Geography Edexcel B Paper 1

How does heat from the Sun vary across Earth?

The amount of heat from the Sun varies around the Earth.

How is heat distributed around the Earth?

Heat is distributed by pressure differences and ocean currents.

What would happen if heat were not distributed around the Earth?

The tropics would be even hotter and the polar regions would be even colder.

What happens in ocean currents?

Cold, salty water sinks at the Poles, flows towards the Equator, is warmed again, and creates a convection current.

Why do pressure differences occur between land and sea?

Land and sea heat up differently.

How does land heat and cool?

Land heats quickly in summer and cools quickly in winter.

What happens to air above land as it heats up?

The air heats up, becomes lighter, and rises.

What pressure does land generally form in summer and winter?

Low pressure in summer and high pressure in winter.

How does the sea heat and cool?

Sea takes longer to heat and cool, so the air above it is dense and cool in summer.

What pressure does sea generally form in summer and winter?

High pressure in summer and low pressure in winter.

Where does the ITCZ occur?

Near the Equator, between the two Hadley Cells.

What happens at the ITCZ?

Warm tropical air converges at the Equator.

Why does air rise at the Equator?

The Sun’s radiation is most intense at the Equator, so warm tropical air rises rapidly.

What does rising air at the Equator create?

An area of low pressure that brings heavy rainfall.

What happens to air as it moves away from the Equator?

It loses moisture and density, then descends to form arid regions.

What seasons does the Hadley Cell bring to West Africa?

Rainy seasons in summer and the dry season in winter.

Which other cells complete the global circulation model?

The Ferrel Cell (30°–60°N and S) and the Polar Cell (60°–90°N and S).

How many main theories explain past climate change?

Four main theories.

What is the eruption theory of past climate change?

Eruptions produce ash that rises into the stratosphere, reflects sunlight back into space, and cools the planet.

What is the asteroid collision theory?

Asteroids hit Earth, sending ash and dust into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and cooling the climate.

What is the sunspot theory?

Lots of sunspots means more solar energy, warming the planet.

What is the orbital change theory?

Changes in Earth’s orbit can alter the amount of radiation received, cooling Earth.

How can Earth’s tilt affect climate?

A greater tilt makes seasonal differences more pronounced; less tilt makes seasonal differences less pronounced.

What three sources tell us about past climates?

Ice cores, tree rings, and historical sources.

What do ice cores show about past climates?

Air bubbles contain CO₂, showing previous warm and cold periods.

What do tree rings show about past climates?

Each ring shows a year’s growth; warmer and wetter years produce more growth.

What are historical sources for past climates?

Drawings, diaries, and newspapers; these are more recent evidence.

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Human activities produce greenhouse gases that trap heat from the Sun and warm the planet.

Which human activities produce greenhouse gases?

Industry, transport, energy, and farming.

Which countries emit more carbon dioxide?

Developed and emerging countries emit more carbon dioxide than developing countries.

What has happened to global temperature since the early 1900s?

There has been a near 1°C rise in average temperature.

What has happened to sea level since the early 1900s?

Sea levels have risen over 200 mm.

What is thermal expansion?

The increase in volume of seawater owing to heating.

What has happened to Arctic sea ice since 1980?

It has halved in area.

What has happened to the world’s valley glaciers?

90% of the world’s valley glaciers are shrinking.

What could climate change cause for rainfall extremes?

More frequent floods and droughts.

What could climate change cause for storms?

Stronger storms, including tropical cyclones.

What could climate change do to farming?

It could change farming through unreliable rainfall.

What could climate change cause in low-lying areas?

Climate refugees from low-lying areas.

Why is predicting future climate change difficult?

Because we do not know how populations and economies may grow.

Which future factors are unknown?

Fossil fuel consumption versus renewable energy choices, and people’s lifestyle choices.

What is a tropical cyclone?

A rotating system of clouds and storms.

Where do tropical cyclones form?

Over tropical waters with sea temperatures of 26.5°C.

How strong can tropical cyclone winds be?

They can exceed 118 km/h.

What are tropical cyclones called in different oceans?

Hurricanes in the Atlantic, typhoons in the Pacific, and cyclones in the Indian Ocean.

What are source regions?

The places where tropical cyclones form.

What warm-ocean condition is needed for a tropical cyclone?

A warm ocean exceeding 26.5°C.

Why is a warm ocean important for cyclone formation?

It creates a warm body of air to develop.

What wind condition helps a cyclone form?

Strong winds that draw warm air up rapidly from the ocean surface.

What Coriolis condition helps a cyclone form?

A strong Coriolis force created by Earth’s rotation.

Why do tropical cyclones not form on or close to the Equator?

The Coriolis force is too weak there.

What hazards do tropical cyclones bring?

Strong winds, storm surges, intense rainfall, and landslides.

What do strong winds from tropical cyclones do?

They bring down trees and power lines.

Why do storm surges cause flooding?

Because of the low pressure associated with the cyclone.

Why is intense rainfall dangerous in a cyclone?

It creates a flood risk.

Why can cyclones trigger landslides?

Saturated hillsides can slump.

Why is Bangladesh particularly vulnerable to cyclones?

Much of the population is rural and lives on low-lying flood-prone farmland.

How does urbanisation increase cyclone risk in Bangladesh?

It increases surface runoff so more rainwater reaches rivers.

Why do unplanned settlements increase risk in Bangladesh?

They are built on low-lying land prone to flooding.

Why does low GDP increase Bangladesh’s cyclone risk?

It is less able to invest in costly flood defences.

How does Bangladesh forecast tropical cyclones?

Through forecasts issued on TV and radio.

What technology does Bangladesh use to track cyclones?

Satellite technology.

What warning methods does Bangladesh use?

Warning systems.

How does Bangladesh evacuate people from cyclone areas?

Using evacuation strategies such as cyclone shelters.

What surge defences does Bangladesh use?

Embankments.

How has Bangladesh reduced cyclone deaths?

By using satellite tracking and warnings so people can evacuate to higher ground and cyclone shelters.

Why do some people still miss warnings in Bangladesh?

Some people do not have the technology to receive them.

What happened in Cyclone Aila in May 2009?

It killed 190 people and made 750,000 people homeless.

What were the primary impacts of Cyclone Aila?

Deaths and homelessness.

What were the secondary impacts of Cyclone Aila?

Crops were destroyed, farm animals were killed, and sickness spread from contaminated water.

How does the USA prepare for hurricanes?

Through forecasting, satellite technology, warnings, evacuation systems, and storm surge defences.

What was Hurricane Katrina?

The worst hurricane to hit the USA in 2005.

How was Hurricane Katrina tracked and managed?

Satellite technology tracked its path and residents of New Orleans were told to evacuate.

Did most people evacuate safely in Hurricane Katrina?

Yes, most evacuated safely.

Why could many low-income residents not evacuate Katrina?

They did not have a car and could not afford transport.

Why could many elderly residents not evacuate Katrina?

Ill health prevented them from leaving.

Where did people shelter if they could not evacuate Katrina?

In the Super Dome stadium or at home.

What caused the flooding in New Orleans during Katrina?

The storm surge caused the levees to collapse, flooding 80% of the city.

What partly caused the levees to fail in Katrina?

Faulty maintenance and design.

Which areas of New Orleans were badly affected?

Suburbs below sea level, mostly populated by Black people with low incomes.

Where did many residents seek shelter during Katrina?

At the Super Dome.

Why was the Super Dome criticised?

It and other evacuation centres were not prepared for the number of people and lacked food and water.

How many people died in Hurricane Katrina?

1,833 people.

How much did Hurricane Katrina cost the economy?

US$108 billion.

How was the federal government judged after Katrina?

It was heavily criticised for not doing enough to prepare and respond.

How is the Earth divided?

Into layers.

What is the lithosphere?

The uppermost layer of the Earth.

What is continental crust made of?

Granite.

What is oceanic crust made of?

Basalt.

How is the mantle divided?

Into the asthenosphere and the lower mantle.

What is the asthenosphere?

A thinner, partly molten lubricating layer under the lithosphere.

What is the lower mantle like?

It is solid.

How is the core divided?

Into the outer core and inner core.

What is the outer core like?

Liquid.

What is the inner core like?

Solid because the pressure is so great.

What is the core made of?

Iron and nickel.

What heats the Earth internally?

Radioactive decay in the core and mantle.

What do convection currents do?

They are caused by geothermal energy and move tectonic plates.

What do rising heat plumes do?

They bring magma to the surface.

Where do earthquakes and volcanoes occur?

At plate boundaries; they are tectonic hazards.