geography past paper essay questions ( physical geo)

example 1. With the aid of examples, examine the extent to which hard engineering prevents river floods. [15]

command words → Examine the extent + with the aid of examples. ]

topic → Hard engineering of rivers.

focus → Extent to which it prevents river floods.

ESSAY PLAN

  • what types of hard engineering { wing dykes, artificial levees, dams, retaining walls}

  • explain how each of theses work and how they are made.

  • discuss some issues such as the damage done to wild life, salination, and building on flood plains increases the over all risk of floods, also discuss how these forms of engineering are more expensive to build and maintain.

  • compare these methods to conventional methods of soft engineering such as afforestation and flood plain zoning and their effectiveness

  • come to the overall conclusion that hard engineering to a greater extent than soft engineering prevents river floods, however they are more damaging to the environment and more expensive to build and maintain compared to soft engineering methods and there is a general risk of flooding when the flood plain is urbanised.

example 2. With the aid of examples, discuss the view that wind belts are the most important influence on the atmospheric transfer of energy. [15]

command words → with the aid of examples + discuss = look at all sides and give a. balanced argument

topic → atmospheric transfer of energy

focus → wind belts are the most important influence

ESSAY PLAN

  • 90% of the heat distribution is done by trade winds and air currents.

  • the tri-cellular model shows how heat is distributed away from the equator and spreads out towards the polar regions.

  • explain how the Hadley, ferrel and polar cell works

  • this creates regions of high and low pressure. Winds blow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

  • explain that the Coriolis effect deflects winds to the left from the southern hemisphere and the right from the northern hemisphere.

  • mention how ocean currents also play a bog role in atmospheric transfer of energy. This takes place when denser, saltier, and colder water sinks and moves into the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. surface water which is warmer brings water from North Atlantic and Pacific oceans and these currents give off heat to winds and become cooler and moves into polar regions.

example 3. With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which the speed of movement is the most important factor in classifying the types of mass movement. [15]

command words → with the aid of examples + asses = talk about many other factors too and see which is the most important

topic → classifying the types of mass movements

focus → the extent to which the speed of movement is the most important factor

ESSAY PLAN

  • Speed is an important factor of classification as as rock falls and soil creep are very different in terms of speed. rock falls are spontaneous and are very fast whilst soil creep occurs over a long period of time and are very slow as they push rocks and soil upwards and down.

  • Mention how water content is also very important in classification of mass movements for example mud flows and rock falls have very different water contents. the water content in mud flows is very high compared to the dry nature of rock falls.

  • The size of particles also plays a role as slips have a larger particle size as the land generally keeps its general shape compared to mud flows which mainly has a smaller particle size

  • use the case study of land slides in the Philippines compare the speeds, water content and the particle size of the movement and use it as an example of how speed and water content are important factors in mass movements

  • in conclusion speed does play an important role in classification of mass movements however water content is also an important factor too whereas factors such as particle size are not as important in the classification of mass movements.