Weather hazards in the UK
AQA GCSE Geography revision on Weather hazards in the UK. Aligned to the AQA GCSE Geography 8035 specification. This bank has 10 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 10)
-
Question 1
Which of these is a primary social impact of extreme cold weather in the UK?
- A) Increased energy bills
- B) Disruption to road and rail networks
- C) Increased risk of hypothermia for vulnerable people
- D) Higher costs for local authorities gritting roads
Show answer
Answer: Increased risk of hypothermia for vulnerable people
While transport disruption and economic costs are significant, social impacts specifically refer to the effects on human health and well-being. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, are at the highest risk of suffering from cold-related illnesses during extreme winter events.
-
Question 2
What is the name of the process that occurs when cold polar air meets warmer tropical air, often leading to intense UK storms?
Show answer
Answer: Depression
In the UK, depressions form when air masses with different temperatures and densities meet. The rising air associated with low pressure leads to cloud formation, high winds, and heavy rainfall across the British Isles.
-
Question 3
Which of the following is a characteristic of a UK heatwave as defined by the Met Office?
- A) Temperatures exceeding 25C for three days
- B) A period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding a specific threshold
- C) A week of cloudless skies with temperatures above 30C
- D) Any day where temperatures reach record highs
Show answer
Answer: A period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding a specific threshold
The threshold for a heatwave varies by UK region to account for different climates. It requires the temperature to remain above this local threshold for three consecutive days to be officially classified as a heatwave by the Met Office.
Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?
7 more questions on Weather hazards in the UK — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Geography spec.