Geography mock flashcards

Where is Medmerry (managed retreat) ?

Near Chichester, West Sussex

What is the coastline like and mainly used for at Medmerry ?

low-lying coast mainly used for farming and caravan parks

What coastal defences did Medmerry used to have?

A low sea wall that needed repair

Why was managed retreat decided at Medmeery?

A new sea wall would have been very expensive

As the land was relatively low value they allowed the sea to breach the sea defences and flood some farmland

How much did the Medmerry managed retreat scheme cost and when did it take place?

£28 million and controlled breach of the defences took place in November 2013

What will the Medmerry Managed Retreat achieve?

Create a large natural saltmarsh to form a natural buffer to the sea

Help to protect surrounding farmland and caravan parks from flooding

Establish a valuable wildlife habitat and encourage visitors to the area

Why were embankments constructed at Medmerry managed retreat?

Top give protection to farmland, roads and settlements. This alteration of the coastline is called coastal realignment

Where is the Holderness coast?

In the North East of England in East Yorkshire

On the North sea and North of the Lancashire coast

Expands from Flamborough Head in the N and Spurn Head in the S

What is the Holderness Coast like?

Very weak coastline

Very weak boulder clay which is rapidly eroding away

Fastest eroding coastline in Europe (10m/yr)

Longshore drift travels from N to S

Winter storms + prevailing wind form the NE

What are key features of settlements and places along the Holderness Coast (excluding Mappelton)?

Flamborough Head

• Made out of chalk (headland)

• Caves, arches and stacks

Bridlington

• Popular for tourism

• Town protected by 4m high sea wall

• Groynes protect beach

Skipsea

• 10 miles S of Bridlington

• Village - Post offices, shops etc.

• Sea defences at Bridlington making things worse

Easington

• Very expensive major gas terminal

• terminal built on cliff top

• rock armour to protect terminal

Spurn Head

• Spit with salt marsh behind and lifeboat station on tip

Key facts about Mappelton (Holderness coast)

342 people

50 homes

B142 road goes through village

How much was spent and what coastal defences were put in place at Mappelton?

£2 million in 1991

2 Rock groynes and rock armour

Granite for Norway create rock groynes

Cliff has been stabilised through landscaping and vegetation cover

How was Mappelton coastal protection successful?

Groynes have reduced erosion and a beach has built up, preventing more erosion

How was Mappelton coastal protection unsuccessful?

Further south the rate of erosion has significantly increased as no sediment is being replaced as it is all trapped by groynes in Mappelton

This means there is no beach to protect the cliff→increased erosion and slumping

Significant loss of land

Why do people say Mappelton should have used managed retreat?

Much cheaper

Does not harm places further down the coast

Allows salt marsh to form

Road could be moved which would prevent the need for sea defences in Mappelton in the future

What is the population of Rio?

6.5 Miliion (city) & 12.5 Million (surrounding areas too)

What is the main language of Rio?

Portuguese

Rio is the ... city in Brazil

2nd Largest

Rio is a ... capital

Cultural

Why is there urban growth in RIo?

Migrants coming from Amazon Basin, Argentina, Bolivia, South korea, China, Portugal, USA and UK 65% of growth in last 150 years

Natural increase

What major sporting events did Rio host and when?

2014 World Cup. 2016 Olympic Games

What % of GDP does Rio produce?

5% of Brazil's GDP

What are Rio's main exports?

Coffee, sugar, iron ore

What are Rio's main service industries?

Banking, finanace, insurance

What are Rio's main manufacturing industries?

Chemicals, pharmacueticals, clothing, furniture, processed foods

Name some famous landmarks in Rio

Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Guanabara Bay, Copacabana, Ipanema Beach

What are the zones of Rio?

North zone, Centro, South zone, West zone

Describe the North Zone

Port area, Maracana soccer stadium, favelas

Describe Centro

Historic buildings, CBD and main shops

Describe the South Zone

Tourist hotels and beaches. Richest area, luxury flats (Vidigal) . Overlooked by Rocinha favela - largest favela in the continent

Describe the West Zone

Olympic stadiums. Campo Grande industrial area (steel works) - low quality housing. Barra da Tijuca - Was poor,turned posh

What are the main social challenges facing Rio?

Healthcare

Education

Water Supply

Energy

How is Healthcare a challenge in Rio?

2013-only 55% of city had a local family health clinic

West Zone, only 60% of women received medical care

Life expectancy in west zone - 45 years vs 80 in the south

Average infant mortality is 19/1000

Poor sanitation + Crowded living conditions = easy for water born disease to spread quickly

What are the opportunities/solutions for healthcare in Rio?

3 public hospitals + 6 private - much easier access than in rural areas

(Mobile health clinics) Santa Marta 13km to nearest hospital… Medical kits taken to help detect + treat disease

How is Education a challenge in Rio?

Only 50% of all children continue education after 14

Many children drop out of school +get involved in drug trafficking

Teachers have poor pay + training + there are constant shortages

Compulsory education for 6-14- low enrolment - about 25% of poorest children do not go to school

what are the opportunities/solutions for education in Rio?

90% of children <10 can read + write

Encouraging local people to volunteer to help in school

Giving school grants to poor families to help meet the cost of keeping their children in school

Making money available to pay for free lessons in volleyball, football, swimming + squash in Rocinha favela

Opening a private university in Rocinha favela

How is Water Supply a challenge in Rio?

12% of of RIo’s population did not have access to running water

37% of water is lost through leaky pipes, fraud and illegal access

in 2015 SE Brazil experience worst drought in 80 years » Parabuina + Santa Branca reservoirs declared empty

What are the opportunities/solutions for water supply in Rio?

City has largest water treatment works in the world

Work to improve quality + quantity of water

7 new treatment plants built between 1998+2014 + 300+km of pipe laid

by 2014 95% of population had a mains water supply

How is Energy a challenge in Rio?

Rio frequently suffers blackouts due to electricity shortages

Many people in favelas illegally tap into main electricity supplies →dangerous + can cause fire

Rio is expected to grow by 1 mil in next 10 year + demands of Olympics = more demand

what are the opportunities /solution for energy in Rio?

Government concentrates increasing energy supplies to cities like Rio with high population density

99% of city residents have direct access to electricity

3x more people have access to electricity than in countryside

installing 60km of new power lines

2 new nuclear reactors, third due to start in 2023

Simplício hydro electric complex will increase supply of electricity by 30% - took 6 years to build, us$2 billion

Favela community energy projects: Babilonia favela, NGO Revusolar installed solar panels to provide sustainable energy to 35 families,2 shops+ 1 school

What are Rio’s economic opportunities?

one of highest income per head in country - many jobs and service sector

second most important industrial centre in Brazil after Sao Paulo

Growing pop. of skilled migrants

Existing industries stimulate development of new industries (Multiplier effect)

Oil discovered offshore - oil related industry

Popular for tourism

How have industrial areas stimulated economic development (Give an example)?

Large employment and attracts investment

Terenium steelworks, Sepeiitba Bay

• Rich iron ore deposits

• Built in area of natural beauty - controversial

• Multiplier effects -construction, industry, income etc.

• Brazilian + local government have benefited from tax revenue + investment into the city

• Local people have secure employment, healthcare, education

• Local communities benefited form investment + self-help projects

How is Rio challenged by unemployment?

2017-2020 unemployment rate was 15%

Women unemployment rate in 2019 was 18%

High unemployment in favelas

Large informal economy - 3.5 million workers do not have a formal employment contract - no taxes

2015 recession

High corruption

2016 Olympics had few long term employment

2018- government had an economic crisis

How is Rio challenged by crime?

Robbery + violent crime is common

Powerful gangs control drug trafficking in the favelas e.g Red Command

2017, murder rate increase by 20%

Many people distrust police - corrupt

What are the solutions to Crime in Rio?

2013 - Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) set up to reclaim favelas from drug dealers

Police taken control of crime dominated Complexo de Alemano + 30 other small favelas

2020, 25 people killed after armed police stormed Jacarezinho in pursuit of drug traffickers

What are the main environmental challenges in Rio?

Air pollution

Water pollution

Waste disposal

How is Air pollution a problem in Rio?

Rio is most congested city in South America- increases air pollution

Rio’s mountainous coast restricts options for road building » congestion on main routes

Car ownership increased by 40%

Air pollution causes 5000 deaths per year

Brown smog hangs over city - exhaust fumes + industrial pollution

What are the solutions to air pollution in Rio?

Expansion of metro systems under Guanabara Bay, to South zone + Barra de Tijuca

Toll roads in city centre to reduce congestion

Making coasts one way roads during rush hours to improve traffic flow

How is Water pollution a problem in Rio?

Guanabara Bay is highly polluted- major threat to wildlife

Commercial fishing declined by 90% in last 20 years

Pollution could impact tourism

Rivers heavily polluted with sewage + waste

Over 50 tonnes of industrial waste discharged daily

Oil spills + other ship discharges contaminate the bay

What are the solutions to water pollution in Rio?

12 new sewage works built since 2014 - US$68 mil

Ships fined for discharging fuel into the bay illegally

5km of new sewage pipes installed around badly polluted areas

How is Waste disposal a problem in Rio?

3.5 million tonnes of waste produced annually - only 2% recycled

Most waste ends up in recently opened Seropedica landfill site - 70km from city » Landfill gas produced used to generate electricity / converted into fuel for waste collection vechiles

Waste collection infrequent in favelas due to narrow steep streets

Waste litters the streets + enters rivers → algal blooms, floating debris

How many favelas are in Rio and where are they found?

1000 - housing about 24% of Rio’s population

85% is suburbs /outer areas

Many favelas developed on steep slopes

Some located near industrial areas for employment

Recently favelas near city centre have been cleared to make are more attractive for businesses and tourists - controversial

What are the main challenges of living in favelas?

Construction

Unemployment

Crime

Health

Services

How is construction a challenge in the favelas?

Houses initially poorly built - now most built from concrete + brick

Heavy rain can cause landslides- 2010, 214 people killed + 13000 lost homes as they were swept away

Limited road access due to steep slopes

How is unemployment a challenge in the favelas?

Unemployment rates as high as 20%

Most employment is poorly paid with irregular jobs in the informal sector

Average incomes may be less than £75 a month

How is Crime a challenge in the favelas?

20 per 1000 murder rate in favelas

Drug gangs dominate the favelas

Many inhabitants distrust police due to violence + corruption

How is health a challenge in the favelas?

Population densities of 37000 per km²

Infant mortality rate as hi9gh as 50/1000

Waste builds up in street- danger of disease

Occasional fires produce harmful smoke

How are services a challenge in the favelas?

In non- improved favelas - 12% of homes do not have running water, >30% have no electricity, 50% have no sewage connections

Many homes use illegal connections to electricity pylons

Sewers are often open drains

Drinking water often comes from city water mains - located at bottom of steep slopes

When did authorities in Rio acknowledge the existence of favelas?

1980 - before areas not shown on maps

How are favelas being improved?

mind 1980s city planners decided to upgrade them and provide essential services

After being awarded Olympics, move to destroy favelas near Olympics

What is the Favela Bairro Project?

1995-2009 , US$1 billion ‘slum to neighbourhood’ project

Aimed to integrate favelas into city - addressing issues of land ownership, infrastructure + service provision

Involved over 25000 residents in 73 communities

How were Social Problems addressed by the Favela Bairro Project?

Day care + after school care, enabling adults to get jobs

Improving adult literacy

Medical services for drug addiction, alcoholism, victims of domestic violence

Building of new health, leisure + education facilities

Pacifying Police Unit set up with police patrolling the community to reduce crime

Access to water supply + drainage system

Cable car system across the Complexo de Alemao hillsides

How were Environmental Problems addressed by the Favela Bairro Project?

Replacement of wooden buildings with brick - more permanent, stronger

Removal of house from dangerous steep slopes

Widening + paving of streets to allow access for waste collection + emergency services

Paved + formally named roads

Hillsides secured to prevent landslides

How were the Economic Problems addressed by the Favela Bairro Project?

Access to credit allows inhabitants to buy materials to improve homes

100% mortgages available for people to buy homes

What are the successes of the Favela Bairro Project?

Improved Quality of Life, Employment, mobility

Model for UN and other Brazilian cities

What are the issues of the Favela Bairro Project?

More needed to improve literacy + employment

Rents risen in improved favelas

New elevated pavements have cause rainwater to flood homes

Some new infrastructure costly and not maintained

Credit schemes not widely available

Residents may lack skills + resources to make repairs

What has happened since the Favela Bairro Project?

Some favelas demolished for Olympics

Morar Carioca program aimed to improve 800 favelas by installing water, sanitation+ drainage systems + improving roads + social services - slow progress

Where is the River Tees?

North East England

Source is in Pennines and flows east to mouth at North sea Middlesbrough

What are the characteristics of the River Tees’ upper course?

Hard impermeable rocks

V shaped valley

interlocking spurs

Many small tributaries

High Force- Uk’s largest waterfall- 21 metres high

12000 mm annual rainfall

600m altitiude

Cumbrian moorlands

How did High Force on the river Tees form?

area of hard rock, called Whin Sill (or Whinstone), is located above a layer of soft rocks (sandstone and shale)

leaves a gorge

20m³ /s flow rate

What are the characteristics of the River Tees’ middle and lower course?

Middle

• Meanders - near Barnard castle

Lower

• Near Yarm - large meanders → oxbow lakes. Yarm is enclosed in meander bend

• levees

• large estuary with mudflats - one of largest container ports in UK. Industrial land works

• Stockton - river straightening

95% agricultural land use

Where are the Sommerset levels and what are they like?

Area of low lying coastal plains + wetlands in the SW of UK in Sommerset

Several rivers flow through and drain into the Bristol Channel

Low lying - prone to flooding

Why was prolonged heavy rainfall a cause of the Somerset floods?

series of Atlantic storms brought persistent rainfall + gale force winds

Record rainfall - 183.3mm - 200% higher than average for month

Caused ground to be saturated

Why was high tides + storm surges a cause of the Somerset floods?

High tides in Bristol channel created tidal surges that blocked floodwater from escaping

Why was reduced river dredging a cause of the Somerset floods?

Sediment build up in rivers due to reduced dredging reduced carrying capacity of rivers

Why was land use changes a cause of the Somerset floods?

Conversion of grassland to maize field reduced the land’s ability to retain water

What were some social effects of the 2014 Somerset floods?

• Over 600 homes flooded

• 16 farms evacuated

• Residents evacuated into temporary accommodation, for months in some cases

• power supplies disrupted

• Villages (Moorland + Muchelney) completely cut off

• Lives severely disrupted - shopping, school, work

• Contaminated floodwater posed health risks

What were some economic effects of the 2014 Somerset floods?

• Estimated damage over £10 million

• Agricultural land flooded -14,000 hectares underwater 3-4 weeks, 1,000 livestock evacuated

• Road closures

• Trains cancelled

• People unable to go to work

• Businesses forced to close due to flooding and infrastructure damage

What were some environmental effects of the 2014 Somerset floods?

• Sewage, chemicals like pesticides and oil contaminated floodwater which spread

• Ecosystems and habitats destroyed

• Lots of debris deposited

• Prolonged flooding

• Soli erosion + degradation

• Stagnant water deoxygenated - had to be reoxygenated before pumped back into rivers

What were some immediate responses of the 2014 Somerset floods?

• Warnings - weather + flood warnings issued + monitors

• Flood defences- barriers ,sand bags, pumps, valuables moved upstairs

• Emergency evacuation and rescue

• Army, 40 royal marines sent in do deliver food, equipment etc.

• 65 pumps used to drain 65 million m³ of floodwater

What was done for dredging as a long term response for the Somerset floods?

River Tone + Parrett dredged to increase capacity

8km dredged

What long term flood defences were put in place after the Somerset floods?

500m of road in Muchelney raised to prevent village being cut off

river banks raised + strengthened

Bridgewater tidal barrier plans - protect against tidal surges from the Bristol channel

How were drainage systems enhanced as a long term response to the Somerset floods?

Pumping stations installed to manage water levels

New river channels under the a372 at Beer Wall

What is the Flood action plan (Somerset)

20 year flood action plan- improve resilience and flood management - £80 million cost

Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) established to oversea and coordinate flood risk management

How has land management been affected as a long term response to the Somerset floods?

Aim to improve water retention and reduce runoof