Contents Exam board specification map Introduction Topic checker iv vi x Geographical skills Using maps 2 Using images and analysing data 6 Using new technologies in geography 8 Natural hazards Tectonic hazards 10 Earthquakes 14 Volcanoes 16 Case study Sichuan earthquake 18 Case study Mt Nyiragongo volcano 20 Tropical storms 22 Drought 24 Rocks and weathering Rocks and weathering 26 Glaciation Glaciation 28 Rivers The river system 30 River processes 32 River landscapes and features 34 Flooding and hydrographs 36 Managing flooding 38 Coasts Wave power 40 Coastal processes 42 Landforms created by erosion 44 Depositional landforms 46 Managing the coastline 48 Coastal case studies 50 Weather and climate Weather and climate 52 UK weather 54 Depressions and anticyclones 56 Cold environments 58 Hot desert environments 62 Climate change 66 Managing the impacts of climate change 68 ii
Ecosystems Ecosystems 70 The rainforest ecosystem 72 Population Population change 76 Managing population change 78 Migration 80 Urban settlement Urban settlement 82 Challenges facing MEDC cities 84 Challenges facing LEDC cities 86 Sustainable urban living 88 The changing countryside Urban sprawl 90 Changing farming in MEDCs 92 Changing farming in LEDCs 94 The global economy Globalisation 96 The global economy 98 Changing industry in MEDCs 100 Changing industry in LEDCs 102 An unequal world Measuring global differences in development 104 Trade, aid and development 106 Tourism Tourism 108 Rural tourism in the UK 110 Tourism issues in LEDCs 112 Case study Tourism in the Costa del Sol, Spain 114 Case study Tourism in Kenya 116 Sustainable development Sustainable development 118 Sustainable resource use 120 Resources and energy production 122 Managing water resources 124 Exam questions and model answers 126 Answers to practice questions 135 Last-minute learner 145 iii
Using maps 1 There are many different types of maps in geography. In your exam you will need to be able to read and interpret maps using grid references. A Types of map Here are some of the different types of maps that may appear in your exam. Sketch maps: These are simple maps that are drawn quickly and not usually to scale. Statistical maps: These are maps World population that show statistical information e.g. birth rates in different countries of the world. A common statistical map is a choropleth map. This type Tropic of Cancer of map uses shading to show different Equator values or groups of values. Tropic of Capricorn This choropleth map shows population density. High density Moderately density Low density Ordnance Survey maps (OS maps): These are detailed maps produced for the UK. They come in a standard format The rest of this section focuses on Ordnance Survey (OS) maps as most GCSE geography examinations include at least one question based on an OS map. However, the skills explained here are relevant to nearly all maps. B Grid references Grid references are used to help people locate places or features on a map. 2 Grid references can be given in two ways: four-figure grid references and six-figure grid references. Four-figure grid references are used to locate a single grid square. For example, to locate 0722 on the grid opposite, you have to: Begin reading the map from the bottom left-hand corner. Read the numbers along the bottom of the map first. Move along the bottom row of numbers until you reach the number 07. The number 07 is found on the left side of the grid square. Now read the numbers on the side of the map. Grid references are a bit like coordinates, which you will have used in maths. Move up the side of the map until you reach the number 22, which is at the bottom of the grid square. You will notice that an L-shape is formed in the bottom left-hand corner of grid square 0722.
Six-figure grid references are used to locate the exact position of a place or feature within a grid square on a map. For example, to locate the village of Hampton on the grid below you have to: Imagine that each grid square has been divided into tenths. Again, read the map from the bottom left-hand corner. Move along the bottom row of numbers until you reach the left-hand side of the square with Hampton in it. The exact position of Hampton is 06 and 3 tenths. Now move up the side of the grid until you reach the bottom of the grid square with the village of Hampton in it. The exact position of Hampton is 22 and 7 tenths. The six-figure grid reference for Hampton is 063227. 23 23 22 22 21 21 20 06 07 08 09 10 20 06 07 08 09 10 Four-figure grid reference Six-figure grid reference C Scale The scale of a map helps you to work out the distance between one place and another. On an OS map, scale is shown using a scale line, usually found at the bottom of the map or with the key. In an exam, you are likely to be given an OS map with a scale of 1:25 000 or 1:50 000. On a 1:50 000 map, 1 cm represents 50 000 cm. >> practice questions 1 Using the map above, give the four-figure grid reference for the village of Oakton. 2 Using the map above, give the six-figure grid reference for the village of Oakton. 3
Using maps 2 Understanding a map can also involve using map symbols and interpreting contour lines. A Map symbols To help show detailed information, most maps use symbols. Map symbols are explained using a key. The key gives you the meaning of each symbol. Different types of map may use different symbols. However, there are some common symbols that are used on most maps. OS maps have a set of standard symbols. The OS map in this book has a key (page 131). If you are given an OS map in an exam, it will have a similar key attached. Make sure you use it to help you read and understand the map. B Relief Relief is the shape of the land. Studying relief involves looking at the height of the land. Relief is shown on a map using contour lines or spot heights. Contour lines in a V indicate a valley and circular contours indicate a hill. Contour lines are brown lines that show the height of the land. The height of the land along a contour line is measured in metres above sea level. Contour lines join up points of equal height above sea level. The height of the land is the same at any point along one single contour line. Each contour line goes up in set intervals. On a 1:50 000 map, each line goes up 10 metres. The closer together the contour lines, the steeper the relief of the land; the further apart the contour lines, the gentler the relief. Spot heights are shown on a map as a dot, with the height of the land at that point written beside it. Steeper land Contour 200 150 lines 137 100 50 Gentle slope 53 Can you draw and identify common OS map symbols? Drawing a simple sketch map to illustrate a case study is a useful exam technique. Sketch maps are quick to draw and can be labelled to show information about a place. 4
Ordnance Survey map of Newport, South Wales 90 89 88 87 86 85 84 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 >> practice questions Use the map of Newport above to answer the following questions: 1 Name the farm found in square 3585. 2 Name the features found at: a) 365829 b) 381834 c) 362878. 3 What is the height of the land at 388881? 83 82 5