Geography case studies map

Geography Case Studies Map

South America

New Zealand

Asia

North America

Africa

UK

Morpeth Flood

Identify on social, economic and environmental concern about the flood management scheme designed here The Environment Agency spent £27 million to build the new flood defence scheme in 2016. Why might some people be unhappy about this? • Some people may not like the new walls along the river- harm the access to the river and the views. • Some people may think that it is too expensive, as bad floods here are quite rare. How did they try to ensure the new flood walls along the river fitted in with the local area? • They matched the building materials for the new 1 to 2 metre high flood walls in the town centre with the historic building materials so that it fits in. What is good and bad about building the flood walls around the edge of the town's park rather than along the river here? • It is good because the park will flood and hold back some of the flood waters, reducing the river levels in the rest of the town • Allows people in the park to appreciate and enjoy the river so don't want walls blocking it off • Park users cannot use it during floods • Park could be destroyed and ruined in the future and may have to repair the park What did they build upstream of Morpeth to help protect it from flooding? • They build a flood storage reservoir which would hold water back during a flood, storing 1.4 million cubic meters, reducing river levels in the town. What impact could this have on the environment and what did they do to try to reduce this? They took care to protect the white clawed crayfish in the river around the new flood storage reservoir while building it and then created new habitats for them to try and help improve the populations

Give 2-3 reasons why the river flooded The need for more flood defences was shown by the impacts of the 2008 flood of the river Wansbeck. It had a lag time of only 8 hours - so it was quite quick for the rainfall to reach the river and lead to flooding. already wet from previous rain It was due to a long period of rainfall - totalling 150mm in 24 hours, on already wet saturated soils and steep slopes upstream

Give 3-4 impacts of the flood Almost 1000 properties in Morpeth town centre were directly affected by the flood water. 400 residents had to be evacuated. Early estimates suggest that damages could be over £10 million. Farming losses were estimated at over £1million This lead to the river level being almost 4 meters high - the highest ever recorded.

Give 3 specific points about the flood management scheme used in this location Overall it seems very good as it is helping prevent future flooding Environment Agency Morpeth Flood Defence Scheme work with locals. Defense walls fit in with architecture. Upstream storage reservoir - 1.4 million cubic metres Habitats for wildlife - white clawed crayfish gates shut when river levels rise in the park

Minehead Coastal Management

Identify 1 to 2 benefits of the scheme at Minehead · In November 1996 planning permission was approved for a multi million pound sea defence system costing £12.3 million. · The project was planned and paid for by the Environment Agency, the local Council, Butlins Holiday Camp · When considering the type of scheme, a great deal of attention was paid to safeguarding the sea views, the promenade and the use of the seafront beach area. Existing access to the beach was poor and the scheme proposed to improve this, together with disabled access, improved seating areas and viewing platforms.

Give 2 reasons why a coastal management scheme was needed at Minehead. flat - easily floods, lots of longshore drift - lose sand, built up near coast - homes flooding. Tourism - Holiday village near coast. bay already eroded. roads along coastline. Railway near coastline. Harbour/port In Nov 1996, there was a storm in Minehead. 100mph winds. millions of pounds of damage. 500 chalets & entertainment hall & shops, restaurants, leisure facilities all flooded. Some of worst weather Minehead had every seen. Sea defence wall damaged & needs new one. Warren road covered in over 3ft of pebbles and shingle (thrown over sea wall. 2 men thought to be washed away (they weren't)

Identify three facts about the coastal management used at Minehead · A sea wall was built with a reflective wave profile, which would turn the power of the wave back upon itself. · The beach level was increased by 2 metres using beach replenishment to offer a greater surface area to absorb wave power. This has to be repeated every couple of years and after severe storms · This also increased the angle of the beach causing waves to break further off shore. · A series of four new groynes were created from 100,000 tonnes rock armour, placed evenly along the beach minimised the loss of beach through long shore drift.

Identify 1 to 2 problems and conflicts caused by this scheme at Minehead The locals/homeowners and tourists may like it because they can go on holiday there and their homes are protected. But locals/tourists may not like - unnatural Locals who live inland may not like as want money spent on other things Council like because of tourism but not like because of costs to make but reduces cost of damage & tax income Environmentalists - not like, too much hard engineering. harm environment hotel and shops/ businesses (Butlins holiday park) - like, tourists so income Further down coast (to the east) more eroded - groynes stop the beach material from moving to their beach - so suffer more beach erosion - like the golf course and Dunster beach

St Jude's Storm

Can you explain the causes of this weather event?A weather front is a place where a large body of warm air meets a large area of cold air coming from different directions. When the warm air meets the colder, more dense air - the warm air rises over the cold air as it is less dense. It will bring strong winds as air is rising up and then it cools to form clouds and then rainfall. The UK lies between the polar and Ferrell cell - which are cold and warm - so they often crash together here. They will be more powerful when the temperature difference between the warm and colder air is greater - creating faster uplift of air and winds and more rainfall. Also if the jet stream (a fast wind high in the atmosphere) is blowing faster, sucking air up into it.

Can you give 2 -3 facts about the impacts of this weather event on each of the following: social, economic and environmental impacts,

• 3 people were killed by falling trees, 1 boy was very sadly swept out in rough seas on the south coast in the storm (social)
• Power cuts in South East England across 660,000 homes, some for 2 days (social)
• 130 flights from Heathrow cancelled, delays at Gatwick (social, economic)
• £1 billion loss from people not being able to go to work (economic)
• Insurers expect to deal with a total of 105,000 claims, and pay out £130 million to policyholders whose homes, businesses and vehicles were damaged during last week's St Jude storm, according to initial estimates from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). (economic)
• 1000’s of trees blocked roads and caused travel delays and closures (environmental and social and economic)
• Around 10 million trees are estimated to have died as a result of the St Jude storm that swept across England last month (environmental)
• 147 flood alerts, 17 flood warnings issued by Environment Agency, including our own River Mole (Environmental, social)

Can you give 4 to 5 facts to show how management strategies helped reduce the risk of this specific stormThe travel services were reduced to stop them being damage. Road journeys were advised against. Local governments were preparing sand bags and flood signs ready for floods. They were also preparing clean up teams and cleared drains of leaves. Insurance companies were preparing for all the claims they were likely to get. emergency services were getting ready. Media were reporting on updates about the storm. People were being advised to protect themselves/their things by doing things such as tying outdoor objects to the ground.

Bristol

Bristol

Mojave Desert

Can you identify 3 to 5 ways in which some of the challenges of hot deserts can be overcome or coped with. The challenge of limited water supply - To overcome water shortage, places can reduce water usage by doing things such as removing turf that needs watering or having less swimming pools or making sure that less water is evaporated. Get people to reduce watering grass and gardens - replace with stone landscaping. They cave built dams like the large Hover Dam on the Colorado river to store lots of water. Have less places using the same water supply. They are looking at building large pipes which take water from wetter areas to the Mojave desert. Also dig wells to pump up more groundwater. Limit certain water use activities like water parks and water fountains. Ration the amount of water people can use per person per week. You can also find other water supplies that can be used instead of the one that is being used at the moment. The industries that are most likely to be limited by lack of water are things like water parks, farms (can't grow crops), swimming pools. The industries that are less likely to be restricted are things like solar farms, hotels, wind farms, desert tours, filming. The challenge of extreme heat - Clearly some people will be put off going there due to the heat. People can stay indoors and use air conditioning systems. Have back up electricity systems to cope with power cuts. Have stored water supplies. Develop more shade and tree planting. People wear lose and white clothing and use sun cream. Buildings designed to keep cool - like painted white. Challenge of inaccessibility - This might only prevent some development because it will be hard to travel to places to set things up. It would also take more time to deliver to places. It will make it much more expensive to transport materials to places like factories here. However it won't completely prevent it as people would find ways to transport things using vehicles which are all terrain and can drive of the desert and they could develop places near to main roads. For businesses which are vary valuable like mining - companies could build new roads to the places they need. But small businesses would not afford to do this such as a single hotel. In some places like Las Vegas new airport have been set up to help make it easier for people to get there.

• specific mining development in your hot desert: Kern County oil field
• specific tourism development in your hot desert: Pink Jeep Tours
• Cspecific farming development in your hot desert: Imperial valley
• specific energy production development in your hot desert: The Ivanpah solar power plant & Coram Wind farm

Can you identify 3 to 5 challenges of developing in your case study hot desert environmentThe challenge of limited water supply People need water to survive, lack of it to dehydration. Very hard to grow crops - may lead to food shortages or higher costs. Tourists could be put off - hard to provide things like swimming pools and water parks. Make it harder to wash things. Also lots of industry, mining and factories would need water to run machines or cool them down. The challenge of extreme heat People find it hard to stay hydrated and can get heatstroke or pass out or sunburn. In extreme cases people can also die. There can also be fires breaking out and there can be electricity power cuts which an effect air conditioning because the electricity systems overheat. Water can run out and damage can be caused to buildings in roads which crack. People may not be able to go outside. Challenge of inaccessibility There aren’t many transport roads to use to access places compared to places nearby such as Los Angeles and there are limited railways or stations. The terrain is also quite hard to travel across (rocky, and many mountains and canyons)

Sahel Region

What is meant by desertification This means that the area is turning into a desert – a dry place with poor quality soils with little organic matter and where little vegetation can grow. How has the Sahel region been affected by desertification The Sahara desert has been expanding over the last 50 years further south into the Sahel region. It is now about 100km further south. This can be caused by the climate naturally getting drier over time – perhaps due to natural cycles, or maybe due to the impacts of global warming heating these places up. In the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert across Africa, the climate got drier since 1970, with 20% to 30% drop in the average rainfall. This has caused the Sahara Desert to expand into this area. The populations rising in these areas – where population has doubled in 30 years. Can you explain how natural climate change has caused desertification in the Sahel Climate change is making temperatures hotter and rainfall less reliable/more variable. Can you explain over grazing by farmed cattle has caused desertification People have brought lots more cattle into this area as a source of milk and food. These eat up lots of the grass and vegetation and damage the soils, leading to the area becoming more desert-like. Can you explain how over-cultivation has caused desertification More land is cleared for farming - sometimes trees burnt to clear land. Also they use up lots of the surface and groundwater to water crops - leaving the area drier. So become more desert like and in time impossible to farm. Can you explain how removal of fuel wood has caused desertification. Cutting trees for building materials and for firewood. Once the trees are removed, than the rains and winds can easily erode away the soils and then plants cannot grow back - so become a desert.

Can you explain a named project to plant trees that is reducing desertificationGreat Green Wall - Since 2007 a World Bank and United Nations funded project costing around $8 billion aims to plant millions of trees across the Sahel in a band 15 km wide and 8000 km long. This will reduce soil erosion, restore soil fertility and reverse desertification. Senegal has made the most progress planting over 10 million trees and seeing economic benefits for many villages. What might be the limitations of this approach? If there is a long drought then the planted trees may well die - hard to stop this. These countries very poor - so may not be able to afford to plant these trees. The soil is already damaged - so hard to get trees to grow again here - takes extra compost brought into this area. The population here is still growing and they will continue to cut trees which will damage other areas or perhaps even the planted trees. Can you explain a soil and water management technique used to reduce desertification Stone lines to reduce desertification - In places like Mali and Burkina Faso in West Africa, farmers have been taught how to dig small trenches across the contour lines of their sloping farms, and then place rocks and stones into them. These then trap water and soil that is running down the slope. This helps to improve soil fertility and moisture so that crops grow better and desertification is prevented. What is meant by appropriate technology Appropriate technology means using inventions to help a place which it suitable to their level of development. So relatively cheap and simple technology would be more appropriate to help in a remote village in a poor country. For example providing microwaves to African villages so that they Appropriate technology means using inventions to help a place which it suitable to their level of development. So relatively cheap and simple technology would be more appropriate to help in a remote village in a poor country. For example providing microwaves to African villages so that they dont have to cut down fuelwood would not be appropriate, as most do not have electricity or cannot afford it.

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Nigeria

Philippines Typhoon Haiyan 2013

· Can you give 2-3 facts about the primary impacts of the storm

• The storm directly affected 9 million people in the Philippines.
• fishing communities were affected with the storm destroying 30,000 boats and associated equipment.
• It caused a storm surge – a wall of water – that was around 5 m high, flooding places including the town of Tacloban
• The storm killed around 6,300 people
• A total of 131,611 tons of rice was lost, together with much of the coconut crop which is nearly half the Philippines agricultural exports

Can you give 2 to 3 specific facts about the secondary impacts of this storm

• 2.5 million people needed food aid
• 6 Months later, many people still had limited access to shelter and water
• The economy was affected, with estimated losses at $2.9billion with much of this in agriculture
• 6 million Workers lost income sources
• 1,200 evacuation centres were set up for homeless

· Can you give 3 to 4 facts about the immediate responses to this storm, including any warning and evacuations and emergency responses There were warnings of the storm and 800,000 did evacuate - which saved lots of lives - although many did still stay - can you explain why so many did not evacuate? Because they weren't aware of the strength of the storm. They did not know they needed to. There were many who may not have been aware of what the effects would have been and also didn't know about the storm surge. Didn't know the speed the storm was going to arrive. Weren't able to. Couldn't take everyone/everything away. Old or unwell. Lived through typhoons and thought it would be ok. Don't want to leave belongings. Didn't hear warnings. The Philippine government tried to get aid and rescue people afterwards, but were unable to cope with it all. USA sent around 7000 troops to help distribute 300 tonnes of medical, food and water aid. Why is it less effective if a country has to rely on help from others to provide emergency support?

The support may take days to arrive. They have to be able get the help into the country. There may not be enough for everyone. Hard to access some places. Only a certain amount of help they can provide. Language and cultural barrierCan you give 3 to 4 facts about the longer term response to this stormPeople were provided with tents and shelter for months after the storm. Charities like the Red Cross delivered 1 million food packs in 2 weeks. Save the Children helped provide medical help. 33 countries raised around $1.5 billion in aid to help the Philippines recover after the hurricane. How much progress was made with recovery 6 months after the storm? Hundreds of thousand of people still living in very basic tents. Many (unstable) houses were being built in what the government called danger zones - high risk locations near the coast. Of all the houses that needed to be built by the government (200,000 of them), only 150 were done after 6 months Very slow recovery. Charities like world vision helped locals, it gave food and water to 130 000 families and tents to over 70 000 people. Gave new tools to farmers so they can work again. Helping schools to rebuild and giving kids school kits. Improving clean water supply to villages. What did the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) do to help? They gave resources and training to many farmers and fishers. And helped them find ways to find multiple ways to have an income - coconut farmers need something to keep their income in the meantime while the coconut trees go back) Helped fishermen who lost 30,000 boats in the storm - trained 900 people in boats and gave new motors and fishing nets. Also trained people in how to process fish - like salting it - so could earn more. Helped coconut farmers who lost trees to replant, but as this takes a while, also helped them diversify into new types of income like growing vegetables and raising cattle. Provided rice farmers with new seeds and fertiliser and equipment to regrow damaged crops. Next year's harvest fed over 600,000 people. Also replanted mangrove trees along the coast to help reduce future flood risk.

Mumbai

Population: 21 million Population structure: The male : female ration is similar apart from late teens to 50 years old, there are more men and then 80 and above, there are more women. The greatest number of people is around the age of 20 and then decreases as they get older

Mumbai's importancelocally: Local farmers sell their food to traders in Mumbai. Local people often visit Mumbai for festivals and entertainment events like Bollywood festivals. Regionally: It is the capital of Maharashtra state. The government offices are here as is the high court Nationally: It is considered the commercial (business) capital of India It accounts for 6% of India's GDP (wealth), 40 % of foreign trade, and 25% of industrial production. In total, the city creates US$10 billion in corporate taxes and its per-capita income is higher than the national average Globally: World renowned university The University of Mumbai is one of the premier universities in India. It was ranked 41 among the Top 50 Engineering Schools of the world. Bollywood one of biggest film industries in the world with films all around the world – 3.5 billion ticket sales a year, it employs nearly 200,000 people

Main industries of Mumbai: The city is famous for developing lots of industrial areas making lots of clothes, as well as chemicals and cars, cement, jewelry. Also has a huge film industry and lots of financial services (like banking and share trading) and tech industries. Economic opportunities for people in Mumbai: (jobs, business) • financial capital of India • Mumbai stock exchange • Bollywood movie industry • many headquarters here, State Bank of India • most specialised tech industries there • international trade

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New Zealand Earthquake

Immediate responses: Emergency response went into effect immediately. Very well managed with rescue teams and medical assistance. Electricity and water supplies restored for most within a weeks Schools re-opened within a couple of weeks. The government help to pay for the insurance payouts from earthquake damage.Long term responses: The Red Cross helped distribute emergency supplies to those affected, including setting up clean water stations, food, shelter and medical help. It gave 50,000 people grants totaling over $40 million to pay for things they needed. It worked with young people to help with emotional support. The government spent $120 million to help businesses in Christchurch. This help pay wages for workers whose job was affected. The earthquake caused $10 billion of building damage, and damaged about 80% of the buildings in the city centre. The government had ambitious plans to rapidly rebuild the city back better. Temporary offices and shop buildings were opened to keep people working. They created more parkland running along the river through the city centre. Government spent $14 billion on rebuilding the city with new conference centres, sports facilities, entertainment venues and offices.

Magnitude: 6.3 Primary impacts (eg. Number killed): 185 people died, 164 people were seriously injured and there was major, widespread damage. The total economic cost was $40 billion. Secondary impacts • Many aftershocks causing further damage and a further 1,000 injuries after the earthquake from dangerous areas. • 3 months without water and sewerage to some homes, so using portable toilets • Decline in Cantebury’s economy for 3-5 years • One third increase in divorce rates • More people decided to leave the city • The Rugby World Cup matches were cancelled, losing income for businesses • Schools had to take in more students until their schools were mended. How well prepared was this country (including building designs)? The city was well prepared for earthquakes and many buildings were designed with earthquake resistant structures, reducing the damage and loss of life. Elevated roads can flex in sections to avoid collapsing. The main hospital in Christchurch has base isolation - so that the ground could move but the building stay still - and it stayed open throughout the earthquake, saving lives. Most of the lives lost were in two buildings that did not have earthquake proof design.

Haiti Earthquake

Magnitude: 7.0 Primary impacts (eg. Number killed) • Over 230,000 people were killed • Transport and communication links were also badly damaged by the earthquake • 250,000 homes and 30,000 other buildings, including the President’s Palace and 60% of government buildings, were either destroyed or badly damaged • Over 50 hospitals and 1,300 schools were damaged • The airport and main port were badly damaged. • The main prison was destroyed and 4,000 inmates escaped • Looting broke out as people were desperate to get food and water Secondary impacts • 1 in 5 people lost their jobs • 1 million people were made homeless. • Haiti’s economy declined because companies could not sell things or trade as easily. • 6 months later an outbreak of a deadly disease called Cholera occurred due to people drinking polluted water from rivers • Over 1 million people were living in tent shelters for months to years afterwards • People were traumatised by the event for years to come. • River water became contaminated with sewage as people could not live in their homes.

Immediate responses (and the problems with this): In the first week, the American army flew in and distributed one bottle of water per person. There was lots of looting because there wasn't many people in the police force. People had moved to a camp on the edge of the city on a hill. Resources were being sent over to Haiti from other countries to help them cope. The longer term aid was setting up temporary tents for school (from Save the children) and giving all the students school packs with books and pens. Oxfam paid locals to make food to feed the people in the worst situation and gave them grants to set up their own businesses. They also gave them supplies to help them. • 810,000 people were housed in emergency camps and given food aid • Oxfam and Christian Aid helped to set up temporary schools in tents for children. • The Red Cross from the USA sent in rescue teams and medical teams to Haiti • 4.3 million people provided with food rations in the weeks following the earthquake • people were desperate to get food and water Longer term responses • $100 million in aid given by the USA and $330 million by the European Union • Oxfam and Christian Aid helped to build 20 new schools • The American army helped to clear the rubble from the roads in the months after the earthquake • People were traumatised by the event for years to come. • Oxfam provided money for people to help start up new businesses

Jamaica - Tourism in a developing country

Give an example of the growth of tourism in a named developing country.Jamaica is a relatively poor country with average incomes of around $4,500 per person per year. Its economy is based around a few resources like iron ore and sugar. It has high unemployment and high levels of debts. small island in the Caribbean (sea) near Cuba & Haiti Total tourist arrivals: increased over the years. 2.23 million in 2000 and 4.23 in 2019 - nearly doubled. However there are fluctuations = 4.32 in 2018 so decreased slightly • more accessible • more popular/well-known • more advertising • more hotels Give 2-4 facts about how tourism in this location is helping to reduce the development gap • it has created over 200,000 jobs directly in the tourist industry • but then also many more indirectly - e.g. extra shops and other services provided around the country • creates a multiplier effect • local people learn lots of new skill - like in hospitality, catering, speaking languages etc. which they can use to get other better jobs. • much higher incomes - country earns $2 bullion a year from tourism, average incomes doubled since the year 2000. • it is the fastest growing part of the economy - now over 25% of all the country earns a year. • earns lots of money from other countries - so country get richer. • increases taxes to the government. Which they can spend to help the country.

Give 2- 4 problems with tourism here to reduce the development gap. • if multinational companies such as resorts are set up there, and money will go back to other companies • tourists may not leave large resorts which will reduce the amount tourists are spending on things that can help the local community. • cause environmental issues - such as habitat loss, water and air pollution, waste and litter - which can harm the quality of life and development in a place • they can't go on the beach due to old laws which reduces the amount of jobs available - e.g. jet skis • if there are problems like natural disaster or health issue like Covid - then tourist may stop coming and so you can't rely on the income. • The jobs may be lowly paid, long hours, and also seasonal - so only get paid in certain months

Amazon Rainforest Deforestation

In which region has tropical deforestation rates been highest over the last 50 yearsAmazon (then SE Asia in recent years). Approximately what % of the Amazon has been deforested so far 15-20% Which areas in the Amazon have seen highest deforestation Most of the deforestation has occurred on the South and East edge of the rainforest. The biggest clump of deforestation is in the North of Brazil between Para, Tocantiss and Maranhao. Less than this there is also deforestation in Rhondonia which is just under 200km wide and 400-600km long.

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Sustainable City Dubai

Name a city which is trying to be more sustainable There is actually a new city that has recently been built in Dubai which calls itself the “Sustainable city”. Comprising 500 low-lying villas that are home to nearly 3,000 people, as well as commercial spaces and a mosque community areas Give 1 to 2 ways this city is conserving water • The houses all have solar panels which can heat water as well as collect the humidity from the air which is brought to their taps. the solar panels also provide shade. • The water is saved as the water pressure is less but still feels the same. • waste water is cleaned and used in the farms. Give 2 to 3 ways this city is conserving energy • The houses all have solar panels which can produce electricity • 70% less energy than typical home. • Lightbulbs use 3 watts not 20. places to charge vehicles How is this city reducing waste • There are domes that are farms and every house gets food from it each month. • There is an animal sanctuary with ducks, donkeys and goats. • no cars are allowed, just golf buggy, walking or cycling.

Can you give an example how an appropriate technology project which is helping to reduce desertification. Solaria-safe is a specially designed simple curved mirror which focuses the suns rays onto a cooking pot. In the Sahel villages this saves cutting down trees for fires so reduces deforestation. It is cheap to buy and free to run. We could call this appropriate technology. What are the limitations/ problems of using this? It might not work if the angle of the dish isn't right (?). It may get damaged and not work as well (?). May be too hot to use and be blinding when being used. It needs to be manufactured and transported to the villages - which is costly and causes some pollution. Very poor villages may not be able to afford to buy it although it is quite cheap. It will not work well on cloudy days or at night.

Immediate responses ▪ Help from American army ▪ government tried to help the people with aid and rescue but found it hard ▪ Medicine ▪ Food ▪ Water ▪ Temporary shelter Long term responses - Schools & school kits - Government tried to rebuild houses but were slow - FAO gave aid to farmers and fishers to restart their businesses and get an income - Gave tents to people - Improve water supply Conclusion ○ Immediate helped people survive the first few days and many helped ○ But immediate relied on people and there were delays ○ Long term helped people build back their lives better○ ○ But long term weren't all successful with housing

Temple Quarter Enterprise zoneWere lots of run down derelict buildings around Temple Meads train station in Bristol good place for many new industries to set up:

• lots of people in this area
• Transport hub - train station - fast connections to London etc.
• Rebuilt with new modern offices
• Offices much cheaper than some other cities.
• Nice environment for workers nearby - with river, restaurants, shops etc.
• Lots of highly educated workers

What kinds of jobs have been created here, what companies have moved here?

• Mainly office work - architects, bank offices like HSBC, university quantum computing campus.
• Software companies.