GCSE Geography Key Geographical
Themes Paper Case Studies
TOP TIPS TO IMPROVE MY GEOGRAPHY GRADE
1)
Recognise the command terms in the question – do what it asks e.g. describe, explain, compare
etc.
2)
Ensure that describe and explain answers are in the correct sections – marks are not
transferable between sections. If the question asks you to describe in one section and explain in
the next, do not mix them up because you will get marks for only one section.
3)
Use the ‘So what’ elaboration in each part of the question which you answer:
4)
Questions which ask you to describe location must refer to distance and direction.
e.g. To get to the top of Ben Nevis you walk 3 km north from the car park at grid reference....&
then....
5)
Distributions must be described for when asked for; words such as even, regular, sparse, dense
etc may help.
6)
Use resources effectively i.e. quote evidence to support your answer.
7)
Improve OS skills – 6 figure grid references and scale are common errors (in 6 figure refs there
must be no , or . in the reference i.e. 670,345 would receive no marks)
8)
Know basic geographical terminology; improve your understanding and knowledge of
processes in physical geography e.g. infiltration, run-off, types of erosion.
9)
Improve your knowledge and use of case studies. Case studies must refer to specific places and
not be so general that they could apply to anywhere.
10)
Sketch maps and diagrams will be asked for and higher level marks cannot be attained without
them.
11)
Reasons must be qualified. For example ‘high rainfall in July will lead to flooding because...’
12)
Answers must be supported with evidence from the data – use the data to make judgements
and not just list data. Where map evidence is asked for it must be used.
Above all, you must revise thoroughly and practise the skills which you will use in your
exams.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR GCSE GEOGRAPHY EXAM
GCSE GEOGRAPHY 2017
ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW
This Geography GSCE course covers 4 key themes, which are assessed in different ways:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Theme 1: Rivers and Coasts
Theme 2: Population and Settlement
Theme 3: Natural Hazards
Theme 4: Economic Development
Unit B561: Sustainable Decision Making
25%
Your SDME will be based
upon Population &
Settlement
Unit B562: Geographical Enquiry
25%
Unit B563: Key Geographical Themes
50%
The Geographical
Enquiry focus was on
Rivers.
This exam will assess your
understanding of Rivers &
Coasts, Natural Hazards and
Economic Development
WHAT ARE COMMAND WORDS?
Command Words:
These are the words used in an exam question which make it clear exactly what you are asked to
do. If you do not understand what you are being asked to do it is unlikely you are going to write
what is being expected of you. The most common command words used are as follows:
Compare - use comparative words to say how things are similar of different from each other - should
use words/ phrases such as larger than, smaller than, more vegetation than, higher than etc, similar
height etc.
Contrast - here you are simply focusing on the differences between two things (NOT similarities!)
Define - this means simply give the meaning of a term .
Describe - here you need to say what the characteristics of something are. You might be asked to
describe a photograph or pattern on a graph etc. Imagine you are having to describe it to someone
on the phone who can't see what you are looking at - so say exactly what you see!
Discuss - if you are asked to discuss you will need to talk about the important points of an argument.
Estimate - this means give an approximate value.
Explain - this requires an explanation or reasons for something happening and tests your
understanding! For example why has tourism grown over the last 50 years?
Justify - this requires you to back up an answer you are giving i.e. give reasons for it, perhaps using
evidence from a photograph or map.
Name, give, identify or state - for example "Give one reason for a high birth rate", "Name one
example of an ecotourism destination you have studied" - these types of questions are often only
worth one mark.
Outline - here you will be expected to summarise the main points, which may involve some
explanation, but it is the main characteristics you will be expected to concentrate on.
Suggest / give reasons for - like explain BUT this is often the case where there is not necessarily a
right or wrong answer as long as it is possible and a sensible suggestion.
Use data in your answer - if you are asked to do this, marks will be available for it and therefore you
must use data in your answer - e.g. quote figures from a graph.
You may use a diagram… - this means you MUST draw a diagram and annotate (labels which explain
too) your diagram. Use pencil to draw it, use a ruler to draw the lines out, and label it in pen.
Rivers & Coasts Case
Studies
Economic
Development Case
Studies
Natural Hazards Case
Studies
Topic: Rivers & Coasts
Case Study: Coastal Area Case Study & Landforms
Location: The Dorset Coast, Southern England
Geographical Keywords
• Marine erosion (Abrasion,
Hydraulic Action, Attrition,
Solution)
• Weathering (Salt crystal
growth, wetting/drying)
• Mass Movement
• Geology
• Lithology
• Stack
• Arch
• Cove
• Tombolo
• Transportation
• Longshore drift
• Deposition
Case Study Detail
Background
The Dorset Coast has a number of very distinctive coastal features which from either erosion,
transport and deposition of material along the coast line. The changing geology of the coast
means that different features are found where the rock types change.
Arches and Stacks
Near Studland Bay a more resistant outcrop of chalk rock is found which creates a headland.
Here you can find Old Harry Rocks; a collection of arches and stacks. The stacks begin as a crack
or weakness in the rock which is eroded and weathered. Over time, the crack enlarges to form a
cave and then an arch when it cuts through the headland. Eventually the roof of the arch
collapses to leave a stack which can be further worn down to leave a stump and finally a wavecut platform.
Cove
Lulworth cove has been created because of hard and soft rock. Running parallel with the sea is a
band of resistant limestone with softer sands and clays behind it. At Lulworth cove, erosion of a
weakness in the limestone has cut through to the clays/sands . This has created a large cove as
this rock is much more easily erodible.
Tombolo
Moving West along the coast you find one of the longest stretched of beach in the country.
Chesil Beach is 18 miles long and has been created by the movement of sediment by longshore
drift (know how this works). Longshore drift moves the material in an easterly direction towards
Portland leaving lagoons behind some sections of beach. Over time the beach has grown into a
spit which has reached the Isle of Portland and formed a tombolo.
Exam tip: Learn how a spit forms too. Good examples (not in Dorset) include Spurn Head in
Yorkshire and the Humber, and Hurst Castle Spit in Hampshire.
Topic: Rivers & Coasts
Case Study: Coastal Management Case Study
Location: The Holderness Coast, East Yorkshire
Geographical Keywords
• Hard engineering
• Rock Armour (Rip-Rap)
• Sea Wall
• Revetments
• Gabions
• Groynes
• Soft Engineering
• Longshore Drift
• Boulder Clay
• Shoreline Management Plan
• Erosion
• Slumping
• Economic value
Case Study Detail
Background
The Holderness Coast is located on the east coast of England. It extends 61km from Flamborough
in the north to Spurn Point in the south. It is one of Europe's fastest eroding coastlines. The
average annual rate of erosion is around 2 metres per year. This is around 2 million tonnes of
material every year. Under lying the Holderness Coast is bedrock made up of Cretaceous Chalk.
However, in most place this is covered by glacial till deposited over 18,000 years ago. It is this
soft boulder clay that is being rapidly eroded. The shoreline management plan of this coast varies
as you move along it. Areas that have economic value have hard engineering in place to prevent
coastal erosion, while areas of coastal farmland have little protection.
Hornsea Management
The seaside town of Hornsea has hard engineering to protect the town from coastal erosion. A
new concrete lipped sea wall protects most of the town with an older stepped seawall further
south. Along the beach are numerous timber groynes which trap sand, protecting the coastline
and providing an attractive beach for tourists. More recently rock armour and a steel
reventment has been erected to the south of Hornsea. This helps protect the caravan park. South
of the caravan park where the protection ends, the coastline is noticeably more eroded with lots
of evidence of slumping of the boulder clay.
Mappleton
Situated approximately 3km south of Hornsea lies the village of Mappleton. Supporting
approximately 50 properties, the village has been subject to intense erosion at a rate of 2.0m per
year, resulting in the access road being only 50m from the cliff edge at its closest point. In 1991
almost £2 million was spent on two rock groynes and rock armour along the coastline to protect
Mappleton and the B1242 coastal road. Blocks of granite were imported from Norway for the sea
defences. The purpose of the two rock groynes was to trap beach material. As the result of the
coastal management a substantial beach accumulated between the groynes halting erosion.
However, like Hornsea, the coastline south of Mappleton has no protection, and because it is
starved of sediment (trapped at Mappleton) it experiences far worse erosion. Many residents
blame the rock groynes at Mappleton for the loss of their land.
Topic: Population & Settlement
Case Study: Internal Migration
Location: South-East Brazil
Geographical Keywords
• Push factor
• Pull factor
• Favela
• Crop failure
• Over-cropping
• Drought
• Urbanisation
• Infrastructure
Case Study Detail
Background
Many of Brazil’s biggest cities have seen a mass migration of people from rural areas over the last 30 years. Cities like
Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have seen rapid urbanisation caused by rural-urban migration, which has created
problems for the infrastructure of these cities.
Push factors
• Rural droughts leading to crop failure.
• Over-cropping and over grazing leading to poor productivity.
• Lack of investment in infrastructure in rural areas.
• Lower average wages in rural areas compared to urban areas.
Pull factors
• Well-paid factor work in many manufacturing industries (e.g. car production).
• Better services and facilities in urban areas.
• Advertising campaigns attracting migrants to the cities.
Economic impacts
Positive
• Migrant workers contribute hugely to the booming manufacturing growth in Brazil’s economy.
• Many MNCs have located in south-east Brazil to take advantage of the number of workers available (e.g.
Ford and VW).
Negative
• Many workers who have been unable to find work live in favela or slum districts of these cities (e.g. Rocinha
in Rio). Trying to improve the infrastructure of these areas is very costly for the Brazilian government,
especially with the coming Olympics and World Cup (these areas are seen as an embarrassment).
• People living in favelas can become and economic burden on the Brazilian government for healthcare and
benefits.
Social impacts
Positive
• Migrants from rural areas have brought new traditions and cultures which make Brazilian cites very diverse.
Negative
• People living in favelas often have no running water in their homes or proper satiations meaning inhabitants
have a lower life expectancy than the Brazilian average.
• Favelas like Rocinha often have a high crime rate and house drug gangs, making them dangerous places to
live.
Environmental impact
Negative
• Many favelas are built on unsuitable ‘marginal’ land which is steep, dangerous and prone to landslide.
• Waste and rubbish from open sewers can create an environmental hazard.
Topic: Population & Settlement
Case Study: International Migration
Location: Poland to the UK
Geographical Keywords
• Emigrate
• Immigration
• Push factor
• Pull factor
• Economic migrants
• Ageing Population
• Dependency ratio
• Economically active
Case Study Detail
Background
In 2004, along with 8 other countries, Poland joined to European Union (EU) This meant that
workers from Poland had no restrictions placed on them to work abroad. Between 2004 and
2007, 430 000 Polish economic migrants arrived in the UK to work. A number of push and pull
factors contributed to this movement of people:
Push factors
• High unemployment rate in Poland (some rural areas with 40%)
• GDP per capita of only $12 700 in 2006
Pull factors
• Unemployment rate of only 5% in the UK, with a shortage of semi-skilled and unskilled
labour
• GDP per capita in the Uk of $31 000 in 2006
• A better standard of living in the UK
• A more developed infrastructure of communications and services.
Economic impacts
Positive
• An annual economic contribution of £2.54 billion from these workers.
• 1% of the UK’s economic growth came from these migrants in 2006
• 80% of workers between 18-35 (economically active), helping to reduce the dependency
ratio caused by an aging population in the UK.
Negative
• The economic strain put on schools and hospitals for the families of migrants
• Additional cost of policing in areas of tension.
Social impacts
Positive
• A greater degree of cultural awareness and integration.
• Generally hard working, cheerful and polite people.
Negative
• The perception that Polish workers were ‘stealing’ jobs from UK workers (untrue)
• Some areas (e.g. Boston in Lincolnshire) changed overnight to Polish communities and
local people felt pushed out.
• Tensions between UK residents and Polish immigrants including anti-Polish graffiti.
• Some Polish workers have been exploited by employers
Topic: Rivers & Coasts
Case Study: LEDC Flood Management
Location: Bangladesh
Geographical Keywords
• Monsoon
• Storm surge
• Hard Engineering
• Sustainability
• Silt
• Floating gardens
• Tropical storm
• Densely populated
Case Study Detail
Background
Bangladesh is one of the poorest and most densely populated countries in the world. Many of its
140 million inhabitants live on the low-lying flood plains of the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and
Megna. Due to the fertile silt that these rivers have deposited it makes an ideal place for
farming.
Bangladesh is affected by yearly river floods due to snow-melt in the Himalayas to the north and
from the monsoon rainfall. It is also hit by regular cyclones (tropical storms) which can create
storm surges in the Bay of Bengal of up to 6m, flooding far inland.
Management
Preparedness Programme including:
• cluster villages raised above the water level.
• raised individual home on earth banks.
• flood shelter area – raised land for livestock and people
• rescue boats – near to areas most at risk
• radios – give to each preparedness committee to alert people
These strategies are arguable more sustainable economically as they are low cost, socially as
they immediately save lives and environmentally as they do not interfere with the natural flow of
the river. However, they have limited effect in urban areas
Dhaka Integrated Flood Protection Project. A hard engineering project to protect Dhaka:
• Large earth embankments to hold back water
• Slope reinforcement to reduce erosion
• Storm drains linked to rivers
• Large sluice gates to close river channels
Although these strategies protect a large number of people.
Floating Gardens: Floating agricultural land built on bamboo beds, so that when floods arrive the
gardens float and the crops are not lost. These are socially, economically and environmentally
sustainable.
Topic: Rivers & Coasts
Case Study: MEDC Flood Management
Location: Boscastle, Cornwall
Geographical Keywords
• Flash flood
• Canalisation
• Saturated ground
• Urbanisation
• Interception
• Surface runoff
Case Study Detail
Background
In August 2004 the small coastal village of Boscastle in Cornwall was devastated by a flash flood.
Within minutes, river levels rose and the 3 rivers that flow through Boscastle burst their banks,
creating a 40mph tide of water through the village.
The flood was caused because of a number of factors:
1. Saturated ground from a very wet summer
2. A single August storm releasing 1.400 million litres in 2 hours
3. Urbanisation in Boscastle and the small river channel.
Damage included:
• 25 business properties destroyed
• 50 buildings flood damaged
• 4 footbridges washed away
• Visitor centre destroyed
• Cars and vans washed away
• £20 billion repair bill
Management
Since the flood a £4.6 million flood defence scheme was put in place which included:
• A widened river channel
• Lower river bed by an average 0.75m
• New flood defence walls
• Raise car parks
• Remove dead trees and vegetation river banks
• Wider river channel upstream to create slow flow and allow deposition of larger
sediment
• Encourage landowners to maintain vegetation cover on valley sides to increase
interception and reduce surface runoff.
Topic: Population & Settlement
Case Study: Population Management – The
one Child Policy
Location: China
Geographical Keywords
• Population pyramid
• Dependency ratio
• Elderly dependents
• Female infanticide
• Contraception
• Family planning
• Spare branches
• Little Emperor
• Natural increase
• Communist
• One Child Policy
Case Study Detail
Background
China has the largest population of any country in the world and has done so for many years. In
1979, the communist government introduced the one child policy, whereby couples were only
allowed to have one child. This was an attempt to slow down the population growth which the
government though would create an unsustainable demand of the country’s resources.
Management
The policy was implemented in a number of ways:
• Couples having only one child has access to free education, healthcare and benefits
• Those having 2 or more had benefits removed.
• Couples with one child paid less tax than those with more
• Family planning officers ‘persuaded’ women that having one child was in the best
interest of the country and encouraged the use of family planning, abortion and
sterilisation.
• Parents who had 2 children were fined and made to pay for education and healthcare.
Important note: In 2013, China relaxed its one child policy so now couples may have 2 children.
This is because of China’s aging population and gender imbalance which was thought to be
economically unsustainable.
Impacts of the policy
The policy has reduced the growth of China’s population, although has had a number of negative
consequences:
Social: It has created the 4-2-1 problem, where one child will have to support 2 parents and 4
grandparents. The means China will have a high dependency ratio in the future. It has also
created ‘little emperors’, single children who are spoilt and may not be able to socialise as well
as children with brothers and sisters. Also, boys are preferred to girls, and selective termination
has occurred meaning that now there are 30 million more boys than girls. These are known as
‘spare branches’ because they may never find wives when they grow up. In addition to this,
many girls have been abandoned or put up for adoption because of the preference for boys. In
the worst cases girls have been killed at birth in the hope of having a boy (female infanticide)
Economic: China is already suffering from a lack of workers in its rapidly growing economy.
Already, China’s economic growth has slowed possibly due to a lack of economically active
people. Additionally, China’s high dependency ratio means that they may struggle to provide
adequate healthcare, pensions and housing for elderly dependents in the future.
Topic: Rivers & Coasts
Case Study: River Valley Case Study &
Landforms
Location: The River Tees Valley, N.Yorkshire
Geographical Keywords
• Upper course
• Middle course
• Lower course
• Watershed
• Drainage basin
• Waterfall
• Meanders
• Source
• Mouth
• Estuary
• Lateral erosion
• Vertical erosion
Additional resource: Watch the Routeways
source to mouth DVD.
Case Study Detail
Background
The River Tees in Northern England flows 137km from Cross Fell high in the Pennines to
Middlesbrough by the North Sea. Along its course are found many distinctive features.
Upper Course
The source of the river is high (750m) in the Pennines where it flows into the first human
feature; Cow Green Reservoir. The river channel is narrow and has a large bedload and steep
gradient. V-shape valleys are found throughout this part of the river. Near Middleton-inTeesdale is High Force, the highest waterfall in England, created because of hard resistant
Whinstone overlying less resistant Limestone. Downstream of the water fall is a gorge.
Middle course
From High Force through to Yarm the river gradient starts to flatten out and the river becomes
wider. Lateral erosion takes over and meanders and oxbow lakes can be found. Here, water
travels quicker on the outside bend of a river causing the meander to ‘migrate’. Over time the
meander neck can be completely cut off leaving an oxbow lake. The town of Yarm sits within a
meander on the river.
Lower course
From Yarm to Middlesbrough, the river becomes much wider, deeper and faster moving as more
tributaries join it. It eventually turns into a river estuary with wide flood plains on either side
composed of river sediment (estuary mud). These areas have been dried out and have large
industries situated on them such as The Redcar steelworks.
Topic: Economic Development
Case Study: MEDC Location of Economic Activity:
Quaternary Industry, Cambridge Science Park.
Location: Cambridge, UK.
Geographical Keywords
•
Quaternary industry – uses high technology to
provide information and expertise to research
and develop ideas for other industrial sectors.
•
Optimum location – the location that best
satisfies the objectives of a country (to make
maximum profit).
Case Study Detail
Background
Cambridge is a perfect location for the types of hi-tech, often quaternary industries that locate there. The M11
offers a very quick route to London and beyond. Stansted airport is 30 minutes down the motorway. There are close
links with the university (Trinity College of Cambridge University), allowing researchers from there to work in
tandem with researchers from the companies of the Science Park. Much of the work is research and development in
areas such as pharmaceuticals and micro-electronics.
Why have industries located there?
1. Good Access – Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick and Cambridge airports are all close by. Close to the city of
Cambridge, it has cycle parks, electric car hook ups and major roads (M11) providing excellent access.
2. Attractive local environment for workers – 20 acres have been landscaped with jogging and cycle routes.
3. Childcare on site – KidsUnlimited is an onsite childcare facility, so fits in well with workers hours and is
convenient.
4. Facilities for workers – onsite health and fitness centre, bar, shop and restaurant.
5. Security – 30 CCTV cameras on site and manned foot patrols out of business hours.
6. Free recycling facilities – keeps costs down for businesses.
7. Technological connectivity – 5 fibre optic broadband systems allowing high tech computer work.
8. Near to Cambridge university – businesses are close to a highly skilled workforce needed in the research
and development industries.
9. High-technology cluster – lots of high-tech companies locate here because their location factors are similar.
These companies benefit from being in close proximity.
Topic: Economic Development
Case Study: LEDC Environmental Impacts of Economic
Activity
Location: China, Pearl River Delta, South East of China
Case Study Detail
Geographical Keywords
•
Acid rain – rainwater containing sulphuric acid,
nitric acid and ammonia compounds. It is
harmful to buildings, people, wildlife and
vegetation.
•
Aid pollution – any harmful gases emitted into
the air
•
Water pollution – any harmful substances
released into the water.
•
Deforestation – the removal of vegetation from
an area.
•
Regulations – rules put in place that can be
monitored by government organisations.
Failure to comply with the rules usually results
in fines.
Background
The manufacturing industries in this area employ 30 million people and is the same size as Belgium.
It is known as the ‘workshop of the world’ as this is where a lot of the world’s products are manufactured.
The Shenzhen region produces 70% of the Worlds photocopies and 80% of the Worlds artificial Christmas trees.
The Dongguan specialises in running shoes, employing 80,000 people in one factory.
The problems
1. In 2007, 8/10 rainfalls in Guangzhou (and 45% in the province) were classified as acid rain. This is caused by
a high concentration of factories pumping out harmful gases and a growing number of cars. Air pollution is
increased.
2. Half of the waste water in the urban areas of Guangdong is not treated before being dumped in rivers. The
area aims to cut chemical water pollution of water by 15% by 2010.
3. Almost all urban areas have been deforested as factories want to expand. In some places this increases the
erosion of the land.
4. The Environmental Protection Bureau classifies the environmental situation as ‘severe’.
How are the problems being managed?
1. Higher sewage treatment charges – these mean that factories try to cut down on the amount sewage waste
they are pumping out as it costs them a lot to get rid of it. They re-think their industrial processes and see
where they can cut down on or re-use their waste. The amount of water pollution is reduced.
2. Stricter pollution regulations on factories – factories have to install better technology to ensure that any
gases they release into the air meet air quality standards, so this reduces the amount of air pollution.
3. Tougher national regulations in vehicle emissions – this means that all vehicles must be made so that their
exhaust fumes are less harmful, again reducing the amount of air pollution and acid rain.
Topic: Economic Development
Case Study: LEDC Location of Economic Activity
Location: China, Pearl River Delta, South East of China
Geographical Keywords
•
MNC – Multi National Companies are firms that
produce goods in two or more countries.
•
Manufacturing – secondary industries that
make products.
•
Access – how easy it is to get raw materials/
products/services in and out of an industry. He
ease of this affects costs, which affects profit.
Case Study Detail
Background
The manufacturing industries in this area employ 30 million people and it is the same size as Belgium.
It is known as the ‘workshop of the world’ as this is where a lot of the world’s products are manufactured.
The Shenzhen region produces 70% of the Worlds photocopies and 80% of the Worlds artificial Christmas trees.
The Dongguan specialises in running shoes, employing 80,000 people in one factory.
Why have industries located there?
1. Cheap Labour Force – China’s population is one of its main resources, and because there are so many
people it means that the cost of hiring them is low.
2. Few Environmental Regulations – China is big on developing, not on protecting the environment, so it is
cheaper for companies to locate here as they don’t have to pay as much to get rid of their waste.
3. Flat land – Flat land at the delta of the Pearl river (the lower course) means that it is easy to build factories.
4. Space to expand – there is plenty of space to expand the buildings for the factories.
5. Good Access – there are five major airports in the region (in particular Shenzhen airport so shoes can be air
freighted easily). There are 6 deep water ports and 13 shallow water ports so it is easy to get products out
to the rest of the world.
How has this been beneficial to China?
• MNCs have followed each other to locate there, making it the ‘workshop of the world’.
• Lots of job opportunities for locals, causing a rise in income for its people.
• More tax (paid by the MNCs) for government to spend on health, education and infrastructure
improvements.
• More transport links (airports, roads, railways) built – so beneficial for the development of the region.
• More recently, due to huge environmental problems in the area, environmental regulations have been
toughened up.
Topic: Economic Development
Case Study: MNC, Nike
Location: Vietnam, South East Asia
Case Study Detail
Geographical Keywords
•
MNC – Multi National Companies are firms
that produce goods or services in two or
more countries.
•
Niche market – markets dealing in a
specialised product.
•
Globalisation – the increasing
interconnectedness and interdependence of
the world socially, economically,
environmentally and politically.
•
Social Impact.
•
Environmental Impact.
•
Economic Impact.
Background
• Nike’s headquarters are in Oregon, USA.
• Nike produces shoes for a niche market.
• 75% of its workforce are based in Asia. There are 150 Asian factories employing 350,000 people
manufacturing products for Nike.
• There are 34 Nike plants in Vietnam.
• The majority of workers are women are under the age of 25.
• Nike’s Vietnam headquarters is in Ho Chi Minh City.
• About 75 million pairs of shoes are made for Nike each year in Vietnam alone.
Benefits Nike brings to Vietnam
•
•
•
•
•
Creates jobs for the people in Vietnam (Economic).
Nike pays higher wages than other local companies (Social).
Other MNCs have been attracted to Vietnam (Economic).
Sets new standards for other companies in the country (e.g. health and safety, wages).For example, Nike
has written a policy promoting safe working conditions in its factories (Social).
Contributions to local tax and the government (Economic).
Disadvantages Nike brings to Vietnam
•
•
•
•
•
The company image and advertising might undermine the culture of Vietnam (Social).
Nike may have a political influence over the government and through ‘blackmail’ can have a say in
government policies over working conditions, environmental regulations etc. (Social, Economic, Enviro).
Nike could leave at any moment to go to a cheaper location leaving the country with huge unemployment
and poverty (Economic and Social).
As Vietnam does not have tight environmental regulations, Nike gets rid of its waste by dumping it/burning
it (especially rubber) which release carcinogenic (cancerous) gases into the atmosphere (Environmental).
Abuse of workers, and appalling working conditions for Vietnamese workers (Social).
Topic: Economic Development
Case Study: MEDC Location of Economic Activity: Car
Manufacturing
Location: Slovakia, Europe
Geographical Keywords
•
Secondary Industry – an industry which makes
things (manufacturing).
•
Flat tax rate – the same tax is paid by everyone
in a country regardless of income.
•
Optimum location – the location that best
satisfies the objectives of a country (to make
maximum profit).
•
Multiplier Effect – the development of one
industry attracts other industries who are
connected to them (e.g. material suppliers).
Case Study Detail
Background
Slovakia is an MEDC country located in Eastern Europe. It is landlocked (so does not have any seaports),but it is a
member of the EU, and has good access to the rest of Europe. A lot of car manufacturing industries locate around
the capital Bratislava.
Investment in the car industry has shifted from Western Europe to Eastern Europe in recent years for a number of
reasons...
Why have industries located there?
1. Relatively low labour costs – average wage for person in the UK is 1300 Euros whereas in Slovakia it is 780
Euros.
2. Low taxes for companies - Slovakia has a ‘flat tax rate’ of 19% for everyone on the company (individuals
and companies) which is much lower than the rest of Europe.
3. A highly skilled labour force – Slovakia used to have its own heavy industries so it has a large amount of
already skilled workers.
4. Strong work ethic – Slovakia is the poorest country in the EU (but still an MEDC) and its population has a
strong work ethic as they are working hard towards having a better standard of living. This means that there
are high levels of productivity.
5. Low transport costs – Slovakia is located to its European markets so the transport costs are lower.
6. Stable country politically
7. Attractive government incentives – Slovakia provides good monetary relocation incentives for MNCs.
8. Good local transport – Excellent local transport routes in and around the capital already so little investment
needed from MNCs.
9. Expanding local market – as Slovakians become wealthier as the country develops further, they purchase
more vehicles.
How has this been beneficial to Slovakia?
• Lots of car manufactures have moved there: VW (producing the Polo, Touareg and SEAT Ibiza), Hyundai,
Peugeot and Kia.
• Car manufacturing suppliers have moved there too – Hyundai’s seven suppliers have relocated to Slovakia
and brought with them $1.5 billion in investment! (This is known as the multiplier effect).
• Lots of job opportunities for locals, causing a rise in income for its people.
• More tax (as there are more MNCs) for government to spend on health, education and infrastructure
improvements.
Topic: Economic Development
Case Study: LEDC Sustainable Aid Project
Location: Mali, West Africa, Landlocked.
Geographical Keywords
•
International Aid – the giving of resources from
one country or organisation to another country
in need.
•
Voluntary Aid - provided by NGO’s who collect
money from people and organisations to
implement projects in countries in need.
•
Appropriate Technology – the level of skills and
technology needed to deliver and maintain aid
matches the needs of the country.
•
Desertification – the spread of deserts.
Case Study Detail
Background
Mali is in West Africa and is one of the world’s poorest nations with a population of about 12 million. The natural
environment is very harsh, and it is getting worse each year. The area has very low rainfall levels, and
desertification is a big problem. 65% of the country is desert/semi desert.
The problems
1. Only 50% of the population have access to a safe and sustainable water supply.
2. Mali privatised its water system, so private companies are responsible for providing and maintaining water pipes
to supply clean water to the population. They do not do this well.
3. Many do not understand about hygiene and good sanitation.
4. 50% of the population struggle to find clean water, irrigate crops or look after livestock, resulting in disease and
famine.
What is WaterAid ?
WaterAid is an NGO that is providing international voluntary aid to Mali to try and help solve the problems by:
• Paying for the construction of the water pipe network to provide slums with access to clean drinking water.
• Training local people to manage and maintain this system (so they are not reliant on private companies).
• In rural areas, they are constructing and training locals how to build and maintain simple water pumps.
• Encouraging the local community to invest in this network so they own it and are responsible for it.
• Training locals to provide education to the population about good hygiene to lower the risk of disease.
• Educating about the benefits of compost toilets (rather than pooing in the streets) so that this can be used
as a fertiliser to help crops grow.
Sustainable?...YES
Socially – It is training up the locals (up-skilling them) and empowering them to solve their own problems. Also the
number of deaths due to disease have decreased by 65%.
Economically – the solutions are cheap to implement, and locals can be employed to implement the appropriate
technology rather than paying for foreigners to do it (so money stays in the country).
Environmentally – solutions do not use lots of natural resources and they encourage the recycling of human waste
to fertilise fields.
Topic: Hazards
Case Study: LEDC Climatic Case Study: Cyclone Nargis
Location: Irrawaddy Delta, Myanmar (Burma).
Geographical Keywords
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Military government
Mangrove forest
LEDC
Damage to infrastructure
Storm track
Saffir-Simpson category
Intense area of low pressure
Landfall
Storm surge
Tropical storm
Case Study Detail
Cycone Nargis struck in May 2008 and caused huge devastation in the military dictatorship of Myanmar (formerly
known as Burma). The tropical system developed from a low pressure system in the Bay of Bengal during the last
week of April. By 2 May, the cyclone reached its peak status with winds of 217 km/h (135 mph) (equivalent to a
Category 4 hurricane). Cyclone Nargis made landfall in southwest Myanmar on 2 May, near the town of Wagon in
the Ayeyarwady Division. The storm moved inland, but remained along the coast of the Irrawaddy Delta, which
prevented the rapid weakening traditionally exhibited by cyclones as they moved over land, this didn’t happen until
the 3rd of May.
What were the social, economic and environmental impacts?
Economic
• $10 billion worth of damage
• Majority of the population worked on the flooded rice fields therefore they lost their harvest and income
• 75% of buildings collapsed but on the delta 95% collapsed
• 1,163 temples were destroyed
Social
• There was a lack of food, water for survivors
• Many children were orphaned
• Diseases spread with many survivors dying from disease
• 50,000 people are still missing
• Death of at least 138 000 people have been quoted, but estimates vary widely, it is thought that 80,000
people could have died in the town of Labutta alone, making the 84,000 people death toll seem unrealistic.
• It is estimated that at least 2.4 million people were severely affected by this cyclone. Structural damage
throughout Myanmar was extensive, causing over a million to become homeless after the event.
Environmental
• Rice fields were flooded on the Irrawaddy Delta
• The 2008 and 2009 harvests of rice were destroyed - The UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
estimated that Nargis impacted 65% of the country's paddies.
• Strong winds up to 135mph
• Storm surge of 7.6m
• Heavy rainfall
• Floodwaters penetrated an estimated 40-50 km (24-31 mi) inland from the coast. Farmland, livestock, and
fisheries were all destroyed.
What response was there?
The military government of Myanmar was very reluctant to accept outside help for the disaster, which some think
led to the high death toll. Foreign aid workers were restricted from entering the country and helping. Aid was given
by MEDCs but more than a week after the event, only 1 in 10 people had received any help.
Topic: Hazards
Case Study: MEDC Climatic Case Study: Hurricane Katrina
Location: New Orleans, USA.
Geographical Keywords
•
Storm track
•
Saffir-Simpson category
•
Intense area of low pressure
•
Landfall
•
Levee
•
Storm surge
•
Eye
•
Tropical storm
Case Study Detail
In August 2005 hurricane Katrina developed as a tropical storm in the Bahamas before moving into the Gulf of
Mexico as Hurricane Katrina. The storm started due to the tropical warm water. This caused air to evaporate and
rise quickly. This created an area of low pressure – the eye – which began to suck in more air. The rotating winds
made the storm spin and draw in more moist air from the ocean. The storm track moved from the Bahamas and into
the Gulf of Mexico where it developed into a category 5 storm with windspeeds of 282 kph. On the 29th August it
made landfall on the eastern edge of New Orleans.
What were the social, economic and environmental impacts?
• Katrina was a category 4 storm.
• Storm surges reached over 6 metres in height.
• New Orleans was one of the worst affected areas because it is below sea level and protected by levees. The
defences were unable to cope with the strength of Katrina.
• Levees were breached in 53 different places, allowing flood water into the city up to 3m deep.
• Heavy rainfall (250mm during the storm) added to the flooding. It was estimated 80% of the city was
underwater.
• Despite an evacuation order, many of the poorest people remained in the city.
• People sought refuge in the Superdome stadium. Conditions were unhygienic, and there was a shortage of
food and water. Looting was commonplace throughout the city. Tension was high and many felt vulnerable
and unsafe.
• 1 million people were made homeless and about 1,800 people drowned in the floods.
• 10000 people were made homeless
• 3 million without electricity
• Shortage of food and water.
• Contaminated water and health risks.
• Oil facilities were damaged and as a result petrol prices rose in the UK and USA.
What response was there?
• There was much criticism of the authorities for their handling of the disaster.
• Although many people were evacuated, it was a slow process and the poorest and most vulnerable were
left behind.
• $50 billion in aid was given by the government.
• The UK government sent food aid during the early stages of the recovery process.
• The National Guard was mobilised to restore and maintain law and order in what became a hostile and
unsafe living environment
Topic: Population and Settlement
Case Study: Change in Retail Service Provision
Location: Chesterfield, UK.
Geographical Keywords
• Catchment area – the area from which people
come to shop in a place.
• Convenience goods – goods that people buy
frequently for everyday needs such as
groceries.
• Consumer goods – specialist goods that people
buy such as furniture and electrical goods.
• Service industry – tertiary industry that
provides a service to people such as shops.
• CBD – Central Business District
• Brownfield site – land that has previously been
used.
Case Study Detail
Background
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, United Kingdom. It lies 24 miles (39 km) north of Derby
and has a population of 103,800 (2011), making it the largest town in Derbyshire. Chesterfield received its market
charter in 1204 (as it sits on the confluence of between the rivers Rother and Hipper) and has a moderate sized
market on three days a week. The town sits on a large coalfield which formed a major part of the area's economy
until the 1980s. Now the area’s economy relies on the retail and tourism service industry.
How has the retail service provision changed?
1. In the early 20th century Chesterfield at last became industrialized and a heavy engineering industry grew
up and prospered which meant that more people migrated to the area for employment.
2. In the late 20th century manufacturing industry declined in Chesterfield as it did in other towns and service
industries such as tourism and retail became more important to provide jobs for all of the people that had
moved to the area.
3. Smaller local convenience shops were located in the town centre such as butchers, baker, greengrocers
etc., providing the needs of the population, along with the famous market.
4. Vicar Lane Shopping Centre opened in 2000 to host new chain stores to upgrade the town centre and
increase its catchment area.
5. Then, in 2009, the old Deema Glass factory site was developed to hold a new retail park on the edge of
Chesterfield housing the new ProAct Stadium, Tesco Extra and a number of other large food and drink
outlets. This is the second big development on the outskirts of Chesterfield.
6. There is currently a proposed retail development called the Chesterfield Waterside.
7. Shops are now closing in Chesterfield’s city centre.
Why have these changes occurred?
1. Houses now have refrigerators which means that they can purchase a lot more food in one go, rather than
shopping daily as they now have a way to keep it fresh.
2. More and more people have cars which means that they can buy more in one go (whereas historically,
people had to carry their shopping home on foot).
3. More often, both parents of a family are working full time which means that they cannot go to the shops
as regularly, and when they do, it has to be later on in the evenings or on Saturdays or Sundays which is why
24-hour supermarkets are great.
4. Due to less time, it is more convenient if all their needs can be catered for under one roof, clothes, electrical
items, white goods, food, leisure etc. Tesco’s Extra sells everything, both convenience and consumer goods.
5. Less time also means that people want to get places quicker and with more ease so big superstores are
located on the edge of towns, with easy access from main roads so less time is spend sitting in traffic to get
to cramped city centres. Tesco Extra is located just off the A61, off the M1.
6. Free parking for your vehicle and plenty of space (995 spaced), unlike in Chesterfield town centre where
you have to pay and spend time searching for somewhere to park.
7. Land is also expensive to rent or buy in the CBD area, which means that developments are searching for
cheap brownfield sites on the edge of urban areas.
Topic: Population and Settlement
Case Study: MEDC Urban Land use Change and Regeneration
Location: Glasgow, Scotland.
Geographical Keywords
• Land use – the different ways
that land is used, for example
for industry or recreational.
•
Urban Regeneration –
Improving urban areas.
•
Residential – an area of
housing
•
Zone – an area with mainly one
type of land use.
Case Study Detail
Background
• The Industrial Revolution during the nineteenth century allowed Glasgow to grow rapidly.
• A former student of Glasgow University, James Watt, was responsible for improving the steam engine and
this allowed factories to be powered cheaply using local coal.
• The manufacturing of iron, steel and textiles became common and these were soon followed by
shipbuilding along the river Clyde.
• By the end of the nineteenth century Glasgow was the "Second City of the British Empire" and was
producing most of the ships and locomotives in the world.
• During this period Glasgow’s population also grew at an incredible rate.
• Workers flocked to Glasgow from all over rural Scotland and Ireland in search of jobs and wealth.
• Large areas of tenement housing (such as Partick, Govan and the Gorbals) were built to house hundreds of
thousands of workers.
The Problem
The city’s reputation for manufacturing declined in the later part of the 20th Century.
Other countries such could mine the raw materials cheaper, and provide cheaper labour which meant that
Glasgow’s industries struggled to compete with foreign industries.
Dockyards and factories became derelict, run down and vacant.
Unemployment and poverty in Glasgow rose, and large parts of the city declined.
The land use of the banks of the River Clyde needed to change to something more prosperous.
The Solution: LANDUSE CHANGED FROM INDUSTRIAL TO RECREATIONAL AND SERVICE ALONG THE RIVER CLYDE
1. Glasgow Harbour
This project has focused on redeveloping a 3km stretch of quayside in Yorkhill and Partick. The areas include the
site of the former Meadowside Granary, redundant shipyards, docklands, warehouses and the disused Glasgow to
Clydebank railway.
120 acres of land in total was redeveloped and includes:
•
2,500 new flats for 5,000 people
•
200,000m2 of office space.
•
50,000m2 of retail and leisure developments.
•
Glasgow’s new Transport Museum.
•
A light tramway linking the area with the city centre.
•
40% of the site is public space; this includes walkways and cycle paths in the form of a “linear park”.
It is estimated the whole project cost £500 million.
Pacific Quay
Across the river form Glasgow Harbour, the Pacific Quay development is a mixture of business, housing and leisure.
It is found on the site of Glasgow’s Princes Dock which closed during the 1970s. It includes:
•
•
•
•
•
A media village where BBC Scotland, Scottish Television, The Glasgow Herald newspaper and XFM Radio are
based.
Leisure developments including the Glasgow Science Centre, IMAX Cinema and Millennium Tower. A marina
occupies part of the Princes Dock which remains.
50,000m2 of office space.
A 150 bed hotel.
300 new houses.
In order to provide better access to the development, the new £20 million Finnieston Bridge connects the area with
the north side of the river. It is the first low level traffic bridge across the Clyde for a century. It distinctive arch
provides Glasgow with an instantly recognisable landmark (tourism!).
Environm
ental
Economic
Social
What are the impacts of the regeneration?
Positive
Creates a nicer public space for the people to go.
More facilities for families to do.
Negative
More of a benefit to tourists rather than the local
people.
Residential areas were too expensive for locals,
and were flats so were not family orientated.
Provided jobs short-term in the construction and
sale of land and houses.
Provides long-term jobs with new service
industries set up and at Science Centre and
Transport museum.
New businesses located there so provided taxes
to the local government.
Attractive more tourists as image of city
improves.
Aesthetically the area looks better with more
green spaces.
Jobs were not long-term.
Apartments are too expensive for local
Glaswegians to buy.
No environmental considerations taken into
account in construction of buildings.
Topic: Population and Settlement
Case Study: Sustainable Urban Change: Greenwich
Millennium Village (GMV)
Location: London, UK.
GMV
Geographical Keywords
•
Sustainable – meets the need of the present
population, without compromising the needs of
future populations.
•
Brownfield Land – land on which there have
already been buildings.
•
Urban Regeneration/Development – improving
urban areas.
•
Eco-homes – houses designed in ways that
conserve resources and energy.
•
Eco-towns – towns designed to be sustainable.
•
Zero Carbon – not releasing any CO2 into the
atmosphere.
Case Study Detail
Background
• South-east London, South of River Thames, near O2 arena
• Brownfield site – used to be a gas works, part of London’s old Docklands
• 29 hectare (10,000 m2) site
• 1400 new homes on this site.
• It is part of the redevelopment of the Greenwich Peninsula (76 hectares) (10,000 new homes in total)
What has been done to achieve sustainability?
Socially:
1. New community and leisure facilities (including O2)
2. CCTV systems so that people feel safer.
3. Mixing the land use – integrated primary school and health centre, community centre, shops and businesses
mixed in with housing, helps to reduce people’s use of energy and time as places are easy to get to.
4. New underground station (Jubilee line) – public transport connection to other parts of London
5. 2.2 km of river walkways
Environmentally:
1. Homes to use 80% less energy (generating power locally & combining with a heating system) & 30% less
water.(not zero carbon
2. Homes are built from cedar wood from sustainable forests and aluminium which lasts and can be recycled.
3. Homes take advantage of sunlight & are protected from cold east winds using natural energy to heat/cool
them.
4. Sainsbury’s eco-store – uses 50% less energy (less CO2)
5. Eco-park – lake, strips of open space that connect places in the development
6. Cycleways and bus routes – don’t need cars
Economically:
1. 24,000 jobs created in the Greenwich Peninsula from numerous activities.
2. 150 new shops and restaurants, all creating jobs and contributing to the local and national economy.
SUSTAINABLE? ...you decide.
Topic: Tectonic Hazard - Earthquake
Case Study: LEDC – Haiti - 2010
Location: On the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean sea
Geographical Keywords
•
•
•
•
•
•
Focus – The exact point within the earth where
the earthquake occurred.
Epicentre – The point directly above the focus on
the surface of the earth.
Magnitude – The size of the earthquake
Transform fault – When two plates slide laterally
past each other. Either in different directions or
the same direction at different speeds.
Richter Scale – The measurement of the
magnitude of the earthquake.
International Aid – help given from other
countries. This could be in the form of money,
food or resources
Case Study Detail
On 12th January 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit very close to the capitol city of Port-au-Prince. It was a shallow
focus earthquake only 8 miles deep. Population of the capitol is 3 million. Movement along the transform fault
between North American plate and Caribbean plate.
Effects of the Earthquake
Social
• 3.5 million effected
• 230,000 people dead
• 300,000 injured
• 1.5 million homeless
• 4,000 schools destroyed
• 1.5 million people living in
temporary camps
Economic
• 30,000 commercial buildings
destroyed
• Many businesses destroyed.
• Damage to main clothing
industry.
• Airport destroyed
• Port destroyed
Environmental
• 19 million cubic metres of
rubble in Port-au-Prince
• Roads and railways destroyed
• Sea level changed in local areas
flooding land
So, why did so many people die in the Haiti earthquake?
-
-
The earthquake occurred at shallow depth - this means that the seismic waves have to travel a smaller distance
through the earth to reach the surface so maintain more of their energy.
The earthquake struck in the most densely populated area of the country.
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
The buildings in Port-Au-Prince and other areas of Haiti were in very poor condition in general and were not
designed or constructed to be earthquake resistant.
There has been a severe shortage of doctors and many people have died of injuries such as broken limbs.
Many deaths were secondary and linked to the poor access to clean water and food. Cholera and Typhoid was a
big killer. 8,500 died due to cholera, a further 700,000 infected with the disease.
Responses
Primary Responses
- Dominican Republic offer water and medical aid.
- Rescue teams arrive from around the world.
- Temporary hospitals set up by Red Cross
- GIS was used to help in the search and rescue
- UN troops established a base to keep peace and
distribute aid (only peace time permanent base for
UN)
- Poor communication delayed responses (telephone
and electricity down)
- Poor management delayed responses. No-one
knew who was in charge.
Secondary Responses
- Money pledge from many countries but very slow
to arrive in first year.
- $13 billion given in aid. Eventually.
- 1,300 temporary camps still after 1 year
- ‘Cash for work’ programme pays Haitians to clear
rubble
- Farmers supported to grow crops
- Schools rebuilt
Topic: Tectonic Hazard - Volcano
Case Study: MEDC – Mount St. Helens - 1980
Location: Washington State,
North West USA.
(Cascade Mountain range)
Geographical Keywords
• Nuée ardente - the superheated gases found in
a pyroclastic cloud.
• Pyroclastic flow - the cloud of gas, ash, dust,
stones and rocks emitted during a highly
explosive volcanic eruption.
• Lahars - mudflow associated with volcanic
activity. Surface water mixes with volcanic ash
to produce the lahar.
• Cryptodome – A hidden dome of magma under
the surface of a volcano. Often to the side of
the main vent.
• Volcanic plug – A blockage of rock and ice in
the main vent of the volcano
• Magma – molten rock found under the earths
surface
Case Study Detail
Mount St Helens is on the plate boundary between the Juan de Fuca plate and
North American plate. When it erupted it permanently changed the surrounding
landscape. A destructive plate boundary. Prior to the eruption there were over
10,000 earthquakes. The final earthquake triggering a massive landslide (the
largest landslide recorded). The volcanic plug blocked the exit to the volcano so
magma started to push its way sideward and created a cryptodome to the North
of the mountain. The landslide triggered the eruption creating a lateral eruption
and released a pyroclastic flow travelling well over 100mph and over 900oc.
Effects of the eruption
Primary effects
Secondary effects
Nuée ardente (hot ash and gas) destroyed
Ash blocked rivers destroying popular fishing sites and causing
forests and logging camps.
flooding. This in turn destroyed crops and livestock.
63 people were killed, mainly by poisonous
Flooding destroyed communications such as road and railway
gases.
bridges.
Lahars (mudflows of ash and water) covered an Sediment carried downstream ruined barge transport on the
extensive area surrounding the volcano.
Columbia River.
Social
Economic
Environmental
• 56 people were killed
• Several logging camps
• Small mammals in the area
destroyed
wiped out.
• 200 homes destroyed by Lahars
• 250km2 of forest destroyed
• 185 miles of road and 15 miles • 12% of total crop destroyed
of railway destroyed
• Estimated loss of $800 million in • Ecosystems destroyed by lahars
Washington state
• 27 bridges
• 7,000 big game animals
• $250 million cost of clean-up
destroyed
operation
• Flood risks increased due to
increase in sediment
Responses and results
Short-term
Long-term
Communications such as roads and bridges were
Soil fertility improved due to the ash deposits.
repaired and widened to help with future evacuation.
The volcano is now more carefully monitored.
People were rehoused.
Tourism has increased, boosting the local economy.
National Guard flew helicopter rescues
Over 10 million trees replanted
Risk Mitigation
- Exclusion zone of 20 miles set up
- 2000 people evacuated
- State and federal agencies develop risk reduction plans
- The volcano is now monitored constantly
- Major improvements made in communication between scientists, emergency workers and media