Urbanisation-Urban Climates

Question 1

What is the ‘climatic dome’.

Answer 1

Cities that create their own climate and weather.

Question 2

What is albedo, give an example

Answer 2

The reflectivity of a surface, white surfaces reflect more than dark surfaces so have a greater albedo

Question 3

What is a microclimate

Answer 3

The small-scale variations in temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed and evaporation that occur in a particular environment such as an urban area.

Question 4

What is photochemical smog and how is it caused

Answer 4

A form of air pollution caused by the release of particles and noxious gases into the atmosphere. Emissions of particles can occur naturally but they are largely caused by the combustion of fossil fuels

Question 5

What is temperature inversion and why does it happen

Answer 5

An atmospheric condition on which temperature, unusually, increases with height. As inversions are extremely stable conditions and do not allow convection, they trap pollution in the lower layers of the atmosphere.

Question 6

What is meant by the term urban heat island effect

Answer 6

The zone around and above an urban area, which has higher temperatures than the surrounding rural areas

Question 7

What are sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS)

Answer 7

Sustainable urban drainage systems are an approach to managing rainfall in urban areas, that seek the replicate natural drainage systems by managing it close to where it falls rather than allowing it to flow away down drains

Question 8

Why was the Cheonggyecheon river, Seoul, South Korea restored (3)

Answer 8

1. An agency evaluated the free way unsafe so it had be repaired or removed
2. The government wanted to improve connectivity between the city’s north and south sides which the free way divided
3. There was little green space so would offer space for recreational activities

Question 9

What was done to the Cheonggyecheon river (2)

Answer 9

1. The elevated freeway and concrete deck covering the stream were dismantled.
2. 22 bridges were built to improve movement north to south.

Question 10

What were the attitudes and contributions of parties involved (Cheonggyecheon river) (3 attitudes, 6 contributions)

Answer 10

President Lee Myung Bak wanted to fix river in 2001. People were concerned as motorway would be destroyed causing traffic(169000 vehicles). Local businesses saw the project as an interruption. The president provided extra parking and reduced parking fees, improved loading/unloading systems, promoted businesses, provide support subsidises for business restructures and made special arrangement with those businesses that had to relocate.

Question 11

Evaluate the Cheonggyecheon river projects outcomes (4 big ones with links)

Answer 11

1. Many people have moved to near the river as they are lots of schools, resulting in property prices doubling.
2. Public facilities have been made on the rivers edge increasing tourists, 18.1 million visitors by 2008, Cheonggyecheon museum established celebrating history and reconstruction
3. Businesses have relocated to the river and invested in construction.
4. Speeds in the CBD slowed by 10mph as people slow to look at river on journeys, the removal of cars from this area has reduce the average temperature.