Geography Paper 1 Case Studies (Natural)

Question 1

Amazon rainforest details

Answer 1

Amazon rainforest details:
-40% of South America’s land mass
-Hot, wet climate
-Dense vegetation
-Diverse biosphere
->10 million insect species + 300 million trees
->Evaporation from Atlantic contributes to high precipitation
->Stores 80-120 gigatons of carbon per year
->Termperatures range between 26-28
->2000mm+ precipitation annually

Question 2

Impacts on the water cycle in the Amazon Rainforest

Answer 2

Impacts on the water cycle in the Amazon Rainforest:
-Evaporation from the Atlantic contrinbutes to high rainfall
-HIgh temp = high evaporation = high precipitation
-Dense canopy -> affected by deforestation -> less interception = more surface runoff = more flooding
>Deforestation (eg for timber) -> 15% less water held in soil -> soil more susceptible to erosion -> higher run-off rates

Question 3

Impacts on the carbon cycle of the Amazon Rainforest

Answer 3

Impacts on the carbon cycle of the Amazon Rainforest:
-Large cabon sink
-CO2 sequestration increases as vegetation uses CO2 -> deforestation releases the CO2 -> climate change + less vegetation
->Slash and burn techniques means water carries ash into ground -> increased carbon in soil and rivers

Question 4

How the impacts on the amazon rainforest are overcome?

Answer 4

How the impacts on the amazon rainforest are overcome:
-Selective logging
-Replanting
-Environmental laws
-Protection
-REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation)
->Norway supports financial aid to not deforest areas
->However, political agendas can overthrow mitigation achievements

Question 5

River Exe Details

Answer 5

River Exe Details:
-Exeter
-Flows 80km of water and has a high drainage density
->Geology = 80% impermeable rock (sandstone)
-Extensive network of tributaries
-Rural, vegetation upper middle course
-Urban lower course
-Wimbleball resevoir and the restoration of peatbog are projects that has affected the water cycle and balance

Question 6

What is the Wimbleball resevoir of River Exe?

Answer 6

Wimbleball resevouir of river exe:
* SA = 150 hectares.
* Supplies water to Exmoor and East Devon.
* Regulates water flow ensuring a constantly steady regime.
* Prevents peaks and troughs of water discharge - reducing flood risk.

Question 7

What is the peatbog rsetoration of River Exe? (Exmoore Mires Project)

Answer 7

Peatbog Restoration of River Exe (Exmoore Mire Project)
1. Increases water content.
2. returns ground to natural saturated, boggy conditions.
3. Helps retain carbon within the peat.
4. Means more water storage in upper catchment.
5. Improves water quality.

Question 8

Sundarbans Details

Answer 8

Sundarbans details:
-Located in Bangladesh
-Consists of mangroves that developed due to scuession as deposition occurs across the bay
-Bengal Bay
-Vegetation low-lying
-3 rivers, including Meghna

Question 9

Threats to the Sundarbans

Answer 9

Threats to the Sundarbans:
-Removal of mangroves -> vulerneable to tropical storms
-Retreating coast
-Increased sea temperature -> increased salinity
->Overfishing
->Emmigration of workers

Question 10

Impacts of threats on Sundarbans

Answer 10

Impacts of threats on Sundarbans
-Reduced agricultural land
-Oveexploitation of fish farming
-Job workers emmigrating

Question 11

Responses to the threats to Sundarbans

Answer 11

Responses to the threats to Sundarbans:
-Establishment of wildlife refuge areas
-Temporary fishing camps
-Ecotourism - wildlife sanctuaries, bengal tigers, economic benefit
-Embankments

Question 12

Sefton Coast Formby Point Case study details

Answer 12

Sefton Coast Formby Point Case study details:
-Sand dune systems
-1920-1970 lost 700m due to periodic stores and high tides (natural hazards - positive feedback)

Question 13

Human and natural threats to Sefton Coast

Answer 13

Human and natural threats to Sefton Coast:
-Natural = periodic storms, high tides
-Human = dredging -> diminishes sediment natural barrier and waves have more energy, hard engineering defences of groynes increase further flooding, offroad vehicles, trampling of dunes

Question 14

Sefton Coast management strategies against the eroded coastline

Answer 14

Sefton Coast management strategies against the eroded coastline: = soft engineering strategies
-beach nourishment
-boardwalk
-signposting
-education + awareness
-control the level of sand extraction
All methods counteract the positive feedback system, restoring the balance to reach negative feedback

Question 15

HeySham + Morecomb case study details

Answer 15

HeySham + Morecomb case study details:
-Lancashire coast
-1989->2018 £80 million coast
-Mixed hard engineering and sustainable methods

Question 16

Heysham and morecomb coastal defences

Answer 16

Heysham and morecomb coastal defences:
-Hold the line
-Repair and strengthening of groynes
-Rock groynes used using local limestone
-Repairing of sea wall

Question 17

Details and vulnerability of Multi-hazardous Environment The Phillipines

Answer 17

Details and vulnerability of Multi-hazardous Environment The Phillipines:
-7,000 islands
-south east asia
-near destructive plate boundary -> phillipine plate subducts under eurasion (continental) plate
-earthquakes, landslides, typhoons, tsunami’s, droughts, floodings
-dense population -> deforestation of upland areas increases flooding and landslide risks
-economic ddeprivation -> poor infrastructure and education
-coastal

Question 18

Japan Tohoku Earthquake details

Answer 18

Japan Tohoku Earthquake details:
-March 2011
-9.0 magnitude
-Pacific + Eurasian plate converges at destructive plate boundary
-Small eathquakes occured after main shock
-Tsunami due to plate uplifting and pressure

Question 19

Impacts of the Japan Tohoku Earthquake

Answer 19

Impacts of the Japan Tohoku Earthquake:
-16,000 died
-300,000 buildings destroyed
-Nuclear Meltdown

Question 20

Primary responses of the Japan Tohoku Earthquake

Answer 20

Primary responses of the Japan Tohoku Earthquake:
-Tsunami warnings
-US military
-Evacuation

Question 21

Secondary responses of the Japan Tohoku earthquake

Answer 21

Secondary responses of the Japan Tohoku earthquake:
-Emergency services
-Government funding
-Earthquake-proof buildings

Question 22

Contrast to the Tohoku Japan Earthquake

Answer 22

Contrast to the Tohoku Japan Earthquake:
-2015 Nepal Earthquake - LIC - less preparation and aid reliant, millions left homeless after

Question 23

Alberta Wildfire

Answer 23

Alberta:
->Located in Canada within the city of Fort McMurray
->2016 May wildfires
->Destroyed 1600 homes and a city-wide evacuation
->£500,000 insurance bill
->Power grid damaged + oil sands halted
->Response: rebuilding funds, financial aid, firefighters from other countries

Question 24

Mt Ontake, Japan - Eruption

Answer 24

->Phreatic eruption (gas-driven explosion) which occured in 2014
->Found along Ring of Fire, at a destructive plate margin
->Composite volcano so there was a dense pyroclastic flow, trapping 250 people along the slope
->50 deaths
->Limited response = difficult to make prediction due to lack of eruption signs. However, 1000 Japanese rescue workers were sent out.