GCSE Case Study Guide UNIT 1:PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Revise these case

studies f! yu!
e"a#i$ati$
Locate the case
studies in this
booklet on the
maps of the UK
and the World
In the exam remember to:
Locate your case study clearly, with
a clear place name and where it is in
the world. Maps can help here.
Link your case study directly to the
uestion
!nswer all parts of the uestion
"sometimes there can # or $
sections in one uestion%&
'uote some facts and fi(ures about
the place
Mention specific locations and place
or scheme names to impress the
examiner
)xplain your ideas fully.
A case study of an Earthquake in an MEDC Kobe
Earthquake in Japan, 1995
Kobe is located farther than many other cities in Japan from a destructie !ar"in where 2 oceanic plates the Pacific and
Philippine plates, are pushed under the Eurasian plate. At 5#$%a! on January 1&th 1995. The Kobe earthquake was
powerful !a"nitude %#9!" the epicentre was only 2#km southwest of the city and the focus was only about $%kms below
the surface. $#million people li&e in this area. This is a recipe for disaster. More than 5''' peop(e perished and )'',
''' peop(e *ere !ade ho!e(ess.
People were trapped under rubble and traumatised. 'ore than 1'+,''' bui(din"s *ere destroyed in Kobe. The local
(o&ernment)s esti!ate of the cost to restore the basic infrastructure of the city *as about ,1'' bi((ion.
$! The *orst affected area *as in the centra( part of Kobe inc(udin" the !ain docks and port area. This area is
built on soft and easily mo&ed rocks, especially the port itself which is built on reclaimed (round. *ere the (round
actually liquefied and acted likes thick soup, allowin( buildin(s to topple sideways.
2! Emer(ency aid for the city needed to use dama(ed roads but many of them were destroyed durin( the earthquake.
+! ,aised motorways collapsed durin( the shakin(. -ther roads were affected, limitin( rescue attempts.
'ost new buildin(s and roads ha&e, in the last 2# years, been desi(ned to be earthquake proof, schools and
factories ha&e re(ular earthquake drills, etc. .espite this, many older buildin(s still collapsed or cau(ht fire. This
led to many blocked roads and massi&e problems of homelessness.
-nitia( short ter! responses
Telephones and other communication ser&ices were put out of action makin( communication slow and
difficult.
Electricity and water supplies were badly dama(ed o&er lar(e areas. This meant no power for heatin(,
li(hts, cookin(, etc. C(ean, fresh *ater *as in short supp(y unti( Apri( 1995. The (o&ernment and city
authorities were criticised for bein( slow to rescue people and for refusin( offers of Aid from other countries.
'any people had to sleep in cars or tents in cold winter conditions.
/ocals du( throu(h the rubble to help others.
.on" ter! responses
0ater, electricity, (as, telephone ser&ices were fully workin( by July $112
The railways were back in ser&ice by Au(ust $112
A year after the earthquake, /'0 of the port *as *orkin" but the 1anshin E2press*ay *as sti(( c(osed#
3y January 1999, 1)$,''' housin" units had been constructed but some people still had to li&e in temporary
accommodation.
3ew laws were passed to make buildin(s and transport structures e&en more earthquake proof.
'ore instruments were installed in the area to monitor earthquake mo&ements.
A case study of a o(canic eruption in an
.EDC Mount 4inatubo, the 4hi(ippines
Mount 4inatubo is found in the 5estern 4hi(ippines, a country comprisin( hundreds of
islands. 4t is &ery close to this countries capital 'anila. The &olcano is found at a
destructi&e plate mar(in, where the dense oceanic 4acific p(ate is bein" pushed under
the (i"hter Eurasian p(ate. The &olcano was monitored from the 2nd of April $11$ after
steam e5plosions where noted. -n the 2th of April 6# earthquakes where recorded and
later on the 1th of June pyroclastic flows occurred. The most &iolent eruption occurred on
the 15th of June producin( a 6#km hi(h column of ash and pyroclastic flows at o&er 7#
kph.
Effects
8ocial Effects Economic Effects En&ironmental effects
&5 ,''' peop(e had to be eacuated from a
+#km radius of the &olcano
*ouses and brid(es destroyed and needed
replacin( and 'anila airport had to be
closed
9olcanic ash is blown in all directions o&er
hundreds of K's, smotherin( fields and buildin(s.
/$& peop(e (ost their (ies, +## killed by
collapsin( roofs and $## by lahars.
*ea&y rainfall from Typhoon :un(a causes
buildin(s to collapse.
;ast flowin( &olcanic mudflows lahars! cause
se&er ri&er bank erosion, undercut brid(es etc.
$.2 million people lost their homes around
the &olcano and had to mi(rate to shanty
towns in 'anila.
;armland destroyed by fallin( ash and
pumice, unusable for years, the $11$
har&est was destroyed and %5',''' peop(e
(ost their 6obs
7(oba( coo(in" caused by ash in the at!osphere
of '#5 8C
4rediction, 4reention, Aid and Monitorin"
Prediction Pre&ention Preparation
0hat they
actually did
<2,### people were e&acuated due to
accurate predictions. There was no
monitorin( until the +rd of April but
seismometers were put into place.
9he :nited ;tates 7eo(o"ica( ;erice
he(ped to predict the disaster
<2,### people e&acuated up to a
radius of +#km. =8A air force
helicopters helped.
Alert systems put into place to
warn of eruption.
>o&ernment 8helters.
E&acuation camps built for refu(ees.
0arnin( si(n like (as and steam looked
for. /on( and short term aid or(ani?ed
especially from the ,ed @ross and the
=nited 8tates
0hat they could
ha&e done
8et up permanent monitorin( points, di&ert
la&a flows with use of dynamite, or use
satellite ima(es to look upon &olcano site for
chan(es in land surface.
Placed strate(ies for lon( term
aid and disease control in
e&acuations prepared for.
8tora(e of medical supplies food and
water in preparation for disaster.
3o2in" Day +''$ 9suna!i
5hy the 9suna!i happened
Just after da*n on the ;unda trench a
!assie earthquake occurred on the
ocean f(oor# 1ere + p(ates drien by
conectin" heat in the Earth<s interior
are "rindin" past one another# 5hen the
stresses that bui(d up are re(eased a
!assie earthquake occurs# 9he -ndo=
Austra(ian p(ate is bein" subducted under
the Eurasian p(ate at the ;unda 9rench#
9his >one has stick s(ip frictiona(
properties, *hich !eans that it dra"s the
upper p(ate do*n *ith it, defor!in" the
upper p(ate# Eentua((y the stress
beco!es too !uch and the upper p(ate
snaps back causin" the earthquake#
;eis!o"raphs in Ca(ifornia sho*ed ho*
the earthquake (asted oer $ !inutes and
!easured 9#' or the (o"arith!ic
Ma"nitude sca(e# 9he !oe!ent of the
sea bed up*ards disp(aces bi((ions of
tonnes of *ater aboe it, so!e sea f(oor
fa((s and *ater rushes in to rep(ace it#
9he up(ifted *ater co((apses and rushes
out radia((y out*ards at a thousand k!
per hour#
A ti!e(ine of destruction
+' !inutes before the *ater arries 3anda Aceh fee(s the force of the
earthquake and bui(din"s co((apse#
1' !inutes after the earthquake in ;u!atra ?Aceh proince@ the *ae is
approachin" at %''!i(es an hour, in the open ocean boats *ere hard(y
affected# As the *ae neared (and the *ae "re* by a process of
a!p(ification# 9he front of the *ae s(o*s do*n as it approaches the shore,
but the back of the *ae is sti(( "oin" its ori"ina( speed, so the *ae bui(ds in
si>e#
15!inutes after the quake Aorthern ;u!atra beco!es the first p(ace to be
hit# -t caused utter deastation# 3anda Aceh *as co!p(ete(y destroyed, *ith
bare(y any bui(din"s (eft standin"# 9he hei"ht of the *ae here *as co(ossa(,
hi"her than the coconut trees# ;hips *ere thro*n up onto the (and, and the
ce!ent *orks *ere destroyed# B of the tsuna!is icti!s died in ;u!atra#
)' !inutes after the quake, &''' peop(e are ki((ed in the Aicobar -s(ands
1 hour after the earthquake in 9hai(and, peop(e sti(( do not kno* that peop(e
hae died in -ndonesia# 4eop(e c(i!bed upon the tops of hote(s to surie#
9he 7eo!orpho(o"y ?shape and orientation@ of the coast(ine deter!ined
death to((s a(on" the coast of 9hai(and, and this *as sho*n a(on" the 5est
coast of the -s(and of 4huket# 9he e2posed bays *hich faced the *ae bore
the brunt of the *ae, *hereas bays *hich faced a*ay "ot of re(atie(y
(i"ht(y# ;urin 3ay and 3each had a steep beach and protectin" head(and, and
*as re(atie(y untouched#
+ hours after the earthquake, the *ae reaches ;ri .anka# A train *as
runnin" a(on" the coast fro! Co(o!bo to 7a((e# 9he train *as hit by the
*ae of *ater, and sp(it the train up# 9he second *ae arried soon after,
ki((in" !ost of the peop(e *ho had suried the first *ae on the train# 15''
peop(e died on the train, $5,''' peop(e died in -ndia and ;ri .anka#
) B hours after the quake, the Ma(dies are on(y s(i"ht(y effected#
& hours after the quake, East Africa is ne2t affected# Ae*s is fina((y "ettin"
to co!!unities and in Kenya there *as on(y one fata(ity as peop(e *ere
*arned# 9he *ae dissipates throu"hout the *ho(e ocean across the "(obe#
9he 9suna!i of Dece!ber +%
th
+''$
ki((ed oer ++',''' peop(e# 9his *as an
enor!ous disaster of *hich !ost peop(e
*ere co!p(ete(y ob(iious to on that
3o2in" Day !ornin"#
%5',''' peop(e *ere serious(y in6uredC
schoo(s, hospita(s and roads *ere
co!p(ete(y *iped out#
Haiti Ea!th%ua&e' Ca!i((ea$ )LE*C+
1aiti is the poorest country in the 5estern 1e!isphere, its 7D4 is on(y D1,+'' per person, +'&
th
in the *or(d, its 1D- is incredib(y (o* at
'#$'$, 1$5
th
in the *or(d, and /' 0 of its 9#& Mi((ion peop(e (ie be(o* the poerty (ine#
Port Au Prince, the capital, is on a fault line runnin( off the Puerto ,ico Trench, where the 3orth American Plate is slidin( under the @aribbean plate.
The fault line is a strike slip fault, the @aribbean Plate south of the fault line was slidin( east and the smaller >on&a&e Platelet north of the fault was
slidin( west. There were many aftershocks after the main e&ent. The earthquake occurred on January $2
th
2#$#, the epicentre was centred Aust $#
miles southwest of the capital city, Port au Prince and the quake was shallowBonly about $#C$2 kilometres below the landDs surface. The e&ent
measured <.# on the ,ichter 'a(nitude scale.
There were many impacts includin("
=p to +$%,### people died and more than a million people were made homeless, e&en in 2#$$ people remained in make shift temporary
homes. /ar(e parts of this impo&erished nation where dama(e, most importantly the capital Port Au Prince, where shanty towns and e&en
the presidential palace crumbled to dust. + million people in total were affected. ;ew of the Euildin(s in *aiti were built with earthquakes
in mind, contributin( to their collapse
The (o&ernment of *aiti also estimated that 22#,### residences and +#,### commercial buildin(s had collapsed or were se&erely dama(ed.
The port, other maAor roads and communications link were dama(ed beyond repair and needed replacin(. The clothin( industry, which
accounts for twoCthirds of *aitiDs e5ports, reported structural dama(e at manufacturin( facilities. 4t is estimated the $ in 2 Aobs were lost as
a result of the quake
,ubble from collapsed buildin(s blocked roads and rail links.
The port was destroyed
8ea le&els in local areas chan(ed, with some parts of the land sinkin( below the sea
The roads were littered with cracks and fault lines
8hort term responses
/on( term reco&eryF
'any countries responded to appeals for aid, pled(in( funds and
dispatchin( rescue and medical teams, en(ineers and support personnel.
@ommunication systems, air, land, and sea transport facilities, hospitals,
and electrical networks had been dama(ed by the earthquake, which
slowed rescue and aid efforts.
There was much confusion o&er who was in char(e, air traffic
con(estion, and problems with prioritisation of fli(hts further
complicated early relief work.
The E= (a&e G++# million and the 0orld Eank wai&ed the countries
debt repayments for 2 years.
% months after the quake, 17H of the rubble remained un cleared, some
still blockin( &ital access roads.
The number of people in relief camps of tents and tarps since the quake
was $.% million, and almost no transitional housin( had been built. 'ost
of the camps had no electricity, runnin( water, or sewa(e disposal, and
the tents were be(innin( to fall apart.
Eetween 2+ maAor charities, G$.$ billion had been collected for *aiti for
PortCauCPrinceDs mor(ues were quickly o&erwhelmed with many tens of
thousands of bodies ha&in( to be buried in mass (ra&es.
As rescues tailed off, supplies, medical care and sanitation became
priorities.
.elays in aid distribution led to an(ry appeals from aid workers and
sur&i&ors, and lootin( and sporadic &iolence were obser&ed.
relief efforts, but only two percent of the money had been released
-ne year after the earthquake $ million people remained displaced
The .ominican ,epublic which nei(hbours *aiti offered support and
accepted some refu(ees.
'edicines 8an frontiers, a charity, tried to help casualties whilst the =8A
took char(e of tryin( to coordinate Aid distribution.
Andes Eo(d !ountains
About the Andes 'ountains
The Andes 'ountains run the len(th of the 0est @oast of 8outh
America, risin( in the 3orth in @olombia and finishin( in @hile and
Ar(entina in the 8outh. They are worldDs lon(est mountain ran(e
runnin( for o&er <,###km and co&erin( % countries.
The mountains ha&e been formed as a result of the con&er(ence of the
3a?ca plate and the 8outh American plate. The hea&ier oceanic crust of
the 3a?ca plate is pushed towards the 8outh American plate, and because
it is denser is subducted underneath. The 8outh American plate is less
dense so sits on top of this subduction ?one, but the rocks of the 8outh
American plate ha&e been folded upwards and crumpled into ;old
'ountains. There are also 9olcanoes and earthquakes alon( this
destructi&e plate boundary C earthquakes caused by stresses buildin( up
as the 2 plates try to mo&e past one another, and &olcanoes caused by
ma(ma workin( its way up throu(h &ents in the EarthDs crust. This has
created a sequence of &olcanoes and ;old 'ountains, risin( up to %1%2m
at Aconca(ua. The trench markin( the boundary between the 3a?ca and
8outh American plates! to the 0est of the Andes mountains is called the
PeruC@hile Trench, and reaches an incredible depth of 7#%%m under the
sea le&el.
'inin(
The Andes 'ountains contains a rich mi5 of minable materials that are both &ery
&aluable and &ery useful to man. 0hen the 8panish conquered 8outh America their
prime obAecti&e was to prospect for (old. Potosi in Eoli&ia was one of 8painDs principle
mines and produced lots of sil&er. There e5ist lar(e deposits of @oal, oil and natural
(as, iron ore, (old, sil&er, tin, copper, phosphates and nitrates and Eau5ite for
aluminium! within the Andes mountains. The :anacocha (old mine in Peru is the
lar(est (old mine in the world. 4t is an open cast mine and the rocks containin( the
(old are blasted with dynamite. The rock is then sprayed with to5ic cyanide and the
(old e5tracted from the resultin( solution. This can contaminate water supplies. The
nearby town of @aAamarca has (rown from +#,### when the mine started to 26#,###
people in 2##2.
Ear!in"
9he !ountain s(opes of the Andes are used for a ariety of far!in"
practices# 9he best (and can be found on the a((ey f(oors, but an in"enious
syste! of terraces du" into the a((ey sides and he(d up by retainin" *a((s
has been used to brin" the (ands on the a((ey sides into food production#
9he f(at terraces he(p to ho(d up *ater in a re"ion *here there are !arked
shorta"es# Most crops are "ro*n in the (o*er areas and inc(ude soya,
!ai>e, rice and cotton# 1o*eer, the !ain stap(e crop of the Andes is the
potato, and there are hundreds of different arieties found in the
!ountains# Most far!in" is subsistence, *ith the food "ro*n for persona(
consu!ption, but there is so!e co!!ercia( far!in"#
.(a!as hae historica((y been used a (ot in the Andes, as a for! of
transportation and to carry "oods# A(paca, a re(atie of the .(a!a, has
been used to produce so!e of the finest c(oth kno*n to !an, and is a(so
produced in the Andes !ountains#
*ydroelectric power
The deep &alley and ri&ers of the Andes (i&e it
hu(e potential as a re(ion to produce
hydroelectric power. The narrow &alleys are ideal
to dam as it cuts costs, and the steep relief
increases water &elocities allowin( electricity
(eneration. 8now melt fuels most of the water
pro&ision, but this means that *EP production
can be reduced to small amounts in winter. The
:uncan dam proAect dams the Puacartambo and
*uachon ri&ers in northeast Peru, while the el
Platinal proAect will be(in construction in 2##1.
*ow the !ndes Mountains are used
9he 1o(derness coast(ine !ana"e!ent of a >one of rapid erosion
Tourism
9ouris! is a !assie industry for 4eru and the country has a (ot to offer# -n the
East you can take part in Eco=touris! actiities in the A!a>on 3asin, as found
a(on" the Madre De Dios Fier near to 4uerto Ma(donado# 4eru has so!e
fantastic coast(ine as *e((, but the hi"h(i"ht of 4eru is undoubted(y the -nca 9rai(#
9he trai( basica((y coers 5'k! of o(d path*ays (inkin" to"ether o(d -nca
sett(e!ents in the inhospitab(e !ountains of the Andes# -t is ;outh A!ericaGs best
kno*n trek and is one of on(y +) 5or(d 1erita"e ;ites ?as dee!ed by :AE;CH@
to be c(assified as i!portant both natura((y and cu(tura((y# 9he rai( is coered in $
days and coers around $5k!, and finishes *ith sunrise at the I.ost City of the
-ncasI at Machu 4icchu# 9he trai( is strict(y contro((ed, and on(y +'' trekkers are
a((o*ed to start out on the trai( eery day#
The *olderness @oastline is in the 3orth of En(land and runs between the
*umber Estuary in the south and a headland at ;lamborou(h head. 4t has the
unen&iable reputation as the number one place in Europe for coastal erosion,
and in a stormy year wa&es from the Aorth ;ea can re!oe bet*een & and
1'! of coast(ine. -t is one of the fastest erodin" coast(ines in Europe as a
resu(t of its "eo(o"y. The coastline starts with blowholes, stacks and
stumps at ;lamborou(h, and ends with 8purn head, a &ery lar(e spit that runs
across part of *umber Estuary.
>eolo(y
The (eolo(y runs in bands, with a chalk layer at ;lamborou(h in the 3orth,
Eoulder clay or till laid down in the last ice a(e! south of that and finally
ri&er deposits in the *umber Estuary. Eecause the c(ay is an unconso(idated
5EAK !ass of c(ay partic(es and boulders it erodes more rapidly than the
more resistant rock of chalk in the north. The processes of erosion and
weatherin( occurrin( are numerous but include hydraulic action, free?e
thaw, abrasion, solution and carbonation on the clay!
This has left a bay where the clay is and a headland Auttin( out to sea at
;lamborou(h head. Althou(h wa&e refraction focuses the wa&es ener(y on
the layered and faulted rocks of ;lamborou(h head, erodin( the calk, the
incredibly weak nature of the clay still means that it erodes faster than the
chalk. The chalk headland has stumps and blowholes.
9he coast(ine today is around $k! in(and fro! *here it *as in Fo!an
ti!es, and there are !any .H;9 i((a"es of the 1o(derness coast(ine
that hae (on" disappeared into the sea# 4ndeed, today, farmland, tourist
sites such as cara&an parks and &illa(es remain under threat. The weak clay,
stormy nature of the 3orth 8ea, and risin( sea le&els of 6mm per year mean
that the future is bleak for parts of this coastline. 4n addition to the clay bein(
&ulnerable to erosion, it is also prone to slumpin(. This is because water
enters cracks and pore spaces in the rock, addin( wei(ht and makin( it
slump.
.efendin( the *olderness @oastline
There is a debate about whether or not human bein(s should attempt to
defend coastlines. 4n the case of the *olderness coastline, its (eolo(y weak
clays! wa&es destructi&e durin( 3orth 8ea storms! and >eomorpholo(y the
shape of the coastline allows the wa&es to break at the base of the cliffs!
make erosion almost ine&itable. *owe&er some defences ha&e been
attempted. Map(eton is a s!a(( i((a"e that cou(d beco!e i((a"e nu!ber
)' (ost to the sea# The road runnin( throu(h it, the E$262 links towns
alon( the coastline and would ha&e been lost to coastal erosion if protection
measures were not put into place. 4t was decided that the cost of coastal
defence for a &illa(e of only $## people was less than the cost of buildin( a
new road. 8o, b(ocks of "ranite were brou(ht in and placed alon( the cliff
base and + rock "roynes were put into place to trap sediment mo&in(
because of lon(shore drift.
The basic plan for coastal protection is shown in ;i(ure %. The structures are
to be built of rock material. The beach that will de&elop between the two
(roynes will help protect the sea wall or re&etment!. 4t will be DseededD with
waste material from the construction of the access ramp. This ramp will
enable people to (et onto the beach
8uch undertakin(s are not cheap I the cost is esti!ated at ,1& !i((ion#
*owe&er this has to be set a(ainst the costs of not doin( anythin( in this
case, the loss of the &illa(e and the e&acuation of its population, plus the loss
of (ood farmin( land. Eoth the economic and psycholo(ical dama(e would
be considerable.
Keyhaen ;a(t !arshes !ana"e!ent of a u(nerab(e coasta(
ecosyste!
Coasta( areas are used for !any functions, and these often conf(ict *ith one another# 9hink about the Aorthu!ber(and
coast(ine, *e hae far!s, industry ?such as the A(can 4(ant@, touris! ?e#"# ;eahouses@, residentia( areas ?3(yth@ and
Conseration areas ?;eaton ;(uice sand dunes and the Earne -s(ands@# Aot a(( of these (and uses fit *ith one another or are
co!patib(e *ith one another# 1o*eer, coasts proide a(uab(e habitats for (ots of species and despite a(( of the (and uses
there is a reco"nised need to protect and consere our u(nerab(e and precious coasta( habitat#
Conseration and !ana"e!entC
A shore(ine !ana"e!ent p(an *as put in p(ace in 199% *hich added )'',''' cubic !etres of shin"(e to the spit, and
added 55'! of rock ar!our at the *estern end of the spit# -t is hoped that this *i(( stabi(ise the sa(t !arsh#
9he !arsh is a(so a ;;;- ?;ite of ;pecia( ;cientific -nterest@ and part of a Aationa( Aature Fesere# 9his is to protect
the biodiersity and p(ants of the area and so the area is carefu((y !onitored and !ana"ed to he(p !aintain this
biodiersity#
A case study of a coasta( habitat = 1urst Cast(e and Keyhaen sa(t !arshes
1o* Keyhaen sa(t !arshes hae been createdC
Keyhaen !arshes are (ocated on the south coast of En"(and, in the *estern
;o(ent in ;outhern 1a!pshire# 9hey hae for!ed behind 1urst Cast(e ;pit,
*hich has for!ed because of (on"shore drift fro! the 5est#
9his spit proided a she(tered p(ace for sedi!ent accu!u(ation and for ee(
"rass to accu!u(ate a*ay fro! the i!pact of stron" *inds and coasta( erosion#
9he pioneer co(onisin" p(ant, ee( "rass, he(ps to stabi(ise the area further by
trappin" !ore sedi!ent#
7radua((y, ha(ophytes ?sa(t to(erant p(ants@ such as "(ass *ort and sea b(ite
co(onise the accu!u(atin" !udf(ats#
9hese p(ants trap !ore sedi!ent and contribute or"anic !atter *hen they die#
9hese processes he(p the sa(ty !arsh to "ro*#
Eentua((y the sa(t !arsh *i(( "ro* further and an een !ore co!p(e2 set of
p(ants *i(( co(onise the area, unti( the c(i!a2 co!!unity of a(der and ash trees
is reached, *ith a fu((y dee(oped creek syste!# 9his is kno*n as e"etation
;:CCE;;-HA#
9hreats#
Keyhaen sa(t !arshes are under threat fro! the construction of "roynes do*n current ?to the 5est@, *hich *ere desi"ned to trap
sedi!ent for so!e of the ;outh coast beaches# 9he effect of this has been to stare the spit behind *hich the sa(t !arsh ecosyste! has
for!ed and re(ies upon for she(ter# 9his hu!an !odification of the coast(ine had !a6or ra!ifications for this ecosyste!# 9his has
*eakened the spit and at ti!es it has been eroded and breached by erosion# 9his has (ed to the die back of ;partina An"(ica and
threatens the oera(( hea(th of the sa(t !arsh#
9he !arsh is retreatin" by up to %! a year, and is threatened by sea (ee( rise and stor!s# -n 19/9 a stor! in Dece!ber pushed part
of the shin"(e onto the top of the sa(t !arsh, e2posin" up to /'! of s(at !arsh top the sea# Her the ne2t ) !onths (ots of erosion of
this section of !arsh took p(ace#
Ani!a(s a(so "ra>e on the !arsh da!a"in" the !arsh, and touris! is beco!in" increasin"(y i!portant#
9he :K -!pacts of sea (ee( rise on the coast(ine
9 he econo!ic, socia(, eniron!enta( and po(itica( i!pact of coasta( f(oodin" on the :K#
Her the past 15 years sea (ee(s hae risen on aera"e by )!! a year, but this fi"ure aries *ide(y fro! p(ace to p(ace# 9he
-nter"oern!enta( 4ane( on C(i!ate Chan"e ?-4CC@ predicts a rise in "(oba( sea (ee(s of bet*een +/ and $)c! by the end of
the century#
9he area !ost under threat in the :K is the ;outh East and East of the country, *here the (and is f(at and at ery (o*
a(titudes# :nfortunate(y, this is a(so *here !ost peop(e (ie in the :KJ 9he Aorfo(k 3roads are a (ar"e tourist
destination ?they brin" in ,5!i((ion a yearJ@ and far!in" area, here, sea (ee( rise *ou(d destroy the area and habitats#
.ondon is bui(t around a tida( area of the Fier 9ha!es and is current(y protected by the 9ha!es 3arrier, ho*eer, en"ineers
predict that this barrier *i(( soon be inadequate *ith risin" sea (ee(s and *i(( need to be rep(aced at the coast of oer ,/'
bi((ionJ Ka(uab(e a"ricu(tura( (and *i(( be (ost and coasta( erosion in areas such as 1o(derness *i(( be increased as seas
;ea (ee(s are risin" "(oba((y at the present ti!e, but hae chan"ed
si"nificant(y oer !i((ions and !i((ions of years# -n the past ?up to 1),'''
years a"o@ 3ritain *as actua((y part of Europe and the Aorth ;ea did not
e2istJ 9here a re nu!erous causes for sea (ee( chan"e, and these can be
"rouped into Aatura( and 1u!an causes# Aatura( causes of sea (ee( rise
are re(ated to chan"es in te!perature or to the addin" of *ei"ht to the
EarthGs crust#
-f "(oba( te!peratures "o up ice !e(ts and the oceans e2pand by ther!a(
e2pansion = the sea (ee( *i(( rise#
-f "(oba( te!peratures fa(( then ice bui(ds up on the (and and sea, the oceans
contract in o(u!e due to ther!a( contraction, and sea (ee( fa((s#
An e2a!p(e of this is ho* 3ritain has responded durin" and after the (ast
!a6or ice a"e# Durin" the (ast ice a"e !ost of Aorthern 3ritain *as coered
in -ce *hereas the ;outhern ed"e stayed ice free# the area under ice *as
pushed do*n in to the EarthGs !ant(e s(o*(y oer ti!e because of the added
*ei"ht, causin" (oca( sea (ee(s to rise in so!e p(aces ?a(thou"h this *as
offset by "(oba( sea (ee(s fa((in" because of the ice a"eJ@# As the ice !e(ted
*ith *ar!in", the *ei"ht *as (ifted off Aorthern 3ritain# 9his a((o*ed the
(and to s(o*(y FE3H:AD up*ards, causin" the sea (ee( to EA.. re(atie
to the risin" (and# 9he consequence of this is that sea (ee(s are fa((in" in
Aorthern ;cot(and and risin" in ;outhern 3ritain ?*here popu(ation
density is hi"hest@#
9hese natura( chan"es are bein" !ade *orse by hu!an actiity# As hu!an
bein"s re(ease !ore and !ore Carbon Dio2ide, Aitrous H2ide and Methane
into the at!osphere ?in industria( processes etc@ *e acce(erate 7(oba(
5ar!in"# 9his cou(d hae !assie i!pacts on sea (ee(s, dro*nin"
coast(ines, chan"in" the (ocation of erosion and affected coasta( habitats#
beco!e stor!ier and *aes reach further up beaches and c(iff faces# Mudf(ats such as Keyhaen sa(t !arshes *i(( a(so be
under threat#
;ett(e!ents such as Kin"<s .ynn *i(( be under threat fro! sea (ee( rise# Ka(uab(e a"ricu(tura( (and such as the Eens is at risk
fro! f(oodin"# .o* (yin" !udf(ats in Esse2 *ou(d be under threat#
Flooding in an MEDC the Morpeth floods
The flood is currently estimated to have been a 1 in 115 year event. Prolonged rainfall coincided with the flood peak from higher
areas of the catchment which led to a peak water level of 3.99 metres was recorded in the river channel, the biggest flow
ever recorded in the Wansbeck. The Environment Agenc recorded !"# millimetres of precipitation falling in the Wansbeck
catchment between Friday 5 September and Saturday September. The $iver %ans&eck 'alle is narrow and steep and as a
conse!uence has e"aggerated amounts of surface runoff. #ecause the soil was already saturated as a result of the wet summer$
the effect of surface runoff was greatly enhanced. Furthermore$ increased urbanisation since the 1%&s in 'orpeth meant that
most water falling on the town would have drained directly to the river channel. (ther tests investigating the catchment lag
time )time lapse between the mid point of storm rainfall and peak river level* indicate that the %ans&eck has a (A) time of
onl * ho+rs. This means that any water falling in the catchment area would have been rapidly converted into channel flow by
surface runoff and to a lesser e"tent by throughflow.
,ocial -mpacts
D+ring . ,eptem&er /##*, more than 0## residents were evac+ated. Shelter was provided in the Town +all$ ,ing -dward
./ +igh School and 0ounty +all. 1n error made by the -nvironment 1gency2s warning system meant that 1%3 properties in the
'iddle 4reens area of the town did not receive a flood warning. Fire fighters$ ambulance crews$ the 51F$ the 567/ and the
#ritish 5ed 0ross were among the emergency services involved in rescue and recovery operations over the weekend. 'any
residents had to be forced from their homes$ and lived in caravans or with relatives as rebuilding took place. More than !,###
ho+ses were affected when the $iver %ans&eck &+rst its &anks on ,at+rda, ,eptem&er ., /##*.
Economic
%%5 properties in 'orpeth town centre were directly affected by the flood water. -arly estimates suggest that damages co+ld
&e over 1!# million. (n Sunday 8 September$ 'orpeth 7ions 0lub and the 5ed 0ross launched the 'orpeth Flood 9isaster Fund
and by Wednesday 1& September had raised over :;&$&&&.
Environmental
1t the peak of the flood$ 'orpeth +igh Street )#ridge Street* was under & centimetres );.& ft* of water. 6ot since 1%< had
the main street been flooded. The library suffered severe structural damage due to the heavy debris transported by the river.
Such was the e"tent of the damage that structural engineers were re!uired to test its safety.
Management
'orpeth has a system of flood defences )flood walls and low embankments* in place following the 1%< flood event$ but these
were overtopped by the high flood waters. The 51F and other emergency services had to evacuate people by boat and
helicopter$ and aid rushed in from around the country and government sources. /nsurance companies will foot most of the bill.
There are plans to have in place by ;&11 a system of higher flood walls along weak spots in the town$ poles to catch debris
upstream$ to clear out the culverts that drain water in 'orpeth and an upstream reservoir = which would hold over one million
cubic metres = would only allow through a volume of water manageable by the town centre defences.
E(oodin" in an .EDC 9he 3an"(adesh f(oods
Ean(ladesh is a low lyin( country that is incredibly &ulnerable to floodin(. 4t has + !a6or riers f(o*in" throu"h it ?the 7an"es,
3rah!aputra and Me"hna@ and is &ulnerable to coastal floodin( as it is so low lyin( and flat. The +''$ f(oods (asted fro! Ju(y to
;epte!ber and coered 5'0 of the country at their peak#
At the time of the July 2##6 floods 6#H of the capital, .haka was under water. %'' deaths *ere reported and )'!i((ion peop(e
*ere ho!e(ess# 1'',''' peop(e a(one in Dhaka suffered fro! diarrhoea fro! the f(ood *aters#
Erid(es were destroyed, the death toll rose to <2# and the airport and maAor roads were flooded. This hampered relief efforts. The
da!a"e to schoo(s and hospita(s *as esti!ated at D&bi((ion. ,ural areas also suffered, the rice crop was de&astated as were
important cash crops such as Aute and su(ar.
Mana"e!ent and aid
0ithin Ean(ladesh food supplies, medicines, clothin( and blankets were distributed. /ocal people be(an to rebuild their homes but
disease from contaminated and often sta(nant flood water remained a threat. 9he :nited Aations (aunched an appea( to raise
D&$!i((ion, but had receied on(y +'0 of this by ;epte!ber# 0ater Aid helped by brin(in( water purification tablets and
education campai(ns.
4n the lon( term a ;lood Action Plan is in place in Ean(ladesh, but the embankments which are supposed to protect a(ainst floodin(
ha&e not always been successful. ;lood warnin(s and pro&ision of food and shelter has had a more positi&e impact.
5ater supp(y in the :K Kie(der 5ater
Positive Negative
A hydro-electric power station, using the water released by Kielder
reservoir can generate 6MW of power.
educing the flow of water fro! a river changes the landscape of that
river which can affect plants and ani!als. A da! holds bac" sedi!ent,
especially the gravel and pebbles. #he depletion of riverbed gravels
reduces spawning grounds for fish and invertebrates.
#he sche!e includes $ sites of %pecial %cientific &nterest '%%%&( ,
covering ),$**ha and containing uni+ue plants and ani!als. Kielder
is one of the last places for red s+uirrels in ,ngland
-lean water released fro! the da! has the increased potential for
erosion downstrea! of the da! . this is "nown as clear water erosion.
#he la"e is //"! long and stores nearly 0**,***!illion litres of
water . this helps in ti!es of water shortages
1$ fa!ilies were displaced fro! their ho!es by the da!, their houses
disappearing beneath the la"e that for!ed.
The U, is hi-h.y va!ia(.e i$ te!#s f /ate! su00.y a$d de#a$d1 A .t f the !ai$fa.. !eceived (y the U, fa..s i$ the
N!th a$d 2est' /he!eas #st 0e0.e .ive i$ the Suth East1 ,ie.de! /ate! is a #a$a-e#e$t sche#e desi-$ed t
st!e /ate! f! the N!th East f E$-.a$d1 It is !u$ (y N!thu#(!ia$ 2ate!' a .a!-e c#0a$y su00.yi$-
N!thu#(e!.a$d' Cu$ty *u!ha# a$d 0a!ts f N!th Y!&shi!e a$d Cu#(!ia1
P0u.ati$ su00.ied: 314#
*ai.y su00.y: 536# .it!es
+he main conurbations ser,ed by the reser,oir are +yneside, Wearside and +eesside. +he reser,oir is linked to the exit
point of the -erwent .eser,oir in /ounty -urham, with a pipeline fed from the 0orth +yne ri,er below the Kielder dam. +he
-erwent .eser,oir remains the primary source of water for +yne and Wear, so water from Kielder can be used to
supplement the flow of the .i,er -erwent when the reser,oir abo,e is at low le,els, and also to pro,ide water into the
-erwent .eser,oir1s distribution system. +he Kielder pipeline cannot be used to supplement the water supply to the
-erwent .eser,oir itself.
+he decline of traditional hea,y industry, to(ether with more water2efficient industrial processes and better control of water
supply leaka(e, ser,ed to undermine the ori(inal reasons for the reser,oir and many came to criticise the (o,ernment2
funded pro3ect as a /hite e.e0ha$t.
In recent years, howe,er, Kielder Water has come into its own, with under(round sprin(s ensurin( that it always remains at
hi(h le,els, re(ardless of the pre,ailin( climate condition. +his means that while the south of )n(land is often forced to
implement drou(ht strate(ies and hosepipe bans, north east )n(land en3oys plentiful water supplies
2uge volu!es of ti!ber are produced at Kielder, the nu!ber of
standing trees is /1*!illion and they are replanted once felled.
Kielder forest e!ploys up to 06* e!ployees.
When the da! was co!pleted it flooded an area of scenic natural
beauty.
&t can act as a flood prevention !easure. 0,)** acres of far!land and habitat was lost as a result of the sche!e.
A visitors study showed that 36!illion is raised through touris! to
Kielder every year.
#he forest at Kielder has been criticised for being too !uch of a
!onoculture 'only one type of tree( . !ainly %it"a %pruce
/omplete the table below by writin( a summary sentence about the case study and by writin( down 4 bits of factual information "location, dates,
facts, fi(ures, distances etc& about the case study that you can remember for the exam.
5an(ladesh 6loods Morpeth 6loods Kielder Water UK and 7ea le,el rise
Keyha,en 7alt Marshes +he *olderness /oastline +he *aiti )arthuake +he Kobe )arthuake
+he !ndes Mountains +he 899$ +sunami Mount :inatubo
Case study %uesti$s a.. 7 #a!&s each
The Rest.ess Ea!th
!& :eople respond to ha;ards in different ways. /hoose a ,olcano or an earthuake you ha,e studied in an L)-/.
-escribe the measures to predict and to take precautions a(ainst your chosen ha;ard
a$d
explain the short term responses to your chosen ha;ard1
B) Choose a volcanic eruption you have studied.
Describe the aid given to people affected by the eruption
and
Explain the long term recovery of the area affected by the volcanic eruption.
/& :eople respond to +sunami in different ways. /hoose a +sunami you ha,e studied. )xplain how people responded in the short
term and the lon( term.
D) Choose one earthquake/volcano/tsunami/supervolcano that you have studied.
Describe the short term immediate) responses made by the people in the area
and
Explain the long term problems for people in the area.
)& 6old mountains are used in different ways. /hoose a ran(e of 6old mountains that you ha,e studied.
-escribe the ,ariety of landuses that occur in the fold mountains
a$d
),aluate the impact of those landuses
The Casta. 8$e
!) "ea levels have risen around the #orld. Choose a stretch of coastline that you have studied that i$s under threat from sea level
rise.
Describe the impacts that sea level rise could have on this stretch of coastline
!nd
Explain the consequences of these impacts.
5& 7ome coastlines are sufferin( from erosion and cliff retreat. 6or a coastline you ha,e studied<
)xplain the causes of cliff retreat
a$d
=utline how the cliff retreat is bein( mana(ed
C) Coastal environments contain a range of unique ecosystems. %or a coastal ecosystem that you have studied&
Describe ho# the ecosystem functions
and
Explain ho# it is being managed sustainably against any threats it might face.
Rive!s' f.ds a$d #a$a-e#e$t
>&Many ri,ers around the world suffer floodin(. 6or a ri,er that has flooded in an M)-/<
=utline the causes of floodin(
a$d
)xplain the economic and social impacts of those floods.
')(any rivers around the #orld suffer flooding. %or a river that has flooded in an )EDC*
+utline the effects of flooding
and
Explain the management strategies used to try and control damage caused by future flooding.
#& Water supply and demand ,ary across the 5ritish Isles. 6or a water supply scheme that you ha,e studied:
-escribe how the scheme works
a$d
!ssess the positi,e and ne(ati,e impacts of that scheme.
$&/ompare the impacts of floodin( in M)-/s and L)-/s and explain their differin( impacts