AS Level Geography Exam Board – OCR AS Level Geography H083 In the AS course you will study how the physical environment can be managed. We will look closely at how the environment is affected by rivers, coastal forces and hot/cold weather conditions. We will also study the managing of change in human environments, including rural, urban, energy issues and the growth of tourism. Topics that will be studied are – Managing Physical Environments River Environments Coastal Environments Hot Arid / Semi Arid Environments Managing change in human environments Managing Urban Change Managing Rural Change The Growth of Tourism Core book list OCR AS Level Geography – Heinemann – ISBN No = 978-0435357535 OCR AS Level Geography – Philip Allan – ISBN No = 978-0340947951 Reading list Geography in Focus – Causeway Press – ISBN No 978-1873929919 Geography – An Integrated Approach – Nelson Thornes – ISBN No = 978-1408504079 Revision Guides OCR Revise Geography – Heinemann – ISBN No = 978-0435357702 OCR Geography – Managing Physical Environments – Philip Allan ISBN No = 9781444171792 OCR Geography – Managing Change in Human Environments Philip Allan ISBN No = 978-1444171822 Useful Websites: https://vle.whs.bucks.sch.uk/course/view.php?id=1365 Lots of animations and video clips www.bbc.co.uk Useful for researching current and past news on Geographical topics. http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-geography-h083-h483/ Exam information and past papers and mark schemes. www.s-cool.co.uk A range of topics covered. Useful for revision of key concepts and processes Checklists River Environments 1. The factors and processes responsible for distinctive fluvial landforms Physical Climate – evaporation, temperature, precipitation type and volume Relief – slope, altitude and base level Rock type – geology, structure, beds, porosity and tilt of rocks Vegetation – type and percentage of cover Human Water supply – abstraction Channel work – dams, weirs, embankments, straightening, widening, deepening, dredging, flood prevention and meander management Drainage – soils, from industries and roads, etc Agriculture – crops, deforestation, irrigation and drainage Urbanisation – impervious surfaces and channel controls Transport – canalisation, bridges and weirs Time Feature development, climatic changes and tectonic changes Processes Erosion – hydraulic, attrition, corraison solution Transport – traction, saltation, suspension, solution, floatation Deposition – heaviest is dropped first Landforms Erosion – waterfalls, potholes, valleys, meanders, caves, rapids Deposition – deltas, levees, oxbows, meanders 2. Ways in which river basins can be multi-use resources Residential Settlements are located on or near rivers because of the flat land and development water supply, e.g. 90% of Egypt’s population live by the Nile Power source Hydroelectric power, e.g. the Aswan dam on the Nile Industrial Fishing, tourism and heavy industry that requires flat land and a water development supply Minerals Sediments, oil, gas, gravel, e.g. gas in the Nile delta Services Tourism, recreation, waste tourism (cruises) Agriculture Fish farming and arable farming (fertile silts), e.g. cash and subsistence farming in Egypt depend upon irrigation from Nile Transport Ports, bulk cargo ports, cheap bulk transport Conservation Nature reserves 3. Issues that can arise from the development of river basins Flooding Pressure to develop on flood plains can make them increasingly vulnerable to flooding. Some areas are naturally vulnerable as flat and low lying e.g. Mississippi delta area Flood To protect property, land, the transport infrastructure and conserve the prevention local environment (historic and biotic). It can have negative impacts in other areas so you need to weigh up costs versus benefits Methods Hard and soft engineering, planning restrictions, planned retreat, do nothing Location Flood plains, channels, catchment, channel and valley sides Types Afforestation, banning building, embankments, diversion channels, dams, storage lakes, channel straightening, widening and deepening 4. Management challenges associated with the development of the river landscape Planning Balancing environmental and socio-economic needs including costs (short term and long term); technology, political will, time, scale, knowledge of the issues and the wider impact Rivers often flow from one country or district to another and may cross different administrative boundaries. Many different types of planning authorities may have an interest in any one river Rivers are difficult to manage as they change course, are fluid and are influenced by the climate Coastal Environments 1. The factors and processes responsible for distinctive coastal landscapes and landforms Physical Climate – wind speed and direction, precipitation Relief – slope, altitude, sea level, water depth, direction of coast Rock type – geology, structure: faults, beds, porosity, tilt of rocks Vegetation – type and percent cover Human Material supply – gravel abstraction Coastal management – coastal defences, planning, flood prevention Tourism and recreation, e.g. trampling Urbanisation Transport – ports, bridges, airports Time Features develop Climatic change Tectonic changes Processes Marine – erosion, transport, deposition (on-shore versus long-shore) Other – weathering, mass movement, river, wind, human activity Landforms Erosion – cliffs, caves, arches, stacks, bays, platforms Deposition – spits, bars, beaches, salt marshes, dunes, cusps 2. Ways in which coasts can be protected from the effects of natural processes Coastal To protect property, land, the transport infrastructure, to aid tourism protection and conserve the local environment (historic and biotic). It can have negative impacts in other areas so you need to weigh up costs versus benefits Methods Hard and soft engineering, planning restrictions, planned retreat, do nothing Where Beaches, cliff foot, cliff face, cliff top Types Beach replenishment, rock armour, groynes, sea walls, revetments, tetrapods, gabions, rip-rap, grading cliffs, planting vegetation, drainage, piling 3. Ways in which coastal areas can be used as multi-use resources Residential Settlements are located near the coast because of the flat land, e.g. development Thames Gateway, Canvey Island Power source Thermal, nuclear and tidal, e.g. oil fired power station at Tilbury Industrial Fishing, tourism and heavy industry that requires flat land and a water development supply Minerals Sediments, oils and gas, e.g. sand and gravel from the river bed Services Tourism, recreation, waste, e.g. London’s waste Agriculture Fish farming and grazing on salt marshes, e.g. Kent Transport Ports, bulk cargo ports, e.g. ferry and container, Tilbury Conservation Nature reserves, e.g. Maplin sands Other Army ranges, e.g. Shoeburyness 4. Management challenges associated with the development of coastal areas Planning Balancing environmental and socio-economic needs including costs (short term and long term); technology, political will, time, scale, knowledge of the issues and the wider impact Coastal areas are overseen by a range of types of planning authorities e.g. local authorities, charities e.g. National Trust, National Park Authorities, private land owners e.g. Duchy of Cornwall, conservation bodies e.g. the RSPB and other groups such as the military or industrial and mining companies. Hot Arid and Semi Arid Environments 1. Processes and factors that give hot arid and semi-arid environments their distinctive characteristics Weathering Exfoliation, granular disintegration, block disintegration, wet/dry, pressure release, hot/cold, vegetation, solution, acid action, salt crystalisation Erosion Wind action (deflation hollows, yardangs, zeugens) flash-floods (or historical – wadi, gullies, pediment) and exotic rivers (canyon) Transport Mass movement (creep, slides), flash-floods, wind Deposition Wind (ripples, ridges, barchan dune, seif dune), flash-floods (salt pan, sabkha, playa) Factors Climate – arid, windy, extreme temperatures, sudden storms Relief and landforms e.g. dunes Drought resistant ecosystem Traditional way of life – oasis versus nomadic Resource development – minerals, tourism 2. Why hot arid and semi-arid environments are considered to be fragile Climate Extreme with ‘sudden’ events, e.g. sand storm Water Delicate nature of supply (surface and sub-surface) Energy Low-energy environment (low inputs – dry but high sun energy) Nutrients Low nutrient stores, vulnerable flows – fierce competition Species Limited range – limited gene pool and food chains Population Traditionally low and self-sufficient 3. Issues associated with the development of hot arid and semi-arid environments Settlement – military bases, resorts, e.g. Las Vegas Power production – wind, solar Industry – tourism, hi-tech, e.g. USA Mining – oil, gas, ores Agriculture – grazing, irrigated farming Transport – railway, e.g. Southern Australia Issues Conflicts between activities Need to protect and conserve fragile environment Indigenous cultures – often nomadic. Desire to protect cultures. Unclear international boundaries e.g. so called ‘neutral territories’ Cost of offsetting conditions 4. Management challenges to ensure sustainability of hot arid and semi-arid environments Opportunities Physical Human Climate – harsh and extreme (dust storms) Relief – shifting sands, steep slopes Vegetation – thin and tough Drainage – lack of water Ecosystem – hostile or low productivity Soils – extreme alkaline (salts) High-cost environment (water, cost of keeping cool) Remote and land transport difficult Pollution threats, e.g. oil Waste disposal Existing indigenous populations Need for conservation Managing Change in Urban Environments 1. Factors influencing the characteristics of urban areas Physical Climate, relief, drainage, rock type Economic Transport routes (sectors – Hoyt) Ability to out bid for sites (Burgess) Size of site available Mutual attraction/repulsion (Harris and Ullman) Social Historical – inertia, conservation, reputation Mutual attraction/repulsion Land ownership – estate development Religious factors Political Planning controls – land-use zoning Need for centrality or safety Characteristics Shape, form, layout, density, building types Population features e.g. number, age, ethnicity, socio-economic Land uses – industrial, housing, recreational, commercial, retail 2. The social and economic issues associated with urban change Population Migration, birth rate, ethnic mix, age structure Mobility Private and public transport Income Increased or decreased inequalities in wealth or income Political Planning initiatives and their impacts, local tax, land-use zoning Employment Structure – industrial versus service employment, changing technology, unemployment Public services Cost and viability – type, location, ‘post code lottery’ 3. The environmental issues associated with urban change Pollution Water Traffic Land Air, water, noise, visual, solids Scarcity (transfer schemes, use of aquifers, reservoir building) Congestion, pollution, land use (roads, car parks, garages, etc.) Pressure on marginal land and ecosystems (parks, conservation, green belts) Micro-climate Heat island, wind channelling, higher rainfall, smog Dereliction Visual pollution, safety, health 4. Management challenges to ensure sustainability Physical Climate – creation of urban micro-climate Relief – building on unsuitable sites e.g. steep slope Drainage – lack of, water shortage Vegetation – loss of habitats Economic Social Pollution – air, water, land, noise, visual Settlement – housing quality and quantity, cost Power – shortage, reliability, cost Industry – lack of jobs or low pay, exploitation Services – lack of sufficient schools, clinics etc Transport – congestion, poor public transport Wealth inequality and deprivation Ethnic tensions High cost of social support Inner-city decay Slums and shanties Crime and security Managing Change in Rural Environments 1. Factors influencing the characteristics of rural land use Physical Climate, relief, drainage, soil type, rock type Economic Transport routes Accessibility to large urban area Ability to out bid for sites Size of site available Mutual attraction/repulsion Social Historical – inertia, conservation, reputation Mutual attraction/repulsion Land ownership – estate development e.g. National Trust Religious factors Political Planning controls – National Parks, SSSIs, Nature reserves Controls on farming e.g. CAP, set-a-side Development schemes e.g. release of green belt Government uses e.g. military ranges Characteristics Land use – crops, pasture, woods, reservoirs, moorland, recreation Population – number, age/sex, socio-economic, ethnicity, migration Activities – farming, mining, industry, parks, conservation, water 2. The social and economic issues associated with rural change Population In and out migration, birth rate, ethnic mix, age structure ageing Mobility Increased private and cost and availability of public transport Income Increased or decreased, income/wealth inequalities Political Impact of planning initiatives/controls, conservation areas etc Employment Decline of agricultural and services, changing technology Public services Growth or decline, type, location – loss of rural culture 3. The environmental issues associated with rural change Pollution Air, water (eutrophication), noise, visual, solids Water Scarcity (transfer schemes, use of aquifers, reservoir building) Traffic Congestion, pollution, land use (roads, car parks, garages etc.) Habitat Direct and indirect, species diversity destruction Disease Accident e.g. Foot and Mouth or planned introduction New species Accidentally or planned introduction Dereliction Visual pollution, safety, health 4. Management challenges to ensure sustainability Physical Relief – building on unsuitable sites e.g. steep slope Drainage – water shortage, pollution Economic Social Sustainability Vegetation – loss of habitats Pollution – air, water, land, noise, visual Settlement – housing quality and quantity, cost Power – shortage, reliability, cost Industry – lack of jobs or low pay, migrant labour Services – lack of sufficient schools, shops, clinics etc. Transport – cost, poor public transport Wealth inequality and deprivation Cultural change Age profile – dependency ratio, birth rates, social services Migration – depopulation In terms of culture, employment, population, environment, viability Idea of green technology, integrated management, key settlements The Growth of Tourism 1. Factors in the changing of global pattern of tourism Increased leisure time/paid holidays Cheaper faster types of transport especially air Active marketing by resorts and travel firms Increased incomes — more ‘spare’ Increased psychological need to ‘escape’ Rise in lifestyle expectations Increased education about other areas and their cultures Spread of English language Increased media coverage LEDCs see it as a means to develop 2. Changes in the location and type of tourism By Location Increased travel to remoter areas or niche markets Increased internal as well as international travel Longer distances travelled and multi-centre holidays more popular By type Purpose has increased in range e.g. active (sport) versus passive (sun) Duration has increased in range e.g. day trips versus longer trips Direction has increased in variety e.g. local, international, peak and off season trips Destination has increased in variety e.g. enclave, nomadism and resorts Impact e.g. ecotourism versus purpose built resort 3. Social, economic and environmental impacts and issues associated with the growth of tourism Physical Encourages conservation e.g. National Parks Encourages control of pollution, dereliction etc Encourages coastal and river protection Search for and development of new resources e.g. water Economic Creation of employment - easy to enter industry Increased investment in infrastructure - roads, power etc Increased demand for local farm produce (move to cash farming) Demand for craft industries, shops, services etc Earns foreign currency - balance of payments Can lead or focus development due to multiplier effect Social Improved education to meet needs of tourists Improved health services Traditional cultures preserved Restrictive cultures made more liberal Introduces new ideas and expectations 4. Management challenges to ensure sustainability Physical Economic Social Construction destroys natural beauty/habitats Pollution - water, air, noise, litter, sewage Destruction of wildlife (disruption of breeding and taken as souvenirs Water problems - loss of surface and groundwater Resource depletion e.g. building materials, fuel Soil erosion e.g. trampling Increased imports (cost) of food etc Rise in prices e.g. food, land etc Agriculture shifts to commercial so loss of stable food crops Most profits leave area Low paid seasonal part-time and menial jobs Cost - takes money away from other areas/issues Huge drain on power and water supplies Urban coastal sprawl Cost of infrastructure e.g. roads, airport Moral corruption — vice, crime Increased inequalities — ‘them and us’ Loss of traditional culture, language, values Cultural colonialism Year 11 to 12 Bridging work Stepping up from GCSE to A Level study can be both a rewarding and exciting time. However, it is also likely to present you with huge challenges in terms of your subject knowledge and independent learning skills. To help prepare you for this transition the Geography Department would like you to undertake a summer research activity, to be handed in on the first day of the new course in September. We will start with a unit of work on River Environments. As this is a topic you have already covered at GCSE we feel confident that you will be up to the following challenge! The River Tees Case Study Write your own detailed case study of the location and key features of the River Tees (England). You must include: 1. A detailed description of the rivers location (including maps). 2. A description of the different river landforms that can be found along its course e.g. meanders. 3. A photograph of High Force waterfall with labels to describe the characteristics of the rocks and the processes that have led to its formation. 4. A detailed explanation of how High Force waterfall and gorge were formed. 5. A description of the human uses of the Tees valley. This task is an opportunity to show that you are both a good independent learner and a committed Geographer. We look forward to seeing what you are really capable of when working without the support of your GCSE teacher. Developing as an independent learner To further support the development of your independent learning skills we would also like you to get into the habit of watching/reading/listening to the news on a regular basis. In particular the Guardian Newspaper website has a section dedicated to news stories about the ‘environment’, which often have strong links with the six topics we will be studying at AS Level (Rivers, Coasts, Hot Arid and Semi-Arid Environments, Urban Change, Rural Change and Tourism) www.guardian.co.uk/environment