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Urban Flashcards

1
Q

What is urbanisation?

A

Increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas.

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2
Q

Give three reasons why urban areas are important.

A

Three from:
- an incident will impact many people
- economic centres for production and consumption
- centres for political power and decision making
- hubs for social, cultural and educational exchanges
- some have economics larger than some countries, increasing their global power and influence.

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3
Q

What percentage of the global population lives in urban areas?

A

55%

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4
Q

Which three countries will account for 35% of projected growth of the world’s urban population between 2018 and 2050?

A

India, China and Nigeria

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5
Q

Why did HDEs experience rapid urbanisation in the 19th Century?

A

The industrial Revolution

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6
Q

Name the four stages in the cycle of urbanisation.

A

Urbanisation, suburbanisation, counter-urbanisation, urban resurgence

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7
Q

Name the three processes of urban change.

A

Deindustrialisation, decentralisation, rise of service economies

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8
Q

What is a megacity?

A

An urban area with a population of over 10 million people

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9
Q

Name the megacities with the largest population in 2023, and the one expected to be the largest in 2030.

A

Tokyo and Delhi

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10
Q

Name three factors leading to megacity growth.

A

Three from:
* rural to urban migration
* high natural increase
* high fertility rates in LDEs
* widening of urban boundaries
* globalisation and economic growth

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11
Q

How many megacities were there in 2023?

A

34

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12
Q

Give three roles of megacities.

A

Three from:
* dominate regional economies
* home of regional headquarters for TNCs
* regional centres for employment and services
* top of the urban hierarchy influence the global economy

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13
Q

What is a world city?

A

A city that has significant global influence

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14
Q

Which organisation classifies world cities?

A

Global and World Cities Research Network (GaWC)

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15
Q

How many Alpha+ cities are there?

A

7

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16
Q

What four factors affect urban microclimates?

A

Structure and form; human activity; physical location; diurnal/nocturnal temperatures and seasonal changes

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17
Q

A climate dome can effect which atmospheric variables?

A
  • Temperature
  • precipitation
  • relative humidity
  • wind speed and direction
  • air quality and visibility
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18
Q

What is an urban heat island?

A

When the urban area has significantly higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas

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19
Q

What two reasons linked to evaporation contribute to UHI?

A

Less evapotranspiration as there is less vegetation than in rural areas; drainage systems remove water quickly so less heat energy used to evaporate surface water

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20
Q

When are thermal gradients lower?

A

Winter

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21
Q

How much more precipitation do urban areas have than surrounding rural areas?

A

15%

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22
Q

Why does fog in urban areas disperse more slowly during high pressure systems (anticyclones)?

A

Winds are less strong

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23
Q

What is the urban canyon effect?

A

Tall buildings on either side of narrow streets funnelling winds

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24
Q

Name three serious health issues caused by particulate matter.

A

Asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer

25
Name three ways that technology can help to reduce pollution.
Three from: * hybrid electric cars and electric vehicles * solar panels * heat pumps * low emitting stoves and heaters to reduce indoor air pollution
26
Why do urban areas have more rainfall than surrounding rural areas?
Higher air temperatures hold more moisture; more condensation nuclei formed from particulate matter
27
Name three ways in which urban areas alter drainage basin surfaced.
Reduction in vegetation and soil surface cover, increase in impermeable surfaces, replacement of natural streams by underground channels
28
Give two reasons why urban hydrographs are 'flashy'.
Increases peak discharge because higher proportion of rainwater flowing into urban river channels; lag times are reduced
29
Why do flash floods occur in urban areas?
Too much surface water for drainage systems to cope with; debris blocking drainage systems causing overflow; buildings on flood plains
30
What is a catchment area?
The area drained by a river and all its tributaries
31
What is the difference between 'hard engineering' and 'soft engineering' river management?
Hard engineering: constructing and maintaining artificial structures to control rivers. Soft engineering: using the natural environment and natural processes to reduce river flooding.
32
Why do SUDS copy natural drainage systems?
To reduce or slow down surface runoff, reduce flood risk; limit wastewater and sewage flooding during intense rainfall periods; reduce water pollution; replenish groundwater sources; increases green spaces
33
Name two SUDS strategies.
Two from: swales/ infiltration trenches/ permeable surfaces/ balancing ponds and bioretention basins/ green roofs/ greywater capture units
34
How much waste in expected to be generated globally by 2050?
3.4 billion tonnes
35
What are the tree main sources of urban waste?
Industrial, commercial, personal consumption
36
What is Municipal solid waste?
It includes packaging, plastic, food, street and market wate and is found in all three urban waste sources
37
Which category has the largest share of global waste?
Food and green waste (44%)
38
Name three lifestyle factors that influence the global wate stream.
Three from: - HDEs have higher recycling rates than LEDs - Recycling facilities are more accessible in HDEs - Higher proportion of people living in urban areas in HEDs so higher volumes of waste produced - Urban waste contains more wate from manufactured and consumer goods - HDEs have more packaging of ready meals, fast food and processed food to dispose of
39
Do HDEs, EMEs or LDEs have the highest rates of recycling?
HDEs
40
Name five alternative types of waste disposal.
Five from: unregulated/ recycling/ recovery/ incineration/ burial/ submergence/ trade
41
What are the Singapore's incinerations called?
Waste to energy plants
42
Name three gases that contribute to atmospheric pollution.
Three from: - Carbon monoxide - Carbon dioxide - Sulphur dioxide - Nitrogen dioxide
43
What substances are washed from cars into drainage systems?
Rubber, metal and oil
44
What is an Ultra Low Emission Zone?
Vehicle exhaust must meet emission standards or drivers have to pay to use their vehicles within designated areas.
45
What is planning blight?
Delays in plans for redevelopment leaves buildings empty and derelict over time
46
Name one NGO improving water quality and sanitation in urban areas in LDEos.
WaterAid
47
What is sustainable urban development?
Concept of living and working in an urban area without compromising the needs of future generations
48
What is the ecological footprint of an urban area?
The environmental resources necessary to produce its goods and services and manage its waste
49
What are the four dimensions of urban sustainability?
Natural, physical, social, economic
50
Give three elements included in the concept of liveability?
Three from: - Quality of the built environment - Economic prosperity - Social stability and equality - Educational opportunities - Quality of health - Access to local services - Cultural, entertainment and leisure opportunities
51
Are the ecological footprints of cities higher in HDEs or LDEs?
HDEs
52
Why did London's population decline after the Second World War?
Decrease in employment opportunities( deindustrialisation); counter-urbanisation
53
Give two criticisms of London Docklands development.
Lack of affordable housing; lack of appropriate employment opportunities
54
Give an example of a sustainability-led development strategy in London.
BedZED
55
In 2021, what percentage of London's population was born outside the UK?
40%
56
Give two reasons why Mumbai is at risk of flooding.
Two from: - Monsoon climate - Cyclone and tropical storm risks - river drainage patterns - Tsunami risk
57
Name four urban issues faced by Mumbai.
Four from: - Lack of effective sanitation - Overcrowding - Water shortage - Traffic congestion - Air pollution - Wate disposal - Pressure on medical services
58
What did the NGO SPARC do to improve sanitation in Mumbai?
Built 300 community-managed toilet blocks

Geography (6 decks)

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