GCSE Geography
Unit 1: Physical Geography
CASE STUDY
REVISION BOOKLET
Please note: This booklet contains case study revision only!
You should still use your topic cover sheet to see what other
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS IN THE UK
Extreme weather events in the UK
Description of weather event
Date
Location
Europe suffered intense heat wave. UK’s highest
recorded temperature 38.5°c. Heat wave began in June
through to August. Tourism increased in the UK but 2045
died as a result
2003
Kent
Boscastle in Cornwall was hit by a major flash flood. Noone was killed but it effected 1000 residents and tourists
2004
Boscastel, Cornwall
The south of England had its driest period since the
drought of 1976. Hosepipes and sprinklers were banned
2005
Southern England
Several people killed and thousands made homeless due
to major flooding. Particularly long the river Severn
where crops were destroyed, livestock drown and major
roads were impassable
2007
Major areas that
suffered were
Tewkesbury and parts of
Gloucester
Very wet summer, torrential rain fell on already
saturated ground. Many areas flooded.
2008
Somerset, south Wales,
Worcestershire and
Northhumberland
Devon
A Torrential Hailstorm in Devon brought 100mm of rain
and hail in a few hours
January saw the BIG FREEZE hit the UK. Coldest winter
since 1962-3, night time temperatures fell as low as-20°C.
Gas supplies became under pressure because many
people turned up their heating. Large companies had
their gas supplies rationed so that homes could be
heated. Supplies of rock salt used for roads became low
and minor roads had to be left untreated.
2010
UK
A CASE STUDY OF AN EXTREME WEATHER EVENT IN THE UK:
SUMMER FLOODS OF 2007
Cause of the flooding
• Movement of the jet stream further south blocking the high pressure system over
Spain leaving an area of low pressure over the UK. A low pressure system is
responsible for rainfall
• Meeting of the cool and moist Atlantic air mass and warm dry airmass from Spain
and France caused condensation and precipitation. 400mm fell in two months
• Ground continuously saturated between May and July 2007 which lead to
Increased run off
• Large amount of water fell in the drainage basins of the River Severn and Thames
where the land is flat which encouraged the water to spread laterally (sideways)
Effects of the Summer 2007 Floods
-
Impact on people’s Homes and Lives
- 49,000 homes flooded
- 14 people died in floods
½ million people left with no electricity
350,000 people were without drinking water, including most of the population of
Gloucester, Cheltenham, and Tewkesbury due to water treatment plants flooding
One out of 3 people reported effects on family life and relationships e.g. worsebehaved children, young children afraid of the rain, strain of living in caravans)
Average time spent out of their homes was 9 months
Impact on Health
- Sewage from drains mixed with flood water this created a health
hazard to people and animals.
- Two out of 3 people suffered from chest infections, stomach upsets,
skin complaints etc
- One out of 3 people suffered from mental health problems e.g. depression
Impact on Agriculture
- 50Km square of agricultural land was flooded.
- Crops were damaged, especially broccoli, carrots, peas and potatoes.
40 % of pea crop lost.
- Farm animal’s drowned.
- Prices of broccoli, carrots pees and potatoes rose in shops.
Impact on Transport
- Railway networks flooded this led to a loss of business, cost of repair,
disruption to transport.
- £131 million cost to date to repair roads across the country.
- Roads and bridges collapse in Ludlow Shropshire.
- £17 million for roads and bridge repairs in Shropshire alone.
Cost of the floods
£3billion of damage across UK, Gloucestershire cost £37 million
alone
130,000 insurance claims were made after the floods.
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Benefits/Issues raised-need for adequate warning, preparation and plans to
deal with the impacts
The sense of community developed in Tewkesbury during the flood has continued
to some extent
Signed up 73000 more people have signed up to the Environment Agency’s free
flood warning system
There are now 34,000 new flood defences protecting 30,000 homes
There were plans to spend another billion to protect 145,000 homes over the
next few years
CONSEQUENCES OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE UK
Economic
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Major towns and cities in the UK will be flooded due to sea level rise.
Example…(Liverpool, Edinburgh, Middlesborough, Kingston Upon Hull, London,
Bristol, Preston, Carlisle, Great Yarmouth)
Scottish ski resorts could be threatened with closure as snow becomes less
common
Low-lying Norfolk Broads, worth £5 million as a tourist destination, may become
flooded.
Sea levels could rise by 26-86cm by 2080 in the south-east, threatening low lying
coastal cities such as London.
Recently induced crops such as vines (grapes) and olives may prosper in southern
England
New crops such as oranges and peaches may be able to be grown in Southern
Britain
Intensive agriculture will be able to spread further north in Scotland
Increased length of growing season promotes farming and increases food supply
Accidents and disruption to transport will be less likely to occur in the winter,
with less snow and ice on the roads
Social
Warm climate diseases such as Malaria may spread to the UK
Heat-induced deaths may increase, particularly among the elderly
 Winter heating costs will go down
 People will holiday more in the UK, reducing the costs of family holidays.
Environmental
Artic plants in Scotland may face extinction
Coastal erosion on soft-rock coastlines, such as north Norfolk will increase.
Broadleaved trees could suffer in drought conditions, especially in Wales
Increased demand for water in hotter summers will put added pressure on water
supplies
Coastal habitats such as salt marshes will become squeezed between the sea and
coastal defences as sea levels rise
Droughts and floods will become more likely as extreme weather events become
more frequent.
 Conifer trees will thrive in wales and Scotland
 Accidents and disruption to transport will be less likely to occur in the winter,
with less snow and ice on the roads
 Windier weather may provide additional power for wind farms
Political
Government is put under pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Debate over the future of the UK’s energy sources.
Worry that the cost of developing renewable energy sources could have a
negative impact on the country’s economy.
CONSEQUENCES OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE
WORLD
Economic
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Alpine ski resorts close down due to a lack of snow (French and Swiss alps)
Drier conditions in Mongolia and Central China reduce grain harvest
Increased costs due to the damage caused by more frequent and intense tropical
storms in the Caribbean and USA
Frozen regions of the world such as Siberia and Northern Canada may be able to
grow crops in a milder climate
Higher rainfall in Southern China increases crop yields
Canada’s North-west Passage may become ice-free and can be used by shipping
Energy consumption may go down as temperatures increase in north-west
Europe
Fewer deaths or injuries due to cold weather.
Longer growing seasons in rich agricultural regions such as Europe and North
America.
Social
Drier conditions in Africa will reduce cereal production and water supply leading
to starvation and civil war.
Tropical diseases in Africa are likely to spread northwards.
An additional 280 million people may be at risk of malaria, particularly in China
and central Asia
Higher sea levels may flood low-lying areas such as Bangladesh, Myanmar and
the Netherlands, threatening the lives of 80 million people
Loss of glaciers (fresh water) in the Himalayas may threaten agriculture and water
supply in India, Nepal and China.
Increased frequency and magnitude of tropical storms in the Caribbean and USA
increase therefore there is an increase threat to life and property
 Fewer deaths or injuries due to cold weather.
Environmental
Reduced rainfall in tropical rainforests in places like Brazil due to deforestation
Floods in the Nile delta
Flooding in the Netherlands
Arctic ocean ice sheet could melt completely – already thinning by 40%
Too warm for coniferous forests in Alaska and Northeast Russia
Hazards such as landslides, floods and avalanches may become more common in
mountainous areas such as the Alps.
Some species who’s habitat changes, may become extinct, e.g. Polar Bear in the
Artic
Increased frequency and magnitude of tropical storms in the Caribbean and USA
Pacific islands such as Tuvalu, Kiribati group and Marshal islands likely to
disappear due to sea level rise
Icebergs from break-up of Antarctic ice shelf could endanger shipping
Political
Increase conflict between countries and their pollution levels.
Increased conflict of resources in countries where they are becoming scarce. E.g.
water sources in India and Pakistan.
Increased migration due to famine and drought to European countries.
Conflict between tribes over land and scarce resources.
 Increased collaboration between countries to reduce the impact of global climate
change
 Increased income gained for less developed countries selling their carbon credits
RESPONSES TO THE THREAT OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
GAS
SOURCE
Burning Fossil Fuels
CARBON DIOXIDE
Deforestation
INDIVIDUAL
LOCAL
NATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
Conserve energy like turning
off lights, putting things on
stand by
Grants offered to people to
have loft and cavity
insulation
Look into alternative energy
sources. UK investing in
Offshore wind farms
Kyoto agreement – countries
signed up to reduce carbon
emissions by 50% by 2050
Buy recycled paper
Recycle paper in bins
provided by local authority
Urban forests in
Wolverhampton. Allocation
of Urban and country parks
to protect woodlands
Recycling campaigns
Allocation of protected
areas such as national parks
and SSSI’s
DEFRA – prosecute against
illegal logging
Organisations involved over
many countries such as
Oxfam and Friends of the
Earth that campaign against
rainforest destruction
Reduce waste and recycle
Wolverhampton has an
incinerator to burn waste
reducing landfill
Different bins provided to
increase recycling
National initiative on waste
reduction in UK
The Global Methane Initiative
(GMI) is a voluntary, multilateral
partnership that aims to reduce
global methane emissions and to
advance the abatement,
recovery and use of methane as a
valuable clean energy source.
Alternative food chosen
To drown rice paddies to
prevent methane escaping in
certain areas
Population reduction
policies, few people = less
food needed
Walk and use public
transport
Travel wise –
Wolverhampton initiative to
encourage car sharing.
Congestion charges e.g.
London
Increase parking fee’s
Increase car and fuel tax to
discourage the use of and
buying of cars
Kyoto agreement –
reduction of car emissions
Sharing technological
advances buying hybrid cars
and electric cars
Buy organic food
Promote and advertise organic
food
Allocating nitrogen sensitive
zones that ban the use of
fertilisers in areas close to
water sources
Money supplements offered
to farmers to encourage
them to use Organic
farming methods that are
more expensive.
International Nitrogen Initiative
Aim to encourage the production of
sustainable food production and
minimize nitrogen’s negative
effects on human health and the
environment resulting from food
and energy producti
Landfill Sites
METHANE
Rice farming
Car exhaust
NITROUS OXIDE
fertilisers
TROPICAL CYCLONE CASE STUDIES: ONE FROM A RICH PART
OF THE WORLD (Katrina) AND ONE FROM A POOR (Nargis)
IMPACT AND RESPONSES
KATRINA 2005
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NARGIS 2008
Formed over the Bahamas
Winds 280kph
3 – 8m storm surge
200mm rainfall
Levees failed resulting is
widespread flooding
New Orleans already below
sea level in places
Made landfall New Orleans
 Formed in bay of Bengal
 Winds 215kmp
 3.5m storm surge
Irrawaddy region badly
affected by the storm surge
 Irrawaddy delta is just
about 1m above sea level
SOCIAL EFFECTS
 1,836 confirmed dead
 100’s of 1000’s displaced or
evacuated
 3 million without electricity
 High insurance premiums
that people cannot afford
ECONOMIC EFFECTS
 $89 billion
 30 Oil platforms damaged,
reduced production by 25%
 Increased world petrol
prices
 At least 140,000 dead
 2-3 million homeless
 In Irrawaddy 95% of homes
destroyed
 1.5 million people affected
 Diarrhoea, dysentery and
skin infections afflicted
some survivors crammed
into public houses such as
schools
 $10 billion
 60 per cent of farming
implements were lost
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
 Flood waters severely
polluted
 Mississippi delta physically
changed by erosion (change
of shape)
 Coastal habitats lost or
damaged
 Breeding grounds for turtles
and migrating birds lost
 80% of New Orleans
flooded
 nearly 25m litres of oil were
pumped into Lake
Pontchartrain
TROPICAL CYCLONE DETAILS
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 Saltwater from storm surge
damaged farmland and
water sources
 Burst sewage pipes caused
pollution
IMPACT AND RESPONSES
KATRINA 2005
NARGIS 2008
 Charities raised over
US$4.25 billion from
voluntary contributions.
 Help arrived within a few
hours. Coastguard rescued
over 33,500 people, 58,000
troops sent
 Refrigerated trucks for dead
bodies
 Rescuing people, treated
injured, provided food,
water and shelter
 FEMA paid temporary hotel
costs for families
 Burma (now Myanmar)
refused to allow ships from
France and the US to enter
Burmese ports The
government refused aid
and relief for several weeks
LONG TERM RESPONSES
 Rebuilding New Orleans
 July 2006 there were still
about 100,000 people living
in 37,745 FEMA-provided
trailers
 Strengthening of the levees
 Some evacuees have not
returned
 Rebuilding homes and
workplaces
 $1 billion was needed to
cover the most urgent
needs (food, agriculture
and housing) for the next
three years.
 Methods to reduce salt
content from farmland
 Rebuilding services and
transport networks
MONITORING AND PREDICTION
 Was monitored and
predicted accurately
 People had no idea the
cyclone was approaching
PREPARATION
 80% of people evacuated
 No-one was evacuated
PROTECTION
 Public transport closed
down. Levees should have
protected the area from
flooding
 No protection from storm
surge or flood waters.
SHORT TERM REPONSES
 Indentified and buried the
dead
 Treated the injured
 Provided safe water, food
and medicine