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Alevel Geography > Contempory Urbn Enviroments > Flashcards

Contempory Urbn Enviroments Flashcards

(61 cards)

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1
Q

Define Urbanisation

A

The increase in the proportion of population living in urban environments compared to rural environments.

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2
Q

Define Urban Growth

A

The increase in the total population of a town or a city.

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3
Q

What is Urban Expansion?

A

The increase in size of geographical footprint of a city.

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4
Q

How are Urban Centres Important in Human Affairs?

A
  1. Organisation of economic production - e.g. concentration of financial services.
  2. Exchange of ideas and creative thinking - e.g. universities.
  3. Social and cultural centres - e.g. theatres.
  4. Centres of political power and decision making.
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5
Q

How has the Distribution of Population in Rural and Urban Areas Changed?

A

In the 1950s, 30% of people lived in urban areas. In 2014, just over 50% lived in towns or cities.

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6
Q

At What Rate is Urbanisation Taking Place in the Developing World?

A

Most people currently live in rural areas but it is rapidly changing.

E.g. Beijing, China - urban population increased from 4.4 million (1970) to 20.4 million (2015).

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7
Q

Where are the Most Urbanised Regions in the World?

A

North America = 82% urbanised, Latin America & the Caribbean = 80%, Europe = 70%.

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8
Q

Where are the Least Urbanised Regions in the World?

A

Africa = 40%, Asia = 48%. However, they are growing the fastest.

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9
Q

Explain the Process of Urbanisation

A

Occurs because of migration and natural increase. Many migrants are young adults. In developing countries it can lead to shanty towns.

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10
Q

Explain the Process of Sub-Urbanisation

A

The growth of areas on the fringes of cities. Urban residents move away from centre due to pull and push factors.

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11
Q

How Does Suburbanisation Affect Rural Areas?

A

Puts pressure on greenfield sites and wildlife. Can often cause economic issues with businesses - people still work in CBD.

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12
Q

Explain the Process of Counter-Urbanisation

A

Increasing movement of people away from cities for 3 main reasons: demographic, social, and economic.

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13
Q

What is Urban Resurgence?

A

The movement of people back into the city caused by cities being in decline, outdated infrastructure.

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14
Q

What were the Key Problems Leading to Urban Resurgence?

A
  1. Environmental: pollution, vandalism, poorly built tower blocks, overcrowding.
  2. Economic: unemployment, poverty, low incomes.
  3. Social: increased crime, falling birth rates, high concentration of ethnic groups.
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15
Q

What were the 5 Aims to Encourage Urban Resurgence?

A
  1. Improve housing conditions.
  2. Create new jobs & training opportunities.
  3. Encourage private sector investment.
  4. Enhance environment.
  5. Convert derelict buildings & areas by gentrification.
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16
Q

How has the Number of World Cities Changed Since 1950?

A

In 1950, there were only two - Tokyo and New York. By 2014 there were 28.

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17
Q

What are the Characteristics of Mega Cities?

A
  1. More than 2/3 are in developing nations.
  2. Dominate national and regional economies.
  3. Often have people living at opposite extremes.
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18
Q

What are the Characteristics of World Cities?

A
  1. Play a large role in the economic well-being of the global economy - 100 cities = 30% of economy.
  2. Allow global markets to operate at key locations.
  3. Big resource and learning centres - use the population as a resource.
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19
Q

How are Cities Developing in Terms of Buildings?

A

Technological advances mean that major cities are now developing upwards, for office, residential and commercial space.

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20
Q

What are the Economic Processes Associated with Urbanisation?

A

Cities attract migrants due to better paid job opportunities. Businesses grow and become more profitable, leading to more jobs and wage rises.

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21
Q

What are the Social Processes Associated with Urbanisation?

A

Cities have higher living standards, centres of cultural expression, migration increases diversity.

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22
Q

What are the Technological Processes Associated with Urbanisation?

A

Urban areas are ‘hotspots’ for technological advances. There are a large number of high tech industries that have emerged offering specialised, highly paying jobs.

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23
Q

What are the Political Processes Associated with Urbanisation?

A

Urban growth may lead to bigger inequalities. New political movements are being made to represent the ‘working class’.

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24
Q

What are the Demographic Processes Associated with Urbanisation?

A

Cities are larger and wealthier, attracting more migrants, making the area more culturally and ethnically diverse.

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25
What is Deindustrialisation?
Fall in the % contribution of secondary industry to an economy in terms of value of input to GDP and importance as an employment sector.
26
How has Deindustrialisation Changed the Manufacturing Job Sector in the UK?
In 1970s, 5.2 million people in the UK worked in the manufacturing sector (25% of all jobs), in 2015, 2.6 million worked in manufacturing (8% of all jobs).
27
How Did Deindustrialisation in the UK Alter Employment Levels?
Deindustrialisation caused unemployment to rise above 3 million in 1983, the highest rate since WWII.
28
What is Decentralisation?
Functions once centred within the central location or authority are now dispersed.
29
How has the Service Sector Changed?
Rise of the service sector has been influenced by foreign direct investment and increasing demand at home.
30
What are Urban Development Corporations?
Used private funding to restore derelict areas. Focused on: physical redevelopment of derelict land, securing private sector and capital expertise.
31
Describe the London Dockland's Urban Development Corporation
Main aim: attract new businesses, improve local environment, create jobs and build homes.
32
What is an Enterprise Zone?
Areas set up in 1981 to try and create development in areas of high unemployment.
33
What is the City Challenge Scheme?
Set up in 1991, local authorities were given more control to regenerate areas.
34
Explain the Funding of City Challenge Schemes
Allocated to projects that benefitted the local community, e.g. improving housing, vocational training, and job opportunities.
35
What are Partnership Schemes?
Since 2010, governments worked with private companies to provide financial support and expertise.
36
What are the 4 Physical Factors in Urban Forms?
1. Topography - e.g. steep slopes = harder to build on. 2. Water - e.g. lakes limit growth. 3. Natural resources - rich resources encourage growth. 4. Land type - e.g. wetlands harder and more expensive to build on.
37
What are the 3 Human Factors in Urban Forms?
1. Planning. 2. Infrastructure - e.g. developments often built along transport links = linear growth. 3. Land value - highest value of land in city centre.
38
What is the Spatial Pattern of Land use in the Developed World?
CBD surrounded by housing, inner city has high land value with high density housing but wages low.
39
What is the Spatial Pattern of Land use in the Developing World?
Land value highest around city centre, with high cost housing and wealthy residents.
40
What are Town Centre Mixed Developments?
Combination of residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or industrial uses all physically and functionally integrated.
41
What are Cultural and Heritage Quarters?
Attempt to promote growth, focus on cultural or heritage themes, such as the arts and creative industries.
42
What are Fortress Developments?
Integrate greater security into the design of the building or landscape.
43
What are Gentrified Areas?
Characterised by shift of urban community in an area, to be displaced by higher income residents or businesses.
44
What are Edge Cities?
Concentration of businesses, shopping and entertainment outside the traditional CBD.
45
What is a Post Modern Western City?
Characterised by flowing lines, with triangular and multi-levelled roofs.
46
What can Poverty in Urban Areas Lead to?
1. Reduced access to education. 2. Reduced access to housing. 3. Poor nutrition. 4. Higher incidences of crime. 5. Less access to green areas.
47
What is the Urban Heat Island Effect?
Increased temperature in urban areas compared with surrounding rural areas.
48
Why are there Higher Temperatures in the City?
Concrete and asphalt effectively store short wave radiation and increase absorption.
49
How do Cities Contribute to the Urban Heat Island Effect?
Less natural vegetation to offer shade and evapotranspiration.
50
How can the UHI Effect be Reduced in Cities?
Use of green roofs and lighter coloured surfaces.
51
How do Urban Environments Affect Precipitation?
UHI increase convection = showers and increasing chance of thunderstorm development by 25%.
52
Describe Cloud Cover Levels in Urban Areas
Receive up to 10% more frequent cloud cover than surrounding rural areas.
53
How do Urban Environments Affect Wind?
Wind velocity generally reduced by friction and windbreak effect caused by buildings.
54
What are Urban Canyon Winds?
Winds created by narrow urban streets and office blocks funnelling the wind between them.
55
How Does Air Quality in Cities Compare to Rural Areas?
10x more nitrogen oxide, 200x more sulphur dioxide, 10x more hydrocarbons, 2x more CO2.
56
How do Increased Pollutants Effect Urban Areas?
Increase cloud cover, precipitation and smog.
57
Describe Particulate Pollution in Cities
Tiny pieces of solids and liquid droplets floating in air. Can enter the lungs causing asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease.
58
What is Photochemical Smog?
Pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur hydrocarbons come into contact with sunlight.
59
What is Temperature Inversion?
Layer of Warm Air Trapped Below denser, cooler air, keeping pollutants at ground level.
60
What Pollution Reduction Policies are in London?
Zero emission buses and taxis, ultra low emissions zone.
61
What are the 6 Main Ways a City Can Reduce Pollution?
1. Congestion Charging. 2. Pedestrianisation. 3. Public Transport Improvements. 4. Reducing Traffic. 5. Legislation. 6. Alternative fuels.

Alevel Geography (5 decks)

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