Urban- Santiago

Question 1

Where is Santiago?

Answer 1

South America

Question 2

What is the population of Santiago?

Answer 2

5.43 million

Question 3

Size in comparison to south america…

Answer 3

Seventh largest city in South America

Question 4

What percentage of Chile’s Urban population does Santiago account for?

Answer 4

Santiago accounts for 42% of Chile’s Urban Population

Question 5

Describe Santiago’s population trend in the last 50 years.

Answer 5

Santiago’s population has increased rapidly in the last 50 years. It has increased at a rate twice as fast as the national average.

Question 6

State one issue with a rapidly growing population…

Answer 6

Huge pressures on physical environment

Question 7

Describe atmospheric pollution in Santiago…

Answer 7

Most atmospheric pollution in Santiago, pollution levels exceed safe limits set by The World Health Organisation (WHO).

Question 8

Name the two main causes of atmospheric pollution…

Answer 8

1) motor vehicles

2) industry (smelters and power plants)

Question 9

What are the main pollutants? (atmospheric pollution)

Answer 9

Nitrous oxides, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Question 10

What percentage of all nitrous oxides emitted in Santiago do motor vehicles emit?

Answer 10

75%

Question 11

Why is atmospheric pollution aggravated in Santiago?

Answer 11

1) LOCATION- Santiago located in a broad valley, surrounded by the Andes (East) and Coastal ranges (west).
2) WINTER MONTHS- cold air sinks into central valley from surrounding mountains, warms air is displaced above forming a temperature inversion. Pollutants are trapped near surface and form a vast pollution dome over city.
3) DISPERSAL OF POLLUTION LIMITED- light winds and dry climate

Question 12

Figures for average car ownership…

Answer 12

-320 cars per 1000 per household in 1977
INCREASED TO
-560 cars per 1000 per household on 2001

In the same period, car ownership increased by 69%.
Average lengths of trips increased too.

Question 13

Problems with public transport….

Answer 13

• highly polluting buses

- 11,000 diesel buses

Question 14

State 4 impacts of a increasing population…

Answer 14

1) Affects the health off santiago’s inhabitants and their qual of life.
2) Water pollution e.g.. heavy metals known to cause neurological damage and cancer.
3) traffic congestion
4) more accidents with buses

Question 15

What is the river called which runs through Santiago?

Answer 15

Mapocho River (flows from the Andes through downtown Santiago)

Question 16

What is the main issues with the river?

Answer 16

1) should be an environmental attraction, instead, it is an open sewer contaminated by sewage and a cocktail of chemicals
2) High levels of coliform bacteria and hazardous chemicals (lead and copper) released by industry

Question 17

Between what dates did Santiago’s public transport system begin to deteriorate?

Answer 17

1981 and 2001

Question 18

Figures for private car ownership and public transport between 1981 and 2001…

Answer 18

Increased from 18% to 38%, whilst public transport decreased from 60% to 42%

Question 19

Name one major cause of congestion associated with public transport…

Answer 19

An inefficient bus system is a major cause of congestion.

Question 20

3 issues with bus system…

Answer 20

1) drivers work on commission so rush to pick up people-careless about safety
2) in 2002 over 25% of accidents in Santiago involved buses
3) oversupply of public transport during off-peak hours so increases congestion

Question 21

Name 2 ways Santiago plans to tackle the issue of water pollution…

Answer 21

1) Plans for $300 million water clean up (domestic sewage and waste from industry will be discharged into river downstream of Santiago)
2) will make it into an environmental attraction

Question 22

What does The Government’s Transport plan aim to do?

Answer 22

Improve the quality of life, provide better traffic flows, reduce inequalities.

Question 23

Name 6 ways The Government’s Transport action plan aims to reduce inequalities in Santiago…

Answer 23

1) improving air quality through reduced emissions of air pollutants
2) coordination of land-use and transport policies to reduce average trip lengths
3) reform of the public bus system
4) expansion of the metro system (more extensive)
5) improving access to public transport
6) have made bus lanes to reduce accidents

Question 24

Give another way Sanitago are trying to manage congestion?

Answer 24

Minimal toll booths on roads to allow free flow of traffic across city in 30 mins

Question 25

What has been the response to public transport improvements?

Answer 25

Bus occupancy rates have increased and particulate pollution has fallen by 14%

Question 26

What does Santiago plan to do in the future? Give three points…

Answer 26

1) more sustainable and less polluting forms of transport (plans to build 40km of cycle lanes)
2) further encourage the use of public transport
3) road pricing to help to reduce traffic volumes and generate finance for transport improvements