Urbanisation

Question 1

urbanisation definition

Answer 1

the increase in the proportion of the population living in cities

Question 2

urban growth definition

Answer 2

the increase in the total population of a town or city

Question 3

urban expansion

Answer 3

the increase in size or geographical footprint of a city

Question 4

what is counter urbanisation

Answer 4

is the movement of people from large urban areas into smaller urban areas or into rural areas

Question 5

characteristics of reurbanisation

Answer 5

the refurbishment, by more affluent people, of old housing stock in former run down inner-city areas

Question 6

what has allowed suburbanisation to happen

Answer 6

it has been facilitated by the development of transport networks and the increase in ownership of private cars. so people are able to commute to work. the development of the internet also means people can work from home- don’t need to live in cities

Question 7

urban sprawl definition

Answer 7

the physical spread of the urban area. it has been caused by suburbanisation and the desire for lower density housing

Question 8

suburbanisation leads to…

Answer 8

decentralisation (‘doughnut effect’)

Question 9

issues of suburbanisation (environmental and social) using example of ‘Surbiton’

Answer 9

in Surbiton 70% of households own at least one car which can lead to increased congestion on the A3
average selling price is £406,000 compared to UK average of £226,000 (social segregation)
40% of households commute to work

Question 10

how can counter urbanisation create demographic changes in rural areas

Answer 10

in migration of people wanting to retire early and have second homes. also the in migration of married couples with families.
leads to out migration of young village born adults seeking employment elsewhere

Question 11

features of the ‘core’ of a city

Answer 11

central area, where decisions are made, highest economic growth, most jobs, where affluent people live

Question 12

features of the ‘periphary’ of a city

Answer 12

less economic value
less affluent
provide resources
outlying regions

Question 13

megacities have a population over…

Answer 13

10 million

Question 14

example of a megacity

Answer 14

Tokyo

Question 15

what are world cities

Answer 15

these are not necessarily the largest in terms of population but are disproportionately important in terms of global economy

Question 16

example of a world city

Answer 16

London or New York

Question 17

London as a political hub- 3 examples

Answer 17

home to houses of parliament, 10 downing street, etc
Embassies from every country
Home to 33% of European HQs of Global Fortune 500

Question 18

London as a migration hub- 2 examples

Answer 18

nearly a third of the city’s population is from black, Asian or minority ethnic groups
in London over 300 languages are spoken and there are at least 14 different faiths

Question 19

London as a business, transport and trade hub

Answer 19

80% of the business is international
100,000 of flights per month from the airports
over 40% of the world’s foreign equities are traded here

Question 20

When is the urban heat island effect most likely to occur?

Answer 20

On a calm night during an anticyclone when there is less mixing of the air. The high pressure leads to cloudless skies. By contrast rural areas tend to have lower temperatures.

Question 21

What are the characteristics of an area undergoing urban resurgence?

Answer 21

Influx of often younger professionals, higher skilled and educated, occupying older inner city type locations. This is often accompanied by the processes of gentrification.

Question 22

Following a storm, why do urban river discharges often return to normal base flow levels more quickly than rural river discharges?

Answer 22

In urban areas a higher proportion of the precipitation becomes runoff rather than throughflow. This reduces lag time to peak discharge and the return to base flow.