footprints: answers

35: storm chasers 2

  1. heat waves
    1. In very hot weather, you should avoid walking b. in the middle of the day.
    2. When it is too hot to walk, you should a. rest in the shade.
    3. In very hot weather, you should consume much more c. Water.
    4. In very hot weather, you should wear clothing that is a. light, loose & long.
  2. bushfires
    1. The main killer in bushfires is b. radiant heat.
    2. The best way to protect yourself from radiant heat is b. shelter behind/under a solid object.
    3. Wild fires are most likely to occur on c. days of hot high wind.
    4. Usually the best early warning sign of a bushfire is b. the smell of smoke in the air.
  3. whiteouts & blizzards
    1. A whiteout is when low dense cloud seriously reduces a. visibility.
    2. The main risk that whiteouts pose to people venturing outdoors is a. getting lost or separated.
    3. Because mountains generate their own weather, blizzards a. can come out of nowhere.
    4. Apart from getting lost, the main risk of blizzards is b. losing body heat from wind chill.

research question – whirlwind answer

natural disaster

the wild storm that occurred during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in 1998

what happened

Soon after the start of the race an unusually strong low pressure system developed off the coast of south-eastern Australia, generating hurricane force winds and dangerous seas.

where it happened

This storm affected the whole course of the race.

why it happened

The coroner attributed blame both to the Bureau of Meteorology for not informing race organisers of the dramatically upgraded weather forecast, and also to the race organisers who behaved like observers rather than managers during the crisis.

damage to life & property

6 sailors died; 55 sailors were rescued; 5 yachts sank; only 44 out of 115 yachts finished the race; the ocean rescues cost $25 million.

the lessons

The main lessons relate to the nature of the warnings and the way they were communicated, and to the level of experience and competence of the sailors. BOM was directed to add maximum wind gust speed and wave heights to their forecasts. A minimum age requirement of 18 for entry in the race was introduced. Qualifying races were introduced.

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