Geography Revision Notes

Geography

Study of the world: human and physical dimensions.
Includes natural (atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere) and human elements (industries, settlements, people).
Addresses geographical issues like coastal management and climate change.

Skills

Direction: Eight-point compass.
Scale: Written, linear, ratio.
Grid referencing: Four-figure AR, six-figure GR (eastings before northings).
Latitude and longitude: Latitude first (S or N).
Map types: Topographic, digital, cartograms.
Graph types: Climate, compound, population pyramids, scattergram.
Graphic representations: Diagrams, tables, sketches, GIS, photographs.
Large scale maps: detailed information about a small area
Small scale maps: basic information about a wide area

Geographical Concepts

Space: Significance of location and distribution.
Place: Significance of places and their influence.
Interconnection: Understanding connections between people and things.
Change: Understanding development over time.
Environment: Significance of the environment in human life.
Scale: Examining questions at different spatial levels.
Sustainability: Maintaining environmental capacity.

Human-Environment Interaction

Varying environmental worldviews.
Growing demands overload environments.
Pressure leads to: land degradation, habitat loss, biodiversity loss, reduced wellbeing.

Ecological Footprint

Measure of human demand on Earth's natural systems.
Biocapacity: Ecosystem's ability to generate resources and absorb waste.
Measured in hectares of productive land/sea area.
Australia's footprint: 9.3 GHA per capita.

Ecological Footprint Measures

Carbon: Forest area to absorb $CO_2$ emissions.
Forest: Area for timber, pulp, fuel wood.
Grazing land: Area for livestock.
Fishing grounds: Primary production to support catches.
Cropland: Area for crops.
Built-up land: Area covered by infrastructure.
Expressed in global hectares (gha).

Climate Change

Climate: Yearly changes in Earth’s atmosphere.
Climate change: Any change over time.
Global warming: Increased heat trapping.

Greenhouse Effect

Atmospheric gases trap heat.
Greenhouse gases: Water vapour ( $H2O$ ), methane ( $CH4$ ), ozone ( $O3$ ), nitrogen dioxide ( $NO2$ ), carbon dioxide ( $CO2$ ), sulphur dioxide ( $SO2$ ).

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Rising atmospheric temperatures.
Increased GHG, more heat retained.
Human activities: burning fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture, industry, waste, fertilisers.

Impacts of Climate Change

Increased temperatures.
Melting ice sheets and thermal expansion.
Sea level rise.
Coastal erosion and inundation.

Actions to Reduce Climate Change

Kyoto Protocol: Agreement to reduce emissions.
Emissions trading scheme: Cap on emissions, firms trade permits.

Ways to Reduce emissions

Energy supply: renewables, nuclear, CCS.
Transport: Fuel-efficient vehicles, rail, cycling.
Buildings: Efficient lighting, solar panels.
Industry: Efficient equipment, recycling.
Agriculture: Improved yields, carbon storage.
Forestry: Planting forests, wood management.
Waste: Methane recovery, recycling.

Individual Actions

Switch to green power.
Reduce car use and air flights.
Use less energy and water.
Eat less meat.
Improve home efficiency.

Coastal Environments

Ecosystems: Interactions between organisms and environment.
Key terms: atoll, hinterland, storm surge, tsunami, salinity.

Coastal Processes

Waves generated by wind create swell.
Waves: swash (forward movement), backwash (return).
Destructive waves: strong backwash, erosion.
Constructive waves: weaker backwash, deposition.

Coastal Landforms

Depositional: Beaches, spits, tombolos, lagoons, dunes.
Erosional: Headland, Cliff, Cave, Arches, Stacks.
Longshore drift current moves sediment.

Human Impacts on Coasts

Loss of habitats from construction.
Pollution, overfishing, oil spills, waste.
Increased erosion, eutrophication.
Global warming: sea level rise, storm surges, increased salinity.

Coastal Management

Natural and human-induced changes.
Need for sustainable management.
Threats: inundation, erosion, land loss, salinity.

Coastal Management Strategies

Beach nourishment: Adding sand.
Groyne: Traps sand.
Sea wall: Protects land.
Offshore breakwater: Reduces wave energy.
Property purchase: Remove threatened structures.

Human Wellbeing

Ability to access needs for a happy, healthy life.
Indicators monitor progress.
Factors affecting equality: resources, education, disasters, corruption.
Inequalities exist within and between countries.
Development: Overall living standard or economic growth.

Factors Affecting Wellbeing

Social: Population, cultural norms.
Technological: Level of technology.
Economic: Income, employment.
Environmental: Climate, resources.
Political: Stability, corruption.

Measures of Wellbeing

GDP: Goods and services within borders.
HDI: Life expectancy, education, GNI.
GNI: Total income of citizens.
HPI: Life expectancy, wellbeing, ecological footprint.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Measures

Quantitative: Measurable comparisons (GDP, HDI).
Qualitative: Description of characteristics (freedom).

Wealth and Wellbeing

Access to necessities determined by wealth.
Wealth generated by producing and selling.
Wealth affects health and education access.
Poverty influences education and health.

MEDC vs. LEDC

MEDC: Low birth/death rates, high life expectancy, high literacy.
LEDC: High birth/death rates, low life expectancy, low literacy.

Life Expectancy

Wealthier people live longer.
Higher income enables better access to resources.
Child mortality affects life expectancy.

Population and Wellbeing

MEDC: Lower birth/death rates.
LEDC: Higher rates.
Improvements decrease death rates, increase life expectancy.

Improving Wellbeing

Reasons for aid: humanitarianism, military, cultural, commercial.
Types of aid: Bilateral, multilateral, NGOs.
Forms of aid: Money, food, medicine, training.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

No poverty, zero hunger, good health, quality education, gender equality, clean water.