Case Studies. Flashcards
Holderness Coast.
Significance of location:
- Soft boulder clay is easily eroded, is susceptible to slumping after heavy rainfall.
- Exposed to strong waves from the North Sea
Physical processes at work:
- Coastal erosion: a combination of strong waves and rock type ensure the coast is eroded rapidly.
- Mass Movement: Clay frequently slumps from the cliffs after rainfall.
- Transport: Strong waves move the eroded material away from the coastline: deposition happens further south.
Human processes at work:
- Hard engineering on parts of coast have protected areas from erosion and cliff collapse.
- Hard engineering in some places has prevented transport making erosion worse in other places.
Changes caused:
- Some parts are undergoing coastal retreat.
- Farmland, property and settlements have been lost to the sea.
River Dee
How it was formed:
- The source is Ddualit.
- Annual precipitation is very high.
- The Dee flows south-easterly.
- Near Chester, the river meanders across a wide floodplain eroding sedimentary rocks and depositing sediment.
Human factors causing change:
- Channelisation between 1732 and 1736 increased discharge and velocity.
- Earth embankments were built along the middle course to protect agricultural land and properties.
- A series of reservoirs were built.
Physical factors causing change:
- Floodplain landscape between Holt and Worthenbury with meanders, alluvium and river terrace deposits formed by erosion and deposition, causing the river to change its course over time.
- If sea levels rise by 1m by 2100, coastal landscapes will replace salt.
- A rise in sea level will destroy the estuary landscape.
Hurricane Sandy
Key facts:
- The hurricane travelled across the Caribbean sea affecting Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti before moving north to reach USA.
- It reached New Jersey on 29th October 2012.
- By the time the hurricane reached land, wind speeds of 129km/h were recorded.
- The storm surges caused most of the damage.
Impacts: Social: - 150 people dead. - Many areas left without electricity. - Homes damaged. - Schools closed for days.
Economic:
- 65 billion dollars worth of estimated property damage.
- Government had to pay for petrol.
- Tourism affected by cancellation of New York marathon.
Environmental:
- Storm surges caused significant damage to coastal nature reserves.
- Raw sewage leaked into the waters around New York and New Jersey, damaging habitats.
Responses:
- The concert for Sandy Relief with artists such as Bon Jovi.
- The American Red Cross helped by providing relief to victims.
- Billions of dollars were voted through legislation to help with rebuilding and supporting victims.
Typhoon Haiyan.
Key facts:
- It formed on 2nd November 2013.
- Wind speeds of over 300km/h were recoded.
- Most of the damage was on the islands of Samar and Leyte.
- Flooding and landslides were reported.
Impact:
- Social:
- An estimated 6,000 people killed.
- Significant loss of power.
- An estimated 600,000 people displaced from their homes.
- Many homes left destroyed.
Economic:
- 2 billion dollars worth of damage.
- Damage to infrastructure blocked transport.
Environmental:
- Mangroves damaged.
- Trees uprooted.
- Oil spills caused sea pollution.
Responses:
- People gave money.
- The WHO coordinated the international response.
- Aid was given by the UK.
California.
Key facts:
- In January 2014, California was experiencing its third year of drought and a state of emergency was declared.
Main hazards:
- Subsidence.
- Contamination.
- Wildfires.
Impacts: Social: - Less state money. - Infrastructure damaged. - Loss of food and income. - Risk to people's lives.
Responses:
- The Government ran public education campaigns.
- State laws were introduced.
- Research projects were implemented.
- Drip irrigation was used.
- Homeowners were encouraged to check for leaks.
- Protesters campaigned.
Ethiopia.
Key facts:
- Ethiopia has suffered multiple droughts since the 1980s, when the short rainy season began to get shorter.
Main hazards:
- Reduction in crop yields.
- Longer journeys to find water.
- Migration.
Impacts:
- Social:
- A food crisis.
- People eating less.
- Girls can’t go to school.
- Homes are unprotected.
Ecosystems:
- Loss of habitats.
- Increase in disease.
- Migration of wildlife.
- Extinction of some species.
- Wind erosion of soil.
Responses:
- Overseas governments have given aid.
- Aid agencies are helping people.
- Helping people get jobs.
- Live aid.
The New Forest.
Introduction:
- The New Forest is a National Park which requires sustainable management.
- It is a popular tourist attraction with over 15 million visitors each year.
- The movement of visitors through the forest is increasing litter, causing erosion of paths.
- Softwood and hardwood timber is being extracted for commercial use.
Sustainable management:
- New trees planted.
- Tree felling controlled.
- Work restricted.
- Pesticide use limited.
Birmingham.
Context and structure:
Site: Located on Birmingham plateau.
Situation: Located centrally in England.
Processes that change a city:
Urbanisation:
- Influenced by manufacturing.
- Small housing built for workers.
Suburbanisation:
- Rising population in the 1920s meant building new housing on outskirts of city.
Counter-urbanisation:
- New comprehensive development areas built in inner city.
- People forced out of urban areas to Redditch.
Re-urbanisation:
- More people want to live in centre again.
- Modernisation of flats.
National migration:
- People moving out to destinations in the south.
- People moving in due to increased opportunities.
International migration:
- People moving in from Syria.
- People moving in the past in response to employee shortages.
Impacts of migration:
- Younger population.
- Multiculturalism.
- Ethnic communities.
- Housing.
- Services.
Population characteristics:
- Deindustrialisation:
- Decentralisation.
- Developments in transport.
- Globalisation.
City inequalities:
- Economic structure:
- Recent deindustrialisation and population increases have changed Birmingham’s economic structure.
