Geography: China and Superpowers Flashcards
What is a biome?
A biome is a large scale ecosystem with distinctive climatic and vegetation characteristics.
Describe Russia’s population distribution.
Russia is sparsely populated in the east due to the extremely cold climate of Siberia. Russia is more densely populated in the west.
What is the purpose of the Three Gorges Dam?
To prevent the flooding of the Yangtze River and to generate electricity (98.1kw in 2012).
What are the positives and negatives of a rapidly urbanising China?
Positives:
The construction industry that fuels the urban growth employs about 27 million
Negatives:
Car ownership exceeds America creating issues with emissions which affect global climate change and air quality
Chinese cities grow so rapidly that many are displaced, heritage is destroyed and countryside has been destroyed (45000sqmiles in 30 years)
How many megacities does China have? Give an example with its population.
China has 15 megacities (e.g - Shanghai with a population of 34 million).
What is the worlds fastest growing megacity?
Guangzhou.
What can the movement of China’s rapidly urbanising population be described as?
Rural - urban migration.
What is the Belt and Road Initiative?
An Asian-European-African continental trade agreement based upon interconnected transportation infrastructure.
Define sustainability.
The ability to provide the needs of the world’s current population without damaging the needs of the future generation.
What environmental problems does China have?
Poor air quality (smog)
High rates of cancer in some towns due to polluted rivers
Water pollution from chemicals used to mine for ores
Loss of biodiversity due to deforestation for farmland and housing
What are the government’s responses to China’s environmental problems?
Emission targets
No car days
No new coal plants
Eco cities
What is an eco city and give an example?
A sustainable and environmentally friendly city (e.g - Dongtan).
What are the benefits and problems with eco cities?
Benefits:
Only renewable energy is used
Zero emission transport
Energy efficient appliances and buildings
Organic vertical farms to supply city
Aim to recover, recycle and reuse 90% of its waste
Problems:
Not economically viable
Affects local environment
Can only hold a limited number of people
Created to improve government image
What are the positives and negatives of the Three Gorges Dam? Name three of each.
Positives:
Protects 1.5 million hectares of farmland and towns
Provides hydroelectric power to millions
Decreases emission of CO2, SO2 and NO
The Yangtze river is now easily navigable for shipping
Less oil usage, more HEP produced
Power generated is enough to support the manufacturing industry in China
Negatives:
Millions displaced to make way for reservoir
Dam has caused many landslides due to the volume of water putting pressure on the surrounding banks
The reservoir behind the dam is heavily polluted and the effects the quality of life
1/3 of fish in the Yangtze River have been killed in the construction of the dam
If the dam collapsed it would be catastrophic for those living in the lower valleys
Some of the most fertile land in China has been flooded to create the dam
Many have been moved to infertile regions that are unable to sustain farming
Define ‘superpowers’.
Countries that are very powerful and have a lot of influence over other countries.
