Geography Grade 12: Tropical Cyclone Ana Questions for Practice.
Refer to the extract on Tropical Cyclone Ana
MODERATE TROPICAL STORM ANA DOES NOT POST ANY DIRECT THREAT TO SOUTH AFRICA
This weekend saw the first tropical system of the 2021/22 tropical cyclone season for the Southwest Indian Ocean Basin. Towards the end of last week, a tropical low began rapidly intensifying over the open ocean to the northeast of Madagascar, northwards of Mauritius and Reunion islands. ‘Over the weekend, the system turned gradually from east to west over central and northern Madagascar, temporarily losing intensity due to surface friction with the landmass, as well as the absence of the release of latent heat energy from the ocean surface (the main energy driver for tropical cyclones). ‘Overnight, the system continued to intensify, reaching Moderate Tropical Storm intensity in the early hours of Monday morning, leading to its official naming of ‘Ana’. ‘The system tracked westwards and by local sunrise on Monday morning, was lying just off the northern Mozambican coastline between Angoche and Mogincual. The system then tracked in an easterly direction.
Tropical Cyclone Ana Video
Geography Grade 12: Tropical Cyclone Ana Questions for Practice
| 1 | How does the name of the tropical cyclone suggest that it was the first of the 2021/22 tropical cyclone season? (1 x 1) Answer: The name starts with letter A/First letter of the alphabet | (1) |
| 2 | State ONE island listed in the article that would be affected by the tropical cyclone. (1 x 1) Answer: Madagascar (1) Reunion (1) Mauritius (1) | (1) |
| 3 | Why are these islands effected by a tropical cyclone? (1 x 1) Answer: These islands are in the direct path of the tropical cyclone that moves in an easterly direction | (1) |
| 4 | How does latent heat intensify (strengthen) the tropical cyclone? (2 x 2) Answer: – Latent heat is distributed vertically around the centre of the storm (2) – This leads to a pressure drop at the surface (2) – Pressure gradient between the storm and the surface strengthened | (4) |
| 5 | Account for the tropical cyclone tracking in an easterly direction. (2 x 2) Answer: The cyclone moves towards higher sea temperatures (2) It encounters a different wind belt (westerly wind belt) | (4) |
| 6 | Explain the negative economic impact of strong winds on the coastal infrastructure of Mozambique. Answers: – Strong winds cause storm surges that would damage harbours (2) – Damage to harbours will limit imports and exports (2) – Commercial fishing vessels would not be able to go out to sea (2) – It would discourage tourism and its related coastal activities (accept examples) (2) – There would be a loss of jobs in the tourism sector (2) – Repairs to infrastructure along the coast would be costly for insurance companies or government (2) |
