Physical geography main specification points

Question 1

How can the global distribution of tectonic hazards be explained?

Answer 1

• global distribution of hazards
• distribution of plate boundary’s
• intraplate earthquakes and volcanoes

Question 2

What are the theoretical frameworks to explain plate movement?

Answer 2

• plate tectonic and key elements (earth structures, mantle convection, sea floor spreading ect)
• different plate margins and processes operating at them
• physical processes that impact magnitude and focal depth (Benioff zone)

Question 3

What physical processes explain the cause of tectonic hazards?

Answer 3

• earthquakes waves and secondary hazards
• volcanic secondary hazards
• tsunamis formation

Question 4

How can the occurrence of a disaster be explained?

Answer 4

• hazard risk equation (vulnerability and resilience) Deggs
• PAR model
• social and economic impacts of a tectonic hazard (HIC,LIC and NEE)

Question 5

Why are tectonic hazard profile important to understand hazard impacts, vulnerably and resilience?

Answer 5

• Magnitude and intensity using scales
• comparing characteristics (Magnitude, speed of onset, areal extent, frequency and spatial predictability)
• profiles on the social and economic impacts

Question 6

How is governance important in understanding disaster impact, vulnerability and resilience?

Answer 6

• Inequality to acesse to education, housing, healthcare and income opportunities affecting vulnerability and resilience
• governance affecting geographical factors (pop density, isolation and degree of urbanisation and development)
• compare hazard event to show different

Question 7

How can tectonic hazard trends explain differential impacts?

Answer 7

• trends since 1960
• megadisasters
• multiple hazard zones and hydrometerological hazards

Question 8

How do theoretical frameworks be used to understand the prediction, impact and management?

Answer 8

• prediction and forecasting accuracy
• stages in hazard management
• Parks model showing disaster on different stages of development

Question 9

How can tectonic hazard be managed through mitigation and adaptation?

Answer 9

• modify the event (landuse and hazard resistance buildings, lava diversion)
• modify the vulnerability (monitoring, prediction, education and community preparedness)
• modify the loss (aid and insurance)

Question 10

What is the littoral zone?

Answer 10

• littoral zone
• classification of coasts (long term and short term)
• type of coastlines

Question 11

How does geological structure influence the development of coastal landscapes at a variety of scales?

Answer 11

• concordant vs disconcordant
• coastal morphology (Dalmation, Half, headland and bays)
• Geological structure (jointing, dip, faults) important for erosion and micro features

Question 12

How does lithology affect rates of coastal recession and stability?

Answer 12

• bedrock lithology (type of rock), unconsolidated material
• differential erosion at alternating strata
• vegetation

Question 13

How does marine erosion create distinct coastal landforms and coastal landscapes?

Answer 13

• wave type and how it varies
• erosional processes and influences
• erosional landforms

Question 14

How does sediment transport create distinct landforms and contribute to coastal landscape?

Answer 14

• influence of sediment transport (angle of wave, long shore drift, tides and currents)
• depositional landforms
• sediment cells

Question 15

How do subaerial processes influence coastal landforms and landscapes?

Answer 15

• weathering and types
• mass movement
• mass movement landforms (rotational scars, talus scree slopes and Terrance cliff profiles)

Question 16

How does sea level change influence coasts on different timescales?

Answer 16

• long terms sea level rise eustatic and isostatic
• emergent and submerged coastlines and features
• contemporary sea level rise (global warming and tectonic activity)

Question 17

How does rapid coastal retreat create threats to costal communities?

Answer 17

• causes of coastal recession (physical influenced by human)
• subaerial processes
• influences on rates of erosion

Question 18

How is coastal flooding increasing risk for some coastlines?

Answer 18

• local factors (height of coastline, subsidence, vegetation removal) so increasing sea level increase risk
• storm surge events
• climate change (sea level rise, magnitude of storms)

Question 19

How is increased risk of coastal recession and flooding having serious consequences?

Answer 19

• economic losses and social losses (partially bad in dense coastal development)
• impacts of coast flooding and storm surges
• climate change creating environmental refugees

Question 20

What are the different approaches to managing risk of coastal recession and flooding?

Answer 20

• hard engineering
• soft engineering
• sustainable management

Question 21

How are coastlines managed by ICZM?

Answer 21

• Littoral cells concept to manage coastlines
• Shoreline management policy decisions
• creating conflict

Question 22

Why is the hydrological cycle importance to life on earth?

Answer 22

• the hydrological cycle (closed system)
• the relative importance and size of the water stores and annual fluxes
• the global water budget

Question 23

What is the drainage basin (open system)?

Answer 23

• systems of linked processes and flows (inputs and outputs)
• physical factors in a drainages basin determent he relative importance of inputs, loss and outputs
• human interference

Question 24

How does the hydrological cycle influence water budgets and river systems at a local scale?

Answer 24

• what are water budgets (show annual balance between inputs and outputs)
• river regimes
• storm hydrographs

Question 25

What causes deficits within the hydrological cycle?

Answer 25

• courses of drought (precipitation deficit, ENSO, climate change)
• contribution of human activity (over abstraction)
• impact of droughts on ecosystem functioning (wetland and forest stress)

Question 26

What causes surplus within the hydrological cycle?

Answer 26

• causes of flooding (intense storms, prolonged rainfall, extreme monsoon rainfall and snow melt)
• human action that exacerbate flood risk (changing land use, mismanagement)
• damage from flooding on environment (environmental and socio-economic)

Question 27

How has climate change impacted the hydrological system globally and locally?

Answer 27

• affects inputs and outputs within the hydrological cycle
• affects stores and flows, size of snow and glacier mass, lakes amount go permafrost, soil moistures level and rates of surface runoff and stream flow)
• climate change is due to short term oscillation (ENSO) and creates uncertainties.

Question 28

What are the causes of water insecurity?

Answer 28

• mismatch between supply and demand leading to a global pattern of water stress
• physical causes (climate change, salt water encroachment) and human causes (over-extraction and contamination)
• water in finite and facing pressure from rising demand (increase population, improving living standard and economic development)

Question 29

What are the consequences and risks of water insecurity?

Answer 29

• causes and global pattern of physical water scarcity and economic scarcity and variation in price of water
• importance of water supply fro economic development (industry, energy supply and agriculture), and human wellbeing (sanitation, health and food preparation)
• potential of conflicts both transboundary and local

Question 30

What are the different approaches to managing water?

Answer 30

• tehcnofixes and hard engineering (desalination, water transfer and mega dams)
• sustainable schemes (restoration of supply and water conservation)
• integrated drainage basin management and water sharing treaties