World of Humanities

Variable Weather & Changing Climate

KQ 1: Why do different places experience different weather and climate?

Temperature

What causes differential heating and how does it affect climates around the world?

How does the Earth's rotation affect day & night? How does the tilt of the Earth affect seasons?

Asia has had a really cold month, courtesy of the polar vortexIn Afghanistan, temperatures came close to minus 18.3 deg C and at least 162 people died from the cold. Read more at straitstimes.com.

China: Northern city of Mohe reports coldest temperatureThe northernmost city of Mohe has recorded temperatures of -53C, its lowest on record.

Rainfall

Thunderstorms in Singapore

Why does it occur most frequently in the afternoon?

Pressure and Winds

How does atmospheric pressure affect weather?

What is the Coriolis Effect?

Monsoon Surge

How and why is Singapore affected by the monsoon?

Why is the South Asian monsoon so important and yet so dangerous?A study tracking monsoon shifts from the mid-20th century suggested it was becoming more erratic. Read more at straitstimes.com.

KQ 2: What is happening to the Earth’s climate?

How will Climate Change affect Singapore?
Why does it matter?

Commentary: As ice caps melt, Singapore a hot spot for sea-level riseGlobal warming doesn't only just lead to higher sea levels, it also changes which places see a disproportionate rise in sea levels, says Earth Observatory of Singapore's Benjamin Horton.

Extreme rainfall, dry spells and stronger winds: How climate change could affect SingaporeBy end-century, sea levels could also rise by 1.15m in the worst-case scenario. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Temperatures in Singapore could hit 40°C as early as 2045: ScientistsSINGAPORE — By 2045, Singaporeans could face some days of the year when temperatures soar as high as a scorching 40°C, based on projections by a climate research centre here.

What is the Singapore Green Plan?

Explainer: Why climate change should matter to Singaporeans and what the Govt is doing about itSINGAPORE — Describing climate change as “one of the gravest challenges facing humankind”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (Aug 18) that Singapore must understand what it means for the country and take steps to mitigate and adapt to it.

Commentary: Who is responsible when climate change harms the world’s poorest countries?Developing countries are looking to this year’s UN climate conference, COP27 in Egypt, to resolve the question of payments for loss and damage following climate disasters, says a researcher.

Red alert! What can you do to help bring carbon emissions down? | The Straits TimesWhile individual actions can reduce personal carbon footprints, fighting climate change requires large-scale effort. Scroll on to find out how governments, companies and people like us can come together to make a difference.

National Climate Change SecretariatThe National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) was established on 1 July 2010 under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to develop...

Record heatwave of up to 45 deg C scorches much of Asia, and it’s going to get worseScientists warn that searing temperatures across Asia are likely to spawn public health crises and food security problems. Read more at straitstimes.com.

France, rest of Europe could see more local dengue outbreaks as world warmsClimate change is expanding the range of dengue-carrying mosquitoes and making them more lethal. Read more at straitstimes.com.

CNA Explains: Singapore's energy sources and the future of its electricity supplyWhy does Singapore need to import its electricity? Why can't it just rely on solar power?

Commentary: Why is sunny Singapore not covered with rooftop solar panels?In land-constrained Singapore, rooftops provide the most readily available space for the rollout of solar panels, but there are many barriers to deploying more of them, say Reed Smith’s Matthew Gorman and Miriam Bandera.

Questions to ask ourselves

Why should climate change matter to us?
How can citizens and/ or the government manage the effects of climate change?
Should developed countries offer more aid to help the less developed countries manage the impact of climate change?

KQ 3: Is the Weather Becoming More Extreme?

What is the difference between a hurricane, cyclone, typhoon and tornado?

Hurricanes 101

Hurricanes are the most powerful storms known to man. Find out when hurricane season peaks, how the storms form, and the surprising role they play in the larger global ecosystem.

Why a storm surge can be the deadliest part of a hurricane?

How do Hurricanes form?

Helene, now a major hurricane, menaces Florida with 'unsurvivable' storm surgeTAMPA, Florida: Driving rain flooded roadways and closed down airports in Florida as an intensifying Hurricane Helene marched toward the state's panhandle region, bringing the threat of a potentially deadly storm surge to much of the coastline. The storm became a major Category 3 hurricane on Thu

Vietnam estimates damages of $4.2 billion from Typhoon YagiThe typhoon saw 299 people killed and 34 others missing. Read more at straitstimes.com.

What is a storm surge and how serious is the threat from Milton?Storm surges are one of the most deadly elements of coastal storms. Can we get them in the UK?

How is climate change affecting hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones?These powerful tropical storms are generally becoming more intense as the world warms.

Hurricane Katrina

Photos: Hurricane Katrina | CNNOn August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, causing catastrophic flooding as numerous levees failed around New Orleans. More than 1,800 people died in what was the costliest natural disaster in US history.

7 facts about Hurricane Katrina that show just how incompetent the government response wasThe disaster was as much human-caused as natural.

What went wrong_Was an early warning system in place_

What went wrong? Was an early warning system in place?

Hurricane Katrina
Day by Day

What New Orleans Was Like After Hurricane Katrina

Typhoon Haiyan

A Look Inside Super Typhoon Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan: Why it's one of the most powerful on record

Cyclone Gabrielle

New Zealand Declares National Emergency

Violent Cyclone Gabrielle has left a trail of destruction across New Zealand. A national state of emergency has been declared, after flooding, landslides and power cuts forced tens of thousands to evacuate.

Cyclone Gabrielle death toll rises

Death toll rises in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, cut-off regions wake up to another day of isolation and 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits near Wellington

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