Developing Geographic Writing Skills

Geographic Processes Involved (Think of this as almost like an introduction)
What is a Severe Storm? → How and Why do they form?
Where did the 2007 storm occur? → Indicate this on a map and include latitude and longitude co-ordinates
When did the 2007 Newcastle storm occur? → Try to include a synoptic chart (weather map) and/or satellite photos for when the event occurred
A description of what happened → Important to include relevant statisticsImpact (What / Who was affected by the 2007 Newcastle storm)

Impacts (What/Who was affected? How were they affected?)
Geographers classify the impacts of natural hazards into three main categories:
- Social
- Economic
- Environmental
You can include pictures of the damage / destruction so long as they are labeled and are linked to your writing eg. Figure 1 below highlights the damage the severe storm caused to the Newcastle CBD.

Responses of Individuals, Groups and Government to the Newcastle Storm
- Who provided assistance?
- What was their role? What did they do?

Template for Section on Impacts of Newcastle Storm

Can you think of any other impacts that you could include?

The link below will take you to a hardcopy of the document.

http://psportal/uploads/c7704/Impacts%20of%20Newcastle%20Storm.docx

What Happened? What Areas Were Impacted?

Powerful storms killed nine people in Eastern Australia between 7 June and 10 June during theQueen’s Birthday weekend, as strong winds and heavy rain associated with a low-pressure systembattered parts of Sydney, the Hunter Region and the Central Coast in New South Wales (NSW).The region was hit by an East Coast Low (ECL), which developed off the state’s coast on 7 June.Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said that the low-pressure system intensified as it movedinto atmospheric conditions favourable for its formation south along the New South Wales coastand that it was the worst to affect the state since 1998. The BoM issued severe weather warningsfor the region as winds reached 125 kmph (80 mph), downing trees and power lines. The heavyrain also caused widespread flooding as rivers in the wine-growing Hunter Valley exceeded theirflood levels while unprecedented flashflooding hit the city of Newcastle (33°S 151°E). The Hunter Valley was hardest hit in terms of flood damage, and floodwaters in the NewcastleCentral Business District (CBD) and Cottage Creek, in particular, reached unprecedented levels.The Hunter River reached its highest level in more than 25 years while the Williams andPaterson rivers exceeded their flood levels. Flood warnings were also issued for the Myall River atBulahdelah and Tuggerah Lake.

Mr Cronin's Images of The Newcastle Storm

Some of the Organisations that Provided Assistance

What do you think these groups and individuals did during and after the Newcastle Storm?

Can you think of any one else who may have provided assistance?

Geographical Processes Involved In the Newcastle Storm

East Coast Lows (ECL) are intense low-pressure systems which occur on average several times each year off the eastern coast of Australia, in particular southern Queensland, NSW and eastern Victoria. Although they can occur at any time of the year, they are more common during Autumn and Winter with a maximum frequency in June. East Coast Lows will often intensify rapidly overnight making them one of the more dangerous weather systems to affect the NSW coast.ECLs can generate one or more of:
- Gale or storm force winds along the coast and adjacent waters
- Heavy widespread rainfall leading to flash and/or major river flooding,
- Very rough seas and prolonged heavy swells over coastal and ocean waters which can cause damage to the coastline

Geographical Processes

Thunderstorms develop when warm, humid air near the ground receives an initial upward push from converging surface winds and rises rapidly in an unstable atmosphere. Thunderstorms can become severe when the atmosphere is particularly unstable and/or additional energy is drawn in from surrounding winds.