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In the specification: A case study of a tropical rainforest to illustrate: • Causes of deforestation – subsistence and commercial farming, logging, road ...
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Section A The challenge of Natural Hazards Urban Issues and Challenges
Section B The Living World The changing economic World
Section C Physical Landscapes in the UK The Challenge of Resource Management.
How will you be assessed in Geography?
What is the difference between a case study and an example?
Case studies are broader in context and require greater breadth and depth of knowledge and
understanding.
Examples are more focused on a specific event or situation, are smaller in scale and do not cover the
same degree of content.
Skills in Geography
You need to use cartographic skills (map skills), graphical skills, numerical skills and statistical skills.
All the skills you need to know are below:
Tick when confident
Construct these
Line charts Bar charts Pie charts Pictograms Histograms with equal class intervals Divided bar chart Scattergraphs Population pyramids
Complete these
(^) choropleth isoline dot maps desire lines proportional symbols flow lines
Tick when confident
Construct these
Sketch maps and label them 4 and 6 figure grid references Use scale and direction Use gradient, contour and height Measure straight and curved line distances Use aerial and satellite maps Relate cross sectional drawings to relief features Infer human activity from map evidence Describe physical characteristics of landscapes and vegetation
Tick when confident
Construct these
Complete these
Mean Mode and modal class Median Range Quartiles and inter-quartile ranges Calculate percentage increase/decrease Make predictions Sketch trend lines on scatter plots Draw estimated lines of best fit Find and describe trends on graphs Interpolate and extrapolate data
Section A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards
Tectonic Hazards
Use named examples to show how the effects and responses to a tectonic hazard vary between two
areas of contrasting levels of wealth.
HIC: Christchurch New Zealand, 2010 LIC: Haiti 2010 7.1 on the Richter scale 7.0 on the Richter scale, 25km West of the capital city Port-au-Prince. Conservative plate margin. Primary effects 100,000 homes were damaged 250,000 houses were destroyed or badly damaged 1 died, 2 injured 230,000 people died, 300,000 injured Roads, bridges and railway lines were badly damaged
The international airport (only airport in Haiti) became unusable as it was so damaged. Roads were damaged preventing access by emergency vehicles. Damage to roads made it difficult for people and emergency services to move around. (^) All hospitals were destroyed killing a large
Although buildings were damaged the majority^ proportion of Haiti’s doctors. of buildings did not collapse as they were designed to be earthquake resistant.
The main prison was destroyed and 4,000 inmates escaped. Secondary effects Earthquake insurance claims were $8 billion 1 in 5 jobs were lost after the earthquake The number of people employed in construction increased by 18% creating 4,500 jobs in the year after the earthquake
The high temperatures that followed the earthquake started to decay the bodies which were left in the rubble. This spread disease. Businesses were put out of action for long periods causing losses of income and jobs
Cholera due to poor sanitation and people drinking dirty water Immediate responses The Canterbury Art Gallery, which was designed to be earthquake proof and stand up to the earthquake, was turned into an Emergency Response Centre to support those that needed help.
Cuba sent large numbers of doctors to help. 115,000 tents were set up to provide shelter to homeless people
Within half an hour there were 16 ambulances that had been sent to different parts of the city to treat the injured
4.3 million people were given food rations in the weeks after the quake.
Medical supplies and bottled water was brought in to try and prevent disease.
Long term responses The central government provided 90% of all the funds needed to rebuild the city’s water, sewerage and road networks.
$1.1 billion was raised by 23 major charities.
After the earthquake 8,000 were ‘red zoned’, meaning land was so badly damaged that it was unlikely it could ever be rebuilt on to prevent houses collapsing in the future.
The EU gave $330 million and stopped debt repayments for 5 years. Locals were trained how to repair broken irrigation pipes so that food production could be increased.
Extreme Weather in the UK
In the specification: An example of a recent extreme weather event in the UK to illustrate:
Causes Social, economic and environmental impacts How management strategies can reduce risk
The record rainfall and flooding in Cumbria 2009
Causes
400mm of rainfall fell in 3 days (the average Cumbria would get in a month!) The ground was saturated and so no more water could soak in, it flowed straight down the steep slopes of the Lake District for 36 hours. The rivers were finding it difficult to cope. The River Derwent was 10m wider than normal and flowing 25 times faster than normal.
Impacts Environmental Water erosion by the River Derwent triggered landslides along the banks. The river tore loose many trees and destroyed local ecosystems and habitats of animals. Social Police Officer Bill Barker was killed when a bridge collapsed due to high water. 1,500 homes were destroyed, many people were injured. River water was contaminated with sewage which brought health risks. Economic Many businesses were closed and could not open for a long time afterwards. 6 important local bridges were damaged.
How can management strategies reduce risk in Cumbria?
New flood defences have been built costing £4.5 million and paid for by central government and local community. The Environment Agency (EA) has started sending flood risk messages directly to people’s smart phones. To encourage tourism back and kick-start the economy the ‘West Cumbria Development Agency’ paid for advertisement saying “Cumbria: open for usual”. People are ‘future proofing’ their houses by having stone floors instead of carpets so it doesn’t cost as much if flooding happens again. Hundreds of trees are being planted in the river basin to increase interception and reduce the amount of water reaching the river.
Test yourself
The challenge of natural Hazards possible questions - c ould you answer them?
Remember to PEEL for 6/9 markers. Point, evidence, explanation, link back to the question.
Suggest reasons why people continue to live in areas at risk from a tectonic hazard. [4 Marks]
Evaluate how monitoring, prediction, protection and planning can reduce the effects of tropical storms. [ Marks]
Using a named case study of a tropical storm assess the primary and secondary effects of the storm. [6 Marks]
Using a named case study of a tropical storm assess the immediate and long term responses to the storm. [ Marks]
Discuss the evidence for climate change from the beginning of the last age to the present day. [6 Marks]
Discuss the effects of climate change on people and the environment. [6 Marks]
Outline the evidence which suggests that weather is becoming more extreme in the UK. [4 Marks]
Using an example of a recent extreme weather event in the UK discuss the social, economic and environmental impacts it had on the UK. [6 marks]
In reference to a recent extreme weather event in the UK outline how management strategies can reduce risk. [4 marks]
To what extent can mitigation and adaptation can manage the effects of climate change [6 Marks]
The Tropical Rainforest
In the specification: A case study of a tropical rainforest to illustrate: Causes of deforestation – subsistence and commercial farming, logging, road building, mineral extraction, energy development, settlement, population growth Impacts of deforestation – economic development, soil erosion, contribution to climate change.
The Amazon Rainforest – causes of deforestation
Causes of deforestation Resource exploiting activities Logging Timber companies come into to log trees like mahogany and teak to sell them to make money. They clear all the other trees out of the way to get to these trees. Mineral extraction
There are 50,000 hectares of land being used for gold mining. All the trees are cleared in this area and the mines release chemicals which get onto the Amazon River. Carajas iron ore mine in Brazil is the world’s biggest. Energy Development
150 dams have been built in the river to provide Hydro Electric Power (HEP) such as the Belo Monte scheme, which flood vast areas of rainforest. Brazil get 85% of their energy from these dams. Illegal trade in wildlife
Hunting, poaching and trafficking in wildlife is big business. The Golden headed lion tamarind and the jaguar are killed for their fur. Baby sloths are sold as pets. What activities are causing the forest to be cleared? Commercial farming - cattle
Much of the rainforest has been cleared for livestock rearing – cattle for beef. This accounts for 80% of clearing the rainforest. However the land cannot be used for long as the soil quality rapidly declines and with it the grass and so more forest has to be cleared. The forest is cleared to grow plantations of bananas and palm oil. In the Amazon they are growing sugar cane as a biofuel to fuel the growing number of cars in Brazil. Subsistence farming
Local native people have been using the rainforest for 1000’s of years. They have been clearing small patches of land to grow crops. This is sustainable as these people are part of the ecosystem here. Forests also get chance to regrow. Road building
The Trans-Amazonian highway was built to start connecting cities and make travel easier in Brazil – this opened up huge areas of the rainforest which were previously remote and safe from loggers. Settlement and population growth
As Brazil’s population boomed everyone needed a place to live and a job. The government gave many people an area of rainforest that they could farm to release pressure on the cities. This caused a lot deforestation through ‘slash and burn’ farming. Population in Manaus is now over 2 million.
Many of the world’s rainforests are in LICs of NEEs. They want to develop and often owe money to HICs to get richer and pay back their debts. The easiest way to do this is to exploit their resources – their rainforests.
The Amazon Rainforest - Impacts of deforestation
Impacts of deforestation – economic development, soil erosion, contribution to climate change.
Impacts of deforestation Global warming The canopy of trees absorbs huge amounts of Carbon Dioxide (making it a Carbon sink) from the atmosphere. The more trees that are felled, the more Carbon Dioxide there is in the atmosphere. Also fire is often used to clear the rainforest which releases more CO2. This makes it one of the major contributors to global warming and climate change. Loss of biodiversity
The number of species will be reduced and endemic species will become extinct. In the Amazon 38 species are now extinct due to shrinking habitats. Disruption to the water cycle
When trees are felled evapotranspiration is reduced which reduces the amount of moisture in the atmosphere and therefore reduces rainfall. The lack of rainfall makes the climate warmer and drier which changes the climate. Soil erosion and fertility
The canopy acts as protection for the soil from the heavy rain. As soon as it is removed the heavy rain soon washes away the thin layer of fertile topsoil. Once this happens nothing will be able to grow - the eroded soil also silts up rivers. River pollution Mercury is used in mining gold. This is washed into rivers and poisons the fish.
Decline of indigenous tribes
There are only 240 tribes in the Amazon left. Many have been forced out of their homes to make way for large dam, mining or road projects. Most displaced people end up in cities. These people have lost their culture and heritage and addiction to alcohol or drugs is common. Their knowledge is also lost. Luckily they have recently been given more rights and there are still 1 million people living in the Amazon.
Challenges of developing hot desert environments Extreme Temperatures
Native Cocopah people lived in earth houses that naturally kept cool. When migrants first arrived they build houses with flat roofs to collect rainwater, small windows to stop sunlight to getting in and whitewashed walls. People nowadays still whitewash walls but everyone has air conditioning. Water Supply The Colorado River has been dammed and Lake Mead created to hold water. It is then transported via aqueducts and pipes such as the Central Arizona Project to where it is needed. With a growing population in the Western desert and thirsty golf courses there is a water security problem and Lake Mead is at record low levels. Inaccessibility Roads are rough and the extreme temperatures make it dangerous if your car breaks down. There are little road signs and off-roading can be perilous – an elderly couple died of dehydration from doing so in 2015. There are some railways which connect cities like Las Vegas with other major cities but most people fly – Las Vegas airport receives 40 million people each year – much safer than driving. Lack of rainfall
People wanted green lawns but the watering was draining the limited water supplies in the desert. People have switched to fake grass lawns and having desert planting like cactuses that don’t require much water.
Las Vegas – a popular tourist resort
Las Vegas – a popular tourist destination. (^) The Western Desert
Test yourself
The Living world possible questions - c ould you answer them?
Remember to PEEL for 6/9 markers. Point, evidence, explanation, link back to the question.
Assess the strategies used to manage the rainforest sustainably. [6 marks]
Assess the strategies used to reduce the risk of desertification. [6 marks]
Discuss the causes of deforestation in a named case study. [9 marks]
Evaluate the impacts of deforestation. [9 marks]
The value of tropical rainforests to people and the environment is enormous. To what extent do you agree? [6 marks]
Assess the opportunities for development of a hot desert. [9 marks]
Assess the opportunities and challenges for development in the hot desert environment you have studied. [9 marks]
Assess the human and physical causes of desertification. [9 marks]
Describe and explain the strategies used to reduce the risk of desertification. [6 marks]
Coastal realignment in Medmerry
An example of a coastal management scheme in the UK to show:
the reasons for management the management strategy the resulting effects and conflicts
Reasons for management
The Environment Agency (EA) considered the area to be at risk from flooding. The only thing
protecting it was a shingle ridge and every year expensive (£200,000) beach reprofiling was having to
take place. This became unsustainable. If this area was breached 348 properties in Selsey would be
in danger along with a water treatment plant and a busy main road– it was last breached in 2008
costing £5 million.
The management strategy
A new embankment was created from clay from the area two km in land. Behind the embankment they built a channel to drain excess water. Rock armour was built against the embankment to offer more support – 60,000 tonnes of it was imported from Norway. Once the embankment was in place they made a 110m breach in the shingle bank to allow the sea to flood the area, creating a salt marsh.
Positive effects Controversy and conflicts Social Chances of flooding have been reduced and so far has protected people’s homes. There has been a new footpath and cycle path built making it a nice area for people to live.
Some locals think the EA should not have given up land to the sea so quickly and should have carried on protecting it. Some people believe that this was a lot of money to spend in one area – money better spent elsewhere. Economic Tourism is increasing especially birdwatchers who are coming to the saltmarshes. The flooded area will become an important nursery that will boast the local fishing industry. The saltmarshes are being used to graze cattle to make expensive ‘salt marsh beef’.
It was very expensive (£28 million). Can this be justified if it only cost £0.2 to protect per year? Good quality farmland had to be lost – is this really less valuable than buildings? After all we need farmland to have food security.
Environmental 3000 hectares of inter tidal habitats have been created. This has encouraged many birds and is now managed by the RSPB.
Although habitats have been created for sea birds, habitats of badgers and other land animals were lost.
The River Severn and its estuary
An example of a river valley in the UK to identify its major landforms of erosion and deposition.
The River Severn
Landforms of erosion
Interlocking spurs in the upper course near the source in the Plynlimon Hills. Waterfalls in the upper course like Break-its- neck (right) Rapids in the upper course like Jack Field Rapids
Landforms of erosion and deposition
Both of the following are found in Caersws:
Meanders Oxbow lakes
Landforms of deposition
The River Severn Estuary is made from deposition from the river and the sea. It has a very high tidal range – 15m. It has large mudflats which are visible at low tide with small creeks running through them. The Estuary is very wide- 3.2km at its widest point There are bores that funnel up the river at certain times of the year. This is a tidal wave.
Test yourself
Physical landscapes in the UK possible questions - c ould you answer them?
Remember to PEEL for 6/9 markers. Point, evidence, explanation, link back to the question.
Assess the different management strategies that can be used to protect coastlines from the effects
of physical processes. [6 marks]
Use a named case study to assess the different management strategies that have been used to
protect coastlines. [6 marks]
Evaluate the different management strategies that can be used to protect river landscapes from the
effects of flooding. [6 marks]
Use a named case study to evaluate the different management strategies that have been used to
protect river landscapes from the effects of flooding. [6 marks]
Using an example from a section of coastline in the UK, explain how erosion and deposition can shape
a coastline. [6 marks]
Discuss the importance of geology and rock types in shaping the coastline. [6 marks]
“Hard engineering is a more effective coastal management strategy than soft engineering.” To what
extent do you agree? [6 marks]
A case study of a major city in an LIC
1. The location and importance of the city, regionally, nationally and internationally Lagos is located in Nigeria, West Africa 2. Causes of growth: natural increase and migration
Lagos has a rapid natural increase. This is because Nigeria has a high birth rate and a decreasing death rate. It is also due to push and pull factors which are pushing people away from rural areas and pulling people to the urban centre of Lagos. This is migration.
Push factors (from rural areas) Pull factors (to urban Lagos) Farming pays low wages and is hard work The ‘bright lights’ effect draws people in. Few job opportunities exist in rural areas other than farming – this makes young people in particular vulnerable.
Young people want to seek their fortune in the Lagos.
Education and health services are poor Education and health care services are better in the city. Climate change is making floods and droughts more common – this makes crop yields unpredictable. Land is degraded by the oil industry making farming more difficult The north of Nigeria is politically unstable and there has been lots of terrorist activity by Boko Haram.
3. How urban growth has created social opportunities: access to services – health and education; access to resources – water supply, energy.
Access to services Health Healthcare is closer and more available in Lagos – even if it is not free. Education There are more schools and universities giving people more chances in life. Access to resources Water supply The wealthiest homes have piped water – everyone else has access via taps or buy their water from street vendors. Energy Electricity is more widespread however is stretched due to the sheer number of people. Two new power stations are currently being built to give enough energy for the city. Businesses rely on generators in case main power fails.
Regional importance National Importance International importance It has the fastest growing population in Lagos as well as the city with the fastest growing economy.
80% of Nigeria’s industry is based in and around Lagos. It is the financial and business centre of Nigeria. It has a busy seaport and airport.
Lagos has ambitions to be the first ‘World city’ in Africa. It is predicted to be the richest city in Africa by
