Irish Regions- The Greater Dublin Area Flashcards
What counties are in the GDA?
Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow
List some reasons why the GDA is a focal point?
- Focal point (main + rail networks)
- Financial and government capital
- Well drained low land area +soils+ sheltered harbours
- High population density
- Young educated workforce
- Fast growing region
What climate dominates Ireland + GDA?
Cool Temperature Oceanic
How much rainfall does the GDA receive each year?
750mm per year
Higher in Wicklow mountains- relief rainfall
What is the average temperatures of the GDA?
5-15 degrees
What is the relief like in the GDA?
Low lying, gently sloping (Meath, Kildare, Dublin)
However, Dublin/Wickow mountains hinder further development in
Describe the drainage of the GDA?
- Liffey dominates much of Dublin and Kildare.
- Other rivers include the Boyne, Nanny, Blackwater and Dargle
Describe the GDA’s soils?
- Fertile brown earth soils
- Mixed with glacial blouder
- Rivers provide rich alluvium each year- land perfect for agriculture
What primary economic activities take place in the GDA?
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Fishing
How many people work in agriculture in the GDA?
Only 3% of the population of the GDA is employed in agriculture
Describe agriculture in the GDA.
- Highly productive and specialised
- Those in sector earn incomes 40% higher than national average
- Commercial and intensive- high yields + maximum output
What physical factors affect agriculture in the GDA?
- Climate
- Relief
- Soils
Describe how climate affects agriculture in the GDA.
- Summer 16 degrees, 2 hours more sunshine than West
- Warmer temperatures + low levels of rainfall- means longer growing season (280 days)
- Rare frosts- reduces damage to crops
Describe how relief affects agriculture in the GDA.
- Lowlands are not exposed to high winds and the soil temperatures are warmer
- Exception Dublin/Wicklow mountains
Describe how soils affect agriculture in the GDA.
- Highly fertile brown earth soils for intensive farming of arable crops
- Soils are stone less and easily worked, less labour intensive
What human factors affect agriculture in the GDA?
- Commercial nature, no abandonment of farms/ outdated methods
- Well educated farmers in GDA
- Younger, average 37
- Larger farms, more mechanised
- Food processing larger scale
- Large market, Dublin City
Describe forestry in the GDA.
Wicklow has more land under forestry than Kildare, Meath and Dublin combined.
-Wicklow Mts. have thin acidic soil, unable to support crops
Describe fishing in the GDA.
- Once important, now declined
- 2% of Ireland’s catch is landed in GDA, down from 35% in 1960
- Irish sea is more polluted than Atlantic
- Shellfish farming not as production, concern as 40% of Ireland’s exported prawns come from the Dublin Bay Area