iGCSE Geography:

Case Study booklet

Name: ________________
Teacher: ______________
How to be exam successful?
 How to answer a case study question?
Before you start writing your answer, make a Bullet Point Plan
 Introduce your case study and link it to the question (2 sentences max.)
 Fully develop each point you make
 Aim for 3 fully developed points
 Add place specific information about that case study in each of your 3
developed points

Introduction sets out the place-

specific location (name and detail
of how fast the coastline is
eroding) they link this to the
question in 2 sentences.

Parapgraphs 1/2/3 – talks

about 1 type of coastal
management. They develop
each point to describe how it
helps to prevent coastal
erosion by describing how it
works and refers to place-
specific detail (in this case it
is the names of the local
towns)

Overall, the structure is clear, it is

easy for the examiner to read and
includes plenty of place-specific
detail.
Theme 1: Population case
studies
 key Terms Glossary
When a country’s largest population category is elderly and needs
Ageing
support such as healthcare, care homes etc. This is a problem for many
population MEDCs

Anti-natal
A government policy which discourages (stops) people from having
population children
policy

Birth rate The number of live births per 1000 people per year

Carrying The maximum number of people which can live in a specific area given the
capacity food, water and resources available

Contraception
X Using birth control to stop pregnancy, this can include the pill, condoms etc

Death rate The number of deaths per 1000 people per year

Demographic The change from high birth rates and death rates to low birth rates and
transition death rates

Demographic
A diagram which shows the relationship between birth and death rates
transition and how this changes the total population
model

Densely
An area that has a lot of people
populated

Dependency
The ratio between those of working age and those of non-working age.
ratio

Dependent The young (0-14) and elderly (65+) who rely on the working
population (economically active) population for support

Economic
A person leaving their home country to work in another country
migrant

Emigrant Someone who leaves an area to live elsewhere

Family
Using contraception to control the size of your family
planning

Fertility rate
X The average number of children a woman has during her life time
 key Terms Glossary
Immigrant Someone who moves into an area from elsewhere

Infant The number of babies dying before the age of 1 per 1000 live births per
mortality rate year

The average number of years a person born in a particular country might

Life expectancy expect to live

Literacy rate The proportion of the total population able to read and write

Migrant Someone who moves from one place to another place to live

Migration The movement of people

Natural
The difference between birth rate and death rate, calculated by birth rate
increase or – death rate +/- migration
decrease

The difference between the number of emigrants and the number of

Net migration Vs. immigrants

Optimum
A balance between people and resources
population

Over- Where there are too many people and not enough resources to support
population them

Population
The number of people per km2
density

Population
Where people are found and where they are not found
distribution

Population
A government policy which aims to control the growth of a population
policy

Population A graph which shows the spread of the population according to working,
pyramid old and young dependents for males and females

Pro-natal
A government policy which encourages couples to have children.
policy
 key Terms Glossary
Pull factor Reasons which encourage people to move to an area

Push factor Reasons which cause people to leave a place

Refugees People forced to move from where they live to another area

Remittances When migrants send money back home to their families

Sparsely
An area that has very few people
populated

Under- Where there are too many resources and too few people (resources get
population wasted)

Voluntary
People move to another area/place by choice
migration

Working Also referred to as economically active. This is the group of people in a

population country which are employed and working

Youthful When a country’s largest population category is children (0-14). This is a

population problem for many LEDCs
 Theme 1: Population Case Studies
Specification
Example used Potential case study questions
point
Over-populated:
Bangladesh
• Describe the consequences of over/under-population for a
Under-populated:
country you have studied
Australia
• For a country you have studied, explain why its natural
High rate of natural pop
population growth is high
growth:
1.1 Population • For a named country you have studied, explain why the
Niger
dynamics natural population growth rate is low
Low rate of pop growth (pop
• For a named country you have studied, describe a policy
decline):
which is used to influence natural population growth rates
Japan
• For a named country you have studied, evaluate the success
Population policy:
of its population policy
China (One child policy)

• Explain the causes of an example of international migration

International migration you have studied
1.2 Migration
Mexico to the USA • Describe the positive and negative impacts of large numbers
of immigrants on a country you have studied

Country with a high dependent • For a named country you have studied, describe the
1.3 Population population problems caused by a large percentage of dependent
structure Japan population

Densely populated country:

Japan • For a named country you have studied, describe where its
1.4 Population population is located and reasons for this pattern
density Sparsely populated country: • For a country you have studied, explain why it is sparsely
Australia populated
 CASE STUDIES
Causes and consequences of over-population: Bangladesh

Quick facts:

Total population:

Growth rate:

Literacy:

Poverty:

Infant mortality:

Population density:

Causes of over-population:

Problems
Social Economic Environmental
 CASE STUDIES
Causes and consequences of under-population & Sparsely populated: Australia

Quick facts:

Total population:

Growth rate:

Literacy:

Poverty:

Infant mortality:

Population density:

Workforce Services Rural isolation

Reasons for uneven population density around Australia

Communications Economic Physical
 CASE STUDY
High population growth rate: Niger

Quick facts:

Total population:

% growth rate
Growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Infant mortality rate:

Year
Reasons for high rate of population growth
Reasons for high birth rates Reasons for low death rates

Consequences:

Social Economic Environmental

 CASE STUDY
Population decline & High dependent population: Japan
How has Japan’s population structure changed?

1950 2005 2050 (estimated)

In 1950 Japans population was By 2016, Japan has a negative
59.2% economically active and growth rate of -0.19%
4.9% elderly dependents and Population is getting older and
35.4% young dependents also shrinking so fewer
economically active (59.4%) and
more elderly (27.9%)
By 2050, the population of Japan
is forecasted to decrease by 25%
to 95 million.
Elderly are expected to make up
41% of the total population

Reasons for the decline in Birth rates: Quick facts:

Total population:

Growth rate:

Fertility rate:

Life expectancy:

% of people over 65

Challenges of an ageing population for Japan

Benefits of an ageing population for Japan
 Pro-Natalist policy Anti-Natalist policy

CASE STUDY
Population policy - China’s One Child Policy
Quick facts:

Reasons the policy was needed What policies were put into place?

Examine the successes and failures of the policy:

Successes Failures
 CASE STUDY
International migration: Mexico to USA
Why move?
Push factors:

Pull factors:
Current situation:
• Over 1 million Mexicans
migrate every year
• 29.5% of foreign people in the
USA are Mexican

Impacts on the USA (host) Impacts on Mexico (origin)

Positive Positive

Negative Negative
 CASE STUDY
Densely populated country: Japan
Quick facts:

Total population:

Growth rate:

Fertility rate:

Life expectancy:

% of people over 65

Describe where populations are located:

Reasons for uneven population density around Japan

Low density rural High density rural High density urban

areas areas areas
Where? Where? Where?

Why? Why? Why?

Theme 1: Settlement case
studies
 key Terms Glossary
A urban land use model showing circles (rings) which shows how land is
Burgess Model used in a town/city

CBD (Central This is the centre of a town/city and functions as commercial /retail use.
Business Land value is high as there is not much space and things are generally
District) densely packed together

Congestion Overcrowding on roads causing traffic jams

Consumer These are people and what they buy/use

T
Counter
urbanisation OU The movement of people from a town/city to the countryside. This process
mainly happens in MEDCs

These are big houses which are not joined to another house, they often have
Detached house a garage (house for a car) and are surrounded by gardens. They are found on
the edges of towns

Dispersed Individual houses and farms are widely scattered throughout the
settlement countryside

High-order Goods which are expensive and are not bought often (e.g. a Macbook
goods Pro)

A urban land use model which shows sectors (wedges) based on how the
Hoyt Model land is used

The facilities which provide the essential framework for settlements and
Infrastructure industry e.g. roads, power supply, sewerage etc

This is the next zone outwards from the CBD, in MEDCs this is where
Inner city old factories used to be located and smaller houses located nearby for
workers,

This is the zone next to the inner city, it is slightly further outwards and
Inner suburbs therefore houses are slightly larger because there is more space.

Linear
Houses are built in lines along a road or a river
settlement

Low-order
Goods which are cheap and are bought every day (e.g. milk, eggs)
goods

Nucleated Buildings are tightly packed around a central feature such as a church or
settlement a railway station
 key Terms Glossary
How far people are willing to travel to buy goods (for low order goods,
Order of
people generally get them nearby whereas expensive goods people are
services willing to travel further)

Out of town
shopping A large group of shops built in the rural-urban fringe
centre

This is the outer zone of an urban area, they have large open spaces and
Outer suburbs houses are larger (detached).

The rebuilding of parts of a city. Sometimes all the buildings are

Redevelopment completely knocked down and rebuilt, other times old buildings are
improved and made to look newer

Residential
Contains houses/apartment blocks – it is where people live.
areas

Rural Areas relating to the countryside

This is the edge of the urban area where it meets the rural area
Rural-urban
(countryside), there is often competition for how the land is used from
fringe shopping malls to farmland

These houses are larger than terraced houses but smaller than a detached
Semi-detached
house. They are found in the inner suburbs and are joined to another
house house on one side

Service Supplying a public need

Settlement An area where people live

Settlement
This is the main economic activity or purpose of a settlement
function

Settlement A way of ordering settlements, this is based on their size and the services
hierarchy they offer

Settlement
What a settlement shape is like
pattern

Site The physical land on which the settlement is built

Situation The relationship between a settlement and its surrounding area

 key Terms Glossary
Slums An area of poor-quality housing which lack basic infrastructure (e.g. running
(informal water, sewage systems, electric etc). They develop spontaneously and
settlements) illegally in a city in an LEDC

Sphere of
The surrounding area the settlement serves
influence

Sub- The process by which people move out of the inner city to the suburbs of
urbanisation towns/cities (this often happens in MEDC cities)

Teleworking Working from home using the internet (telecommunications)

Terraced These are rows of houses which are joined together on both sides, they
houses are small and are found in the inner city areas of an urban area.

Threshold
The number of customers needed for a shop to make a profit
population

Urban Areas relating to a town or a city

The increasing proportion of people living in a town or a city in a

Urbanisation country

The unplanned uncontrolled growth of urban areas into the surrounding

Urban sprawl countryside

Areas of an urban area where there is a particular type of land use (e.g.
Urban zones housing = residential)
 Theme 1: Settlement Case Studies
Specification
Example used Potential case study questions
point
• For two named settlements of different sizes you have
studied, compare the service provision
1.5 Settlements
and service Lozere province (France)
• For a named area you have studied, describe the hierarchy of
provision
service provision

• For a named area you have studied, describe how traffic

problems have been managed
Urban problems: • For an urban area you have studied, state one problem which
Traffic in London (UK) or occurs and explain how it’s managed
Tokyo (Japan)
1.6 Urban
• For an urban area you have studied, describe the impacts of
settlements
Urban sprawl impacts and urban sprawl
problems • For a named urban area you have studied, describe the
Shanghai (China) problems which are caused by urban sprawl
• For a named urban area, describe one change in landuse and
explain why this change in land use has caused problems

Urbanisation • For a named town or city you have studied, describe the
Mumbai (India) impacts of urbanization on the people who live there
For a named urban area you have studied, describe what has
1.7 Squatter settlement been done to reduce the negative impacts of urbanization
Urbanisation Dharavi slum (Mumbai, • For a named urban area you have studied, describe the
India) strategies to reduce problems caused by the growth of
squatter settlements
 CASE STUDY
Settlement and Service provision in an area: Lozere, France
Quick facts:

Where?

Total population:

Mende St Andre-Capceze

Population: Population:

Function:
Function:
Services:

Services:
Bagnois les Baines

Population:

Function:

Services:

Villefort

Population:

Function:

Services:
 CASE STUDY
Urban problems: Traffic in London (UK)
Quick facts:

Total population:

Car ownership:

Average speed on a road in

London:

Social problems Economic problems Environmental problems

Santander bikes Underground Congestion charging

What is the scheme? What is the scheme? What is the scheme?

How does it reduce traffic? How does it reduce traffic? How does it reduce traffic?

Has it been successful? Has it been successful? Has it been successful?

 CASE STUDY
Urban problems: Traffic in Tokyo (Japan)
Quick facts:

Total population:

Car ownership:

Average speed on a road in

London:

Social problems Economic problems Environmental problems

Urban expressways Underground Car ownership regulations

What is the scheme? What is the scheme? What is the scheme?

How does it reduce traffic? How does it reduce traffic? How does it reduce traffic?

Has it been successful? Has it been successful? Has it been successful?

 CASE STUDY
Urban Sprawl impacts and problems: Shanghai
Quick facts:

Shanghai (1984)
Where:

Total population:

Population growth rate:

Shanghai (2017)
Population growth Loss of land

Traffic congestion Water and urban waste

Community break up

Air quality

Socio-Economic division
 CASE STUDY
Urbanisation: Dharavi Slum (Mumbai, India)

Quick facts:
Total population:
Size:
Birth rate:
Natural increase:

Push factors Pull factors

Vision Mumbai
What is the plan? Who? Benefits (+) Costs (-)

Air pollution: Water pollution: Social problems:

Causes? Causes? Causes?

Effects? Effects? Effects?

Solutions? Solutions? Solutions?

 Theme 2: The Natural
environment case studies
 key Terms Glossary
Active volcano A volcano that is currently showing signs of activity

Features of plants and animals that have been acquired because of

Adaptation evolution to the environment

ter…
1 hr l a Earthquakes which follow the largest shock of an earthquake sequence,
Aftershock they are smaller but can continue for weeks or months after the main
earthquake

The force of air on the ground (high pressure = lots of weight/ low
Air pressure pressure = little weight)

Altitude How high up in the atmosphere

Alto
2,000 - Prefix given to clouds at mid-altitude (between 2,000 – 6,000m)
6,000
A natural bridge-like feature which erodes slowly and sticks out into the
Arch sea

A deposition feature formed by longshore drift, it is a long ridge of sand

Bar or pebbles running parallel to a coastline

Bay A wide, sheltered coastline which is formed next to a headland

Backwash The movement of water back down the beach due to the effect of gravity

Beach A feature of coastal deposition, consisting of pebbles or sand

A measure of the variety of the earth’s plant and animal species. Higher
Biodiversity biodiversity = more species because conditions are best suited for plant
and animal growth

Biomass The living part of the nutrient cycle (vegetation)

Biome A large-scale ecosystem which is controlled by the climate zone

A large hollow formed in a headland as a result of erosion from a

Cave weakness (joint/crack) in the rock
 key Terms Glossary
Cirro 6,000 Prefix given to clouds at high-altitude (over 6,000m)

Cirrus Wispy clouds (look like a lock of hair)

Cliff A rock face along a coastline which is steep (45° or above)

AVG
The average weather of a place or area over a period of time (usually 30
Climate years)

A graph which shows the average temperatures and precipitation

Climate graph (rainfall) amounts for each month over the course of the year

Water vapour condensed into water particles which float in the

Cloud atmosphere

Cloud cover The amount of sky which is covered by clouds

Where the land meets the sea

Coast Coastline – the area of contact between land and sea

Coastal
Measures taken to prevent erosion or flooding along a coastline
Management

Collision plate Where two continental plates meet and because they are the same
boundary density they fold to create mountain ranges (no subduction)

Composite
A steep volcano formed of sticky lava, ash and cinders
volcano

Constructive
Where two plates move apart from each other and new land is created
plate boundary

Constructive A wave with a long wavelength and low height. They help build up
wave beaches by deposition

Continental
Lighter (less dense) plate which is the land we live on
crust

Conservative
Where two plates slide past each other (no subduction)
plate boundary
 key Terms Glossary
Convection The heating and cooling of liquid rock in the mantle which in turn causes
current the plates to move on the crust

Rain associated with hot climates, air is warmed by sunlight and rises up
Convectional
creating big rainclouds which bring rainfall and sometimes thunder and
rainfall lightening.

Coral Living organisms that may form large reefs

Coral reef They provide a habitat for a diversity of living organisms

Core The centre of the earth

Crust The solid surface of the earth

Cumulus Pile clouds (heavy, lumpy, fluffy)

Decomposition When dead leaves break down and become part of the soil

Destruction of forest (cutting trees down) for timber, fuel, charcoal

Deforestation burning, and learning for agriculture and extraction industries such as
mining

A landform made when the river meets the sea, river load is deposited
Delta
with the velocity slows forming small islands

Deposition Material is deposited (put down) when the river loses energy

A dry area with limited vegetation. Deserts can be both hot and cold.
Desert Deserts have less than 250mm of rainfall per year

Desertification The gradual transformation of land of habitable land into desert

Destructive
Where two plates move towards each other and land is destroyed
plate boundary

Destructive A wave with a short wavelength and tall height. They remove (erode)
wave material from beaches and cliffs
 key Terms Glossary
Differential Erosion which happens at different rates along a coastline – this might be
erosion due to the different rock types found

Discordant
A coastline which has alternate bands of hard and soft rock along it
coast

Dormant Zzzz A volcano that has not erupted for a very long time but could erupt again
volcano the future

This is the area around the river. The water which falls in this area is
Drainage basin
collected into the river and drained into the sea

X
An extended period of dry weather leading to conditions of extreme
Drought dryness

Earthquake Large vibrations (shaking) that move through the earth’s surface

A community of living organisms (animals and plants) which interact

Ecosystem with the physical environment (air, soil, water and climate)

Epicentre This is directly above the focus on the surface

Equatorial Found between 10-15° north or south of the equator, it has high annual
climate temperatures (with little range) and high annual rainfall

Wearing away of rock along a coastline or river banks/beds by the four

Erosion
processes: Hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and solution

Extinct volcano
X A volcano that has shown no signs of volcanic activity in historic times

Fallout When leaves fall from the tree to the ground

Fault A long crack in the earth’s surface

Fetch The distance of open water over which wind can blow to create waves

A discharge great enough to cause a body of water to overflow its

Flood
channel and submerge (flood) the surrounding area
 key Terms Glossary
Area next to the river which floods when there is too much water in the
Floodplain
river channel

The centre of the earthquake, where the rock gives way and the seismic
Focus waves start (underground)

Gabion A cage filled with rocks or stones

Global impacts The effects of removing trees on the entire planet

Narrow, steep-sided valley which is formed as a waterfall retreats

Gorge
upstream

A wooden or concrete barrier built at right angles to a beach to stop

Groyne material being moved (eroded) by longshore drift

Hard A scheme that involves altering the natural environment with concrete,
engineering stone, steel metal to protect the surrounding areas

Hard Rock
X Rock which is more resistant to erosion

Hazard Something that poses a risk to human life

Headland A point of land which projects out into the sea, it is eroded slowly

High pressure More weight on the earth’s surface because air is sinking

Humidity The amount of water in the air

Hurricane Also referred to as a cyclone or typhoon, it brings strong winds and

(tropical storm) heavy rainfall. It forms over the sea and loses energy when it hits land

A bar and line growth, it shows how water levels in a river change
Hydrograph
following (after) a storm event (period of heavy rainfall)

Latitude How far northwards/southwards away from the equator

 key Terms Glossary
Lava When magma reaches the earth’s surface it is called lava

Leaching When nutrients are washed away by rainwater from the soil

Leaf litter When leaves fall to the ground from the trees after they die

Levee A raised bank found alongside the river channel

Local impacts The effects of removing trees on nearby locations

This is a line which represents (shows) the river from source (start) to
Long profile mouth (end) and how it’s features change (width, depth of channel,
landforms)

Longshore drift The movement of material along a beach

Long-term Effects which have a lasting impact over months or even years
Months/years

Less weight on the earth’s surface because air is rising up into the
Low pressure atmosphere

Lower course This is the end of the river where it nears the sea (mouth)

Magma Molten rock below the crust

Managed The coastline is allowed to retreat (erode) naturally in certain areas

retreat where population density is low or land value is low

Salt tolerant forests of trees and shrubs which grow in tidal estuaries and
Mangrove coastal zones of tropical areas

A semi-solid (melted) layer of rock surrounding the core and below the
Mantle earth’s crust

Meander A river bend

 key Terms Glossary
As the river flows out of the upper course (mountains) the gradient
Middle course
becomes less steep

Natural hazard A naturally occurring event which puts human life at risk

Nimbus Clouds which bring rain

Nutrient cycle How nutrients move around the ecosystem

Heavier (more dense) plate which is likely to be pushed under a

Oceanic crust continental plate

Opportunity A chance for employment/make money

Overhang When soft rock is eroded and leaves hard rock hanging (unsupported)

Ox-bow lake A curved lake found on the floodplain of a river bend (meander)

Plates Large slabs of rock which make up the earth’s crust

Plate boundary The place where two places meet (also known as a plate margin)

Plunge pool A deep pool at the bottom of a waterfall

Pothole A small hollow in the bottom of a river-bed

Precipitation Water falls to the earth from the atmosphere

Predator An animal which eats another animal

Attempt to forecast an event, where and when it will happen based on

Prediction current knowledge or previous experiences
 key Terms Glossary
Prevailing wind The most common wind direction the wind is blowing from

Constructing buildings or organizing activities and drills so that people

Prevention know what to di in the event of an earthquake or a volcanic eruption

Preparedness These are things that are done before the event

These occur as a direct result of the earthquake or volcanic eruption such

Primary effect as buildings collapsing due to the ground shaking or loss of life due to
pyroclastic flows

Response What is done after the hazard event

Wooden planks are put along the beach which aim to break apart wave
Revetment energy

An area around the Pacific Ocean plate which contains the most active
Ring of fire volcanoes

River cliff An erosional landform found on the outside of a river bend (meander)

A mound or ridge of wind-blown sand which is trapped on a rock and

Sand dune builds up over time

Secondary These occur as a result of the primary effects such as the impact of
effect tsunamis, fires causing by ruptured gas mains

Seismic waves This is a wave of energy given out in an earthquake

A gentle, low-angled volcano formed by runny lava. The lava flows long
Shield volcano distances before cooling

Shore The area between high and low tide

Days Effects which are immediate and happen in the hours and days following
Short-term the earthquake or volcanic eruptions

Slip-off slope A depositional landform found on the inside of a river bend (meander)
 key Terms Glossary
A scheme that involves the use of natural means (e.g. planting more
Soft engineering
trees) to protect the surrounding area

Soft Rock
✔ Rock which is less resistant to erosion (easy to erode)

A ridge of sand or shingle connected to the land at one end and into the
Spit open sea the other

A isolated pillar of rock which has become separated from the headland
Stack by erosion

A box designed to house weather-measuring instruments such as

Stevenson
thermometers. It is kept off the ground by legs, has louvred sides to
screen encourage air flow and is painted white

Stratus Layer clouds

Stump An eroded stack which is exposed at low tide

Subduction Where one plate is forced below another plate into the mantle and melts

Sunshine hours The number of hours in a day which get sunshine

Swash The movement of material up the beach in the direction of the wind

Synoptic chart A map which shows the weather conditions over a wide area

Tectonic plate The earth’s surface is broken up into sections of solid rock

Temperature How hot or cold the air is

Rivers take the eroded material and move it downstream. There are 4
Transportation
types of transportation: traction, saltation, suspension and solution

Tsunami A wave in the water generated by an earthquake in the ocean

 key Terms Glossary
Upper course The source (start) of the river (this is usually in the mountains)

Volcano A cone-shaped mountain formed by material erupted from the mantle

Volcanic Any dangerous process that puts human life, livelihoods and/or
hazard infrastructure at risk of harm

V-shaped valley A river valley with a ’V’ shaped cross section

Waterfall A cascade of water falling over rock

Wave The circular movement of water at the surface of the sea

Wave-cut A gently sloping rock surface found at the base of a coastal cliff. It is
platform covered by water at high tide and is exposed in low tide

Wave When a wave changes shape and loses speed as it comes into contact
refraction with the sea bed

Weather The day to day changes in the atmosphere

Wind The movement of air from high to low pressure

Wind direction The direction (north, east, south, west) the wind is coming from

Wind speed How fast the air moves

 Theme 2: The natural environment Case Studies
Specification
Example used Potential case study questions
point
Volcano (causes, impacts &
opportunities): • Explain the causes of an earthquake/volcanic eruption in a named
Iceland (opportunities) area you have studied
2.1 Soufierre Hills (Montserrat) • Describe the impacts of an earthquake/volcanic eruption in a
Earthquakes named area you have studied
and volcanoes Earthquake (causes & • For a named area you have studied, describe the opportunities
impacts): provided by volcanoes
Haiti (2010)

Flood: causes & impacts:

Boscastle (UK) • For a named river you have studied, explain the causes of flooding
• For a named river you have studied, describe the impacts of
Opportunities: flooding
River Nile (Egypt) • For a named river you have studied, describe the hazards for
2.2 Rivers people caused by flooding
Management: • Describe the opportunities of living near a named river you have
studied
Yangtze River (China)
• For a named river you have studied, describe how it is managed

Holderness Coast (UK)
Or
2.3 Coasts
Haeundae Coast (Korea)
• For a named area of coast you have studied, describe the natural
hazards faced by people
• For an area you have studied, describe how coastal hazards are
being managed

Tropical Rainforests: • For a named area of tropical rainforest you have studied, explain
Borneo why deforestation has taken place
• Describe the impacts of deforestation of tropical rainforests on the
Hot desert: global natural environment
2.5 Climate & Namib Desert • For a named area of tropical rainforest you have studied, explain
Vegetation how its characteristics are influenced by the Equatorial climate
• For a named area of hot desert you have studied, describe and
explain the characteristics of its natural vegetation
• For a named area of hot desert you have studied, explain why the
climate is hot and dry
 CASE STUDY
Opportunities from Volcanic activity: Iceland
Key info:
Where?

Hazards

Opportunities
 CASE STUDY
Causes and impacts of a volcanic eruption: Soufriere Hills Volcano (Montserrat)
Key info:
Where?

When?

Causes of eruption:
Diagram – remember to fully annotate it to show how plate movement causes a
volcanic eruption

Impacts of the eruption

Social
Economic
Environmental
 CASE STUDY
Causes and impacts from an earthquake: Haiti (2010)

Key info:
Where?

When?

Why? (causes of the earthquake)

Primary Impacts (Immediate Secondary Impacts (Indirect

effects of an earthquake – effects of an earthquake –
Short-term) Long-term)

Social
Economic
Environmental

Short-term Relief Long-term responses

 CASE STUDY
Causes and impacts from an earthquake: Japan (2011)
Key info:
Where?

When?

Why? (causes of the earthquake)

Primary Impacts (Immediate effects of an Secondary Impacts (Indirect effects of an

earthquake – Short-term) earthquake – Long-term)

Social
Economic
Environmental

Short-term Relief Long-term responses

 CASE STUDY
River Flood: Causes, impacts and Management: Boscastle, UK (2004)

Causes:

Impacts Management

Social
Economic
Environmental
 CASE STUDY
Opportunities from rivers: River Nile, Egypt

Food supply

Farming
Factory processing

Aswan Dam

Trading

Water supply

Hard or soft Rank

engineering?

1100km of levees have been constructed along the banks of the river Nile

Large barrages have been built across the river to raise water levels such as the    
Zifta and Delta Barrages
   
Water storage such as the High Aswan Dam have been built  
The New Valley Project is a series of canals to take water from Lake Nasser and    
irrigate parts of the Western desert.
An early warning system to predict floods on the Nile has been requested by    
scientists but 1998 and 2016 floods in Sudan showed that it takes 1 month to
evacuate communities
 CASE STUDY
River management: Yangtze River (China)
Quick facts:

River length:

Drainage basin size:

Last flood event:

Problems caused from previous

flood event:

Levees Three Gorges Dam

Place: Place:
Cost: Cost:
Details: Details:

Landuse zoning

Place:
Cost:
Details:

Washlands

Place:
Cost: Flood warming systems
Details:
 CASE STUDY
Managing hazards along a coastline: Holderness Coast (UK)
Hazards Opportunities
 CASE STUDY
Managing hazards along a coastline: Haeundae Coast (Korea)
Hazards Opportunities

Quick Facts:
• Where?

• How much erosion?

• Why?
 CASE STUDY
Tropical Rainforest Characteristics: Amazon Rainforest (Brazil)
Quick Facts:

Structure of the rainforest

Annotate the structure and include examples of species which live in each layer and how they are adapted
 CASE STUDY
Tropical Rainforest (Deforestation – impacts and management): Borneo
Quick Facts:

Causes of deforestation

Logging Population pressure Plantations

HEP Mining Road building

 CASE STUDY
Tropical Rainforest (Deforestation – impacts and management): Borneo

Global Impacts
Atmospheric pollution Global warming

Local Impacts
Loss of biodiversity and habitats Local people Cycles (soil and rainfall)

Management
Selective logging National parks Afforestation

Ecotourism Reducing debt

 CASE STUDY
Desert characteristics: Mojave Desert (North America)
Quick Facts:
Where?

Climate?

Climate influences:

Plant and animal adaptations

Joshua Tree Barrell Cactus Creosote Bush

Jack Rabbits Great Horned Owl Desert Horned Lizard

 Theme 3: Economic
Development case studies
 Key Terms Glossary
Arable farming Growing crops

Involves putting parts together which have been made elsewhere. Parts
Assembly
are added to other semi-finished parts by machinery along an assembly
industry
line

Biofuels Any fuel produced from organic matter

Climate change The long-term changes in temperatures and typical weather patterns

Commercial Farming for a profit by using large-scale and advanced machinery.

farming Mostly takes place in MEDCs

The careful and planned use of resources in order to manage and

Conservation maintain the natural environment for future damage to these
environment

Consumerism A way of life based around consuming (using) products and services

Consumption The amount of energy used by a person or a place (e.g. a country)

A method of farming which avoids growing the same crop in a field

Crop rotation
continuously

When land becomes less fertile from over-use by humans or natural

Desertification
processes

The way that a country becomes more advanced in its economy,

Development
infrastructure and the economic and social well-being of its citizens

Domestic
People going on holiday in their own country
Tourism

Economic
The generation of wealth through the development of industry
Development

A specialized form of tourism where people visit untouched natural

Ecotourism
environments and ensure that their visit does no further damage

Shows how the workforce of a country is divided up into the 4 sectors:

Employment primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary. MEDCs tend to have more people in
structure tertiary and quaternary sectors whereas LEDCs have more people in primary
and secondary
 Key Terms Glossary
Power given out from using resources to provide light and heat or to
Energy
work machines

Energy mix The different ‘mix’ of fuel sources to a country’s energy consumption

Energy supply The amount of energy available for use

Enhanced
Global warming caused by large-scale pollution of the atmosphere by
greenhouse
economic activities
effect

Extensive A farm with low capital (money) inputs, it covers a large area and has a
farming low output per hectare (low yield)

Famine A shortage of food causing malnutrition or hunger

Fission The process of generating heat by splitting atoms

Being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable,

Food insecurity
nutritious food

Fuels made from hydrocarbons (coal, oil and natural gas), formed by the
Fossil fuel
decomposition of prehistoric organisms in past geological periods

Fuelwood Using wood as a fuel for cooking and heating

Geothermal The natural heat found in the earth’s crust in the form of steam, hot water
energy and hot rock

This is when people, countries and businesses around the world are
Globalisation
becoming more interconnected and interdependent.

The impact of additional greenhouse gases added to the atmosphere by

Global warming
economic activities by humans in the past 250 years

Greenhouse A gas such as methane, carbon dioxide and water vapor which absorbs
gases radiation and adds to the enhanced greenhouse effect

These involve the use of research and development to create high-value,

Hi-Tech industry
technology-based products and processes
 Key Terms Glossary
When countries or individuals do no possess the same level of material
Inequality
wealth or overall living standards

Inputs These are put into a system

Intensive A farm with high capital (money) and/or inputs, a small area of land and
farming high outputs (high yield)

International People traveling across political borders to a different country for a

tourism holiday

Irrigation To water crops using machines

Land When land becomes bad for farming due to soil erosion, desertification
degradation and pollution

Less Economically Developed Country. These countries have a low

LEDC
standard of living and a low GDP

Malnutrition A lack of the basic nutrients needed to sustain good health

Manufacturing Turning raw materials from the primary sector into finished products on
industry a large scale

Mass tourism Large numbers of tourists visit one place at the same time

Mechanisation
X Where machines replace people in factories

More Economically Developed Country. These countries have a high

MEDC
standard of living and a large GDP

Multiplier effect The ‘snowballing’ of economic activity

Natural
The air beneath the earth’s surface kept warmer because the long-wave
Greenhouse
radiation is trapped by gasses in the atmosphere
effect

LEDCs which are developing manufacturing industries, usually with the

NIC
help of TNCs attracted by cheap labour and government incentives
 Key Terms Glossary
Non-renewable
energy
X Sources of energy which cannot be replaced after they have been used
(consumed)

Nuclear power Energy which is created using reactions from nuclear reactor

Outputs These are produced or made by processes from the inputs

Pastoral farming Growing livestock (animals/animal products)

The contamination of air, water, or soil by substances that are harmful to

Pollution
living organisms

Processes These are activities that use or change the inputs

Processing Involves taking materials and creating a finished product from

industry combining and changing them in some way

Quality of life Things that affect your standard of living

Items from which more complex items are made. Steel is made using
Raw materials
coal, iron and limestone: coal, iron and limestone are raw materials

Renewable Sources of energy such as solar and wind power that are not depleted as
energy they are used

A tertiary industry which does not produce anything but involves activities
Service industry associated with commerce and distribution as well as banking,
administration, tourism, health, education

Soil erosion
X The loss of soil by wind and/or water action or human activities

Solar power Converting sunlight into electrical energy

Standard of The level of wealth, comfort, material goods and necessities available to
living a population

Subsistence Growing enough food for yourself and your family, none is left over to
farming X sell
 Key Terms Glossary
Sustainable Development that meets the needs of the present generation without
development compromising the needs of the future generations

Sustainable Tourism which is mindful of the social, economic and environmental

tourism impacts on local communities and addresses some of these problems

Tidal power Converting tie power into electrical energy

Tourism All the activities and services that a tourist takes part in

Someone who spends at least one night away from their normal place of
Tourist
residence

Trans-national corporation – these are large companies which have

TNC
factories throughout the world, their HQs are often found in MEDCs

Wind power Converting wind into electrical energy

 Theme 3: Economic Development Case Studies
Specification point Example used Potential case study questions
3.1 Transnational • Describe the impacts of a named Transnational Corporation (TNC) on a country
where its goods are produced or services provided
corporation and it’s Nike (China) • Describe the features of a named Transnational Corporation you have studied. You
global links should refer to its organisation and global links

• For a named farm or agricultural area you have studied, describe the farming
Farm or agricultural system
system: • For an example you have studied, describe and explain the land use of a farm or
Prairie Farms (Canada) agricultural area
• For a named farm or agricultural area you have studied, explain how the natural
3.2 Food supply environment (climate, relief and soil) has influenced how the land is used
Country or region suffering • For a named country or region you have studied, describe the causes of food
from food shortages: shortages
• For a named country or region you have studied, describe the impacts of food
Sudan and South Sudan shortages

Silicon Valley, California • Explain the location of a factory or industrial zone in a named area you have
3.3 Industry
(USA) studied

• For a named example of an area you have studied, explain why the
physical and human landscapes attract tourists
• For a named area you have studied, describe the disadvantages of the
3.4 Tourism Jamaica tourist industry for local people
• For a named tourist destination or region you have studied, explain how
tourism is managed so that it is sustainable

China
3.5 Energy OR • For a named country or area you have studied, describe how every is supplied
Iceland

Lesotho & South Africa • For a named country you have studied, explain how clean drinking water is
3.6 Water
(Limpopo) supplied

• Describe the threats caused by global warming. You should refer to named areas
3.7 Environmental affected
Pearl River Delta (China)
risks • For an economic activity in a named area you have studied, describe how the
environmental risks are being managed
 CASE STUDY
A Global TNC: Nike (USA) in China
Quick Facts:

Why does Nike operate in China?

Reasons for
locating in China

What are the advantages of Nike in China? What are the disadvantages of Nike in China?
 CASE STUDY
A farming system: Prairie Farms (Canada)
Quick Facts:

Processes on the Prairie Famrs

Physical inputs Human inputs

Where does it go? Processes Outputs

 CASE STUDY
An area suffering from food shortages: Sudan & South Sudan
Quick Facts:
Where?

Climate?

Political disruption?

Causes and consequences

Consequence 1: Famine Consequence 2: Poverty Consequence 3: Refugees

 CASE STUDY
Hi-Tech industry: Silicon Valley (North America)
Quick Facts:
Where?

Climate?

Locational factors

Companies Workers Airports

 CASE STUDY
Environmental Risks of Development from Manufacturing Industry: Pearl River Delta (China)
Quick Facts:
Where?

Companies:

Hazards to the environment

Acid Rain Water pollution Air pollution

Solutions?
 CASE STUDY
Tourism: Jamaica
Quick facts:

Total population:

% of people employed in

tourist industry:

Money made from tourism

each year:

Positive and negative impacts of tourism

Social Economic Environmental

What is the Masterplan?

 CASE STUDY
Energy Supply in one country: China
Quick Facts:

How has the energy mix changed?

Nuclear Wind Solar

Three Gorges Dam

 CASE STUDY
Energy Supply in one country: Iceland
Quick Facts:

What is the energy mix like in Iceland?

HEP Geothermal

What are some of the:

Opportunities Challenges
 CASE STUDY
Water Supply in a country: Lesotho and South Africa
Quick Facts:

Why is there a water shortage

Impacts of the project on Lesotho Impacts of the project on South Africa

Positive Positive

Negative Negative

How are other areas ensuring a safe and reliable drinking water supply?