil fuels. Governments switching to wind power and introducing transport strategies such as congestion charging all play a part. Weather in the UK latitude which means that the angle of the sun is higher/insolation greater so rays travel through less of the atmosphere; are spread over a smaller area of the land; impact of the sea in summer as sea warms up more slowly than land it has a cooling effect in western areas; (which can be linked to); continental

influence in east areas nearer Europe where air coming from here will be warmer due to continental influence as land warms up faster than water; relief areas that are higher are cooler at a rate of 1 degree per 100 metres. Describe the environmental and economic consequences of climate change for the world. Economic effects likely to include loss of earnings, loss of businesses/livelihood e.g. as ice melts and skiing cannot occur, impact on farming different crops grown as climates change e.g. parts of southern England growing more crops linked to Mediterranean areas such as vines, olives whilst part of southern Europe may become too dry if deserts spread, costs of sea defences. Environmental effects loss of coastal areas and habitats, changing conditions will mean changes in vegetation warmer conditions in parts of northern Europe may see coniferous forest disappear or adapt, areas will flood especially low lying coastal areas, icebergs will be more apparent; hurricanes and extreme weather will become more common. There will be many environmental changes. Lots of low-lying coastal areas will be flooded, such as in East Anglia in UK and much of the country of Bangladesh. If it gets hotter, some crops will increase in yield like potatoes and outdoor tomatoes, benefiting farmers. A wider variety of crops could be grown such as vines, oranges in the south, increasing farmers profits. There would be a greater risk of forest fires and the Houses of Parliament could be flooded. Low-lying islands like the Maldives and islands in the Pacific would disappear and areas of tropical rainforest would be under threat. Icebergs would break off from the Antarctic ice sheet. As well as these environmental changes, some people would lose their jobs as warmer temperatures mean the ski resorts in the Alps in Switzerland around Interlaken dont have enough snow. Another problem would be the cost of trying to protect major cities like London and Hull from the rising sea levels What is the difference between weather and climate? Weather is the day-to-day variation of features such as rainfall, temperature, wind, whilst climate represents the average weather conditions over a period of time, average of at least 30 years. Compare and/or contrast the weather during a summer anticyclone with that of a winter anticyclone. There is no rain, so dry conditions are present in winter and summer. Similarly, conditions are calm there is little wind or no wind. Skies are clear, giving sunny days. However, the weather is usually hot and sunny in a summer anticyclone whilst a winter it is often cold and frosty. Ground frost is common and fog is a winter, but not a summer feature. During both a summer and winter anticyclone, there are no clouds in the sky. This makes for sunny weather. However in winter, clear skies lead to frost and fog at night and early morning whilst in summer, there are hot, dry days. Use a case study to describe the responses to a tropical revolving storms

Hurricane Katrina and Cyclone Nargis. Short term responses are likely to refer to evacuation, providing shelters, rescuing people, treating injured, burying dead, providing clean water, medical attention. Long term responses likely to refer to rebuilding homes/businesses, repairing roads, bridges, protecting areas, further developing warning systems and evacuation routes. Responses will vary depending on whether example is taken from a richer or poorer area of the world. Most people in New Orleans left before Hurricane Katrina struck. Others were given shelter many in a sports stadium. They were given drinking water and food supplies. People injured were taken to hospitals and given emergency treatment. (In the long term) Much money has been spent rebuilding New Orleans and making peoples homes inhabitable again. They have tried to strengthen the levees. Using case studies of hurricanes in rich and poor parts of the world, describe the contrasting economic and social effects. Katrina Social effects: Officials put the death toll at 1836 mainly from the state of Louisiana with over 300 000 houses being destroyed or otherwise made uninhabitable. Economic effects: Hurricane Katrina affected 19% of US oil production. Katrina destroyed over 100 offshore oil and gas platforms and damaged 457 oil and gas pipelines. This caused oil and gas prices to rise. Katrina struck the heart of Louisianas sugar cane industry. Chemical plants producing 25% of the nations chemicals were affected. The tourist industry, in particular the Mississippi coast with 12 casinos was devastated. Hurricane Katrina caused $260 million of damage to the port of New Orleans disrupting imports and exports. Mitch Social effects: Officials put the death toll at 18 000 dead or missing with over one million made homeless. Over 4 million people were affected with landslides washing away whole villages. In Nicaragua heavy rains damaged 17 600 houses and destroyed 23 900, displacing 368 300 of the population. 340 schools and 90 health centres were severely damaged or destroyed. Economic effects: The heavy rain associated with the storm caused widespread flooding and landslides resulting in over 70-80% of the transportation infrastructure of the entire country being wiped out. Mitchs rainfall and associated flooding resulted in 70% of the countrys crops being lost. Large amounts of animal losses occurred as well, including the death of 50 000 cattle and the loss of 60% of the poultry population. Shrimp production, which had become an important export, faced nearly complete destruction.

Examine the evidence for and possible causes of global warming Evidence for: Average world temperatures have risen since records were first kept in 1860. Although the overall rise seems small (1C), the top ten hottest years have all occurred since 1980, and the 1990s was the hottest decade. The first years of the twenty-first century continued this trend and global warming has probably become the major environmental issue of our time. Although scientists have been slow to commit themselves about the causes and effects, there is no doubt that the planet is heating up. Evidence shows that temperature variations have occurred in the past, but present rises appear too rapid to be the result of natural reasons. Additionally, in recent years both glaciers and ice margins have retreated and sea levels have risen. Possible causes: Climatic changes have happened in the past, but present evidence seems to suggest that the recent increase in temperature has been brought about by pollution of the atmosphere, in particular the release of huge amounts of carbon dioxide from fires, power stations, motor vehicles and factories. As LEDCs start to develop, (and some countries such as China are well along the road), they too are beginning to generate energy as cheaply as possible. At the present time this means consuming huge quantities of fossil fuels, thereby adding to the problem. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by about 15% in the last 100 years and the current rate of increase is estimated to be 0.4% per year. This, together with increases in levels of other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxides, has upset the natural balance and led to global warming. Additionally large-scale deforestation of areas such as the Amazon Basin have also contributed as trees act as a major carbon sink and store of carbon dioxide. Large-scale pastoral farming and intensive rice cultivation in deforested areas also contribute to an increase in emissions of methane. More sophisticated responses will explain the greenhouse effect, outlining how growing levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxides and ozone in the atmosphere result in more long-wave radiation being trapped than previously. Credit those who refer to more natural causes, such as sunspot activity. Explain how human activities affect urban air quality in large cities during the summer months. Most large cities like Beijing are likely to have serious problems with photochemical smog because of the high density of vehicles, dust from building work and factory emissions, which increase the volume of particulates in the air in the confined space of the city. In NICs, such as China there are fewer restrictions on factories/cars to ensure better air quality. Most cities will experience frequent sunshine in the summer. Sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and hydrocarbons from vehicle exhaust gases, causing a chemical reaction, which results in the production of ozone. Photochemical smog is a particular hazard during anticyclonic conditions, as once the air has descended it is relatively static due to the absence of wind. Additionally, such weather systems tend to be relatively stable, and can persist for weeks at a time during the summer months. Allow reference to any large city or cities in the MEDW or the LEDW. Describe the climatic conditions typical of Cool Temperate Western Maritime regions. One of the most striking features of the Cool Temperate Western Maritime climate is its unpredictability due in part to the overall dominance of low-pressure weather systems.

 Temperatures are lower than average for the latitude in summer, average monthly values seldom exceed 20 C. In winter the average temperatures are generally above freezing. This minimum temperature value is influenced by the warming effect of the sea. The annual range of temperature within the CTWM is relatively small but increases with distance away from the west coast. Rainfall is generally experienced throughout the year but within the climate zone it tends to vary according to relief. In upland areas, in particular those close to western coasts, rainfall totals can exceed 2500 mm, yet a short distance further east on lowland in the shadow of the mountains, annual totals can be as little as 500 mm. Most of the rainfall experienced is brought in by frontal systems. In general, the summer tends to be the driest season, followed by winter, (because the depressions during these seasons can track further north or south). High-pressure weather systems (anticyclones) are more likely to become established during these seasons and they block the approaching fronts.