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A level Human Geography > Urban Environments > Flashcards

Urban Environments Flashcards

1
Q

Urbanisation

A

When the percentage of the population living in urban areas in a country increases.

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2
Q

Urban growth

A

When the overall number of people living in urban areas increases.

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3
Q

Urban expansion (urban sprawl)

A

When the size of one town or city increases.

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4
Q

Push factors

A

Reasons for people leaving an area. e.g food shortages, land shortages, poor infrastructure, crime, drought, natural hazards,

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5
Q

Pull factors

A

Reasons for people going to an area. e.g employment, better education and infrastructure, less crime.

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6
Q

Rural to urban migration

A

People moving from a rural area to an urban area.

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7
Q

Flow chart for the causes of urban growth

A

1) Young people migrate to cities
2) Big cities tend to have better universities.
3) Jobs for uni graduates tend to pay more
4) Young people stay living in the city after uni in their 20s
5) People in their 20s are at a fertile age and have children
6) So the birth rate in cities is higher than rural areas.

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8
Q

Effects of urban sprawl

A

-Increased traffic and pollution
-Decreased biodiversity
-Loss of farmland
-Increased flood risk
-Decline in the CBD

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9
Q

Millionaire City

A

A city with at least one million people

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10
Q

Mega city

A

A city with at least 10 million people

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11
Q

Meta city

A

A city with 20 million people

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12
Q

Conurbation

A

A large settlement when nearby towns or cities spread out and merge together

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13
Q

World city

A

A city which has a great influence on a global scale because a financial status. The main 3 are New York, London, and Tokyo.

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14
Q

What makes a city a world city?

A

Political hub
Landmarks
Economic/ business hub
Technology
Education

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15
Q

5 Levels of world cities

A

Alpha ++ e.g London
Alpha + e.g Dubai
Alpha and Alpha - e.g Madrid
Beta e.g Cairo
Gamma e.g Bristol

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16
Q

Why is London a world city?

A
  • Capital city
  • Leading financial centre
  • Largest airport in the world
  • Diverse population (over 300 languages spoken)
  • Landmarks
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17
Q

Suburbanisation

A

When people move to the edges of a city

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18
Q

Examples of London Suburbs

A

Twickenham
Wimbledon
Ealing

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19
Q

Positives of suburbanisation

A

-Increase opportunity to create parks and open spaces
-More spacious housing
-Less need for high density housing
-Council gets more tax
-Increase in offices, shops and business parks at the edge of town
-Increase in golf clubs and gyms
-People can work from home and not need to live in city centre.

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20
Q

Negatives of Suburbanisation

A

-Decline of inner city shops and businesses
-The city increases in size and builds on greenfield land
-Increases commuting by car
-Greater divide cultures and lower income groups in the community
-Buildings in the inner city are left vacant
-The areas can look similar and lack diversity.

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21
Q

Counter-Urbanisation

A

When people move from a large town or city to a small town or village.

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22
Q

Reasons for counter urbanisation

A
  • Safer environment for children - less crime / traffic
  • Cleaner air due to less traffic p
  • Less crowded schools meaning better education
  • More Leisure activities, walking etc
  • More space allowing for bigger and cheaper housing
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23
Q

Modifications in counter urbanised village

A

When houses have extensions or improvements

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24
Q

Accretions in counter urbanised villages

A

The areas of a village that have grown gradually over time

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25
Q

Adjustments in counter urbanised villages

A

Newer parts of the village added to the original core

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26
Q

Isolates in counter urbanised village

A

Individual housing apart from the main village

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27
Q

Ribbon developments in counter urbanised villages

A

A line of housing, extending along a main road out of a village, with fields on the land behind it

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28
Q

In-fills in counter urbanised villages

A

When there is a gap between houses. Usually on a small park or big garden. The Land can fit 1 or 2 houses on it.

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29
Q

Counter urbanisation in St. Ives, Cambridgeshire. (Case study)

A

-Rising cost of properties
-More commuters on higher incomes
-Locals work on lower wages. E.g on farms
-Increased demand for luxury apartments
-More retirement homes
-More building in green field land.

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30
Q

Urban resurgence

A

The regeneration of an urban area. Especially cities in UK cities where often they had declined in the 1970s and 80s.

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31
Q

De-industrialisation

A

The decline in the proportion of jobs in manufacturing and factory work in an area.

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32
Q

Features of modern CBDs

A

Pedestrianised streets
Restoration of historic CBD buildings
Indoor shopping malls
Weekly street markets / food festivals
More street lighting
More bins
Increase public transport
CCTV
Trees and / or flowers on high street
More street furniture (benches, outside tables etc)

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33
Q

Manufacturing

A

Making something on a large scale using machinery

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34
Q

Deindustrialisation

A

The decrease of a country’s manufacturing (mostly in HiCs)

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35
Q

Automation

A

The increased use of robotics in factories

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36
Q

Globalisation

A

The links that business and people have to other countries. e.g Products made in China

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37
Q

Effects of Deindustrialisation

A
  • Factories and buildings become derelict, leading also to vandalism
  • Loss of jobs, so decreased local economy
  • Less taxes payed to government by businesses
  • Shops closing as people have less money to spend
  • More vandalism in an area makes it less attractive to potential housebuyers or investors.
  • Can also lead to a negative multiplier effect
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38
Q

Decentralisation

A

The relocation of shops, offices, etc away from the CBD to retail parks or business parks at the edges.

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39
Q

Service economy

A

The increased % of people working in ‘service’ or ‘tertiary’ jobs such as offices, shops, laboratories etc..

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40
Q

Pull factors of decentralisation for businesses

A
  • Cheaper land
  • More space
  • Less traffic - more foot traffic
  • More green space
  • Less densely packed
  • Safer environment
  • Nearer to customers
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41
Q

Reasons for service economy

A
  • Big companies demand more IT staff, marketing, website design etc..
  • Old factories being bought by service companies to be renovated
  • More people taking ‘STEM’ subjects at school meaning more people are qualified for service jobs
  • Increased number of airports and roads in HIC cities will help service businesses because access to goods, services and customers is easier.
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42
Q

Characteristics of a post modern western city

A
  • No traditional CBD
    -Diverse population
  • Architecture style is a mix of old and modern
  • Jobs are mostly service jobs
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43
Q

Economic inequality

A

The difference in the levels of living students between different groups in a society (gap between rich and poor)

44
Q

Social segregation

A

When a group of people ( such as immigrants ) choose to live with people similar to them

45
Q

Cultural diversity

A

A variety of cultural groups within a place

46
Q

Why do migrants groups tend to live in certain areas

A
  • Language
  • Religious buildings / places of worship
  • Familiar food / culture
  • Cheaper housing
  • Jobs available that don’t require language
  • Politicians with similar back grounds
  • Family / friends in that area
  • Safety away from racism
47
Q

Post Modern Western city

A
  • No traditional CBD
  • Diverse population
  • Architecture styles mix of old and modern
  • Jobs are mostly service jobs
  • Example: Las Vegas, USA
48
Q

Fortress development

A
  • Defensible spaces that create boundaries and often lead to an increase polarisation of a society.
    + Little Traffic
    + Can lead to urban regeneration
    + Privacy
  • Expensive
  • Located near poor areas which can lead to higher crime rates
  • Creates paranoia of life outside the gates
  • Denies poor people access to green spaces
49
Q

Cultural / heritage quarter

A
  • Areas Of cultural or historic significance / attraction
  • Example : Cardiff bay or Soho

+ Stimulates new commercial, tourist and leisure developments
+ Regenerates run down areas
+ Creates jobs ans houses
+ Leads to improved services

50
Q

Edge city

A
  • Areas at the edge of city with offices, shops, etc…
  • Example: Bunkers hill east of Lincoln

+ Cheaper land
+ Faster internet and higher quality of life for employees (good for TNCs)
+ lots of leisure available

  • Built of green field land
  • No local indépendant shops
  • Relies on cars
51
Q

Gentrified areas

A

A form of inner city regeneration
Usually includes the movement of affluent usually young, middle class people into traditionally run down areas
Example: Oxford

  • Can make the established working class feel alienated
  • Houses become more expensive

+ Local services upgraded
+ Regenerates area

52
Q

Urban form

A

The physical characteristics of a town or city. Includes things such as a city’s shape, size, population density, or layout. The urban form of a city can change over time

53
Q

Urban decline

A

The deterioration of the inner city often caused by lack of investment. It leads to a drop in population and a rise in unemployment

54
Q

Deprivation

A

When a persons quality of life is below the minimum for Britain today (60% of the median income)

55
Q

Factors that affect quality of life

A
  • Health (diet, disease, access to healthcare etc)
  • Environment (litter, pollution)
  • Education
  • Employment (income)
  • Crime
  • Quality if housing
  • Shops / services
56
Q

Patterns of deprivation in the UK

A
  • More deprived in the North on average, mostly in big cities.
  • The coast also has significant levels of deprivation in some areas
  • The least deprived areas are in Southern - central areas, for example, Bristol
57
Q

Urban regeneration

A

The improvement of an area, usually with money invested by the government and businesses.

58
Q

City Challenge Scheme

A

A project to regenerate UK cities in the 1990s. It came after London Docklands project started and included places like Manchester and Liverpool.

59
Q

Advantage of city challenge schemes.

A

They worked with local people to ask them what they wanted building, and it had more affordable houses

60
Q

Disadvantages of city challenge schemes

A

The amount of money the government gave was small, as cities had to compete for funding.

61
Q

The urban heat island effect

A

When urban areas experiences higher temperatures than the surrounding rural areas

62
Q

Albedo

A

The reflectiveness of a surface. The lighter the colour, the more reflective of heat/light. The darker, the more absorbant.

63
Q

Thermal gradient

A

The change in temperature from CBD out towards the suburbs and rural areas

64
Q

Negatives of urban heat islands

A
  • Health issues e.g asthma
  • Problems sleeping at night
  • More energy used for air conditioning
  • Vegetation maybe be killed, or the natural growth cycle may be disturbed
  • Thermal expansion damaging buildings (weathering)
  • Increased risk of wild fires
65
Q

Ways of reducing urban heat island

A
  • Planting trees
  • Roof gardens
  • Painting roofs white
66
Q

Fog

A

A thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earths surface

67
Q

Mist

A

A light fog

68
Q

Smog

A

A mixture of fog and smoke from burning fossil fuels

69
Q

Photochemical smog

A

When pollution comes from cars (rather than factories), the smog mixes with sunlight and creates other harmful chemicals.

70
Q

Negative effects of air pollution / smog

A
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Eye irritation
  • Acid rain
  • Global warming
  • Poor visibility causing car accidents
71
Q

What is the ULEZ

A

The ultra low emission zone. A policy in London that charges cars to enter the zone depending on how many emissions they release.

72
Q

Advantages of ULEZ

A

Reduces air pollution in London, by a predicted 45%

73
Q

Disadvantages of the ULEZ

A

Small business owners are concerned over the extra costs

74
Q

Urban wind canyon

A

When there are narrow streets that have tall buildings either side, so it concentrates the wind

75
Q

Venturi effect

A

A violent gust of wind formed in a narrow gap. The air rushes in to a low pressure area, creating an eddy current on the ‘lee side’ (sheltered side) of the building.

76
Q

How are urban town planners designing cities to reduce the urban wind canyon and Venturi effect?

A

They are varying the height and space between buildings to reduce the effects.

77
Q

6 steps to the formation of lightning in urban areas

A

1) Urban areas have a lot of pollutant emitting buildings
2) The buildings radiate heat and give out pollution
3) The hot air and pullulant particles rise during the day
4) The air cools, condenses around the nuclei in clouds by the afternoon and evening
5) the rapid rise and cooling of air creates friction and induces a charge in the droplets
6) The charge is discharged into the earth and lightning happens

78
Q

Cloud condensation nuclei (CNN)

A

Particles in the air that help make clouds

79
Q

Dew point

A

When water vapour reaches a certain temperature and it condenses into rain

80
Q

Interception

A

When raindrops land on leaves on trees

81
Q

Impermeable

A

When the ground surface does not allow water to soak in

82
Q

Surface run off

A

When water flows over land and does not soak in

83
Q

Infiltration

A

When water soaks down in to the layers of soil and rock

84
Q

Inputs in the water cycle

A

When water enters the system

85
Q

Outputs of the water cycles

A

When water leaves the system

86
Q

Stores in the water system

A

When water is kept for an extended period of time

87
Q

Flows in the water cycles

A

When water moves from one store to another

88
Q

Why do LICs suffer the worse from pollution?

A

They are more vulnerable to drought and food shortages

89
Q

Hard engineering

A

Ways to manage water drainage by building structures to control flow of water. They can be costly and require maintenance

90
Q

Soft engineering

A

Ways to manage drainage by adapting to the natural processes. They tend to be more affordable and sustainable long term.

91
Q

What are SuDS?

A

Sustainable drainage systems. Using natural processes to reduce flooding, and provide something for the community that improves the look of the area. They sometimes mix hard and soft engineering.

92
Q

What are Swales?

A

Shallow, broad and vegetated channels designed to store or convert runoff and remove pollutants.

93
Q

What are permeable surfaces?

A

Allow water to infiltrate across the entire surface by having lots of small holes on the surface.

94
Q

What are green roofs?

A

Covering the roof of a building with vegetation. They are designed to intercept and retain precipitation, reducing surface run off

95
Q

What are bio retention areas?

A

Shallow landscaped depression which have vegetation and filtration to remove pollution and reduce runoff downstream

96
Q

What are rain gardens?

A

Relatively small depressions in the ground that can act as infiltration points for water, usually running from roofs and gutters

97
Q

What are retention ponds?

A

Large pits in the ground
Provide both storm water reduction and treatment.

98
Q

River restoration

A

When all hard engineering is removed from a river and it is restored to its natural state - with meanders, vegetation, and habitats.

99
Q

Channelisation

A

When a river is put inside a straight, man made channel.

100
Q

Water pollution

A

The contamination of water (lakes, rivers, ground water, etc) by pollutants that have not been treated to remove harmful compounds.

101
Q

Algae blooms

A

Surface run off from farming fields contains fertiliser, which enters bodies of water.
This causes a rapid growth in algae, which starves the water of oxygen and kills wildlife

102
Q

What does low impact development involve (water pollution management)

A

The use of vegetation and permeable surface to reduce surface runoff directly into sewers.
The soil filters rainfall of pollutants by 90% rather than directly going into sewers.

103
Q

How does legislation help with water quality management?

A

Incentive based approaches that charges companies for how much pollution they release.
Factories are only allowed to release a certain amount of pollutants

104
Q

What did they do in 2014 to help with water quality management?

A

Wessex water used mobile billboards to get behind a campaign encouraging people to bin wet wipes rather than flushing them

105
Q

Appropriate technology definition

A

Any device that is suited to the needs, skills and wealth, of the people who live in a local area.

106
Q

How does the omniprocessor work?

A

Boils raw sewage, separating water vapour from solids. Solids are burnt which produced steam, spinning turbines to generate electricity. The electricity is used to power itself and the local community.

A level Human Geography (10 decks)

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