The Geography Study School
Geographically on par for your A star
Case Studies
The CIE IGCSE/GCSE Geography Exams require the study of specific
demographical, geological and economical features. You can find
their complete case studies below.
Overpopulation in Bangladesh
Lack of resources, poor infrastructure and under-developed technology coupled with the
high population have been responsible for decreasing the carrying capacity of the region.
Problems of overpopulation:
Overpopulation: street crowds in Dhaka by Ahron de
Leeuw
Overpopulation in Bangladesh resulted in overcrowded areas with traffic congestion as
there are too many vehicles on the the roads, especially in cities such as Dhaka. Vehicle
emissions, industrial discharge and burning of fossil fuels have resulted in air pollution,
while the ground water has been polluted due to arsenic. Furthermore, shortage of food
lead to overcultivation on the flood plains of the Ganges river, causing lower yields and
soil exhaustion. Another major problem is the widespread deforestation for firewood on the
slopes of the Himalayas.
The capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, also suffers from severe housing shortages due to mass
urbanisation.
Canada: Underpopulation
Canada is regarded as an underpopulated country as the carrying capacity is much higher
than the current population. The 35 million people in Canada can not fully exploit the
available resources and technology.
Problems of underpopulation in Canada:
Labour shortage: 32% of Canadian employers are encountering difficulties in hiring
workers due to a lack of applicants
Services (eg. schools, hospitals and transport) close down as there are not enough
customers.
Less innovation and development (lee brain power)
Difficulties in defending the country
By Jef Wallace
Canada has tried to promote immigration to maintain the fairly high standard of living, but
in the previous decades less people are migrating to Canada, than during the 1950’s and
1960’s.
Solutions:
relaxing immigrant policies and visa requirements to encourage migration
Pro-natal goverment support to increase the birth rate eg. subsidies and parental leave
programmes
allow pensioners to continue working
China: One Family One Child Policy
Anti-natal population policy
China is world’s most populous country with more than 1.3 billion people in 2014.
Representing 20% of the world’s people, China suffers from extreme overpopulation.
China became overpopulated since 1960 because of:
social/cultural desire to have a son
economical bonus: men could work in the field
children considered to be social security
politics: stronger China against America
previously poor medical infrastructure- high infant mortality rate
flood 1959-1962: 20 million died
In 1965 the birth rate had grown to 40 births per 1000 until politicians realised the growing
problem and launched the One Family One Child Policy in 1979.
Encouragements to limit to one child
Penalties
·
5-10% salary bonus
·
fines: US$ 400-US$ 1400
·
free education and health care
·
10% salary reduction
·
free contraceptions
·
no free education
·
preferential employment
·
no free access to health care
·
preferential housing
·
forced abortion
·
not allowed to buy a house
Positive consequences of the policy:
better education and skilled workforce
average fertility reduced to 1.7
low urban poverty
Negative consequences of the policy:
female foeticide
forced abortion
abnormal sex ratio/ imbalanced
more divorce: desire to have a boy
lack of working population to support old dependents
girls abandoned, killed, in orphanage
Exceptions to the policy:
Han-Chinese allowed a second child
rural areas
ethnic minorities
Enforcement of One Child Policy in
China
Germany: Pro-natal population policy
In Germany, the fertility rate is well below replacement level, having dropped to 1.38 births
per woman in 2012. Birth rates have been falling for many years, and the youth plus the
immigrants will be unable to support Germany’s ageing population.
For this reason, Germany has adopted several measures that attempt to encourage families
to have more children:
paid maternity leave and parental leave
tax breaks to tax payers that have children
eliminating fees for kindergarden
free schooling
encouraging immigration
Japan: Population distribution in a densely
populated country
With a population of around 130 million (2015), and a population density of 336 people per
km² (2015), Japan is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
Uneven population distribution
Sparsely populated rural areas: very few people live on the mountainous slopes in the
centre of Honshu island and the south of Shikoku island, because of:
Lack of flat land for cultivation
Thin, infertile and acidic soils
Extreme climate: long cold winters with heavy snow
Remoteness and isolation: transport and communication are difficult
Few jobs available (only in forestry/ primary sector)
Population density in Japan (by Zuanzuanfuwa, CC BY-SA
3.0)
Densely populated rural areas: many people live on the flat valleys and gentle slopes of
Honshu and Kyushu islands because they:
provide fertile land for cultivation and thus, have attracted many farmers
attract commuters who work in the cities through the high standard of living and
services such as out-of-town shopping malls and sports facilities.
Densely populated urban areas: many people live in towns and cities along the coast,
especially on Honshu island, in the conurbation of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka; because of:
flat land with mild winters
good service provision like universities and technologically advanced hospitals and
health facilities
good transport facilities such as the Port of Tokyo to facilitate the import of raw
materials and the export of manufactured goods
Canada: A Sparsely populated country
With a population of around 35 million (2015), and a population density of 3.87 people per
km² in 2013, Canada is considered a sparsely populated country.
Canada is sparsely populated due to the following reasons:
many mountainous areas eg. Canadian Rockies close to the west coast
permafrost in the Northern areas (high latidtudes) so land is too cold for agriculture
snow and ice make transport difficult, especially in less developed areas (ie. the inner
provinces of Canada)
Canada: Population distribution
The population of Canada is clustered in the Southern areas; because, the cold Arctic climate
makes cultivation impossible and it is rather unpleasant to live in those cold areas. Also,
more people live in Eastern areas, since the West has mountainous areas such as the
Canadian Rockies that are too steep to farm on easily and challenging for construction and
transport.
Russia: Population decline
Russia has a population growth rate of -0.3%. This has been caused by factors like:
high death rate of 13 deaths per 1000, particularly due to alcohol-related deaths
low fertility rate of 1.6 children per woman
high rates of abortion
low levels of immigration
Problems of population decline:
underuse of health facilities, resulting in rising costs
education cannot be sustained in all areas (particularly sparsely populated)
resources not fully exploited, leading to lower GDP
lack of workers may result in economic recession
Solutions:
pro-natal population policies, eg. financial support for parents who choose to have a
second child
robotisation/development of tertiary sector to prevent lack of workers
Uganda: High population growth rate
Uganda has a population growth rate of more than 3% due to its high birth rate of 44 births
per 1000 people per year. This has been caused by factors such as:
low socio-economic status of women
low educational levels, especially among females
early marriage
low use of contraception due to limited access and poverty
political statements encouraging more babies as some areas in Uganda have a low
population density
Problems of high population growth:
Health sector faces human and infrastructural shortages
Primary education could not be sustained in all areas
Insufficient employment opportunities, especially for poorly educated
Threatens agricultural modernisation as population pressure increases deforestation, soil
erosion and land degration
Pressure on resources, especially in urban areas
Solutions to reduce population growth:
Widespread availability of contraception
Universal access to education, jobs and health care and female emancipation
Promotion of scientific and technical development (tertiary sector)
Promotion of new modes of production (modernisation and commercialisation of
agriculture)
Growth with equity/sustainable development
For more information visit: Population growth rate in Uganda
Uganda: Youthful population
In 2014, 48.7% of Uganda’s population were young dependents under the age of 15.
Causes:
high fertility rate (many children per woman) and high birth rate
high infant mortality rate encourages more births so some will survive
children considered social and economic asset
high death rate increases the percentage of young dependents
Benefits:
few old dependents that have to be supported
possibly a large workforce in future
Problems
Overpopulation if growth is not regulated, resulting in overcrowding, construction of
shanty towns, lower standard of life, increased pollution, depletion of resources and
food shortages (which encourage deforestation resulting in soil exhaustion and lower
yields), as wells as future unemployment
Stress on tax payers to support young dependents and finance development of necessary
infrastructure
United Kingdom: Ageing population
The percentage of elderly dependents (+65 years) has increased by 3% from 15% in 1980 to
18% in 2014.
Benefits:
Elderly people can share skills and knowledge to train the younger generation
Elderly people promote the development of grey economies (such as health care,
specialised facilities, other facilities desired by elderly, etc.)
Elderly continue to pass on traditions and culture.
Problems:
An increase in the percentage of elderly dependents is a strain on the working population
as higher taxation is required to support the pensions of the elderly and to fund services
such as health care and specialised homes. Government-funded pensions may have to
shrink to cover everybody, leaving many people with less to spend (and some in poverty).
In contrast, services for younger people, such as schools, are underused. These services
may then have to close (eg. Woodly School in North Yorkshire which shut in 2012 due to a
lack of students). As a result, some people may be left unemployed. Also, there are not
enough economically active people, causing a lack of workforce and making it harder to
defend the country.
HIV/AIDS: Botswana
Botswana is a landlocked country, north of South Africa. UNAIDS estimates that 400,000
people in Botwana live with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
HIV/AIDS is transferred through bodily fluids. In Botswana, this occurs mainly during
sexual intercourse or from mother to child during pregnancy. AIDS can also spread via
contaminated blood transfusions or contaminated needle use (usually in drug users).
As a LEDC country Botswana is particularly vulnerable to HIV because of:
poor sex education (people are unaware of the consequences of unprotected sex)
low availability of contraception: many people have unprotected sex
low status of women: women can not disapprove of unprotected sex, as they are
perceived as child bearers
low availabilty of medical treatment and testing: many people are unaware that they are
infected so the disease spreads easily
poverty: few people can afford anti-retroviral drugs to control the severity of the
symptoms
Consequences of HIV/AIDS:
High death rate and lower life expectancy, especially in economically active population
Falling birth rate due to abstinence (fear of becoming infected), so people have less
children
Decreased labour pool reduces agricultural and industrial output, causing food
shortages and poverty, thus preventing economic growth
Solutions:
AIDS education programme: used mass media to reach 500,000 students and teach them
about HIV/AIDS
Offering free condoms to population
Improvements in HIV testing and anti-retroviral drugs in government clinics
For more information visit:
https://www.patana.ac.th/Secondary/Geography/IB/Population/AIDs%20Botswanna.ht
m
Syria to Germany: International Refugee Migration
Approximately 13 million Syrians are escaping the war between the Assad regime and nonstate armed forces, 800,000 of which have come to Germany so far.
Many are fleeing from barrel bombings and shootings that have destroyed their houses and
killed family members. Also, the refugees are attempting to avoid political persecution, as
the goverment has arrested and tortured civilians who they think could be working against
them. Others are emigrating to prevent being abused by radically religious groups such as
IS, who have trained child soldiers and organised kidnappings and extrajudicial executions.
Many seek asylum in Germany, because the country provides economic stability as the
current unemployment rate is low, and many sectors will be looking for suitable workers as
Germany’s population continues to age. Besides, Germany is perceived as a country that
protects and promotes human rights, offering food, shelter and language courses to
refugees.
Rural Settlement (LEDC): Korodegaga village
Korodegaga village – near Addis Ababa in Ethiopia – consists of nine small hamlets with
1400 people in total.
The area was first settled in th 20th century because of:
water supply from two rivers
flat, fertile soil for cultivation
extensive forests for building and firewood
Services provided include: a grain mill, mosques and schools. Villagers walk to the
neighbouring towns of Dera and Bofa to access a local market and shops.
Braunschweig: Settlement size and service
provision
Braunschweig is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany, with a population of around 250,000
inhabitants. The majority ofinhabitants live in the city of Braunschweig, which has the best
provision of services (more than 20 schools, 5 hospitals, and a dense network of public
transport, which includes, busses, trains and trams). In contrast, the village of Querum,
which is also part of the district of Braunschweig, has a population of around 6000
inhabitants only has one doctor’s surgery, and one primary school, as it does not have the
threshold population to support higher-order services.
Rural settlement (MEDC): Hötzum, Lower Saxony,
Germany
Hötzum has a population of around 900 people. Its function is mainly residential, with most
people working in the nearby cities of Braunschweig and Wolfenbüttel.
Map by: OpenStreetMap und Mitwirkende Source: OpenStreetMap Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0
Mapicons by: Nicolas Mollet Source: Maps Icons Collection Licence: CC BY SA 3.0
The area was first known to be settled by farmers in the 11th century and by the 18th
century, the village had 4 arable farms, a shepherd and 6 horsefarms.
The area was initially settled because of:
water supply from the Hötzumerbach and the Feuergraben
flat, fertile land for arable and pastoral farming
extensive forests which provided many logfelling opportunities
Currently there are very few services available (only a church, a community hall, a sports
field and a volunteer fire brigade), but villagers can access the neighbouring village of Sickte
for basic services and the cities of Wolfenbüttel and Braunschweig for all other needs.
Urban settlement: New York
Currently, New York is the largest city in the US, with a population of around 8 million
people.
Site and situation:
at a sheltered, natural harbour formed by Hudson river, which provided safe, deep
anchorage and an extensive waterfront for the development of docks
Hudson river allowed for transport and communication
rocky ridge on Island of Manhatten allowed for easy defence
CBD’s:
Downtown Manhatten: Wall Street (finance district of New York)
Midtown Manhatten: tourist district, including Fifth Avenue (shopping), Broadway
(theatre), hotels, Empire State Building, Chrysler and United Nations Buildings
Urban problems:
Urban sprawl (middle class moves to the outer areas and lower-income families move
into the inner city): due to population growth, relocation of businesses to suburbs for
cheaper land and better accessibility
Poverty and unemployment: around 1 million citizens receive welfare support due to
unemployment and poor education caused by a decline in the clothing and harbour
induestries in the 1980’s
Urban decay and housing problems
Racial conflicts due to a large number of immigrants that become trapped in poverty
Air pollution as there are too many cars that release toxic exhaust fumes
Traffic congestion as there are too many vehicles on the road and due to bottlenecks
linking various New York Islands
Water pollution from oil spills
Solution schemes:
Reduction in air pollution by fitting catalytic converters to the exhausts of diesel city
busses and developing a biodiesel plant in Brooklyn to distribute biodiesel to filling
stations in the city.
Reducing energy consumption by using more efficient street light and traffic lights,
using renewable energy sources (wind, underwater turbines) to power homes and public
buildings
Waste management plan using barges and trains to export 90% of the city’s waste
Employment structure: Netherlands
Employment in the Netherlands is shifting more and more towards a service-based
economy, while the proportion of people working in the primary and secondary sectors is at
an all-time low.
While just under 7% of the workforce was employed in agriculture in 1970, this number has
dipped to just under 2% in 2020, as machines and new technology have replaced the need
for manual labour. Employment in industrial manufacturing and production has also fallen,
in this case from over 35% to around 15% of the workforce. This comes as the country
outsourced much of its manufacturing to China and East-Asia, and focussed more on highly
specialist and complex services. Today, the country is home to several world-leading
universities including TU Delft and the University of Amsterdam, and boasts many SaaS
start-ups and software companies in urban areas like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The
growth of the tertiary sector may also be explained by favourable tax policies that encourage
large service-dominated businesses to relocate to the Netherlands, along with a
progressively more skilled workforce, as the number of university graduates has increased
substantially between 1950 and 2020.
Squatter settlement in Rio de Janiero
Rio de Janiero is the second largest city in Brazil and has a population of 6 million people, of
which nearly 17% – 1 million people- are favela-dwellers, living in the slums (called favelas)
due to the extremely uneven distribution of wealth.
By chensiyuan CC BY-SA 4.0
There are many problems for the shanty town inhabitants:
Landslides: As the flat land in Rio de Janiero is inhabited by wealthier communties, most
favelas are constructed on the mountainous slopes, where landslides are a common
occurence (particularly due to excessive deforestation for firewood)
Housing is made from scrap material which is vulnerable to flooding
No clean water supply can lead to diseases such as typhoid, cholera or TB
Sanitation is undeveloped or non-existent, eg. in Rocinha sewage flows down a large
channel in the middle of houses. This allows disease to spread and may attract
mosquitoes which are responsible for sicknesses such as malaria
No proper electricity supply leads to dangerous tapping of electricity from the city’s
power net
Illegal activities and high crime rates due to many drug dealers, gangs and murderers
Slum upgrading strategies include :
Increasing property rights (providing favela residents with titles to their home)
Improving access to electricity and clean drinking water
Local trash collection scheme: a bag of trash can be exchanged for a gallon of milk
To reduce likelidehood of crime and improve education: toyguns can be exchanged for
comic books
Change in land use and resulting conflict: Stuttgart
In the German city of Stuttgart, the rail network is being redesigned as part of the urban
development project Stuttgart 21. The construction of new rail tracks means that some of the
surrounding land which was previously used for housing and agriculture is now being used
for transportation purposes. This has caused significant conflict between proponents and
opponents of the projects. Those in favour of the project argue that it aids urban
development, as the new transport network with a high-speed railway track improves
economic and social mobility. Meanwhile, those opposing the project argue that it damages
the environment by contaminating groundwater, destroys historical monuments and
devalues private property in the vicinity of the new railway line. Additionally, they point
that the project blocks other transport network extensions in the state of BadenWürttemberg. Because of these different perspectives, Stuttgart 21 is so controversial that it
has sparked regular, sometimes even violent, protests in the city.
Volcano: Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland, 2010
Image from: http://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=372020
Eyjafjallajökull is a stratovolcano in Iceland, located approximately 125 km SE of the capital
Reykjavik. It is found along the Mid-Atlantic ridge, where new earth crust is created.
Lava eruptions in March 2010 were followed by an explosive eruption on April 14th
2010.The lava flows damaged many homes and roads and services were disrupted due to
evacuation measures.
Flooding was caused as glacial ice melted and torrents of water were flowing down the
slopes of the land. Also, ash covered large plots of agricultural land, damaging the crops.
The massive ash cloud blocked air traffic in large parts of Europe for several days, leaving
tourists and business people stranded at their destinations.
Immediate responses included an emergency evacuation of more than 800 people. Longterm
responses are the reconstruction of damages houses and roads and research on the effect of
ash on air planes.
Earthquake: Haiti, 2010
On the 12th of January 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, the epicentre of the
quake being merely 15 km SW of the capital city, Port-au-Prince.
Stress building up along the conservative margin between the North American Plate and the
Carribean plate was released by slippage along the fault running parallel to the plate
boundary south of Port-au-Prince. The major earthquake was followed by several
aftershocks up to a magnitude of 5.0 on the Richter scale.
The earthquake resulted in approximately 230,000 deaths (massive loss of life), destruction
of 180,000 homes and around 5,000 schools. It left 19 million cubic metres of debris in Portau-Prince and many services were badly disrupted or destroyed. A major secondary effect
was widespread chlora due to polluted drinking water.
Haiti suffered so much because of the widespread poverty that left more than 80% of the
population in poorly constructed, high density concrete buildings. Lack of stable goverment
and medical infrastructure limited search and rescue efforts. Furthermore, the earthquake
had a shallow focus, resulting in severe ground shaking, and the epicentre was located close
to the densely populated capital.
Short-term responses to the earthquake included search and rescue efforts, as well as the the
import of food, water and shelter from the USA and Dominican Republic. Longterm
responses included reparation of three-quaters of the damaged buildings. Besides,
migration was common as people moved away to stay with their families. Also, people
received cash or food in exchange for public reconstruction work and the World Bank
pledged $US100m to support the reconstruction and recovery.
Tropical storm: Katrina, 2005
Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest hurricanes ever to hit the United States.
How did Katrina form?
Katrina was created from the interaction of the remains of a tropical depression SE of the
Bahamas with a storm wave. The storm drifted towards Florida and intensified as it passed
over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Katrina intensified before making landfall in
Florida and was a Hurricane 3 upon reaching the Mississippi Delta.
Impacts
Levees failed to resist the force of the waves, causing 80% of New Orleans to become
flooded
More than 1000 people lost their lives
Half a million houses were damaged in the Gulf Coast region
Services in New Orleans were badly disrupted: no electricity, gas and sewage system for
6 months after the event
Responses
$ 10.5 billion of immediate financial aid for the victims
In the first two weeks after the storm, the Red Cross had brought 74,000 volunteers who
provided shelter to 160,000 evacuees
International aid from over 50 countries
Rebuilding levees destroyed by Katrina
Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, 2004
On December 26th 2004, a tsunami occured in the Indian Ocean.
The tsunami was the direct consequence of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake that was caused by
tension along the subduction zone of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates. This rupture
triggered massive waves that reached an altitude of up to 30m.
The tsunami resulted in 250,000 deaths, with 170,000 fatalities in Indonesia alone. 13
countries were affected by the powerful waves, and an estimated total of 2 million people
have been displaced, as their houses have been destroyed.
Created by Cantus
Short term responses included search and rescue efforts in the local communities, while
internationally, people sent donations to help those in need.
An early warning system has been developed to predict future tsunamis in the Indian
Ocean.
Coastal problems and opportunities: Wadden Sea
Islands
The Wadden Sea provides a large diversity of fish species and other seafood animals,
making fishery an important industry for the local communities. Besides, tourism is well
established in the area, with around 800,000 visitors annually on the Dutch island of Texel
alone.
By Aotearoa (Own work) CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
However, the area is threatened by storm tides, particularly in fall and winter, which may
cause floods that damage the unique ecosystem. Furthermore, the continuous eastward shift
of the islands has eroded their westmost regions, endangering settlements such as WestTerschelling, which may submerge in future.
Coastal management strategies to protect the islands include dune grass planting and dune
fencing. The newly planted grass traps and hold sand thereby reducing coastal erosion and
encouraging the formation of new dunes. This makes the islands less vulnerable against
erosion from storm surges.
Coral reef: Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier reef is located along the Pacific shores, where water temperatures are
above 20°C. The reef grows in shallow areas (not more than 60 m deep) in the Coral sea, off
the Australian coast, east of Cairns. It grows in clear water that is free of sediment so
sunlight can pass through.
Threats:
The Great Barrier reef is threatened by global warming, which increases coral bleaching.
Besides, declining water quality (due to agricultural run-off from the rivers of North-Eastern
Australia and oil from ships in discarded in the Coral Sea) pollutes the ecosystem. Also,
overfishing destroys food chains and disbalances the symbiotic relationships. Furthermore,
tourists may destroy parts of the reef when they go diving or reef-walking.
Management strategies:
The Australian government has made the Great Barrier reef a protected area by declaring it
a marine park. The GBRMPA (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority) is the ogranisation
who looks after the reef and protects it from human threats while allowing sustainable
development to take place. The Marine Park Authority gives out permits for fishing, diving
and more and has boats patrol the area to prevent illegal activity. Tourists are educated
about how their trip affects the reef and they are not allowed in certain sensitive areas. Also,
fines of up to US$ 1 million can be forced on companies that pollute the fragile ecosystem.
Pollution in the North Sea
The North Sea is polluted by oil spillages from tankers in the Thames estuary washing out
their tanks. As a result, oil clogs up the gills of fish, casuing them to die. Spillages also
pollute the beaches along the British coast (eg. near Essex), which reduces the number of
tourists. Besides pollution occurs through the disposal of untreated sewage from large
urban areas such as Rotterdam, possibly possessing a human health risk along the Dutch
coast. Also, pollutants from industrial waste in the Rhine river may be washed into the sea.
By Halava CC BY-SA 3.0
A Spit: Spurn Head, Holderness Coast, UK
Spurn head is a sand and shingle ridge that extends from the headland south of Easington.
It has been formed along the Holderness coast under the influence of prevailing winds from
the North which result in wave refraction. Subsequently, longshore drift transports the
coastal sediments, which deposit in the sheltered mouth of the Humber estuary.
Spurn Head, Holderness Coast
Ynyslas Dunes, Wales, UK
The Ynyslas Dunes in Wales have been formed by deposition, which occured as energy of
winds blowing from Cardigan Bay was reduced. Westerly onshore winds picked up dry
sand from the wide beach at the estuary of the Dovey (Dyfi) river. Obstructions on the beach
caused a sheltered area. Maram grass colonised dunes and trapped further sand.
Formation of Ynyslas Dunes, Cardigan Bay
Bangladesh: Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta
The Ganges Delta in Bangladesh is the most populous river delta in the world. Around 30%
of its population work in agriculture, as rice cultivation is well developed due to the fertile
soils. Also, fishing is very prominent, as the distributaries are colonised by shrimps.
However, the Ganges Delta is threatened by floods, especially from heavy rainfall during
the monsoon season and icewater runoff from the slopes of the Himalaya.
Image of Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta from NASA
Water supply: Colorado River Basin
The Colorado river originates from the Rocky Mountains, passing through 7 states before
reaching Mexico. It is estimated that 40 million people rely on water from the 2,300 km long
stream for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes. Many dams and canals have been
built to control this extreme demand; therefore, the Colorado river is one of the most
controlled rivers in the world.
By Shannon, CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0
In 1922, the Colorado River Compact was introduced to divide the water supply between
the states of the Upper and Lower Basin of the river, with each group being allocated 9.25
trillion litres of water each year. In 1944, a treaty was introduced to guarantee 1.85 trillion
litres to Mexico.
Despite all these management agreements, problems over the river’s resources have arisen,
because:
River was commited to deliver 20.35 trillion litres per year, but only brought about 17.25
trillion litres anually
Evaporation from lakes has remove 2.5 trillion litres, and even less during periods of
drought
Demand for water has increased, due to population growth and more irrigation for
farmland.
Environmental problems:
Alluvium becomes trapped behind dams (eg. Hoover Dam), damaging the delta and
wetland ecosystem at the mouth of the Colorado river
Salinity has increased in the lower basin, altering the ecosystem
Reduction in the population of fish, shrimps and sea mammals
Resource management strategies:
Reducing leakage from broken pipes
Use of grey water in domestic homes
Domestic conservation
Improving irrigation (using drip irrigation) or growing crops with a lower demand for
water
Extraction water from ground water supplies
Desalinisation of water from the Pacific ocean
(Information from: Greenfieldgeography)
China: Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam is located near Yichang on the Yangtse River in China. It is
approximately 180 m high and 2.3 km wide and has taken almost 17 years to construct.
The dam has protected 10 million people from flooding and its 32 generators provide energy
for 60 million people (each generagtor produces as much energy as a small nuclear
powerplant), enabling China to reduce its dependency on coal. It also allows shipping above
the Three Gorges and has 6-folded the water traffic capacity. Also, the dam has created
many jobs.
Model of the Three Gorges Dam
However, the dam meant that 1 million people had to be moved to accomodate the reservoir
and power stations. The Three Gorges Dam also interferes with aquatic life, being a major
threat to the White Flag Dolphin, which is already at risk from extinction. Furthermore, the
large masses of silt transported by the Yangtse deposit behind the dam, which reduces the
storage capacity of the reservoir. Besides, the dam lies on a fault line and could be badly
affected by an earthquake.
Central European floods 2013
Cause:
Extreme flooding in Europe began after heavy rainfall in May and early June 2013.
Precipitation at the northern rim of the Alps exceeded 300mm over four days. This, along
with an already high soil moisture from the wet spring weather, gave rise to severe flood
discharges in the Danube and Elbe rivers. Many dykes failed due to the pressure from the
water masses, worsening the situation. Flash flooding was recorded in Warsaw as a result of
a heavy thunderstorm.
Effects:
25 fatalities have been recorded due to the 2013 floods. Thousands of people were evacuated
in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. The total devastation amounted to 12billion €,
with crop losses acounting for 1billion € worth of damage. River traffic was blocked for
several weeks and many railway lines were closed due to flood damage and landslides.
By Honza Groh (Jagro) (Own work) CC BY-SA 3.0
Responses:
Short-term responses included search and rescue efforts and emergency evacuations.
Members of the Red Cross built shelter camps for displaced residents. Military soldiers
established sand bag walls to control the Elbe and Danube rivers and protect buildings in
areas such as Dresden and Passau. In some rural regions, levees were destroyed to allow the
water to escape onto flood plains and prevent uncontrolled damage downstream.
The governments of Germany, Austria and the Czech Republik are investigating into
longterm measures to reduce the aftermath of future floods. Suggestions include reducing
construction activities on flood plains and creating spillways to divert part of the flow in
case of high discharge. Some dykes will be raised and stabilised to protect particularly
vulnerable regions.
2011 East African Drought
Cause:
The 2011 drought in Ethiopia,Djibouti, Kenya and Somalia was caused by the La Nina
phenomenon, an ocean current in the Pacific which increased the intensity of westerly
winds in the Indian ocean, pulling moisture away from East Africa and towards Australia
and Indonesia.
Effects:
Most crops failed and 60% of cattle perished due to a lack of water
Severe food crisis: lots of people suffer from starvation or malnourishment
Thousands fled to refugee camps in hope of food aid from other countries, but many
people died of starvation or disease en route
India: Thar Desert, Rajastan
Climate:
The Thar Desert is dry as hot air rises at the equator and cools. The moistureholding
capacity decreases; it rains. As the air moves away from the equator by advection, it cools
and sinks at the tropics (where the desert is located). The sinking air warms up and its
moisture-holding capacity increases, so the area is very dry. With the low humidity, there are
few clouds to reflect the sunlight and as there is no evaporative cooling, most of the sunlight
warms the ground surface, creating hot temperatures.
Vegetation:
Low precipitation and temperatures of up to 53°C result in scattered vegetation that has
adapted to the extreme conditions. For instance, the Ber tree has a rapidly developing
taproot system to survive in drought conditions. However, exept for a few trees, the desert
is home to thorny bushes and shrubs. These have spiky leaves to reduce rates of
evapotranspiration. Xerophilious grass has a small surface area to reduce water loss. Some
species als remain dormant during long dry spells.
Threats:
The Thar Desert is threatened by excessive irrigation which leads to salinization. Therefore
plants can not take up water from th soil, as the soil has greater concentrations of solute
than the roots. Soil quality is also decreasing as manure is used as an alternative fuel for
firewood rather than to sustain nutrient-rich, fertile soils. Furthermore, population pressure
results in overcultivation and overgrazing, especially around cities like Jodhpur and
Jaisalmer, damaging the natural vegetation. The desert environment is also threatened by
tourist attractions such as dune bashing. The toyotarisation disturbs animals, kills
vegetation and creates dust stroms. Also, tourists may dump waste in the desert, poisoning
flora and fauna.
Tropical Rainforest in Borneo
Borneo has experienced the fastest tropical rainforest clearance in the world. While 94 % of
the island’s land was covered by forest in 1950, less than half of it remains today (44.5% in
2010).
The rainforest has been cleared for the following reasons:
to boost Malaysia’s economy by exporting timber for furniture and paper production
population pressure: Indonesia’s transmigration programme caused people to move
from overcrowded islands as Java to relatively sparsely populated areas as Kalimantan
to build palm oil plantations
HEP: forest clearance to provide space for a reservoir in Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo)
coal mining in Kalimantan
By T. R. Shankar Raman (Own work) CC BY-SA 4.0
Effects of clearance:
atmospheric pollution – burning of forest releases enermous masses of ash and smoke
global warming due to the release of Co2 from burning forests and reduction in carbon
sink (as burnt trees do not absorb CO2 by photosynthesis)
loss of biodiversity: loss of plant species through deforestation
destruction of habitat: some species (eg. orang-utans) are unprotected due to lower
forest cover
loss of soil fertiliy: soil degration due to soil erosion and leaching
Management strategies:
Afforestation/reforestation and selective logging
Promoting rainforests as destinations for ecotourism, enabling the undisturbed
environment to create a source of income for local people without it being damaged or
destroyed
World-wide initiatives including debt-for-nature swaps: debt relief for retaining
rainforests
Tourism in Lanzarote
With more than 2 million visitors annually, tourism represents the major pillar of
Lanzarote’s economy
Main attractions:
Climate: average water temperature of 20°C, and average air temperature of 21°C, very
little rainfall and 8.5 hours of sunshine each day
Numerous luxury and package hotels on beaches eg. Playa Blanca
Jameos del Agua: an underground lagoon in a lava tube
Timanfaya National Park
El Golfo: an emerald green lake situated at the base of a crater on the west coast of the
island
Cueva de los Verdes
Cactus Garden by Cesar Manrique
Benefits:
Since the 1980’s , package holidays have created a source of income to promote the
development of basic infrastructures, such as the extension of the airport runway to
allow for international flights
Employment opportunities in tourist industries eg. hotels, gastronomy, transport, tour
guides
Disadvantages:
Import leakage to fulfil tourist demands such as food, because only few types of
vegetation can thrive on Lanzarote’s arid, volcanic soils
Ecotourism in Belize
With 245 000 tourists annually, in 2007, over 25% of all jobs were in tourism, which made up
over 18% of Belize’s GDP.
Primary and secondary attractions:
Mangrove swamps
Wetlands
Savannah
Mountain pine forests and tropical rainforests
Coral reef
Archaeological sites eg. Mayan civilization
Wildlife reserves eg. Coxcomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
How tourist demands are managed:
Belize Tourist board, Ministry of Tourism and private sector
Community Baboon Sanctuary to preserve forest habitat and howler monkeys:
sustainable farming to increase yield and services for tourists
Problems/Threats:
Waste dumping and financial leakage due to cruise tourism
Overfishing
Coral damage and eutrophication of freshwater from fertilizer runoff
Aims:
conserve world heritage site of barrier reef
increase knowledge of country’s ecosystems through training programmes
reduce concentration of tourists in specific areas
support planning and development of a buffer zone
stricter regulations on cruise ships to reduce waste dumping
persuade cruise tourists to spend more time on land
Maldives: Tourism as a development strategy
The Maldives are located south-west of India in the Indian ocean and consist of more than
1000 islands.
Tourism accounts for 28% of the Maldives’ GDP and more than 60% of its foreign exchange
receipts.
Source: OCHA/ReliefWeb
Natural attractions:
sea-sun-sand combination
climate
coral
Man-made attractions:
luxury resorts and suites eg. Taj Exotica Resort and Spa on South Male Atoll
Grand Friday Mosque in Male attracts religious tourists
How tourist demands are managed:
Water provided by desalination of sea water
Energy produced by generators
Waste dumped in landfill sites or sea (this problem is addressed by the compulsory
installation of incinerators, bottle crushers and compactors in all resorts)
Problems/Threats:
Import leakage due to poor agricultural potential and no economic minerals
External shocks: sea-level rise, tsunamis, terrorism, etc.
Depletion of natural resources and climate change
How tourism in damaging the natural environment:
On the Maldives, tropical coconut palms are destroyed for building hotels. Consequently,
the ecosystem is threatened as food chains are destroyed or disrupted. For example, lizards
loose their natural habitat. Animals are also scared away by traffic. Besides, a ferry from
Male every 10 minutes pollutes the seas, threatening the corals. The reefs are also destroyed
as tourists take samples home and leave litter on the beaches that may kill reef fish. The
atmosphere is polluted by the incineration of waste.
Aims:
Encourage linkage between tourism and other sectors as construction, manufacturing
and transport (multiplier effect)
Encourage foreign investment in the development of new resorts
Increase employment
Encourage solar and wind power
Global warming management: Maldives
The Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean, only 1,5 m above sea level on average, with
80% percent of the land below 1m.
By Giorgio Montersino on Flickr Licence: CC-BY-SA-2.0
Global warming is a substantial threat to the Maldives, as an increase in temperatures leads
to the melting of icebergs, causing sea level rise that may submerge the island group.
The Maldivian Government has built a 3m high sea wall that surrounds the island of Male,
to protect it from flooding and preserve its beaches. The sea wall was funded by the
Japanese government.
Also, the Maldives plan to be a carbon neutral country by 2019. In other words, they try to
avoid adding Co2 to the atmosphere, as carbon dioxide is considered to be responsible for
global warming. This should be accomplished by encouraging the development of solar and
wind energy.
Fuelwood in Mali:
In Mali, large amounts of fuelwood are used for cooking and heating, especially in rural
areas, where electricity networks have not been developed.
Image from: Flickr by M Poudyal on 6. April 2007
Problems:
For local people: The large-scale deforestation that is required to supply for sufficient
energy is problematic, as this energy source is likely to run out if not enough trees will be
planted. Besides, deforestation requires people to travel farther to collect enough fuelwood.
Deforestation also exposes the soil (as trees cannot trap it) so soil erosion is likely to occur.
Furthermore, the burning of fuelwood releases toxic gases which may be trapped in the
houses, causing breathing problems or even carbon monoxide poisoning.
Environmental: The widespread deforestation has reduced the humidity of the already dry
region, as less plants release water by evapotranspiration. Also, less roots are anchored in
the soil, so the soil is more likely to be eroded. Furthermore, soil salinization is increased, as
the cut-down trees no longer provide shade for the soil and the hot temperatures-caused by
the desert climate of the Sahel- draw water out of the soil. As an increased soil concentration
is poisonous to a large variety of plant species, the natural vegetation will be less likely to
grow, and crop cultivation may be hampered.
Two other case studies on fuelwood:
http://geography-student.blogspot.de/2012/06/fuelwood-issues-with-usagepossiblities.html
Geothermal energy in Iceland:
Iceland is located along the Mid-Atlantic ridge, a divergent boundary where heat from the
core of the Earth rises to the surface. The energy produced from this heat equates to around
30% of Iceland’s electricity production.
Cold water is pumped down to the igneous rock layers, where it is heated by contact with
the hot rocks. The hot water is then piped up and the heat energy is converted to electricity.
Positive aspects:
emission-free
sustainable and potentially infinite
3/4 of the population live near geothermal sources (in the south-west of Iceland, near
Reykjavik)
Negative aspects:
high cost
obstruction that consumes land
visual pollution
regional limitations
may release dangerous underground gases
(More information on: http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/geography/icelandgeothermal-energy-case-study.html)
Solar power in India
India is particularly suitable for solar power due its large mass of land and its tropical
location. Besides, solar power is considered a successful means to address India’s
development problems.
Advantages of solar power:
safe and pollution-free
great potential in rural areas that are isolated from the national electricity grids eg.
Dharnai village
can be used effectively for low power uses as central heating
Disadvantages of solar power
ineffective in high latitude countries and cloudy areas
high initial capital input
less effective for high output uses
Future plans:
establishing an airport that relies solely on solar power in Cochin
developing 50 solar cities
creating world’s largest solar power station in Madhya Pradesh
Wind energy in Germany
Around 9% of the energy produced in Germany comes from wind turbines located both on
shore and off-shore (in the North Sea and Baltic Sea).
Wind farms have been built in Germany starting from the 1990s, when awareness of Co2 as
a contributing factor to global warming increased.
Primarily, the government fostered the production of onshore wind energy, as technical
challenges prevented off-shore farms. The onshore farms were recognised as a cheap form of
renewable energy, which does not contribute to air pollution, global warming or acid rain.
On the other hand, people did not want to live near wind farms, as these were considered a
form of visual pollution.
This issue was resolved by the development of off-shore farms, which are also more
productive as there is more wind out at sea. However, the required network capacities for
transmitting the power generated in the North Sea to the large industrial consumers in
southern Germany have not yet been constructed.
Energy Supply in China
China sources most of its energy from non-renewable sources, with coal-powered plants
accounting for roughly 65% of the country’s energy supply in 2020, according to data from
the International Energy Association. Renewable sources accounted for another 30% of the
country’s energy mix. In China, hydropower is the most-widespread source of renewable
energy, and the country boasts many dams, including the Three Gorges Dam, which is the
largest dam in the world. Wind, nuclear energy and solar power are also becoming more
important as the country aims to transition to cleaner and more efficient energy sources,
following the president’s call for an energy revolution.
Plantation: Rubber farming in Malaysia
Plantations are large farms producing a single cash crop (monoculture).
Inputs:
tropical climate (21-28°C, around 2000mm rainfall)
Chinese and Indian labour imported to increase labour force
nevea tree
location: lower mountain slopes forming the backbone of Malay peninsula; near railway
lines and main port
Process:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Planting in germination beds
Tapping 5-7 years after planting to collect latex
Latex is coagulated using acid
Raw rubber washed and rolled to remove acid ad moisture
Rubber is dried and smoked for stabilisation
Outputs:
Rubber
Extensive commercial farming: Canadian prairies
Extensive farming in the Canadian Prairies because of:
deep, fertile Chernozem soils
large expanse of flat land (nearly 2 million square kilometres) to grow wide variety of
cereals such as wheat, oats etc. in the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
able to use large machinery for harvesting
below zero temperatures in winter break up soil to allow ease of ploughing
good railway link to Great Lakes allowing export of cereal crops
Human inputs:
There is a very heavy reliance on machinery for ploughing, planting, spraying the crop and
harvesting. A large proportion of expenditure goes toward machinery, chemicals and other
equipment. Most of the work can be handled by just a few workers using machines such as
combine harvesters and harrows. One or two extra helpers may be hired during planting or
harvest time.
from: http://www.geoforcxc.com/economic-activities/wheat-farming-in-canada/
Intensive farming: Rice cultivation in Ganges Valley
Inputs:
Rice seeds
Alluvial (silt) soils
Large labour force
Temperatures: >21°C
Monsoon rainfall and dry spells
Water buffaloes for ploughing
Processes:
Ploughing
Planting
Harvesting
Threshing
Weeding
Outputs:
Rice
Rice seeds
Bufallo manure for fertilising
Problems:
Weather conditions such as flooding or drought may threaten rice yields
Monopoly of land: best farmland is owned by few wealthy people, other land owners
struggle to cultivate rice in more difficult conditions, especially as they do not have the
technology to increase soil fertility
Little use of machinery and modern methods
Food shortages: Overpopulation results in overcultivation on flood plains, leading to soil
exhaustion and lower yields
Information from: http://geographyfieldwork.com/RiceFarm.htm
Pastoral farming in New Zealand
New Zealand is well known for its agricultural output from sheep farming and dairy
farming.
Sheep farming inputs:
Sheep were brought to New Zealand in the 1800s by British sailors. Initially, the sheep
had few natural enemies, so their numbers increased rapidly.
The sheep are also well adapted to the mild climate and the rich pasture, particularly on
the mountainous slopes of South Island.
Processes:
Feeding
Shearing to obtain wool
Milking
Sheep farming outputs:
Meat: beaf and veel
Wool
Milk
Sheep manure for fertilizing
Dairy farming inputs:
Cow breeds
Mild climate with high rates of precipitation
Alluvial and volcanic soils on the flat planes of New Zealand
Special facilities including water troughs, fencing, milking machines and cowshed
Labour
Dairy farming processes:
Grazing
Milking
Drenching
Calving
Dairy farming outputs:
Milk
Calves
Meat
Subsistence farming: Shifting cultivation in Amazon
Rainforest, Brazil
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural practice in which areas of land are cultivated
temporarily and abandoned as they become infertile. This allows the land to revert to its
natural vegetation and is a sustainable farming technique. Shifting cultivation is mainly
practised by indigineous tribes.
Subsistence farming in Lesotho
Lesotho is a landlocked country that borders South Africa. It relies heavily on subsistence
farming, with an estimated 86% of the country’s population growing their own crops and
maintaining livestock.
Subsistence farming is common in the lowlands northwest of Maseru, where the terrain is
flat and thus suited for the cultivation of crops. In mountainous areas, many farmers also
raise livestock to compensate for the lower yields from cultivation on mountain slopes.
Additionally, subsistence farmers in vast parts of Lesotho raise livestock, which can be sold
during drought years when crop yields are low. This provides food security for the farmer’s
family.
Food shortages in South Sudan
In South Sudan, nearly 4 million people are severely affected by food shortages.
Causes:
Drought: Long-term decline in rainfall in southern Sudan (by 20% since 1970s)
High population growth (4% in 2013) increases demand for food, so unsustainable
farming practices such as overgrazing and overcultivation are used, resulting in land
degradation and soil erosion
Reliance on food imports from neighbouring countries: Uganda, Kenya and Sudan
Civil war between government and rebel forces disrupts planting and harvesting and
insecurity along transport routes has hampered the delivery of food and other
humanitarian supplies
Water supply in Puglia, Italy
Puglia is one of the most water-scarce regions in Italy, and has very few fresh streams or
natural rivers. Its aquifers are vulnerable to contamination by seawater, and so the area’s
inhabitants built a large aqueduct to tap into the fresh drinking water from an underground
spring in the Campania region, located more than 160 km away.
Today, cities in the Puglia region (such as Bari) still receive some of their water for domestic
use from this original aqueduct. However, precipitation in the Campania region has become
less frequent in recent years, and so less water is draining into the aquifer that feeds the
acqueduct.
Therefore, Puglia also gets around 250 million cubic meters of water every year from the
neighboring region of Basilicata. The local authorities have even considered piping water in
across the Adriatic Sea from Albania, to help the region cope with supply shortages.
Soil erosion in Nepal
25% of Nepalese forest was removed between 1990 and 2005 and this trend continues at a
rate of 3% per year.
Causes of land degradation in Nepal:
Deforestation for fuelwood exposes soil to heavy monsoon rainfalls as there will be less
vegetation to protect it, causing it to be washed away by extreme surface runoff. Besides,
soil is not held together by tree roots, so it can be eroded by icewater runoff from melting
glaciers.
Soil dries out in areas of low rainfall and strong winds can then remove the loose
particles
Agricultural mismanagemnet: poor farming practises such as overcultivation and
overgrazing (which deplete the soil’s nutrients) damage the ground vegetation and
result in the compaction of topsoil
Soil pollution through excessive use of persticides poisons bacteria and fungi and
thereby disrupts symbiotic relationships
Nepalese slopes, by Till Niermann CC BY-SA 3.0
Solutions:
Crop rotation prevents depletion of nutrients and replenishes soil fertility
Contour ploughing rather than ploughing up and down the slopes to prevent rapid runoff, gully formation and loss of soil
Fuelwood conservation: replacing trees where deforestation has taken place or is going
to occur
Environmental education: restrict tourist visits and demand larger fee for use of heating
and cooking facilities; environmental education in schools
Transport risks and benefits: Expansion of Heathrow
Discussions about an expansion of Heathrow Airport, Europe`s busiest airport by passenger
traffic, arose in 2006, and still, no final decision has been made, as supporters and
opposition have been arguing about the benefits and disadvantages for 10 years.
Heathrow Airport: By Warren Rohner (Flickr) CC BY-Sa 2.0
Benefits of an expansion:
Enhancing economic growth in the UK: Heathrow functions as a major transport hub for
both business travellers and tourists, transporting around 70 million passengers
annually
Benefits for financial services industry in London and other independent firms eg.
inflight catering, security services
Better connectivity to other international cities, as more destinations can be scheduled
Waiting times would be reduced as the airport operates at a lower capacity
Construction provides up to 100,000 jobs
Disadvantages of an expansion:
Increase in emission of greenhouse gases from additional flights
Community destruction: removal of 4000 houses to make space for a runway
Increased noise and air pollution in West London due to an increase in flights: roaring
airplane engines and their exhaust fumes
Impact on wildlife
High technology industry: Cambridge Science Park
Cambridge Science Park is a Europe’s largest centre for commercial research and
development. It is located near Cambridge in the United Kindom, as Cambridge University
provides a large supply of expert labour and allows for the sharing of technology. Besides, a
large plot of land (152 acres/61.5 hectares) had been available for a low cost, as the facility is
located outside of the urban area around London. Nevertheless, good transport facilities
exist, including the M11 motorway link to London for the export of finished products and
London Stansted International Airport which allows for worldwide trade.
Manufacturing industry: Pakistan’s Iron and Steel
Industry
Location:
flat, cheap land available at Pipri, near Gharo Creek
near Port Qasim, which has a natural harbour to import raw materials and export steel
close to market: steel-using industries in Karachi, such as tool making
energy source from Pipri thermal power station and Karachi nuclear power station
availability of cheap labour from Karachi
along a railway: Karachi-Pipri-Kotri and metalled roads
economic assistance from USSR: technical expertise and capital
water required for making steel brought from Lake Haleji
Inputs:
iron ore
coke
limestone
scrap iron
Processes:
heating of ore to separate iron
burning coke
rolling into sheets and cutting into lenghts
Outputs:
cast iron and pig iron
slag
gases: sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, hydrogen sulfide
Problems:
noise pollution from machinery disturbs wildlife
visual pollution due to large, ugly factory buildings
air pollution from burning iron ore, which releases carbon dioxide
water pollution from contaminated cooling water, scrubber effluent and ships supplying
raw materials
depletion of freshwater supplies due to excessive requirement of water in production
risk of fire and explosions
MNC: MC Donald’s
MC Donald’s is a company at the forefront of globalisation, with more than 35,000 outlets in
121 countries world wide. Founded in the United States in 1940, the company began as a
barbecue restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald. Mc Donald’s employes
nearly 2 million people to sell fast food.
Benefits:
Each new store that is build creates jobs (eg. opening of Mc Donalds at Kennedybrücke
in Vienna created 30 new jobs)
Mc Donalds is involved in youth sports, local charities, and other inspiring events by
donating via its charities.
Disadvantages:
Salaries vary per country, and are generally low
Sometimes considered to have poor working conditions
Facebook: A Transnational Corporation and its
global links
Facebook is the biggest social network and social media platform in the world, connecting
more than 2.8 billion people in the world.
Facebook has close links to businesses all of over the world, as it not only owns the
messenger service Whatsapp and the social media platform Instagram, but also offers
advertising space through its Facebook Ads service, and allows retailers and people to sell
and trade goods in its market place.
In the past, Facebook has also come under fire for data partnerships with other TNCs
including, but limited to, Amazon, Microsoft, Yahoo and Spotify. However, amidst privacy
concerns, the company has had to reduce the strength of its global links, and is instead
shifting towards a slightly more localised global approach.
Nonetheless, Facebook continues to maintain and develop strong global links through
mergers and acquisitions, its headquarter location in Silicon Valley near other high-tech, and
software firms, and its relationships with goverments and business networks all around the
world.
Nike: A multinational company and its impact on
less developed countries
Nike is a global sportswear company headquartered in Oregon in the United States. The
company employs around 75.000 people around the world, with an additional 500.000
people working for companies to which Nike subcontracts most of its manufacturing in
Eastern Asia.
Benefits for LEDCs:
Nike factories create new jobs in countries like China, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia,
allowing poorer people to earn a wage. The standard of living for many people
improves, increasing the ability to access food and quality housing.
Nike has invested in and promoted the development of transport infrastructure in the
areas near the factories. Better roads make it easier for the population to get around, and
this has a positive ripple effect on other economic activity.
Disadvantages:
Poor health and safety standards are a major threat to people employed in the factories.
Short-term contracts and payment below the national living wage also have a
devastating impact on the local community. For example, in one Cambodian factory that
produced apparel for Nike, several women collapsed after working 10 hour days, six
days a week, and they reported feeling hungry and exhausted.
Natural resources such as oil are being overexploited, as they are required for
manufacturing. This has a negative impact on the local environment.
Factories are often footloose. This means Nike could relocate to another less developed
area if the local conditions or government policies are deemed unfavourable – with a
devastating impact on employment and the local economy.
You can find out more about Nike and its impact on LEDCs here.
111 thoughts on “Case Studies”
1. Rylie
July 3, 2022 at 10:04 am
Thanks so much i found this very helpful.
2. Seithati Kavuva Phuthego
May 30, 2022 at 6:27 pm
Thank you so much, this information has been really helpful to me in my Geography
3. eisha
May 3, 2022 at 10:36 pm
what are your predictions on the may june 2022 paper 1?
Carina T.
May 11, 2022 at 7:45 pm
Hi eisha,
You can find my prediction in the comments section of this page:
https://igcsegeography.wordpress.com/revision-materials/industrial-systems/
Best, Carina
4. Jana
May 1, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Also, is it really okay if I got stuck in the test and had to invent a place specific reference.
I’ve always wondered how they correct the papers given all those student responses on
different countries, tho
Carina T.
May 11, 2022 at 7:37 pm
Hi Jana, you’ll probably be fine inventing something if you really do get stuck, as
long as it is remotely reasonable. Just keep in mind that examiners can Google stuff,
or may even be from your country, so whatever you do invent probably shouldn’t be
contradicted by a quick online search
5. Jana
May 1, 2022 at 5:21 pm
Hi Carina! Love your website! Do you have any tips or recommendations on the May
Jun 2022 series for geography?
6. Luke
May 1, 2022 at 11:03 am
Hi, this might be a dumb question but would you recommend memorising all these case
studies, or should we only need to know a certain amount, and in certain areas for the
exams?
Carina T.
May 11, 2022 at 7:41 pm
Hi Luke,
I would recommend learning the core concepts very well and at least memorising a
case study for all frequently occuring topics (e.g. 1 volcano, one earthquake, one river
with certain features, one coastal area, one country with population change, urban vs.
rural settlement, etc.). I would try to memorise especially those case studies that you
can’t find an example for in your local area,, as you probably know your city and
surrounding area well enough to come up with something reasonable on at least
some of the questions in the exam.
Best, Carina
7. k
April 30, 2022 at 12:11 pm
thanks so much for this, exams are in less than a week and this i just what i needed :)))
Carina T.
May 11, 2022 at 7:43 pm
Thanks, k!
8. Ezad Danish
April 25, 2022 at 5:52 am
Paper 1 is almost a week away and I had very little knowledge on any case studies prior
to just a few days ago.
This compilation of case studies has been a great help to me, so I’d just like to say thanks!
Carina T.
May 11, 2022 at 7:46 pm
Thanks Ezad, I am glad you found the case studies helpful!
9. Grace
March 28, 2022 at 11:22 am
Dear Carina who compiles this – this is a mother trying to help her 13 years old to
review – this is AMAZING resource!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!
Carina T.
May 11, 2022 at 7:49 pm
Thanks Grace, it means a lot to me!
Best, Carina
10. salman
January 23, 2022 at 6:21 pm
Hello,
Are the case studies grouped, for example, are all the ones about tourism together?
Thank you very much
Carina T.
March 20, 2022 at 9:49 am
Hi salman, the case studies are loosely grouped, so you will find all the case studies
related to a particular topic after each other.
Best,
Carina
11. Festo Kisia
November 3, 2021 at 2:18 pm
This is a great resource. well done!
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