Geography questions

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather is short term atmospheric conditions and climate is the average over a long period

How do ocean currents affect the UK climate?

The North Atlantic drift brings warm water, making winter milder

What are the three main river processes?

Erosion, transportation and deposition

How are water falls made?

Water erodes hard rock softer than soft rock and creates a drop, the plunge pool deepens leading to collapse and retreat

What is the name of a wave that causes erosion?

Destructive wave

What are two types of coastal erosion?

Hydraulic action and abrasion

How are spits formed?

Longshore drift moves sediment along the coast, where the coastline changes direction, deposition forms a spit

What is urbanisation?

The growth of cities and towns

What are three problems caused by rapid urbanisation?

Overcrowding, pollution and a lack of services

How can sustainable cities help reduce environmental impacts?

Green spaces, renewable energy, efficient transport system and waste reduction

What is an ecosystem?

A community or living organisms interacting with their environment

Name three types of biomes

Rainforest, Tundra and a desert

How does deforestation affect the water cycle?

Less transpiration, reduced rainfall, increased surface runoff and leading soil to erode

What is the greenhouse effect?

Trapping of heat in the earths atmosphere by greenhouse gases

What are two human activities that contribute to climate change?

Deforestation and burning of fossil fuels

How does climate change affect sea levels?

Melting icecaps and thermal expansion cause sea levels to rise, leading to coastal flooding

How do tropical storms form?

Warm ocean water evaporates, rises and condenses, releasing heat and creating strong winds and heavy rain

What is migration?

The movement of people from one place to another

What are two push factors that cause people to migrate?

War and lack of jobs

How does migration affect the source and host country?

Source country looses workforce but gains remittances, host country gains labour but may face pressure on services

What does sustainable mean?

Meeting present needs without harming future generations

What are two ways that agriculture can become more sustainable?

Crop rotation and organic farming

How do renewable energy sources help reduce environmental impacts?

They reduce carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels

What is the main source of fresh water?

Rainfall

How can people reduce water wastage?

Using water-efficient appliances and fixing leaks

How do water shortages affect people and the environment?

Leads to droughts, food shortages, poor sanitation and loss of biodiversity

What is the process when waves break materials against the coastlines?

Erosion

What is a type of coastal erosion?

Hydraulic action - the force of water compresses air in cracks which causes the rocks to break

How does a spit form on a coastline?

Longshore drift transports sediment across the coast, depositing it where the coastline changes direction or at a river mouth, building up over time to cause a spit - it may curve over time due to wave refraction

How can ocean currents affect coastal areas?

Warm ocean currents can raise temperatures of coastal regions, while cold currents can cool the climate

What is an example of a tropical rainforest?

The Amazon Rainforest

How are plants in the rainforest adapted to their environment?

Drip-tip leaves allow water to runoff quickly to avoid rotting

How can human activity lead to deforestation in rainforests?

Logging for timber, cleaning land for cattle ranching and agriculture, building roads and settlements

How are strategies used to manage traffic congestion on urban areas?

Park and ride schemes, congestion charges, investment in public transport, cycling lanes - the effectiness depends on the city investment and public use

What is the point where the river meets the sea called?

Mouth

What is a landform created by river erosion?

Waterfall - formed where hard rock overlays soft rock, causing the softer rock to erode and create a drop

How can human activity increase the risk of flooding?

Urbanisation (impermeable surfaces), deforestation (less interception), and poor drainage systems increase surface runoff and likelihood to flooding

What does HIC stand for?

High Income Country

Why are some countries less developed than others?

History of colonisation has left some countries with fewer resources and a weaker economy

How can international aid reduce the development gap?

It provides funding for infrastructure, education and healthcare - improves the quality of life however it may not be a long term solution

What is one type of greenhouse gas?

Carbon Dioxide

How can human activity enhance the greenhouse affect?

Burning fossil fuels traps more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere

How can climate change impact low-lying areas?

It increases flooding from sea level rises, saltwater intrusion damages crops and fresh water supplies

What is the term used for water stored in underground rocks?

Groundwater

What is meant by water stress?

When the demand for water exceeds the amount during a certain period

How can water transfer schemes help manage water supply?

Water is moved from areas of surplus to areas of deficit, ensuring a more reliable water supply

What is the term given to the number of people in a given area?

Population density

What are reasons for the falling of birth rates in some countries?

Improved access to contraception and family planning

What are the impacts of an ageing population?

Increased healthcare and pension costs, potential labour shortage but there’s also benefits like experience in workforce and volunteering

Is coal renewable or non-renewable?

Non-renewable

What is an environmental disadvantage of burning fossil fuels?

They release greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change

What are the benefits and drawbacks of wind energy?

It is renewable and there are no emissions once they’re built but they cause visual and noise pollution and unreliable as they’re reliant on wind which is variable

What is the term for the lines on a map which show height?

Contour lines

What is domestic tourism?

Travelling for leisure within your country

What is a positive of tourism for the local economy?

Creates jobs - eg in hotels, restaurants etc

What is a negative impact of mass tourism on the environment?

Littering, habitat destruction, water shortage and increase in carbon emissions from transport

What is the centre of a tropical storm called?

The eye

How do warm ocean waters contribute to the formation of tropical storms?

Warm water provides the heat and moisture that fuels the storm through evaporation and condensation

How effective are forecasting at reducing the impacts of tropical storms?

They allow early warnings, evacuations, reducing deaths and damages but it relays on accurate data and communication systems

What is a sustainable mode of transport?

Cycling or a sharing-scheme

How can sustainable urban planning reduce environmental impacts?

It promotes green space, energy efficient buildings, renewable energy and reducing car use, lowering pollution and conserving resources

What does GDP stand for?

Gross Domestic Product

What is meant by life expectancy as a development indicator?

The average number of years a person is expected to live in a country

What is the usefulness of using a single development indicator to measure a countries progress?

It provides a quick snapshot but can be misleading as it may not reflect inequality or social factors

What is one factor that affects food supply?

Climate

What are strategies that increase food supply sustainably?

Organic farming and reducing food waste help maintain long-term security without harming the environment

What are human uses of floodplains?

Fertile land for farming and flat land for building settlements

What is a cause of urbanisation in LICs?

Rural-to-urban migration due to job opportunities

What is the name for a narrow stretch of land that joins an island to the mainland?

Tombolo

What is the effectiveness of hard engineering strategies at the coast?

Sea walls and groynes protect the coast but are expensive and can cause erosion in other places

What is a type of renewable energy source?

Solar power

What is an advantage of solar power?

It is renewable and doesn’t produce greenhouse gases

What are the impacts that have increased demand for energy?

It can lead to environmental damage (eg oil spills), geopolitical tension

What is the prevailing wind direction over the UK?

South-West

How does the UK position affect the climate?

It is surrounded by the sea which moderates temperatures and brings moist air leading to rainfall

How do extreme weather events impact the UK?

Flooding can happen and infrastructure, droughts can affect water supply and agriculture

What is the term for the difference in wealth and quality of life between countries?

Development gap

How does fair trade help reduce the development gap?

They ensure farmers get a good price for products and improves living standards

Name a UK National Park

Snowdonia

Why are National Parks important?

They protect natural landscapes and provide recreation and tourist opportunities

What are the conflicts between land uses in National Parks?

Tourism supports the economy but can cause congestion and environmental damage

How do dams help manage water supply?

They store water is reservoirs for use during dry periods

What ate the impacts of large scale water transferring schemes?

It can relieve water shortages but it is expensive and may damage ecosystems

What does urban sustainability mean?

Creating cities that meet current needs without compromising the future

How can transport become more sustainable in cities?

Investment can improve transport which could reduce the usage of cars and emissions

How can cities become more sustainable?

Green spaces could be put into place to improve air-quality and energy efficient buildings can reduce emissions

What is an extreme weather events that can happen in the UK?

Flooding

Why does the UK experience extreme weather events?

The Uk is a meeting point of different air masses which can cause storms and weather extremes

What is a Savanna?

A tropical grassland with scattered trees

What is an adaption of animals in the savanna?

Animals like lions hunt at night to avoid the heat

What are threats to the savanna ecosystem?

Overgrazing, climate change, and human settlement can degrade the environment

How can education improve a countries development?

Educated people can have better job opportunities which raises income and quality of life

What is deindustrialisation?

The decline of manufacturing industries

What is a reason for deindustrialisation in the UK?

Globalisation moved to countries with cheaper labour

How is the UK economy changing in the 21st Century?

Growth in services and quaternary sector, regional inequalities remain and green energy is rising

What is a hard engineering strategy that can prevent river flooding?

Building levees or embankments

How can flood warning help reduce flood impacts?

They allow people to prepare, evacuate and protect their property

How effective are soft engineering strategies at managing floods?

Techniques like floodplain zoning are sustainable and cost effective but may not fully prevent flooding

How does beach nourishment help protect the coast?

Sand is added to the coast to absorb wave energy and reduce erosion

Define birth rates

Number of births per 1000 of population per year