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Case Studies and Examples Booklet AQA 9-1 GCSE Geography

Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment

Section A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards Section B: The Living World

Section C: Physical Landscapes in the UK: Rivers, Coasts

Case Studies

A) A Case Study of a Tropical Rainforest to illustrate: • Causes of deforestation • Impacts of deforestation • The value of TRFs to people and the environment • Strategies used to manage rainforests sustainably

The Amazon, South America

B) A Case Study of a Cold Environment to illustrate: • Opportunities for development • Challenges of development • The value of cold environments and why they should be protected. • Strategies used to balance the needs of economic development and conservation.

Svalbard, The Arctic

Name: Exam Date:

Examples Section A: Earthquakes in areas of contrasting levels of wealth

Haiti (LIC) 2010 and Japan (HIC) 2011

Section A: A Tropical Storm Typhoon Haiyan 2013 Philippines Section A: An extreme weather event in the UK Storm Desmond, Cumbria 2015

Beast from the East 2018 Section B: A small scale ecosystem in the UK Epping Forest, London Section C: UK coastline The Holderness Coastline, NE England Section C: A Coastal Management Strategy Integrated Coastal Zone Management along the

Holderness Coastline NE England Section C: A river valley in the UK The River Tees, NE England Section C: A flood management scheme in the UK Boscastle, Cornwall 2004

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Economic Impacts of Deforestation:

Farming makes a lot of money for countries in the rainforest e.g. In 2008, Brazil made $6.9 million from trading cattle. It is also the world’s second largest exporter of soya beans.

The mining industry creates jobs for people e.g. The Buenaventura mining company in Peru employs over 3100 people.

But local Brazilian rubber tappers who extract natural rubber from rubber trees have lost their livelihoods as trees have been cut down.

Sustainable Management Strategies: Agro-forestry - Growing trees and crops at the same time. It prevents soil erosion and the crops benefit from the nutrients. Selective logging – Mature trees are only felled when they reach a particular height. Saplings allowed to grow. Education - Ensuring those people understand the consequences of deforestation. Afforestation - If trees are cut down, they are replaced. Forest reserves - Areas protected from exploitation. Ecotourism - Tourism that promotes the environments & conservation Yachana Eco tourism lodge – 18 log cabins, small scale and in keeping area. Debt reduction (debt for nature swapping) – HICs write off debts in return for the TRF being protected. E.g. 2010 USA converted $21 million of Brazilian debt into a fund to protect areas of the TRF. International agreements – Forest Stewardship Council (FCS) provides timber from sustainable sources. International Tropical Timber Agreement (2006) restricts the trade in hardwoods. Example of FSC product – Andrex toilet roll.

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Causes of Deforestation

Commercial Farming: 75% -80% caused by commercial (capital ranching) and rice, soy and sugar cane production.

Subsistence Farming: 20-25%

Logging: 2-3% including lots of illegal logging for trees such as teak and mahogany.

Road Building e.g. The Trans – Amazonian Highway stretches for 4000km through the rainforest.

Mineral extraction e.g. gold mining and the largest iron ore mine in the world in Carajas worked by 3000 people.

Energy Development e.g. HEP due to high rainfall. For example, the Belo Monte dam blocks the Xingu River, a tributary of the Amazon flooding more than 45 500 hectares of forest.

Settlement and population growth e.g. the Brazilian government offers land in the rainforest to poor people from overcrowded cities. Plus settlements have developed to service the mines. This has led to an increase in population.

Environmental Impacts of Deforestation

Contribution to climate change: The Amazon stores around 100 billion tonnes of carbon – deforestation will release some of this carbon dioxide which causes global warming.

Soil erosion: Brazil is losing 55 million tonnes of topsoil every year due to soil erosion because the tree roots bind the soil together.

Loss of Biodiversity: plant and animal species become endangered or even extinct as habitats are destroyed.

Pollution: from mining activities. River Amazon.

The Amazon is the largest rainforest on earth, covering an area of about 8 million km sq.

Since the 1970s, an area more than 3 times the size of the UK has been destroyed.

It covers parts of Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

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Svalbard is a group of Norwegian Islands in the Arctic Ocean. 60% of Svalbard is a Polar Biome, 40% is a Tundra Biome. Distribution of the World’s Cold Environments Most of the Worlds Cold Environments are found in or close to the Poles. Polar environments are closest to the North/South Poles. Tundra is found between the Arctic Circle and 60-70° North Major Characteristics of Cold Environments Two seasons. Two types of cold environments: Polar – low precipitation, -50° in winter, permanently frozen Tundra – More precipitation but mainly snow, -20° during winter, brief summers Svalbard

• Population of Svalbard is 2,700 people • Most of the people live in the main town of Longyearbyen • There are more snowmobiles and polar bears than people! • Very little precipitation with less than 200 mm per year – although there is more in the coastal areas • Most precipitation comes in form of Snow • Winter temperatures drop as low as -20°C • Summers are brief but warm

Adaptations Animals: Elk, Musk Oxen, Polar Bears Plants: Bearberry:

• Low growing to survive strong winds • Thick bark and hairy stems to retain heat and protect from wind • Smaller, leathery leaves to retain water in dry environment • Bright berries to attract animals and allow plants to spread • Shallow roots to grow in the active layer of the permafrost

Opportunities and Challenges in Cold Environments - Svalbard

Opportunities Challenges

Mineral Extraction: Vast reserves of coal, most of which is exported to Russia. Mining employs over 300 people. A new coal mine opened near Svea in 2014. Energy: Coal is used to power Longyearbyen power station which supplies all of Svalbard. There are thought to be extensive oil and gas reserves in Svalbard’s coastal waters. In 2011, Norway announced a 20 year development plan,

Extreme Temperature: Winter temperatures in Longyearbyen can fall below -30 degrees Celsius, this makes work outside extremely challenging and potentially dangerous. Inaccessibility: Svalbard is very remote and can only be reached by ship or plane. There is one international airport at Longyearbyen with flights from Norway and Russia. There is a very limited road network (about

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however there are major conservation concerns about exploiting all and gas. For the future, there is potential for the development of geothermal energy as Svalbard is close to the North Atlantic Ridge. Fishing: The nutrient rich cold waters around Svalbard are one of the richest fishing waters in the world. They are important breeding and nursery grounds for fish with over 150 species. Conservation and sustainable management are very important. Tourism: Tourism has increased considerably in recent years (Kayaking, hiking, snowmobile safaris). Longyearbyen is the main centre for tourism with some 70 000 visitors a year including 30 000 cruise passengers. Longyearbyen’s harbour has been enlarged to cope with the greater number of cruise ships. Tourism employs about 300 people.

50km) around Longyearbyen and transport mostly involves boat and snowmobile. Buildings and infrastructure: People involved in construction (roads, buildings and harbour extension) have to cope with very challenging weather conditions (extreme cold and winter darkness). Buildings are very well insulated. The frozen ground (permafrost) provides firm foundations but care must be taking to prevent thawing and subsidence (building houses on stilts). Gravel roads, raised above the ground surface (to prevent heat transfer are relatively cheap to maintain. Domestic services (water, sanitation) are raised off the ground in insulated pipes so they can be services and to prevent possible melting of permafrost.

The Value of Cold Environments Wilderness areas are unspoilt, that have not been altered by human activity. Protection of these valuable ecological and scientific resources is vitally important.

- Many indigenous people live here e.g. The Inuits who live in Arctic Alaska, Canada and Greenland. - Home to a diverse range of plants and animals, they help protect biodiversity. Penguins, polar bears

and Arctic Fox. - Unpolluted and unspoilt, cold envts. Important outdoor laboratories for scientific research such as the

effects of climate change. Contain organisms with important genetic material that can be used for research.

- Their beauty and potential for adventure activities attracts tourists who bring huge economic benefits, e.g. Svalbard, Iceland and Alaska.

The Fragile Cold Environment Mining can cause pollution and damage to the environment Tundra is damaged by vehicles and snowmobile driving – it takes YEARS to recover from this damage All construction can damage the permafrost and building can only really take place during the summer months. Over-fishing can damage the ecosystem and cause problems for the people it employ. Global warming cause permafrost to melt, releases greenhouse gases – further global warming – thawing of permafrost leaves the soil water logged killing plants. Animals have less vegetation to live on.

Managing Cold Environments Action by Governments, Alaska, USA – National Environment Policy Act, ensures that companies involved with the extraction and transportation of oil protect natural environment and rights of native people. Western Arctic Reserve – 9 million hectare protected wilderness managed by Department for Interior. Home to caribou, migratory birds and wolves. Drilling for oil kept away from sensitive areas. International Agreements - The Antartic Treaty 1959 signed by countries with territorial claims to Antarctica. Main aim to protect the natural environment of the largest wilderness on Earth. Despite the discovery of minerals it has successfully prevented economic development. It recognises the importance of scientific research, particularly into climate change and controls tourism.

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Conservation groups – WWF World Wildlife Fund protects Arctic Environments in Canada organisations. Works with local communities to manage critical Ecosytems in Beaufort Sea Supports scientific research to help protect species – polar bear, narwhal and Greenand shark. Works with oil companies, Inuit Organisation and government to plan for sustainable future of Arctic. Technology – Trans Alaskan Pipeline 1969 oil discovered at Prudhoe Bay N. Alaska, in winter sea freezes so tankers cannot access. 1974 pipeline opened to transport oil the length of Alaska to south coast (Valdez).

Problem Solution Cross rivers and mountains Pumping stations keep oil moving, passes below

rivers (minimal environmental impact) Oil from ground very hot 49* could melt ice. Pipeline raised and insulated, prevents melting

permafrost. Earthquakes Earthquake proof, can swap side to side. Flow stops

automatically if there is a leak. Migrating animals - caribou Pipeline raised so that animals can pass beneath.

EXAMPLES

Paper 1 Examples - Section A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards

Specification Content Example

1. Use named examples to show how the effects and responses to a tectonic hazard vary between two areas of contrasting levels of wealth.

Earthquake in a LIC: Haiti earthquake in 12.1.2010 7.0 on Richter scale Epicentre 25 miles from Port au Prince Effects: 230 000 deaths. 1.5 million Homeless. 250 000 homes destroyed Responses: 1000 emergency relief staff from USA, Canada, Italy…, U.S. Army distribute aid from badly damaged airport, within 1 month $1.79 billion donated ($9 million in total), emergency shelters for 7000 people. Slow response, damaged infrastructure difficult to gain access, government building destroyed difficult to co-ordinate relief operation, Cholera spread, mass graves, polluted water, One year after the quake 1 million people remained homeless. Earthquake/tsunami in HIC: Japan earthquake and tsunami in 11.3.2011 9.0 magnitude Effects: 16,400 deaths 2,500 reported missing 4.4 million without electricity 120,000 buildings destroyed Meltdown of Nuclear power plant - radiation Responses: Evacuation of thousands surrounding Fukashima power plant. Responses: 3000 armed troops sent to the area within 3 days 150,000 people evacuated Damage cost $300 billion (costliest natural disaster in world history) Management: Earthquake proof buildings (aseismic) and ocean buoys. 01.9 earthquake preparedness day. Improved the early warning system for tsunamis.

2. Use a named example of a tropical storm to show its effects and responses

Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines, SE Asia 2013 Primary effects: 7000 deaths, 2 million homeless 400mm rain, 5 meters storm surge Secondary effects: Damage to agricultural land / rice crop, food shortages, contaminated flood water, spread of disease. Overall damage £10 billion. Primary responses: UN released $25 million in emergency funds to provide immediate assistance. The British government has also sent 8,836 shelter kits from Dubai on a chartered aircraft. Each kit contained plastic sheeting and rope to provide temporary shelter for a family of five. 80,000 people evacuated, curfew to prevent looting. Secondary responses: Land zone planning, disaster early warning system, 4 year £6.2billion plan to rebuild homes, businesses and infrastructure.

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3. An example of a recent extreme weather event in the UK to illustrate: Causes, social, economic and environmental impacts. How management strategies can reduce risks. 4. An example of a recent extreme weather event in the UK to illustrate: Causes, social, economic and environmental impacts. How management strategies can reduce risks.

Storm Desmond, Cumbria 2015. Cause: Desmond brought in moist air from the Caribbean to the British Isles. As a result, rainfall from Desmond was unusually heavy. The heavy rain and strong winds were caused by an area of low pressure from the Atlantic. The Met Office says Honister in Cumbria received 341.4mm (13.4in) of rain in the 24-hour period. Impacts: £400 million damage, 45 000 homes lost power. Millions of tons of sediment was transported by the river and deposited on floodplains and in settlements in the areas affected Thousands of trees which once lined rivers in the area affected were ripped from river banks. Landslides occurred in many places as the result of heavy rainfall and the land becoming saturated. Management: More than 100 flood warnings and more than 70 flood alerts were in place in northern England. The Government mobilised a full national emergency response”. This included 200 military troops (including a Chinook helicopter); 50 high-volume pumps; and the Environment Agency moving people, temporary defences and pumps to the north-west. Beast from the East: Polar Vortex and Storm Emma, UK March 2018 Cause: Polar vortex, low pressure from Siberia. Temperatures dropped to -10oC. Wind chill o f-22oC, winds exceeding 70mph. Primary impacts; 15-20cm fell over 3 days, snow drifts in excess of 7m in rural areas, 10 killed across the country, hundreds trapped on roads and motorways, e.g. hundreds stranded for up to 36 hours on the M80 in Scotland, trains stranded on tracks overnight in Dorset. Secondary impacts: UK issued with a gas ‘deficit’ warning, NHS cancelled non-urgent operations and clinics, Thousands of homes left without power, schools close for us to 3 days, flights cancelled. Management: armed forces deployed to rescue drivers and drive NHS staff to work. Community centres open to homeless people to shelter from the conditions. Taxi firms offer to shop and fetch medicines / supplies for elderly. Met Office issues ‘red’ weather warning to stop people from travelling. Snowploughs, gritters and tractors go out to clear the roads. Government asks businesses to reduce gas usage over the worst days, Red Cross issues blankets/ camp beds to people stranded at Glasgow airport.

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Paper 1 Example Section B: The Living World

Specification Content Example 1. An example of a small scale UK ecosystem to illustrate the concept of interrelationships within a natural system, an understanding of producers, consumers, decomposers, food chain, food web and Nutrient cycling. The balance between components. The impact on the ecosystem of changing one component.

Epping Forest in Essex is home to 700 fungi; it is 2400 hectares and 3 species of woodpecker. 70% of the forest is deciduous. Diagram of nutrient cycling:

- There is reasonable balance between nutrient stores due to the climate allowing vegetation growth/litter/fertile soils.

- There are moderate transfers of nutrients between the stores, reflecting growth and leaf composition.

- Leaching (nutrients dissolved and carried away by water) is moderate, reflecting high rainfall.

Producers = growing plants Consumers (eat the berries and nuts) Decomposers = bacteria and fungi Chalara is a disease affecting many ash trees. It is caused by a fungus and results in tree loss and bark damage. These trees are also being affected by a borer beetle. The lack of ash trees in a woodland will affect the ecosystem’s primary production and may reduce food for consumers.

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Paper 1 Examples Section C: Physical Landscapes in the UK

Specification Content Example Tick when revised

1. An example of a section of coastline in the UK to identify its major landforms of erosion and deposition.

The Holderness Coastline: At Flamborough head, the chalk cliffs produce landforms of erosion including Caves, Arches, Stacks and Stumps plus a wave cut platform. At the most southerly point of the Holderness Coast, Spurn point spit is an example of a landform created by deposition. Beaches at Mappleton and Hornsea are also landforms created by deposition.

2. An example of a coastal management scheme in the UK to show: •• the reasons for management •• the management strategy •• the resulting effects and conflicts.

Integrated Coastline Management along the Holderness Coast: Reasons: The Holderness Coastline is the most rapidly eroding coast in Europe. The soft boulder clay and a large fetch (from Norway) plus a narrow beach makes it extremely vulnerable to the force of Destructive waves leading to rapid erosion. Management Strategy: Hold the line: At Hornsea there are more than 10 groynes, rock armour and a sea wall. The groynes at Hornsea were built in 1960s and cost £5.2 million to be repaired. Easington gas terminal near Spurn Point (Spit) has hard engineering including rock armour and sea wall to protect the high land value In order to protect the main coastal road a rock groyne, cliff regrading and vegetating the cliff took place at Mappleton, this has created a wide beach at Mappleton and slowed the rate of erosion, however the resulting effect has been an increase in the rate of erosion further south at Great Cowden see below…. Resulting Effects and conflicts: The farming village of Great Cowden suffered terminal groyne syndrome and increased erosion rates due to the groynes at Mappleton preventing longshore drift. Conflicts occur between farmers, environmentalists, taxpayers, governments, business owners and local residents.

3. An example of a river valley in the UK to identify its major landforms of erosion and deposition.

The River Tees: The River Tees is an important river in the north east of England. Its source is in the Pennine Hills and flows approx. 128km to reach the North Sea. In the upper course, High force waterfall drops 21 metres. Near Yarm, the River Tees meanders and oxbow lakes have formed. In the lower course of the River Tees, natural and man-made levees exist to protect the land and urban areas such as Yarm from the impacts of flooding.

4. An example of a flood management scheme in the UK to show: • why the scheme was required • the management strategy • the social, economic and environmental issues.

In 2004 Boscastle flooded due to: -Over 60 mm of rainfall (typically a month's rainfall) fell in two hours. -The ground was already saturated due to the previous two weeks of above average rainfall. -The drainage basin has many steep slopes, and has areas of impermeable slate causing rapid surface run-off. A flood management scheme was completed in Boscastle in 2008, it includes a new flood wall and the river channel has been deepened and widened. Social Issues: Residents lives were disrupted for years by rebuilding projects and construction of flood defences. Many residents do not like the new bridge and think that it not in keeping with the character of the village. The new defences have made Boscastle a safer place to live. Economic Issues: The flood management scheme cost over £4 million but the scheme isn’t as good as it could be. Some options were still considered too expensive. Environmental Issues: Vegetation and river habitats in the area are now continuously managed. Biodiversity and river habitats have been improved. The new channel has been engineered to look natural.

Geology Map of The Holderness Coast:

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