Topic Summaries

Case study – extreme weather hazards

IGCSE > Geography > CIE > IGCSE Geography Topic Summaries > Weather hazards and atmospheric circulation > Case study – extreme weather hazards
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Weather hazards and atmospheric circulation

Tropical storm hazards

Responding to tropical storms

Hot desert ecosystems

Cold environment ecosystems

Glacial landscapes

Glacial landform processes

Water supply

Energy supply

The Big Freeze
Key details
  • Date: December 2010
  • Location: United Kingdom and Ireland 
  • North-east winds brought cold Arctic air and heavy snow.
  • Temperatures dropped below 0°C, and snow reached a depth of 50 cm in some areas.
Social impacts
  • School closures: several schools closed, causing children to miss education and requiring parents to make alternate arrangements for childcare, potentially missing work.
  • Water shortages: in Northern Ireland, 40,000 homes were left without water due to frozen pipes.
  • Isolation and accidents: icy roads caused traffic accidents, and some communities isolated.
Economic impacts
  • Car accidents: on 20 December, the AA reported its busiest day ever due to road accidents.
  • Disrupted sales and transport: shops witnessed a drop in sales, and transportation was severely disrupted.
  • Water shortages: 40,000 homes were left without water, affecting daily life.
Environmental impact
  • Crop damage: snow and freezing temperatures damaged crops.
  • Energy use: gas and electricity bills were doubled the usual amount for December.
Management stargeties to reduce risks
  • Weather warnings: advance warnings help people prepare for extreme weather.
  • Insulated walls: insulating cavity walls prevent pipes from freezing and provide warmth.
  • Indoor farming: protecting crops indoors can reduce the impact of future extreme weather events on crops.

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