Geography Case Studies IGCSE/GCSE
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Transcript of Geography Case Studies IGCSE/GCSE
Case Studies v2GEOGRAPHY CIE IGCSE
By Theo DickAided by Alex Haji and Nick Gwynne Edited by Ethan Sarif-Kattan
Namibia – Sparse and Dense PopulationBackground
LEDC in Southern Africa split into various regions Population of 2.5 million 825,000 km2
Sparse Population e.g. Karas & Hardap regions density under 5 people per km2 – Causes
Desert Regions – not enough rain for crops, land is too dry so hard to build on Mountainous land – hard to build on steep surfaces, limited transport Lack of jobs – people move to areas where jobs available Lots of land is prone to flooding – limited space to live
Dense Population e.g. Oshana & Ohangwena regions density over 15 people per km 2 – Causes
Not in desert – easy to build on land and grow crops Diamond areas – attracts people as jobs for mining e.g. 3% of population employed here More transport links – easy to commute for work and visit regions Better access to shops – people not put off by idea of walking miles for water Fertile soil for farming – attracts farmers to live in region Near coast for exports – business and job opportunities Services available – schools and hospitals of better quality available
Niger – Population explosionBackground
Landlocked LEDC in West Africa One of world’s poorest countries Hot and dry climate Population increased by 12 million in 50 years
Causes – High birth rates Highest fertility rate – 7.1 births per women 2.9% growth rate Preference for a male child – keep having children until male Lack of contraception – many unplanned or unwanted babies More children available to help work on farms Religious beliefs – abortion is wrong Ensures protection against high infant mortality rate
Causes – Decreasing death rates Life expectancy increased to 44.3 years Clean water and improved diet – lower deaths by diseases and lower infant mortality More hospitals – medical care and testing for disease Government want to increase family planning from 5-20% by 2015, educate women and
religious leaders on its importance, and raise marriage age from 15-18.
Nigeria - OverpopulationBackground
170 million people 70% live on less than $1 a day920,000 km2
Impacts of overpopulation
Not enough housing - e.g. Abuja High crime rates Pollution - litter and no proper sewage system Shortage of food and water - 28% of children underweight Not enough health care and education Congested roads - e.g. Lagos
Australia - UnderpopulationBackground
23 million people 7.7 million km2
6th largest nation
Impacts of underpopulation
Vast open spaces – e.g. town of Perth Foreign immigrant – threatens native population War – less army so worse defence Desertification – few people to cultivate land Less workers – both skilled and unskilled Public transport might close – e.g. Canberra Schools and hospitals might close
China – Anti-Natalist Government policyBackground
1.4 billion people – worlds highest population Population was 830 million in 1980
Causes
1960’s – 1970’s, Chairman Mao of the communist government condemned birth control and banned imports of contraceptives
He wanted to strengthen China and its army He then realised he could not provide food and jobs to entire population
Consequences
The one child policy was introduced in 1979, forcing abortions and sterilisation and fining families thousands of dollars, this prevented 250 million births
Originally the officials pushed the slogan ‘later, longer, fewer’; the population growth dropped by half from 1970-76 but then levelled off, officials wanted more drastic measures
Massive gender imbalance – 32 million more boys than girls In 2007, there were six working age adults to every retiree, but in 2040, it is predicted to reach 2:1 (too
few children to care for them, elderlies will suffer neglect) Contraception was made more available Increase in health care meant that abortions were used more 1.7 children now per women Population growth dropped from 2.4% to 1%
Russia – Falling Birth Rate & HIV/AIDSBackground
Population projected to decline from 143 million to 111 million by 2050 17 million km2
Causes
High death rate and low birth rate Low immigration Many emigrants to Western Europe Life expectancy was 65 in 2004 Male life expectancy is 59 - related to alcoholism Women do not want more children 1.1% of adults aged 15-49 have AIDS (more than 1 million people) 1.1 fertility rate
Italy – Ageing PopulationBackground
Dying Italian village – Vastogirardi Mayor has decided to tax singles in hope this will lead to more children In last 30 years, population has dropped from 3,000 to 823 Baby crisis - few people wanting to have children, population decreasing, low birth rate of 1.2
children per woman, ageing population
Causes
Developing country - more self-sufficient Education - more people want careers ‘Mammoni’ - bachelors living with parents
Impact
Loss of commerce - no bank, plumber, shoemaker, priest Increase tax for those not wanting kids 3 :1 funerals to weddings No schools or secondary school People have become self-sufficient Increased dependency ratio
Uganda – Youthful populationBackground
7 fertility rate Half the population is under 15 38 million population Fastest growing country in the world Only 1 in 5 have access to contraception 30% illiteracy rate
Impacts
Increased competition for scarce resources, land and conflict is likely to increase Government doesn’t see it as a problem, they see it as their biggest resource Cost of contraception is not the problem, the problem is access – a lack of clinics in most parts
and need an economic boost to prioritise schemes in order to lower fertility rate More money has been put into health and education Child care must be provided so that parents can work
Rio di Janerio – Internal Rural to Urban MigrationBackground
BRIC country 200 million people Recently held world cup
Causes – Push factors – from rural
Drug gangs have occupied 20 slums/favela Deadly gunfights Unreliable rainfall Poor education Wealth inequality Malaria Poor soil for farming Lack of materials
Causes – Pull factors – to urban
Higher wages and more jobs Provision of water, electricity Good education Urban areas have better population control Protection from conflict
Favelas in Rio – Types of housingBackground
Rio is the largest city in Brazil Over 1 million people live in Rio’s favelas
Problems
Landslides caused by deforestation Risk of eviction - land built on is illegally occupied No proper electricity connections Housing vulnerable to flooding No clean water supply – leads to diseases No toilets, showers, or proper sewer systems No proper rubbish collections
Consequences
High unemployment, Crime rates increase - gangs, drugs, murders Self-help schemes have now been introduced - residents given ownership and materials provided by government, local labour is used and they learn new skills)
Advantages of self-help schemes – local
Improved housing Legal ownership of their house/land Better water supply and sewers Reliable electricity supply Locals health should improve
Advantages to self help schemes – government
Residents now paying taxes Less health problems for government to pay for Crime rates reducing Labour is free
Poland to UK – International & voluntary migrationBackground
Poland has one of the highest unemployment rates out of EU countries 62% of the 600,000 EU migrants to UK were polish in 2004 This is because EU permits free immigration to other EU countries UK attracts Poland because of high average income and low unemployment
Advantages – UK
Jobs filled that UK workers don’t want Can pay lower wages to them Polish workers will work for longer hours More money spent on local economy form increased population
Disadvantages – UK
Few unskilled jobs available for UK workers Polish may return to Poland once they’ve made money – leaves gap in workforce Anti-immigration issues and racism Strain on services such as hospitals and schools
Advantages - Poland
Job opportunity with better pay Save up money to return to Poland Chance to earn money to send back home
Disadvantages – Poland
Family left behind in Poland Hostility encounter in UK Language difficulties Struggle to find housing Cost of moving is high
Iraq – Forced Migration Background
American invaded in 2003 2.5 million have emigrated mainly to Syria and Jordan 33 million population
Causes – Push factors
Religious persecution Safety concerns No education Loss of housing, jobs, money Famines and drought, food shortages, diseases Political persecution Isis
Problems of receiving country
Cost of maintaining new population – food, education Pollution and racial tension Unemployment increase
Stevenage, UK– housing shortages Background
Demand for housing 210,000 but only 154,000 are being built Area of 26 km2 84,000 population
Causes
More divorces – more singles needing houses Leave home younger Migrants are single Married later Old people living on their own Some houses are uninhabitable
Impacts
Rising homelessness Soaring house prices
Solutions
New town – planned urban centre with government sponsorship Abercrombie plan – Victorian houses replaced by apartment blocks Stevenage is now more attractive to businesses
London – CBD & Traffic Congestion Background
9.8 million population
Causes
Increase in car usage Limited amount of public transport usage Many roads not designed for cars - for horses Population growth – more cars Movement of lorries and containers onto lorries stops traffic
Impacts
Social – pollution causes disease e.g. asthma, leaving home earlier, more frequent road deaths and accidents Environmental – air and noise pollution destroys wildlife and leads to acid rain, more roads destroys green areas, Economic – roads are expensive to maintain and build, longer deliveries from lorries costs money, workers are late to work, reliance on
oil for transport
Solutions
Congestion charge - £12 Public transport Transport for London improved and increased Trams and underground extension Pedestrianized areas – discourage car use Websites to encourage car sharing Car tax, bus lanes, park and ride (parking near public transport) Barclays bikes Reurbanisation – people encourages to move closer to CBD so less car usage
Urban Sprawl – Atlanta Background
5.1 million population Fastest growing city in the USA
Impacts
Hotlanta - Deforestation increases temperature as more CO2 in atmosphere
Agricultural land filled with shops and other developments Traffic Congestion – 90% drive to work, air pollution Water contamination with pollutants and litter Flash floods for impermeable surfaces such as roads and concrete Cultural loss – Atlanta well known for battlefields Black and poor population stay in poorer areas in south, north has
more middle class and whites
Cairo – Urbanisation Background
Largest city in Middle East 9 million population Capital of Egypt
Problems
Lack of housing – 80% of Cairo filled with illegal self-built homes, 2.3 million set up homes near tombs, 500,000 people live in homemade huts
Traffic congestion – 1 million cars a day Lack of Jobs – unskilled jobs hard to find, graduates get government jobs on low salaries Pollution – cars and fumes from homes and factories, leaking sewers pollute water courses
Solutions
New satellite/dormitory town built around the city e.g. Tanta Ring road built around city - goes through Abbasyia People with donkey carts licensed to collect and recycle garbage Better waste water project, extended and repaired sewage systems Modern metro built Homes and public services upgraded in most run down part of the city
Baltimore, USA – Urban redevelopmentBackground
620,000 population 240 km2
Largest city in Maryland
Problems
Less demand for manufacturing and shipbuilding industries meant, in the 1970s, it declined in importance
Run down land and abandoned warehouses
Solutions
100 hectares of run down land made into a mix of business - retail, recreational, housing Development of modern, urban, retail complex - previous power plants turned into a retail
leisure building National aquarium built Investors attracted to Baltimore due proximity to Washington DC - 45 minutes by train, over
30 trains to Washington a day on the Baltimore-Washington expressway Cost of living has decreased but standard of living has increased
Chaiten, Chile – Volcano eruptionBackground
Small, cauldron-like volcano which erupted in May 2008 Locate in Chaiten, Southern Chile and Argentina, South America Oceanic to continental margin (destructive margin), denser Nazca
plate subducted under the less dense continental South America plate
Impacts
Social – 4000 evacuated, 8,000 fled, only 200 returned Economic – No water or electricity, 85% of town damaged Environmental – Ash blocked rivers, forest fires
Christchurch – MEDC earthquakeBackground
7.1 magnitude earthquake in South Island of New Zealand 4:35 am on 4th September 2010 New Zealand GDP of $115.3 billion Country has some of world’s top experts in earthquake engineering
Impacts
Two residents seriously injured, one died of heart attack,100 people treated for minor bumps and bruises Powers out in northwest of city (area called the ‘Groynes’), water and sewage affected in several regions 86 staff of supermarket lost their jobs Up to 500 homes badly damaged Government will pay workers ($7.5m to social services) Government says it will cost $4bn (NZ has about 100-150 earthquakes a year) Fatalities avoided due to strict building codes Building standards, materials used, quality of construction Construct used ductile materials (light timber frames) Earthquake commission checked buildings were safe National crisis management centre was quick Ordinary people helped rescue others Long term – red Cross helped and $900 billion in building claims, sewage restored
Haiti – LEDC earthquakeBackground
Tuesday, 12 January 2010 - magnitude 7 earthquake Poorest country in the Western hemisphere Struck Haiti’s most populated area (Port au Prince – Capital)
Impacts 3 million people affected - 230k died, 300k injured, 1m homeless 2/3 population (9million) unemployed Roads blocked with debris 4,000 inmates escaped 1 in 5 lost jobs Looting and crime due to slow distribution of resources
Recovery
Short term - $100 million by USA, 800,000 in Aid camps, lack of aid due to poor plan Long term – 98% rubble remains, 1 million with no housed, water sanitation for 2 million
Mozambique - RiversBackground
9th Feb – 27th Feb 2000 40 million population Zambezi was 2.5 m over flood level
Hazards
Destroy infrastructure Death Destroy services Disease Damage to field Damage to communication
Opportunities Fertile land (alluvium) LEDCs make money from subsistence farming Water for irrigation Transport - Travel by boat along river Flat land for building River source of fish (food)
Impacts
Social – 180,000 fled, 81 dead, 150,000 in danger from starvation, 23,000 lost everything they had Economic – Roads and bridges destroyed, transport links cut off Environmental – 7,000 trapped in trees
Great Barrier Reef – Coasts & tourismBackground
Great Barrier Reef (off the coast of Australia) is largest coral reef in the world. 2,300 metres long. Supports 25% of marine species Humans benefit via – tourism ($4 billion), employment, income and mining . Non-human contribution - erosion protection, raw materials, medicine, formation of beaches.
Under Threat by
Tourism, Mining - oil + gas are harmful Climate change - sea level rise causing coral bleaching Water pollution - decline in fish quality Air pollution - dirty air, polyps more likely to die
Solutions
Educate tourists Ten patrol boats check for illegal activity Management of reef is controlled by Marine Park Authority
Amazon Rainforest - ClimateBackground
Either side of the equator in South America, covers 7.3 million km2
68% of Brazil (parts of Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana) 80% of Amazonia is rainforest
Climate
Hot and wet - mean temp. between 25-27 and 2677mm rain per year Rain well distributed in western parts, but south and east experience a short dry season Biome is most biologically diverse ecosystem in the world Tropical soils or latosals are deep as warm, wet conditions encourage intense weathering of bed rock and heavy rain causes intense leaching of soluble minerals leaving soil acidic
Vegetation Adaptations
Canopy trees have umbrella shaped crowns – maximise light exposure Canopy leaves – large to maximise photosynthesis Tree bark thin – protection against low temp. unnecessary Understorey trees produce fruit right on trunk – better chance for germination Plank buttress occurs at base – support Epiphytes – plants that use tree branches for support but don’t feed off them Lianas are large vines – use trees to gain access to sunlight and flower in canopy
Human Impact
In the 60s, Brazilian government encouraged large scale project to exploit resources Since then, 17% of original forest has been lost Main causes: Cattle Ranching (80%), Soya Bean agriculture, colonisation, hydroelectric power generation, logging, hunting birds, reptiles, mammals
Consequences
Loss of certain species – disrupts ecosystems and food chains Reduction of biodiversity Complex interdependent relationships between animal and tree species breaking down as well as variations in microclimate Vegetation may be unable to grow as nutrients and energy on ground is disrupted Lead to surface run off and flooding Deforestation – loss of ‘lungs of the earth’ (carbon store)
Solutions
Full establishment over properties – so that land grabbing and illegal logging is reduced 4.5% paid so that owners do not cut down trees Encourage markets to buy forest products Monitoring deforestation e.g. satellites Expanding areas e.g. National Parks Ecotourism – protects rainforests from hunting and logging
Sahel - DroughtBackground
zone across Northern Africa Goes through countries such as Niger 5,400 km long Average Rainfall between 300-900mm per year and when it does rain, up to 90% of moisture evaporates
Causes
Highly erratic rainfall, droughts can last for decades Change in temperature of surrounding oceans – monsoons weaken and thunderstorms reduced Less rain means less vegetation - weakening monsoons Overgrazing
Impacts
Environmental – Fall in water table, more wildfires, dust storms, vegetation dies, desertification Human – water shortages, famine, reduced crop yield, emigration, death of livestock
Solutions
Giant shelter break called the Green Wall Population control Alternatives to firewood – solar cookers Improved farming techniques to reduce grazing
Hurricane Katrina – Natural HazardsBackground
23rd August 2005, most deadly hurricane for over 75 years – 80 mph Formed south east of Bahamas, 12th tropical storm of season
Formation
Local thunderstorms off coast of Africa draw heat energy and moisture from warm ocean water Warm, moist air rises and cools forming tall cumulonimbus storm clouds Spin of Earth causes air in storms to spiral clockwise around area of low pressure System is a tropical depression
Impacts
1,300 deaths Ran out of food, water, medicine People homeless and crime levels rose $75 billion worth of damages Many left unemployed Huge areas flooded
Response
Government declared state of emergency Hurricane warning on the radio Schools closed, shelters opened, evacuation orders and police on standby. Still lots of rebuilding needed and lots of rubble – surprising for an MEDC
Brazil – Subsistence farmingBackground
Supports 300-500 million people worldwide Brazil in particular has 200 million people Confined to the humid tropics 68% of amazon rainforest is in Brazil Vegetation can take 30 years to recover
Process
1. Stone axes and matches clear forest 2. Fallen trees are dried and then burnt (slash and burn) - weeds removed and fertiliser used3. Manioc is planted along with pumpkins and beans. 4. Once forest is cleared, nutrient cycle is broken. Leaching 5. Now they must move – cycle continues
Sri Lanka – commercial farmingBackground
19kg is carried a day by workers 2p is earned for every £1.70 bag of tea Very poor working conditions and long hours Very hot climate and land is uneven 20 million population
Inputs
Physical – high temperature, little rain, uneven relief Human – few workers, poor transport Capital – pesticides, weed killers
Processes
Weeding Spraying Planting
Outputs
Tea Profits Crop Waste
Dafur – Food shortagesBackground
Sudan is the largest African country River Nile provides water but there is no rainfall (250 mm) Civil war in 2003 leaves many starving
Causes
Physical - Rainfall decline, flooding, degradation Social – 3% population growth, AIDS, illiteracy 65% Agriculture – low fertiliser use, unpredictable food production, falling crop yield Economic – dependant on farming, dependant on imports, high military spending, limit access to
market
Consequences
Livestock deaths Crop failures Illness Death Conflict Loss of education Loss of income
Plumpy Nut in Niger – Food AidBackground
LEDC, landlocked country in West Africa One of the world’s poorest countries Hot and dry climate Increased population by 12 million in 50 years Highest fertility rate – 7.1 births per women 2.9% growth rate
Plumpy nut advantages
Prevents malnutrition, Tastes nice Children can feed themselves Rich in vitamins Cheap
Impacts
Children are being treated at home Children are happier and their appetite improves Can focus on education instead of starvation Parents can work and earn money as they have time instead of finding food for children
Pakistan – Siting industry (secondary) Background
182 million people First steel factories built in 1973 Took 12 years to be completed 20 plants were built at Pipri in 1973
Why they choose Karachi
Close to Arabian Sea – easy for imports and exports Surrounded by N5 nation highway – good communication links Lots of housing for workers to live in Jinnah airport nearby for international imports and exports Engineering industry to the east for buying and selling
Why they choose Pipri
Flat and cheap, unused land USSR provided economic assistance Plenty of skilled workers who had low wages Connected to main railway
Cambridge Science Park – High tech industry
Background
1.6 million square ft of buildings Home to roughly 66 companies Established by Trinity College in 1970
Choice of location
Companies – 66 on site e.g Worldpay, provides multi-currency internet 1 card payment systems
Amenities – Landscaped and has facilities e.g health and fitness centre Infrastructure – used to be farmland, space for car parks and expansion Location – on rural-urban fringe, easily accessible on M11, not far from
Stanstead Airport
Machu Picchu Inca Trail - Tourism
Background
Machu Picchu lies in Peruvian Andes, Peru 700,000 tourists every years - plans to go to 2 million Roughly 2,500 a day
Causes
Human – jobs, interest in geographical factors, adventurous, Local Quechua culture Physical – beautiful Andean mountain scenery, Inca nature trail, Spanish colonial buildings
Advantages
Social & cultural – cross cultural links, tourist education Economic – Hotels, airports, Orient express in Puno, more jobs, $600 million a year Environment – more respected, cable car system to reduce soil erosion
Disadvantages
Social & cultural – litter, crime, racial tension Economic – raised prices from $17 to $50, still poor country, pressure on infrastructure, dependant on one
industry, GDP only $2000, dilution of Quechua culture Environment – Soil erosion so removal of vegetation and rain washes it away, landslides, human waste impacting
beauty
Sizewell – Nuclear Power
Background
Located near Suffolk, in the village of Sizewell Near North Sea Sizewell A is being shut down but a new one is being built
Factors influencing site
Close to North sea so seawater can be used for cooling Close to the coast so uranium can be imported and waste exported Away form major population centres who fear nuclear power impacts,
Ipswich is closest town – Not in my back yard Nearby rail links and road links where waste can be transported to
Sellafield (a different nuclear site) Flat ground with plenty of extra land for expansion Connection to national grid
Qatar – energy and water shortages - NIC
Background
In 1940, 11,000 people No water or energy and life expectancy was short. Oil was discovered and rapid urbanisation occurred
Present
Now there is 1.7 million people and 16% economic growth Only have 2 days of potable water reserves and vulnerable to
terrorism 90% of Qatar food is imported 1% of land is cultivated 180mW of solar energy is being used
Useful Linkshttps://greenfieldgeography.wikispaces.com/Geography+IGCSE
https://quizlet.com/class/1507128/ - all glossaries
https://quizlet.com/75763672/geography-glossary-population-flash-cards/ https://quizlet.com/74293097/geography-settlement-glossary-flash-cards/ https://quizlet.com/76292237/geography-glossary-plate-tectonics-flash-cards/ https://quizlet.com/75559180/geography-rivers-glossary-flash-cards/ https://quizlet.com/76301282/geography-glossary-marine-processes-part-2-flash-cards/ https://quizlet.com/75560832/geography-glossary-weather-climate-and-natural-vegetation-flash-cards/ https://quizlet.com/75564804/geography-glossary-weathering-flash-cards/ https://quizlet.com/75562534/geography-glossary-agriculture-systems-flash-cards/ https://quizlet.com/76297705/geography-glossary-industrial-systems-flash-cards/ https://quizlet.com/75563774/geography-glossary-tourism-flash-cards/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/