our natural world case studies

how did typhoon Haiyan form?

\-Typhoon Haiyan formed in the pacific ocean at a latitude of 7°N on the 2nd November 2013

\-the storm moved west and typhoon Haiyan reached the Philippines on the 7th of November

typhoon Haiyan statistics

\-the wind speeds were 315 km/h

\-the storm surge was 6m tall

\-there was 1km of coastal flooding in Tacloban

overview of Philippines

\-there are 7107 islands

\-the Philippines is an EDC

\-50% of people live in rural areas in the Philippines

\-25% of people live below the poverty line in the Philippines

\-the Philippines were recently hit by the Bohol earthquake in October

what were the primary consequences of typhoon Haiyan?

\-heavy rainfall led to flash flooding

\-strong winds led to damage to buildings

\-people drowned and were killed by falling debris

\-trees were uprooted and crops were damaged

\-oil barges were punctured

\-0.5 million people were left homeless

\-6300 people died

\-571 hospitals and health clinics were damaged

\-85 000 litres of oil entered the sea

what were the secondary consequences of typhoon Haiyan?

\-roads blocked by trees and flights cancelled 

\-farmers and fishermen lost income 

\-looting and violence in Tacloban 

\-mass burials and disease spreading 

\-14 million people lacked water, electricity, and shelter 

what were the primary responses of typhoon Haiyan?

\-the government put 7 provinces under a state of national calamity to use calamity funds

\-international aid was given as food, water, and shelter

\-Canada and USA sent military aircrafts to search for survivors

\-1200 evacuation centres for homeless

\-the Philippines Red Cross gave food and water to 1.1 million people

what were the secondary responses of typhoon Haiyan?

\-mangrove forests restored in coastal areas

\-typhoon shelters built inland

\-replacement of fishing boats

\-the UNDP provided cash for work programmes

\-UNICEF and the WHO vaccinated thousands of children against polio and measles

overview on weather on the UK drought 2012

\-Area affected received only 55% - 95% of usual rainfall between April 2010 and May 2012.

\-unusual wind patterns brought dry winds from Europe in the East

\-More water evaporated from reservoirs than usual and soils dried out

\-Difficult for rain to soak into the ground as soil was dry and baked hard

overview on high water usage on the UK drought 2012

Up to 25% of the UK’s water is lost in leaks

1\.7 billion litres of water used every day in the UK

The highest water usage is in the South East of the UK

how did the UK drought 2012 impact farmers?

Restrictions on taking water from the ground

Low soil moisture meant crops didn’t grow as well

Harvesting crops (potatoes) from the drier ground was hard

UK winemakers benefitted because grapes grew better in the hotter, drier conditions

how did the UK drought 2012 impact the environment?

Many reservoirs like Bewl Reservoir reached low levels

Some rivers like River Lavant dried up

Wildfires, 17 acres in Surrey

what were responses to the UK drought 2012?

Government adverts encouraged the public to use less water; 4-minute showers and make sure taps aren’t dripping

Southern Water was given a permit to refill Bewl Reservoir; came from rivers

A better response would be to put more pressure on water companies to fix leaks

what were the economic responses to the UK drought?

Prices for fruit and vegetables, and bread increased

20 million people face £1000 fine if they defy hosepipe bans

overview of Nepal 2015 earthquake

the Indian and Eurasian plates collided to release this earthquake

on the 25th of April 2015 an earthquake of magnitude 7.8

the focus was 15km below the surface 5

the intensity of the earthquake was VIII on the Mercalli scale

the fault line was located under Kathmandu

overview of Nepal

the population of Kathmandu is 1.183 million

Nepal has a population of 30 million

81% of people live in remote rural areas in Nepal

25% of people live below the poverty line in Nepal

The life expectancy of Nepal is 68 years

the GNI per capita of Nepal is $730

Nepal is an LIDC

Nepal has a literacy rate of 64%

how did aftershocks and landslides after the Nepal earthquake impact the country?

the day after the earthquake an aftershock of magnitude 6.7 was felt

on the 12th of May, an aftershock of magnitude 7.3 was felt

landslides and avalanches happened on Mount Everest

there were 541 landslides in Nepal

the landslides led to roads being cut off and houses being buried

what were other consequences of the Nepal earthquake?

180 buildings were destroyed, including religious and historical ones

19009 people were injured

8635 people were killed

homeless people had to sleep outside

people struggled to return to their families in rural areas

how did NGOs and India help Nepal?

the NGOs of the Red Cross and Oxfam supported the injured and homeless

India helped Nepal

\-provided doctors and an engineering task force

\-provided 10 tonnes of blankets to Nepal

\-provided 22 tonnes of food and 50 tonnes of water

\-provided 2 tonnes of medical supplies

what were secondary responses for Nepal?

aid efforts were hampered by damaged infrastructure

roads were destroyed and airports were shut down

the government set up cash-for-work projects

£33 million was pledged by the UK

£10 million of this was for healthcare and rebuilding hospitals

child trafficking was avoided as organisations kept an eye on children

what are the global economic impacts of climate change?

crop yields either increase or decrease depending on latitude

water shortages affect hydroelectric power systems

more money needed to deal with extreme weather (prediction/prevention)

permafrost melts and building collapse

however resources become easier to extract

Skiing industry declines

Investment in coastal defences for low-lying areas

what are the global environmental impacts of climate change?

glaciers shrink and ice sheets melt (Greenland)

loss of polar habitats

coral reefs bleaching in warmer temperatures

species migrate or become extinct

Mangrove forest which form natural barriers to storms are damaged e.g. in pacific islands

Fresh water polluted by salty sea water

Forests experience more pests, diseases and forest fires e.g. australia bushfires in 2009

Flooding in South Asia decreases rice yields

what are the global social impacts of climate change?

Increase in environmental refugees due to floooding e.g. Tuvalu/Vanuatu

Job losses in fishing/tourism so have to learn new skills

Migration and overcrowding in low-risk areas due to flooding

Increased risk of diseases such as skin cancers and heatstroke as temperatures increase

wildfires damage homes

areas can become uninhabitable

people have to migrate

water shortages lead to political tensions

lower crop yield leads to malnutrition

what are the economic impacts of climate change on the UK?

\-Summer heat will lead to growth in tourism e.g. in lake district -> generates jobs and increases revenue

\-Cairngorms ski resorts may be forced to close due to melting of snow

\-Thames barrier needs upgrading or replacing due to increased risk of flooding

\-Teesside industries on mudflats vulnerable to sea level rise

\-Agricultural land lost to managed retreat

\-Tourism affected by eroded beaches

what are the environmental impacts of climate change on the UK?

\-Vegetation and ecosystems move north e.g. Sitka spruce yield increase in Scotland and peaches/oranges grown in South of UK



\-Agricultural productivity increases in warmer conditions but more need for irrigation



\-Bird migration patterns shift



\-Some trees and plants flower ealier/later



\-Wildlife species struggle to survive as seasons do not match up with their flood supply



\-Salt marshes may flood and erode but managed retreat creates new salt-marsh habitats

what are the social impacts of climate change on the UK?

\-Elderly more vulnerable to heatwaves but less vulnerable to cold-related illness

\-Heating costs reduced

\-Water shortages by 2050

\-Cliff collapse putting properties at risk

overview of dorest coast

\- south coast of England

\- has lots of fossils from Jurassic period. = important for geology

\- popular w/ tourists bc of lots of sandy beaches

durdle door

\-arch on hard limestone headland

\- Erosion by waves opened crack in headland

\-became cave and then arch -> mech, chem, bio weathering occurring

the foreland, old harry, and his wife

\-headland made from harder chalk in between softer rock

\-Old harry = Arch at end of headland

\-Old harry's wife = stump

\-Salt from waves and carbonation and vegetation on top wearing them down

chesil beach

\-a tombolo that joins isle of Portland to the mainland

\-Formed by longshore drift

\-Fleet lagoon behind

lulworth cove

\-Small bay formed after a gap was eroded in limestone

\-Behind the limestone = clay which has eroded

\-Limestone cliffs are vulnerable to mass movement

swanage bay

\-Made of clay

\-Northern ends = covered in vegetation --> stabilises and protects cliffs

\-Rain weaknens other side

\-LS drift carries gravel from N to S of the beach

\-Erosion is the dominant process here

natural factors affecting Dorset coast

temperature

wind

rainfall

geology

how does temperature affect the Dorset coast?

Temperature



\-warm dry summers and mild winters



\-seawater evaporates from rocks quickly



\-salt builds up in cracks -> cracks widen



\-not cold enough for freeze-thaw weathering

how does wind affect the Dorset coast?

Wind



\-exposed to prevailing winds from **the southwest**

\-brings storms from the Atlantic Ocean (more erosion)

\-hydraulic action and abrasion increase during storms

how does rainfall affect the Dorset coast?

Rainfall

\-**low** amounts of rainfall annually

\-very wet winters

how does geology affect the Dorset coast?

Geology

\-made from bands of hard rock (chalk and limestone)

\-and soft rock (sandstone and clay)

how does the interaction of natural factors affect the Dorset coast?

Interaction of factors

\-lots of rain make chalk and limestone vulnerable to carbonation weathering

\-this is because rain is slightly acidic

\-prolonged heavy rain makes mass movement more likely

human factors affecting Dorset coast

quarrying

tourism

removal of gravel

how does quarrying affect the Dorset coast?

\-quarrying takes place on the coast, as limestone is valuable

\-quarries on the Isle of Portland and west Chesil Beach expose rock



\-this makes rock vulnerable to erosion

how does tourism affect the Dorset coast?

\-coastal footpaths run along cliff tops

\-these are worn away as people walk on them

\-vegetation may be trampled, exposing underlying soil and rock

\-this makes them vulnerable to weathering and erosion

how did removing gravel impact the Dorset coast?

\-up until the 1960s gravel was removed from Chesil Beach for construction

\-the sea couldn’t replenish it so the beach was damaged

why is management needed at the Dorset coast?

\-Dorset coast eroding -> properties/infrastructure at risk -danger of landslides/rockfalls

\-CMS used for last 150 years -> helped prevent erosion but impacted landscape and changed natural environment

how have groynes been used in the Dorset coast?

Groynes: (Swanage bay)

\-Wooden/stone fences perpendicular to coast

\-Trap material from LS drift -> wider beaches which slow waves -> protect against erosion

\-Timber groynes placed in 2005/6 = stopped loss of material

\-Stopping material movement starves some areas of coast of sediment -> more narrower beaches prone to erosion

how have sea walls been used in the Dorset coast?

Sea walls:

\-concrete sea walls along most of Swanage beach

\-reflect waves back out to sea, preventing erosion

\-creates strong backwash

\-this removes sediment from beach and erodes under the wall

\-prevents cliffs from being eroded

\-so no new material to replenish beach

\-and beach gets lower

how has beach replenishment been used in the Dorset coast?

Beach replenishment

\-in winter 2005/2006, sand and shingle dredged from the sea bed at Poole Harbour was added to the upper parts of Swanage Beach

\-this creates wider beaches, protecting from erosion

\-it costed £5 million and has to be repeated almost every 20 years

overview of the Eden basin

\-NW England between the mountains of Lake District and the Pennies

\-source: Pennine hills in south Cumbria

\-flows north-west through Appleby-in-Westmorland and Carlisle

\-mouth: Solway Firth at the Scottish border

\-largely rural area with many scenic landscapes that attract tourists

waterfalls on the Eden basin

Waterfalls

\-Hell Gill Force, near the source

\-rock changes from hard limestone to soft sandstone

V shaped valleys on the Eden basin

\-many streams flow down the steep slopes at the edge of the basin

\-these hillsides are above 600m from sea level

\-v shaped valleys have formed in the north-east of Lake District

meanders on the Eden basin

\-meanders form on the valley floor

\-eg: near Salkeld

\-an oxbow lake has formed where Briggle Beck joins the Eden near Salkeld

floodplains on the Eden basin

Floodplains

\-Carlisle is built on the floodplain of the Eden

\-land is

natural factors that affect the Eden basin

climate

temperature

rainfall

geology

how does climate affect the Eden basin?

Climate:

\-Cumbria is on West coast of the UK with south-westerly winds

\-the climate is mild and wet with cool summers and mild winters

\-one of the wettest parts of the UK with intense rainfall

how does temperature affect the Eden basin?

Temperature:

\-cold temperatures on higher ground e.g. source regularly freeze

\-freeze-thaw weathering breaks up valley sides in the upper course

\-valley sides weakened making sudden mass movement/landslides more likely

\-material from landslides is added to river load increasing the erosive power of abrasion

how does rainfall affect the Eden basin?

Rainfall:

\-intense rainfall saturates the ground making it heavier and less stable

\-which can cause river banks to slide or slump into the channel

\-heavy rain flows into tributaries and the river Eden increasing the volume of water in the river rapidly

\-a high volume of water increases the transportation of material by river

\-this causes more abrasion in the upper course

how does geology affect the Eden basin?

Geology

\-harder rocks around the edge of Eden basin

\-examples include limestone and gritstone

\-these remain as high ground, creating a watershed

\-igneous rocks found in the west of the Eden basin are impermeable

\-this results in surface streams forming in high rainfall, forming V-shaped valleys

\-sandstone is a soft rock found on the lower and middle course

human factors that affect the Eden basin

deforestation

farming

how does deforestation affect the Eden basin?

Deforestation

\-many upland areas have had natural woodland and heathland cleared

\-this increases surface runoff, so there is more volume of water in rivers

how does farming affect the Eden basin?

Farming



\-upland areas have been drained from moisture to make them more suitable for farming



\-this reduces the stability of the soil



\-more soil is washed into the channel by rain

-the increased load of the river increases deposition downstream

how have flood walls and embankments been used on the Eden basin?

Flood walls & embankments:



\-10km of raised flood defences built along rivers Eden and Caldew



\-Contain water within river channel -> allows floodplain to be built on



\-Interrupt natural processes and prevent the natural formation of meanders and deposition of sediment on the floodplain

how have reservoirs been used on the Eden basin?

Reservoirs:

\-Castle Carrock Beck dammed to create a reservoir

\-Reservoirs limit the natural flow of water downstream

\-deposition occurs in the reservoir instead of the river's natural course increasing erosion downstream

\-it reduces the natural buildup of floodplain in the lower course

how have planting trees been used in the Eden basin?

Planting trees:

\-Near Dalston the landscape was changed by the planting of 1000 trees to reduce flooding and stabilise soil

\-Trees intercept rainfall and reduce surface runoff -> prevent flooding

\-The river has less energy due to a decrease in the volume of water so meanders take longer to form

how has channel management been used in the Eden basin?

Channel management:

\-Eden basin was changed by channel straightening

\-many sections of the river were diverted into artificial channels to reduce flooding

\- channel straightening -> makes water flow more quickly increasing erosion and decreasing deposition

\-meanders don't form as they originally would due to changed conditions

\-Some areas restored through artificial meanders e.g. river lyvennet and south-west of Appleby

\-Meanders slow flow and increase deposition encouraging further meandering and building up the floodplain

overview of deforestation in Costa Rica

\- Costa Rica experienced rapid deforestation due to cattle ranching and agricultural development

\- between 1970-1990 deforestation reached one of the highest rates in the world with 32000 hectares of forest cut down each year

what has the Costa Rican government done to protect the forests?

gave landowners a financial incentive to protect forests

paid them to keep it rather than turn it into farmland

28 national parks and nature reserves

24% of country's land is protected

what are the strategies for sustainable management of forests in Costa Rica?

\- agroforestry

\- selective logging

\- afforestation

\- monitoring

what is agroforestry?

\- agroforestry is when trees and crops grown together as some crops benefit from the shelter of the tree canopy

\- trees prevent soil erosion and crops benefit from nutrients in leaf litter

what is selective logging?

\- selective logging is when trees only felled when they reach a certain height

\- young trees allowed to mature to ensure height of canopy is maintained

what is afforestation?

\- afforestation is when trees are planted to replace forest that has been lost

\- however the secondary forest lacks the biodiversity of the original forest as it takes longer for species to re-establish

how has the rainforest been monitored?

\-monitoring has been done with satellite technology and photos, ensuring no illegal activities take place

\-the landowners follow guidelines for sustainability

what is the wildlife corridor in Costa Rica?

continuous wildlife corridor along the length of Central America from Mexico to Panama

called the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor

reconnects fragments of rainforest to provide migration routes for forest animals

what are the successes of ecotourism for locals in Costa Rica?

\- donations from visitors are used to improve the quality of life for the local community and reduce poverty

\- local people can be employed as guides

\- ecotourism provides double the wages locals would receive from agriculture

how has the samasati nature retreat in Costa Rica protected the forest?

\- timber came from an afforestation project in Costa Rica

\- tourists are not allowed in certain parts of the forest

\- buildings are on stilts to reduce humidity and allow natural drainage

how is the samasati nature retreat in Costa Rica being sustainably managed?

\- natural light and ventilation minimise energy use

\- rainwater is collected on roofs and used for toilets and showers

\- only biodegradable soaps, shampoos and detergents are allowed

which activities does the Samasati Nature Retreat offer to tourists?

\-bird watching

\-walking and hiking

\-yoga and meditation

\-canopy exploration

What is an example of sustainable whaling in the Arctic?

\-the Inuit have been doing whaling for centuries in the Arctic

\-the Inuit hunt whales in small boats using simple harpoons and ropes to catch whales and use them for their oil, meat and bones

\-it is small-scale as people only caught what was needed for the small population

What was whaling like in the 20th century?

\-whaling grew to an industrial scale where factory ships harvested whales in large numbers and processed the whales to produce margarine, chemicals, cosmetics and animal feed.

\-by the late 1930s 50000 whales were being killed every year and whale populations declined

what rules did the International Whaling Commission impose to help conserve whales?

\-1946: IWC set up to conserve whales by setting quotas for each country

\-1986: IWC introduced a ban on industrial whaling but countries e.g. Japan continued to carry on catching whales for "scientific research"

\-since 1986: 30 000 whales have been killed, mostly by Japan and Norway

\-IWC allows indigenous communities in Greenland and Canada to catch whales

what is the first wildlife area in Canada?

\-Clyde River Sanctuary, on the coast of Baffin Island

\-it extends 12 nautical miles and covers 3360km^2

\-it was made to conserve bowhead whales

What does the Clyde river sanctuary include?

\- 2000 bowhead whales who visit annually while migrating around Canada

\- includes two deep offshore droughts rich in zooplankton for feeding

\- polar bears, narwhals, some fish and geese benefit from the sanctuary

\- 1000 ppl live in Clyde River and are allowed to hunt whales small-scale which sustainably manages their population

overview of the Antarctic treaty

\-the treaty was signed in 1961 by 46 countries so countries commit to maintaining and strengthening the antarctic ecosystems

\-in 1998 they agreed to an environmental protocol

\-only research activities are allowed and tourism is limited

What are the rules of the Antarctic treaty? MRNT

\-military bases and weapon testing are prohibited

\-countries must share the results of scientific research

\-nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal are prohibited

\-any country's claims on the territory are not recognised

What is the environmental protocol in the Antarctic treaty? MKWCA

\-a ban on mining for 50 years or until all countries agree to end it

\-a ban on killing or interfering with wildlife

\-all waste must be removed

\-controls on fishing

\-all activities must be assessed for their impact before they can be allowed