Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GCSEs > Geography (paper 1)đź“Ť > Flashcards

Geography (paper 1)đź“Ť Flashcards

1
Q

Decomposers

A

Organisms that break down organic matter (eg bacteria)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Nutrient cycling

A

When nutrients are passed down from one component of an ecosystem to another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where is Epping Forest located?

A

North East of London

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Characteristics of Epping Forest

A

Deciduous forest that consists of trees 100s of years old: Its leaves fall in the winter conserve energy and its leaves expand its surface area in summer to absorb more sunlight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Biomass

A

Energy stored in living things

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Weathering

A

When rocks are broken down and its nutrients enter the soil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Surface runoff

A

When water flows on the surface washing away nutrients

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Leaching

A

When nutrients are washed out of the soil by the rain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How do nutrients enter the soil?

A

Weathering and the decomposition of leaves (from leaf litter)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How do nutrients get stored as biomass?

A

When plants absorb nutrients from the soil using its roots

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How do nutrients get stored in leaf litter?

A

Through precipitation and when leaves drop in autumn (from biomass)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are 2 ways nutrients can leave an ecosystem?

A

Surface runoff and leaching

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How are nutrients cycled around Epping Forest?

A

Nutrients enter the soil and then gets stored in biomass and then in leaf litter in a recurring process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Abiotic component meaning

A

non - living things

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Examples of abiotic components

A

• Water • The Sun • Rocks • Soil • Air

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Functions of abiotic components

A

• Water - helps plants to photosynthesise • Sun - provides light for growth • Rocks - provides habitats • Soil - provides nutrients • Air - helps organisms to respire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Endemic species meaning

A

Plants & organisms that are only found in a certain biome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Reason for the distribution of tropical rainforests

A

• The sun is directly overhead all year therefore it’s rays are more concentrated here
• So the climate is hot and wet which provides the perfect conditions for plant growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Describe the process of convectional rainfall

A

Warm air rises > the air cools > water vapour condenses > clouds and rain are formed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Why are hot deserts found either side of tropical rainforests?

A

Cool, dry air disperses from rainforests and starts to descend on deserts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Why are there high levels of biodiversity in tropical rainforests?

A

Hot and wet conditions make it optimal for plant growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Why does soil tend to be infertile in tropical rainforests?

A

Nutrients in the ground are quickly taken up by the roots of many plants • Leaching also occurs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Characteristics of the emergent layer

A

•Trees with wide, strong buttress roots (for stability in windy conditions) • Tallest trees • Its seeds are winged to be carried by the wind

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Characteristics of the canopy layer

A

• Home to 90% of organisms in tropical rainforests • Blocks out sunlight from layers below • Epiphytes found here (plants that grow on trees) • between 15 and 30 metres high

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Characteristics of the under canopy layer

A

• Receives little sunlight as canopy blocks it out • Lianas (vines) climb up trees to get pollinated by insects and reproduce

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Characteristics of the ground / shrub layer

A

• Humid and dark • Leaf litter is quickly decomposed by the humidity • soil is infertile • 2% of sunlight reaches this layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Adaptations of drip tip leaves

A

Have a pointed tip to allow water to slide down the leaf in order to:
• help the water be absorbed by the roots
• prevent the leaves from breaking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Adaptations of epiphytes

A

• Its roots grow into the air to absorb the air’s moisture and nutrients

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Adaptations of the howler monkey

A

• Prehensile tail supports its grip as it swings • Long limbs to swing rapidly when escaping predators

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Adaptations of the tree frog

A

• Long tongue to catch prey • Toe pads made of mucus to stick to trees and plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Adaptations of the three toed sloth

A

• Very slow moving to conserve energy • Moss grows on its fur to help the sloth camouflage to avoid being detected by predators

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Biome meaning

A

A large ecological area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What’s a tropical rainforest?

A

Forest located in warm areas with high rainfall at the equator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Biodiversity meaning

A

A measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Why is the climate of a tropical rainforest valuable globally?

A

• It supports the growth of a large number of trees (which grow food resources eg cocoa, sugar and banana) • They act as a carbon sink (absorbs and stores co2 which reduces global warming)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Why is medicine processed from tropical rainforests valuable for social sustainability?

A

Some plants in rainforests (such as the rosy periwinkle) contain anti cancer properties used for cancer fighting drugs • This improves life expectancy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Why is water from tropical rainforests valuable?

A

20% of the Earth’s fresh water is found in the Amazon Basin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Deforestation meaning

A

When trees are cut down at a large scale

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Loss of rainforest in countries around the world

A

Brazil has lost 89000 square miles in 17 years • Indonesia has lost 35000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Why is deforestation happening at a faster rate in some countries compared to others ?

A

• Space provision for urbanisation during population growth • illegal logging • Laws protecting rainforests • Economy might depend on it for income

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

How has the rate of deforestation in the Amazon changed?

A

In 2004 it was high due to commercial farming (cattle) for TNCs like Mac D • Lowest in 2012 as Brazil invests in reducing climate change and increasing tourism • Increases in 2020 as new president (Jair Bolsonaro) encourages agriculture and mining activities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Causes of deforestation in the Amazon

A

• Commercial farming (to make money) • Subsistence farming (for survival) • Logging • Hydroelectric-power • Mining • Urbanisation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Process of how deforestation affects the soil in a rainforest

A

Trees are cut down -> Soil is exposed to the rain -> Nutrients are leached from the soil -> Plants are unable to regrow -> Land becomes unusable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Negative impacts of deforestation in the Amazon

A

Only 240 tribes left (the indigenous losing their homes) • Fewer trees to absorb co2 • Soil is exposed to heavy rain (leaching can occur) • 50,000 species are becoming extinct every year • Local climate gets drier (fewer trees to release water into the air) • Conflict arises between loggers and the indigenous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

What’s the biggest flow of nutrients out of the rainforest and why?

A

• Leaching • High levels of precipitation due to convectional rainfall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Sustainable rainforest management strategies

A

• Selective logging • Ecotourism • Conservation and education • Debt reduction • International agreements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

What is selective logging and how sustainable is it?

A

• Only felling (cutting down) trees when they are fully grown and letting younger ones mature • Not environmentally sustainable as it can take around 50 years for trees to regrow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

What is conservation and education and how sustainable is it?

A

• The preservation of rainforests through national parks or reserves and can be used for scientific research • The environment is left untouched and isn’t negatively impacted.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

What is ecotourism and how sustainable is it?

A

• Tourism that allows people to experience the natural environment without damaging it • It’s socially sustainable as local people are employed and environmentally sustainable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What are national agreements and how sustainable are they?

A

•Agreements between countries made to protect the rainforest • Not economically sustainable as the trading of valuable hardwood is restricted

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

What is a debt for nature swap and how sustainable is it?

A

• Where HICs convert LICs’ debt into a fund to protect tropical rainforests • Environmentally and economically sustainable (LICs can focus on development rather than paying debt)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

What’s another way of saying an environment that’s difficult to survive in?

A

Hostile environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Stakeholder meaning

A

Someone who has an interest in an issue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Biosphere reserve

A

When the central areas of a forest are protected but forms of activity are allowed on the outer zones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

Physical characteristics of a hot desert

A

• Hot and arid climate • Low levels of precipitation • Water is often found deep underground in aquifers • Plants (Cacti) have deep tap roots to absorb water underground • Animals are adapted to survive without food/water for a long time • High levels of solar insolation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

How is the soil eroded in hot deserts?

A

High wind speeds that occur during sandstorms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

What do camels store in their humps to survive in a desert?

A

Fat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

Where is the Western Desert located?

A

Nevada, Texas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

How are cacti adapted to a hot desert environment?

A

• Large spikes to deter consumers from wanting to eat it
• Have spikes instead of leaves to reduces surface area and water loss (because water quickly evaporates in the hot climate)
• Stores water in stem to survive long periods without rainfall (as precipitation levels are very low in deserts)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

How are bactrian camels adapted to survive in a hot desert environment?

A

• Humps store fat to survive long periods without food or water (because vegetation is difficult to find in an arid climate)

• Two rows of eyelashes to prevent sand from blowing into its eyes

• Thick fur all over body to reduce heat loss at night (as the temperature plummets due to a lack of clouds for humidity)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

Characteristics of desert soil

A

Unconsolidated (-loose because there’s only a few trees to bind the soil together) and fertile (because no leaching occurs)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

What conditions are required for a desert environment?

A

• High pressure • Cool air sinking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

Irrigation meaning

A

Extracting water from aquifers for agriculture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

Opportunities for developing hot deserts

A

Mineral extraction • Agriculture • Energy • Tourism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

Challenges associated with developing hot deserts

A

• Extreme temperatures • Limited water supply • Inaccessibility

66
Q

How is mineral extraction able to take place in the Western Desert?

A

• It’s rich in minerals like copper, uranium, zinc • Minerals are close to the surface of the ground therefore open cast mining can take place

67
Q

How is agriculture able to take place in the Western Desert?

A

• High temperatures and water provided by irrigation makes it ideal for farming

68
Q

Sources of irrigation in the Western Desert

A

• Water stored in aquifers can be brought to the surface by digging a well • Canals are used for large scale agriculture

69
Q

How is tourism able to take place in the Western Desert?

A

• Many tourist attractions such as the Grand Canyon (9 million visitors a year), Lake Mead and Lake Powell (2 million) • Las Vegas attracts 37 million • Tourism is the Western Desert’s most important source of income

70
Q

How is energy able to be supplied in the Western Desert?

A

• Sonoran Solar Project in Arizona is a new solar power plant project that will help power 100,000 homes • Hoover Dam generates hydroelectricity from Lake Mead • Fossil fuels like oil is drilled for in Arizona (25 active oil production sites also located on land owned by the Navajo people)

71
Q

How do extreme temperatures present a challenge for development in the Western Desert?

A

• Infrastructure requires to be resistant to heat • Difficult for Native Americans to settle • Temperatures reach as high as 50C

72
Q

How does inaccessibility present a challenge for development in the Western Desert?

A

A lack of roads make it difficult to transport resources and tourists to enter

73
Q

How does a limited water supply present a challenge for development in the Western Desert?

A

• Makes it difficult for agriculture to take place without access to aquifers • Can lead to droughts which will inflict job losses in farming

74
Q

Meaning of solar insolation

A

The sun’s rays are easily able to reach the ground as there’s no clouds

75
Q

Types of hardwood trees in tropical rainforests

A

Timber trees: Teak and mahogany

76
Q

How does deforestation affect water supplies?

A

Chemicals like mercury used in mining can poison the ecosystem and pollute the water

77
Q

Positive impacts of deforestation in the Amazon

A

• Minerals such as gold, copper and tin from mining can be exported to make money • Roads being built improves trade and transport (eg Trans-amazon highway)• Hardwood is a valuable resource to export

78
Q

How does the Amazon have high levels of biodiversity?

A

It contains half of all the plants and animals in the world

79
Q

Desertification meaning

A

When land turns into a desert because it dries out and loses its nutrients

80
Q

Causes of desertification

A

• Population growth • Deforestation • Soil erosion • Fuelwood • Overgrazing • Over - cultivation • Drought • Climate change

81
Q

How does overgrazing contribute to desertification?

A

The cows trample on the soil compressing the nutrients • When it rains, water cannot infiltrate the soil • Therefore water flows on the surface (surface runoff) and nutrients are leached from it

82
Q

Overgrazing definition

A

When farmers have large herds of cattle

83
Q

How does over-cultivation contribute to desertification?

A

Having a large number of crops would mean that more nutrients are absorbed from the soil which degrades it and makes it infertile

84
Q

How does soil erosion contribute to desertification?

A

• Without roots binding the soil together, the soil is easily eroded by the wind (as its unconsolidated) • The soil is also exposed to heavy rainfall which means that leaching occurs

85
Q

Fuelwood meaning

A

Burning wood for fuel eg cooking

86
Q

How does fuelwood and climate change contribute to desertification?

A

• When wood is burned, greenhouse gases are released • This increases the temperature of the atmosphere • Causing hot areas to become even hotter and drier

87
Q

What are the solutions to prevent desertification in the Sahel?

A

Zai and drip irrigation • Bunds • Education (cattle farming) • Afforestation • Intermediate technology • Renewable energy

88
Q

What is zai and drip irrigation and how does it prevent the soil from degrading?

A

• They are methods for irrigating crops to maximise the moisture the soil can keep • Less water is wasted as water is only provided for the plant • This helps the soil keep its water and nutrients • It’s economically and environmentally sustainable but it can only be achieved on a small scale

89
Q

What are bunds and how does it prevent the soil from being degraded?

A

• They are small walls built out of rocks to prevent surface runoff on slopes • It ensures the water infiltrates the soil to provide nutrients • Its a cheap solution but can’t happen on a large scale

90
Q

What is afforestation and how does it prevent the soil from degrading?

A

It’s when trees are planted to restore degraded land • Eg Great Green Wall in the Sahel (Continuous wall of trees from east to west Africa) • The soil becomes consolidated as the root of plants bind it together • It reduces soil erosion but it can take a long time for trees to grow

91
Q

How does intermediate technology prevent the soil from being degraded?

A

Stoves are provided for people in LICs instead of burning wood • Less trees are cut down (so less soil is exposed to rain for leaching) • Less greenhouse gases are produced (less fuelwood burned) • Reduces climate change and the loss of nutrients • Environmentally and socially sustainable (people can cook more efficiently)

92
Q

[River landscapes]
Abrasion meaning

A

When large rocks hit and scrape against the river bed and banks

93
Q

Deposition meaning

A

When a river drops the material it’s carrying because it loses energy

94
Q

Lateral erosion meaning

A

When the river has lots of energy to erode the sides making the river wider

95
Q

Long profile meaning

A

A slice taken along a river from source to estuary

96
Q

What is the name for the sides of a river?

A

The river bank

97
Q

What is the name for the bottom of a river?

A

The river bed

98
Q

Vertical erosion meaning

A

When the river cuts down into the landscape

99
Q

What is a V-shaped valley?

A

A steep sided valley created by vertical erosion near the source of a river

100
Q

Flood plain meaning

A

Low lying land either side of a river which regularly floods

101
Q

Drainage basin meaning

A

The area that feeds the river

102
Q

Tributary meaning

A

A small river that feeds the main one

103
Q

Estuary meaning

A

When the river flows into the sea

104
Q

Watershed meaning

A

The line where 2 drainage basins meet

105
Q

Source meaning

A

Starting point of a river

106
Q

Features of a river at its source

A

• Always in hills/mountains • Flows through a V-shaped valley (vertical erosion) • Low velocity • Shallow and narrow channel • Steep gradient

107
Q

Features of a river at the estuary

A

• At sea level • Flat gradient • High velocity/discharge • Channel is wide and deep

108
Q

Interlocking spurs meaning

A

When the river flows in a zigzag formation as it doesn’t have enough energy to erode hard rock

109
Q

Discharge meaning

A

Amount of water in a river channel

110
Q

Hydraulic action

A

When the flowing water is forced into cracks in the river bed/banks wearing them away

111
Q

Attrition

A

When load carried by the river hit against each other chipping bits off so the rocks become smaller rounder and smoother

112
Q

Solution (erosion)

A

When acids in the water dissolve the river bed (eg rocks like chalk and limestone)

113
Q

Traction

A

When large heavy rocks are rolled along the river bed during a high discharge as there’s more energy

114
Q

Saltation

A

When medium sized rocks bounce along the river bed

115
Q

Suspension

A

When small light particles are lifted from the river bed and carried by the water (due to high discharge and velocity)

116
Q

Solution (transportation)

A

When rock particles are carried as dissolved material

117
Q

Where does the River Tees start

A

Cross Fell (Pennines) in North East England

118
Q

Name of waterfall at River Tees

A

High Force

119
Q

Estuary of River Tees

A

Middlesbrough where it meets the North Sea

120
Q

4 erosion processes

A

• Hydraulic action • Abrasion • Attrition • Solution

121
Q

4 transport processes

A

• Traction • Saltation • Suspension • Solution

122
Q

Slip off slope characteristics

A

• A section of the river bank with a gentle gradient due to deposition
• Happens as the velocity of the river is low therefore it loses energy

123
Q

Riffles and pools characteristics

A

• Deep and shallow areas of the river channel
• Formed by different sized deposited rocks on the river bed
• This causes the water to start spinning in a corkscrew motion (helicoidal flow)

124
Q

River cliff characteristics

A

• Section of the river bank with a steep gradient due to lateral erosion
• This happens due to a high velocity (Thalweg)

125
Q

How does a waterfall form?

A

• Hard resistant rock meets softer rock • Water erodes the softer rock (abrasion and hydraulic action) • Soft rock is undercut • Hard rock becomes unsupported and collapses due to gravity • Waterfall retreats leaving a gorge behind

126
Q

Plunge pool

A

Area at the base of a waterfall that is eroded by abrasion and hydraulic action

127
Q

How do floodplains form?

A

• Alluvium flows onto the floodplain as the river floods • This causes friction and the sediment to be deposited in layers • Therefore floodplains have a flat gradient

128
Q

Alluvium

A

Sediment dropped on the floodplain

129
Q

Levee

A

Raised ridge of sediment

130
Q

How does a levee form

A

During flooding over the years, the banks are built up as the large particles of alluvium get deposited next to the channel (as the water lacks enough energy)

131
Q

Gorge meaning

A

A narrow valley with steep walls left behind as the waterfall retreats

132
Q

What is a cross profile?

A

A slice taken across a river showing how wide and deep it is

133
Q

What’s a meander?

A

A bend in the river

134
Q

What’s an ox-bow lake?

A

A curved lake left behind when a meander becomes cut off from the main river channel

135
Q

Why is the upper course of a river narrow?

A

A lot of friction takes place

136
Q

Saturated meaning

A

When the ground cannot hold anymore water

137
Q

Geology meaning

A

The type of rock a place is built on

138
Q

Permeable meaning

A

Surfaces that allow water to pass through easily

139
Q

Characteristics of Boscastle’s location

A

• South West of England
• North coast of the county Cornwall
• Confluence of the River Jordan and Valency

140
Q

How does Boscastle’s physical factors affect flood risk?

A

• The gradient of the valley is steep
• This would encourage a high velocity due to gravity

• The geology beneath Boscastle is impermeable slate
• Therefore rainwater is unable to infiltrate

• Boscastle is at the confluence of two rivers
• Therefore the discharge would be higher

• Prolonged heavy precipitation from a storm produced over 60mm of rainfall
• The ground becomes saturated with water and the surface run off increases

141
Q

How does Boscastle’s human factors affect flood risk?

A

• A bridge was built over the river
• Therefore debris carried by the flood got trapped preventing water flow

• Trees above the valley were deforested
• Therefore rainwater could not be intercepted and the discharge increases

• Boscastle was built on the floodplain of a confluence
• Therefore impermeable concrete surfaces increased surface runoff & water flowing into river

142
Q

Possible economic impacts of river flooding

A

• Large repair costs as property and businesses get damaged
• Therefore people lose their source of income and support becomes required from insurance companies

• Tourists avoid visiting the area
• The tourism industry declines and people become unemployed so the rate decreases

143
Q

Possible social impacts of river flooding

A

• Floods can contaminate water sources
• This increases the risk of waterborne diseases and decreases the life expectancy

• People become stranded on top of homes and buildings
• Therefore they are unable to escape the danger so helicopter rescues were relied upon

144
Q

Possible environmental impacts of river flooding

A

• Trees get uprooted
• Therefore less leaves would be available to intercept the water in future and more precipitation reaches the ground

• The soil can become eroded
• Therefore the soil loses nutrients and becomes infertile so plants are unable to be grown

145
Q

Sinuous meaning

A

Having many curves and bends

146
Q

Soft engineering and its features

A

Working with natural river processes to prevent flooding

• Less expensive
• More environmental benefits
• Less effective

147
Q

Hard engineering and its features

A

Working against nature using man-made materials to prevent river flooding

• Very expensive
• Very effective

148
Q

Soft engineering flood management strategies

A

• Floodplain zoning
• Flood warnings
• Afforestation
• River restoration

149
Q

How are flood warnings used to manage floods?

A

Involves alerting people to the risk of flooding (by The Environment Agency)

Pros:
• It gives people time to reinforce buildings which
• Reduces the impact of flooding

Cons:
• Doesn’t stop flooding
• Not all people will be aware

150
Q

How is flood plain zoning used to manage floods?

A

It involves putting building restrictions on floodplains at risk of flooding

Pros:
• Businesses and houses aren’t damaged as they aren’t built on the floodplain
• Impermeable surfaces aren’t built on the floodplain

Cons:
• Difficult to implement on already developed floodplains
• Urbanisation becomes restricted

151
Q

How is afforestation used to manage floods?

A

This involves planting trees to increase interception and lag time

Pros:
• Discharge in the river reduces
• Risk of soil erosion is reduced

Cons:
• Restricts what the land can be used for

152
Q

How is river restoration used to manage floods?

A

It involves returning a river to its natural state (eg removing river straightening)

Pros:
• Cheap solution
• Discharge in the river reduces

Cons:
• Flood risks can increase if nothing else is done

153
Q

Hard engineering flood management strategies

A

• Dams and reservoirs
• River straightening
• Embankments
• Flood relief channels

154
Q

How are dams and reservoirs used to manage floods?

A

Concrete barriers are built across the river to control water flow

Pros:
• The water flowing through the dam can be used for hydroelectricity
• Reservoirs store a large volume of water reducing the risk of floods

Cons:
• Large areas of land are flooded
• Expensive to build

155
Q

How are embankments used to manage floods?

A

The banks of a river are built up allowing a higher discharge before overflowing

Pros:
• More sustainable
• Looks more natural

Cons:
• Expensive to install

156
Q

How is river straightening used to manage floods?

A

It involves cutting through meanders to create a straight channel

Pros:
• speeds up the flow of water so the risk of flooding decreases
• Water is taken out more quickly as the course is shortened

Cons:
• Increases flood risk downstream
• River banks are eroded faster

157
Q

How are flood relief channels used to manage floods?

A

Man-made channel created to divert water around urban areas

Pros:
• River discharge decreases

Cons:
• Hard to find land to build relief channels
• Can be expensive

158
Q

Soft engineering strategies used to manage the flash flood in Boscastle

A

• The river channel was widened and deepened
• This allowing a higher discharge

• Dead trees were removed to prevent being swept away in future
• This prevents debris blocking water flow

• The car park was rebuilt using permeable material (gravel)
• This allows water to infiltrate the ground

• Land owners were encouraged to maintain vegetation and plant new trees
• Therefore more water is intercepted

159
Q

Hard engineering strategies used to manage the flash flood in Boscastle

A

• Low bridges were replaced with higher wider bridges
• This prevents debris from blocking water flow

• The car park was raised to higher ground
• So a higher discharge is required to affect them

160
Q

Social impacts of Boscastle’s flood management scheme

A

• The residents’ lives were disrupted by rebuilding projects (-)
• New defences made Boscastle a safe place to live (+)
• Many residents do not like the new bridge (-)

161
Q

Economic impacts of Boscastle’s flood management scheme

A

• Less risk of expensive damage to property/businesses (+)
• The scheme cost £10 million which is very expensive (-)
• Tourists have returned to Boscastle improving the local economy (+)

162
Q

Environmental impacts of Boscastle’s flood management scheme

A

• Vegetation and river habitats are managed better which improves the biodiversity (+)
• Land owners planting more trees has provided a habitat for wildlife (+)
• The embankment isn’t attractive to look at (-)

GCSEs (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions