Hazardous Environments

Investigating weather climate

Aim

-          Measuring and recording weather data from the local area

Hypothesis

-          There are differences in weather conditions around certain sites (Latymer)

Equipment

-          Thermometer (air temperature)

-          Rain gauge (measures amount of rain that has fallen over specific time)

-          Wind vane (determines the direction of which the wind is blowing)

-          Anemometer (wind speed)

-          Light meter (sunlight)

-          Weather recording chart

Method

-          10 sites are chosen to reflect different conditions (around the school)

-          A rain gauge, thermometer, wind vane and anemometer was used and left

-          The instruments where left over the weekend to avoid disturbance

-          Customised recording sheets were used to tabulate the data

-          A field sketch and photographs were taken of the study area

Presentation Technique & Reliability

-          Data can be presented in a variety of graphs to be able to be easily compared

-          Three readings will be taken and then averaged

Risk assessment

-          Appropriate clothing

-          Permission is obtained

Evaluation

-          Results can be affected by extreme weather

-          Faults in the instruments

Secondary Sources

-          Weather data

-          GIS & Google maps

-          Previous data

Hazard management

Aim

-          Investigating people’s views on the management of a hazard event

Hypothesis

-          Do residents believe the management of the hurricane hazard event was effective

Equipment

-          Questionnaire based in 5 – 10 questions, open and closed questions (do you think the measures are effective…?)

Method

-          20 questions are drafted to determines people’s views of the way in which (flooding...) in (Somerset Levels…) has been dealt with

-          Some questions were open

-          A pilot study was used to test the questions

-          We asked 60 people, 30 who studies Geography in the middle school and 30 who didn’t. This was to see if their views differed

Presentation Technique

-          Bar charts and pie charts (percentages) to be able to easily compare data an find patterns between people

Risk assessment

-          If face-to-face interviews conducted in groups

-          Carry mobile phones

-          Start and return with an adult

Evaluation

-          Results may be affected if there is not a large enough user groups asked

-          Results can be biased by level of interest

Secondary Sources

-          Newspaper articles on the issues

-          Planning documents showing hazard management

-          Maps of the area

-          Census data