Explain three conditions necessary for the formation of tropical hurricanes.

“Poorer communities are more vulnerable to the impacts of hazard events than richer communities.” Discuss this statement.

Award [1] for each relevant point and [1] for further development.

Conditions include:

• formation over warm tropical oceans / sea temperatures at least 26°C / significant depth of warm water in order to provide energy and moisture
• sufficient distance from the equator for the Coriolis force to be significant
• convergence of warm, moist air towards a centre of low pressure
• rapid uplift of air causes condensation and the formation of clouds/rain
• release of energy (latent heat) due to condensation results in further rapid uplift
• cooler air descends in the eye of the hurricane; as it descends the air warms and no clouds develop.

For example, the Coriolis force must be sufficiently strong [1] to impart rotation of the air, so hurricanes rarely form close to the equator [1].

The vulnerability of a community to hazard events is affected by the demographic, social and economic characteristics of the population. Examples might be given at a variety of scales, from both rural and urban populations. Poorer communities are often more vulnerable because they often live in hazardprone areas, they lack education and awareness, and are unable to afford measures that might be taken to reduce the impact of hazards. Richer communities are more able to plan and prepare for hazard events, have greater awareness and are better able to respond to the effects of a hazard. Technological hazards may affect rich and poor communities alike, but poorer
people may live closer to the source of the hazard (as in Bhopal).

Good answers will discuss the vulnerability of poorer communities to hazards and the inability to respond to their effects, and will discuss the vulnerability of poorer and richer communities in different areas. Another approach is to discuss the scale of the hazard event, recognizing that all communities can be equally vulnerable, eg tsunamis. Another approach is to discuss temporal aspects of the hazard event, such as a poor community’s long-term vulnerability to diseases after the hazard event.

Accept both countries and communities.

For band D, expect some description of the vulnerability of poorer communities and/or richer communities to hazard events.

For band E, expect either a more structured and detailed explanation of the vulnerability of poorer and richer communities, or a discussion that reflects critically on diverse communities, hazards of different scales, different types of vulnerability.

For band F, expect both of these elements.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.