GCSE Geography case study booklet

GCSE Geography case study booklet

An example of an earthquake in a HIC- New Zealand 

What?

6.3 magnitude

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When?

February 2011

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Where?

New Zealand's south island- 10 Km west of Christchurch

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Why?

Conservatve/transform margin

Primary effects

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185 people killed

$28 billions of damage

Infrastructure such as water and sewage pipes damaged

Secondary effects

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.Five rugby world cup matches cancelled – impacted tourism

1/5 of the population migrated away from city

Schools were closed for two weeks

The economy expected to take 50-100 years to recover

Immediate responses

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• Around $6-7 million of international aid was provided
• The Red Cross and other charities supplied aid workers
• Rescue crews from all over the world, including the UK, USA, Taiwan and Australia, provided support

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Long term responses

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• The construction of around 10,000 affordable homes
• Water and sewage were restored by August 2011
• The New Zealand government provided temporary housing
• Many NGOs provided support, including Save the Children
• Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority was created to organise rebuilding the region. It had special powers to change planning laws and regulations.

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REMEMBER

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When writing about case studies you MUST develop your points....

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Use phrases such as.....

• Therefore
• This means that....
• As a results....

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For example:

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One primary effect of the earthquake was that the damage cost a lot of money.

For example, the earthquake is estimated to have cost $28 billion dollars in repairs.

This means that the economy of New Zealand will be affected in the future.

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Be critical too!!

• Which impacts are more severe?
• Which groups of people suffered the most?
• Were there more social. economic or environmental impacts?

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An example of an earthquake in an LIC- Haiti 2010

What?

7.0 magnitude earthquake

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When?

January 2010, 16.53 pm

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Where?

The epicenter was 25 Km west of Port au Prince.

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Why?

A conservative/transform plate boundary

Primary effects

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3 million people were affected by the quake

Between 217,000 and 230,000 people died, an estimated 300,000 were injured

250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or  damaged.

Secondary effects

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.Locals living in temporary accommodation a year after the quake.

Outbreaks of cholera

1 in 5 people lost their jobs in the clothing industry.

Immediate responses

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• Due to the port being damaged, aid was slow to arrive.
• The USA sent rescue teams and 10,000 troops.
• Bottled water and purification tablets were provided.
• 235,000 people were moved away from Port-au-Prince to less-damaged cities.
• £20 million was donated by The UK government.

Long term responses

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• As one of the poorest countries on Earth, Haiti relied on overseas aid.
• Although the response was slow, new homes were built to a higher standard. Over one million people still lived in temporary shelters one year after the earthquake.
• The port needed rebuilding, which required a large amount of investment.

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Why was the earthquake so devastating?

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1. The earthquake occurred at shallow depth – this means that the seismic waves must travel a smaller distance through the Earth to reach the surface to maintain more energy.
2. The earthquake struck the most densely populated area of the country.
3. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
4. The buildings in Port-Au-Prince were not designed or constructed to be earthquake-resistant.
5. Three million people live in Port au Prince; most live in informal settlements.
6. Haiti only has one airport with one runway. The control tower was severely damaged in the earthquake. The port is also unusable due to damage.
7. Initially, aid had been piling up at the airport due to a lack of trucks and people to distribute it. Water and food have taken days to arrive, and there is not enough to go around.
8. Rescue teams from around the world took up to 48 hours to arrive in Haiti due to the problems at the airport. As a result, local people have had to use their bare hands to try and dig people out of the rubble.

An example of a tropical storm- Typhoon Haiyan- Philippines  

What?

Category 5 typhoon

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When?

November 2013

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Where?

Philippines

Primary effects

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• People were made homeless, particularly around Western and Eastern Visayas
• roads were blocked by fallen trees and other debris
• Leyte and Tacloban experienced a 5-metre storm surge, and 400mm of rainfall flooded an area of up to 1km inland
• 90% of Tacloban was destroyed
• 6190 people died
• The overall cost of damage was around $12 billion
• 1 million farmers and 600,000 hectares of farmland affected

Secondary effects.

Social secondary effects

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• Power supplies were cut off for months in some areas.
• Education was disrupted as many schools were destroyed.
• Seawater, chemicals and sewerage contaminated surface and groundwater

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Economic secondary effects

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• An oil tanker ran aground, causing an 800,000-litre oil leak that contaminated fishing waters.
• The airport was badly damaged, and roads were blocked by debris and trees.

Environmental secondary effects

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• The leak from the oil barge led to ten hectares of mangroves being contaminated.
• Flooding caused landslides.

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Immediate responses

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• The government issued a televised warning to people to prepare and evacuate.
• Over 1,200 evacuation centres were set up to help the homeless.
• Three days after the storm, the main airport was reopened, and emergency aid arrived. Power was restored in some regions after a week. 

Long- term responses

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• A cash for work programme paid people to clear debris and rebuild Tacloban.
• The international charity organisation Oxfam replaced fishing boats.
• Build Back Better is the government’s response to the typhoon. Launched in 2014, it intended to upgrade damaged buildings to protect them from future disasters

REMEMBER TO THINK LIKE A GEOGRAPHER...... why was this tropical storm so devastating?

• Size/scale? The coastal geography of the Philippines? the Philippines being a middle income country?
• Which responses were more important? Immediate or long term?
• Were the primary or secondary impacts more severe?

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An example of extreme weather in the UK- Somerset Levels Flooding  

The Somerset levels are in the Southwest of England . Somerset Moors form an extensive area of low-lying farmland and wetlands bordered by the Bristol Channel

Causes of the floods: ​

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Wettest January since records began – a succession of depressions (low pressure) driven across the Atlantic Ocean brought a period of wet weather lasting several weeks.

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• 350mm of rain fell in January and February (about 100mm above the average)
•  Hide tides and storm surges swept water up the rivers from the Bristol channel. 

Social impacts:

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• Over 600 houses flooded 16 farms evacuated 

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• Residents evacuated to temporary accommodation 

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• Villages such as Moorland cut off. This affected people’s daily lives – for example attending school and power supplies cut off. 

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Economic impacts:

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• Somerset County Council estimated the cost of flood damage to be more than £10 million
• Over 14,000 ha of agricultural land under water for 3-4 weeks 
• Over 1000 livestock evacuated Local roads cut off by floods 

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Environmental impacts:

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• Floodwaters were heavily contaminated with sewage and other pollutants including oil and chemicals 
• A huge number of debris had to be cleared 
• Stagnant water that had collected for months had to reoxygenated before being pumped back into the rivers

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Immediate responses:

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• Villages such as Moorland evacuated. 
• People used boats to travel 
• Local community groups and volunteers offered support. 

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Long term responses: 

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• By 2015, some of the temporary pumping stations such as those at Northmoor and the Bridgewater Taunton Canal were to be made permanent so they could be used again in times of flooding 
• The Sowy channel was to be widened to increase its capacity 
• 8km of the Rivers Tone and Parrett were dredged making both rivers deeper limiting the risk of damage by floods.
• £20 million flood action plan was launched by Somerset County Council.

Case study of a tropical rainforest- Amazon Rainforest Brazil 

Location:

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• It covers 40% of the South American Continent
• It is in 8 countries including  Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia. 

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• Nearly 2/3rds is found in Brazil

Key facts:

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• The Amazon is the world's biggest rainforest The Amazon is thought to have 2.5 million species of insects
• More than half the species in the Amazon rainforest are thought to live in the canopy:
• Over 30 million people live in the Amazon including 350 indigenous groups.

Causes of deforestation:

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1. Infrastructure: chopping down the rainforest to build roads. E.g. The Trans Amazonian Highway. 

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• HEP: clearing the rainforest to build dams to produce electricity. 85% of electricity in Brazil comes from hydropower. 

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• Mineral extraction: extracting raw materials such as gold and iron to export around the world. The Carajas iron ore mine is the largest in the world and employs 3000 people.

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• Population growth: More food is needed. Forests are cleared to grow crops such as palm oil and soy (known as cash crops). The land is also used in agriculture for cattle farming with Brazil  being a large exporter of beef. 

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Impacts of deforestation:

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1. Governments struggle to protect the Amazon from illegal logging and mining. Pollution from mines impacts food chains and ecosystems. 

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• Loss of biodiversity,. When the forest is cleared habitats are destroyed. However, it is important to consider scale. Small- scale farming to meet the needs of the community has less impact than commercial farming (farming for profit). 

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• Removing trees means water isn't intercepted and more flows through the soil into rivers. Nutrients are leached from the soil, leaving it infertile and vulnerable to erosion. 

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• Climate change- forests are carbon sinks. When they are chopped down, they are not absorbing carbon dioxide. 

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Remember to consider stakeholders- who is impacted? But also, the size of the impact e.g., local, national, global.  

Case study of a hot desert- Thar Desert India  

Location:

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• Located in northwest India and stretches into Pakistan.
• It covers 200,000 square kilometre.
• The most densely populated desert in the world. 

Challenges for development in the Thar Desert

Mining

• Many minerals are extracted from the ground limestone for producing steel and cement.
• Marble, used in construction.
• Creates jobs and boosts economy

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Energy production

• At Jaisalmer, 75 wind turbines are generating 60MW of electricity. Solar energy is being used in Bhaleri to power water treatment works.
• The construction of solar farms creates jobs.

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Agriculture

• The Indira Gandhi canal has enabled the irrigation of 3500k㎡ of land for the commercial production of wheat, cotton and maize.

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Tourism

• Many tourists visit the city of Jaisalmer to see Jaisalmer Fort which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort contains many restaurants and hotels.
• Jaisalmer is the gateway into the Thar Desert where tourists can go on camel rides and jeep safaris.

Opportunities for development in the Thar Desert

Extreme temperatures

• Temperatures can exceed 50°C in the Thar Desert which makes it very challenging to for people, such as farmers, to work outside..

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Water supply

• Precipitation levels are in the Thar Desert are very low, between 120-240mm.
• Water supplies are essential for economic development.
• There is demand for water in both the hotel industry and farming.

Accessibility

• Covering 200,000k㎡, The Thar Desert is vast. Despite having the highest desert population density in the world, it has a limited road network.

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Example of a flood management scheme in the UK- Somerset County Council 

Location:

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The Somerset levels are in the Southwest of England . Somerset Moors form an extensive area of low-lying farmland and wetlands bordered by the Bristol Channel

Why was the scheme required?: ​

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• Storms from Jan 2014 brough record rainfall. 
• Rainwater couldn't soak into saturated soils.
• River Parret and Tone not dredged in 20 years. 

The management strategy: ​

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• Environment Agency and Somerset Council announced a £20 million Action Plan. 
• 8 Km of River Parrett and Tone were dredged. 
• Temporary pumping site at Dunball was made permanent. 
• River banks repaired and roads raised to reduce risk of flooding. 
• There is a plan for a £99 tidal barrier across the River Parrett at Bridgewater.

Social issues: 

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• Residents more confident in the safety of their homes. 
• Raised roads means communities such as Muchelney would be cut off. 

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Economic issues:

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• The scheme costs a large amount of money. Without the defenses people would struggle to sell their homes or insure them. 

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Environmental issues: 

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• Dredging rivers disturbs the river ecosystem and animal habitats. 

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Background information: ​

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• It is claimed that the Somerset Levels are one of the lowest areas in the UK. This is because much of the area lies below the high-water mark of spring tides. 
• The area is very flat and has a maximum altitude of 8m above sea level. All rivers in this area, including Axe, Sheppey and Brue, are in the north, while to the south, the rivers the Cary, Yeo, Tone and Parrett drain into the Bristol Channel.

Example of a coastal management scheme- Holderness coastline

Location:

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The Holderness Coast is located on the east coast of England. It extends 61km from Flamborough in the north to Spurn Point in the south.

Key facts:

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The Holderness Coastline is one of Europe’s fastest eroding at an average annual rate of around 2 metres.

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There are two main reasons why this area is eroding so rapidly. The strong prevailing winds creating destructive waves. Also, the cliffs are made of soft boulder clay, which erodes rapidly when saturated.

The management strategy at Hornsea- groynes and sea wall:

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• The groynes trap sediment transported by longshore drift, providing a wide sandy beach. This provides effective protection from destructive waves.
• The sea wall provides effective protection from destructive waves. Rock armour has recently been placed along a considerable stretch of the sea wall to absorb wave energy and increase the lifespan of the sea wall.

Positive impacts: 

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• The groynes have ensured a wide, sandy beach which attracts thousands of visitors to the town, supporting many local businesses. 
• Rock armour placed at the base of the cliffs between the groynes absorbs wave energy during storm conditions, protecting the cliffs’ base from erosion.
• The B1242 has been protected along with 50 properties and businesses in Mappleton.

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Negative impacts: 

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• Where the defences end to the south of Hornsea, erosion rates have rapidly increased
• Despite the coastal defences protecting Mappleton and the B1242, the erosion rate has increased significantly further south. 
• The construction of coastal defences has led to conflict between the local authority responsible for installing the defences, and landowners at Cowden. Cowden, has experienced increased rates of erosion.

The management strategy in Mappleton- rock groynes:

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• In 1991 almost £2 million was spent on two rock groynes and a rock revetment to protect Mappleton and the B1242 coastal road. In addition, blocks of granite were imported from Norway for the sea defences.
• The village contains around 50 properties and is home to 342 people. These properties would be lost to coastal erosion at about 2m/year without coastal defences.

An example of a city in a LIC or NEE- Mumbai  

Location:

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Mumbai is located on the western coast of Maharashtra state in western India, bordering the Arabian Sea. The city is on a narrow peninsula.

Opportunities created by urban growth.  

Education and healthcare

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• Mumbai’s biggest public medical centre, Sion Hospital admits more than 60000 patients each year.
• There are over 1000 primary and secondary schools in Mumbai. The Maharashtra government is duty-bound to provide compulsory, free education to every child from age 6 to 14. 

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Finance and employment

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• It  has the headquarters of many Indian financial institutions such as the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank of India, and numerous Indian companies such as the Tata Group.
• The rapidly growing population of Mumbai has created employment opportunities in the service sector as couriers, hairdressers and cleaners.

Challenges created by urban growth.  

Growth of informal settlements

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• Dharavi is Mumbai’s and India’s biggest informal settlement, with a population of approximately 1.2 million people crowded into one square mile.
• The average life expectancy is under 60 years old (compared to the national average of 69.27 years in 2020), due to disease and health concerns.

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Providing services

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• Although the Sion hospital has grown, it has not been able to match population growth. There are long times to be treated.
• Many schools are overcrowded, and there is a shortage of teachers
• Waste enters Mumbai’s Mithi River every year, .leading to pollution and health issues.

Urban planning

Urban planning can improve squatter settlements. Vision Mumbai is a plan to improve Dharavi. The project involves constructing high-quality, high-rise tower blocks to replace squatter settlement housing

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Recent developments in Dharavi include:

• the construction of sewage treatment plants and water recycling
• the introduction of street lighting
• the aspects of buildings will make use of natural light and ventilation
• solar panels on the roof will generate electricity
• air source heat pumps will draw in natural heat in order to heat the tower
• good street lighting and communal areas

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An example of a city in a HIC- London 

Location:

London is the UK’s capital and the largest city in the country. The city is located in the southeast of England on the River Thames.

Opportunities created by urban growth.  

Multiculturalism

• London has over 50 different cultures. This includes Black African, Caribbean, Indian, Romanian communities. .
• This diversity means that there is a range of food, music festivals and shops on offer.

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Employment

• The redevelopment of London docklands has created lots of jobs.
•  Canary Wharf, which now boasts high-rise office buildings housing international banks. With over 100,000 people employed there.
•  Most new jobs have been in the service sector, particularly in Professional, real estate and business services.

Transport

• London has an integrated travel system. This is a network of transport systems which link to one another to increase the use of public transport to help reduce traffic congestion and CO2 emissions.
• London Underground – the new Elizabeth line links central London to the Suburbs, encouraging more people to use public transport.

Urban greening

• London boasts more extensive parks than many other cities e.g. Hyde Park
• almost half (47%) of the city’s area. Is green space.
• Thee help to reduce flood risks and air pollution. London is a National Park City.

Challenges created by urban growth.  

Deprivation:

• Two million people in London struggle with poverty
• There are differences in life expectancy across the city. People in live in wealthier areas such as Kensington live longer.
• Poorer areas such as Newham have higher levels of unemployment.

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Dereliction and housing shortages.

• Building on greenfield sites leads to urban sprawl
• The other option is to build on brownfield sites however, these might need to be decontaminated

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Pollution

• Compared to other European cities, London’s pollution record is worse, though not as severe as many Asian cities.
• The upcoming cycle superhighways in London are designed to provide swift paths for cyclists along major roads, promote cycling, decrease traffic, and lower harmful vehicle emissions

London’s population has been increasing since 1991. It will likely grow and become a mega city by 2030 when the population reaches 10 million..  

An example of urban regeneration- Stratford London

Location:

London is the UK’s capital and the largest city in the country. Stratford an area of London mainly in the borough of Newham was selected as an area of regeneration for the 2012 Olympic games

Why did the area need regenerating?

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The area desperately needed regeneration after the docks and manufacturing industries were closed.

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The area was one of the most deprived communities in the country, where unemployment was high, educational achievement was low, and there was a high incidence of poor health amongst the population.

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How was the area regenerated?

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• The construction of new sports venues, including the Olympic Stadium (renamed to the London Stadium after the Olympics and now home to West Ham United), the Aquatics Centre and Velopark, which are open to the public and used by schools.
• The Olympics media centre has been renamed Here East and is a hub for creative industries, employing 5,000 people.
• A landscaped park with natural habitats and a range of tourist attractions. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the largest new park in London, with over 100 hectares of open space.
• The Athlete’s Village, used by Olympic competitors, was converted into residential accommodation. Known as East Village, it provides 2,800 homes for locals and people who have moved into the area.

Economic impacts

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New jobs in construction and tourism have created a multiplier effect. By 2030 there will be 20,000 new jobs, bringing £5 billion to the local economy. 

Social impacts

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Ten thousand new homes will be built in the park by 2030; 40% are affordable. 

A new bus station has been constructed next to the Stratford underground station, improving connectivity. The new Queen Elizabeth line also serves Stratford.

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Environmental impacts

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The parklands have acres of wetlands and riverside meadows home to hundreds of different birds, waterfowl and amphibians.

The homes in the park are designed to use water efficiently, essential for conserving this valuable resource.

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Sustainable urban living- East Village Stratford London

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• East Village is one of the most sustainable communities in the UK.
• Local trains and bus services connect to the London Underground. 
• Apartments lose less heat than low-rise housing.
• Green roofs have been included on residential blocks, providing habitats for wildlife as well as slowing the flow of surface run-off from rain.
• There are 35 independent shops, cafes and bars serving the local community. This keeps money in the local area as they are less likely to travel to shop
• Although East Village is a high-density urban area, 37 per cent of the land is green open space

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An example of a country in an LIC/ NEE- Nigeria

Location:

West Africa.  Nigeria has a range of natural environments, from semi-deserts in the north to tropical rainforest in the south. The most populous and economically developed country in Africa.

How is Nigeria's industrial structure changing?

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• Its economy has transformed from one mainly based on agriculture to manufacturing and services.
• Mechanisation and rural-urban migration have led to less people employed in agriculture.
• Manufacturing and services have grown due to Nigeria’s increased political stability. 
• The oil and gas industry has been very important to the Nigerian economy. with oil accounting for over 90% of its exports, it cannot be said the country has a balanced economy. Why might this be a problem in the future?

HOWEVER, REMEMBER WE ARE CRITICAL.......

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Despite economic growth Nigeria has a significant inequality gap. Wealth is typically found in the south, near Lagos. The north is exceptionally poor.

How is manufacturing helping economic growth?

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People have a more secure income through regular paid work, increasing their ability to buy things.

The growth in manufacturing leads to the multiplier effect.

Tax revenue increases, and more people are in formal employment.

Foreign investment is attracted by a thriving industrial sector, leading to further economic growth.

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Nigeria continued.....

An example of a TNC in a LIC/NEE country = SHELL

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The Niger Delta region, an important wetland and coastal ecosystem, is home to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Nigeria’s oil boom took off during the 1970s

How are Nigeria's relationships with other countries changing?

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Nearly half of Nigeria’s exports are to the EU, comprising commodities like crude oil, natural gas, rubber, cotton, and cocoa

Nigeria now conducts most of its trade with some of the world’s largest economies, including the EU, USA and India.

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Aid in Nigeria

Nigeria receives a considerable amount of aid is due to the  inequality of wealth within the country., despite having the largest economy in Africa, around a third of Nigerians (60 million) live below the national poverty line.

Issues with aid

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• Corruption in the government and individuals means aid is lost or not given to the right people.  .
• Nigeria’s government has grown overly reliant on foreign aid, 
• There have been claims aid money has been used to supply the Navy.
• Aid donors may have political influence over who benefits and who does not.

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BUT BE CRITICAL

• The south has benefitted more than the north from economic development
• Cities such as Lagos have benefitted more than rural areas
• Although people have jobs in manufacturing... low wages and safety issues
• The environment is hugely impacted by the oil industry
• Rise of Boko Haram in the north- terrorism and conflict

An example of fossil fuel extraction- oil and gas in the North Sea

The North Sea has reserves of Oil and natural gas, and a long history of exploitation

Countries have drilling rights within the North Sea around their territories and in the North Sea this means that the UK, Norway, Denmark and Germany can all drill for North Sea oil. 

The reserves of oil and gas are starting to dwindle (more than 50% has been extracted) and the oil and gas is tougher to extract.  However, the remaining reserves are still substantial - between 15 billion and 24 billion barrels of oil equivalent - meaning possibly another 30 to 40 years of production. 

THINK LIKE A GEOGRAPHER...

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Do you think there are advantages for the UK to extract fossil fuels or disadvantages.

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You might decide there are more social/economic advantages but more environmental disadvantages.

Which stakeholders benefit the most? E.g., UK government, residents, employees, oil companies etc.

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An example of a local renewable energy scheme in an LIC- Chambamontera.

Location:

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Chambamontera is a rural community found in northwest Peru in the Andes mountains.

Key facts:

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There are high levels of poverty and there is limited access to electricity. However, it is ideal for HEP because of the steep valley sides and high rainfall.

Key term:

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Hydro-electric power (HEP). Energy created from flowing water down steep slopes.

The Chambamontera micro-hydro scheme:

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• Cost $51,000
• Partially funded by Japanese government
• Some was funded by local population at a cost of $750 per family
• Credit was given to families to be able to afford this.

How has the community benefitted?

Social Benefits:

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• Reduced rural to urban migration as income has increased in the area.
• Improved quality of schools as they now have access to electricity.

Economic Benefits:

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• Low running costs
• Development of new industries such as coffee processing which grows the local economy and provides employment to locals

Environmental Benefits:

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• Reduced risks of flooding due to managing water in rivers
• Reduced deforestation as local trees are not needed for fires.

How is the scheme sustainable?

Uses renewable energy, also a form of appropriate technology that is affordable for the people in the local area.