The Urban Environment Intro

Question 1

Why may the suggested population number for a Megacity differ from source to source

Answer 1

Different numbers due to where the boundary is drawn
This is decided by the Government - politically driven

Question 2

How many Megacities are there predicted to be by 2100

Answer 2

Around 70

Question 3

True of False
The World’s Megacities are set for Major Growth

Answer 3

True
E.g. Dhaka set for a +53% increase from 2011-2025

Question 4

What are the 3 factors which would classify a city as a Megacity

Answer 4

• Megacities have >10 million people
• Minimum level of population density (>2,000)
• An urban area of conurbation >20 million
  Hence what is/isn’t a Megacity may depend on the definition

Question 5

Define Urbanisation

Answer 5

• Urbanisation is primarily the outcome of (net) migration from rural to urban areas
• It is the increase in the number of people living in towns and cities (urban areas)

Question 6

What other secondary factor can also contribute to urbanisation

Answer 6

• The expansion of urban boundaries and the formation of new urban centres (e.g. reclassification of previous settlements due to growth)
  But migration is an important driver behind the formation or reclassification

Question 7

56% of the world population lives in urban areas as of 2019
How is this number expected to change

Answer 7

Set to increase to 68% by 2050

Question 8

What are the main 2 causes of urbanisation

Answer 8

1) Natural increasing population (birth rates>death rates)
2) Migration of people from rural to urban areas

Question 9

What is the difference between a push and a pull factor

Answer 9

Push: Negative factors which encorage people to leave their homes and migrate
Pull: Positive factors which draw people to the places they migrate to

Question 10

What 3 categories could push and pull factors fit into

Answer 10

Social, Economic and Environmental factors

Question 11

People are closer together, so economic and human resources are close

List some advantages of urbanisation

Answer 11

• Public Education
• Public transportation
• Cultural Activities
• Communication
• Utilities for less effort and cost
• Family planning
• Health and social care
• Community recycling

Question 12

What can be some drawbacks of urbanisation

Answer 12

• These urban benefits do not apply to all
• Rate of urban growth can cause a strain on the natural resources of the area (e.g. the local and national government unable to provide basic services - housing, water, waste disposal etc
• And generation of more air and water pollution
• Leading to poor health, food hygiene and poverty

Question 13

Urbanisation has also created some environmental problems, list them

Answer 13

• Water pollution, resulting in poor water quality
• Extreme events (flooding, disease spread, urban heat island effect)
• Drought and heatwaves
• Air pollution and photochemical smogs

Question 14

The hydroxyl radial is known as the atmospheric detergent or daytime cleaner, why?

Answer 14

Hydroxyl radials will react readily, hence removing hydrocarbons from the air
Will aid in photochemical ozone production too

Question 15

Which part of the atmosphere is ozone supposed to be found, and in which part does it create problems

Answer 15

Ozone in the straosphere is good - UV protection
Ozone in troposphere is not

Question 16

How are landfil sites and emissions from solid waste burning effecting air pollution

Answer 16

E-waste, persistent organic pollutants and microplastics as suspended within the air
Effecting air quality

Question 17

What is the issue wih grey spaces
(Grey spaces = buildings, raods, pavements, parking)

Answer 17

Too many grey spaces prevent water from seeping into the ground, and leads to large amounts of water run-off and flash flooding

Question 18

How can the problems associated with grey spaces be overcome

Answer 18

Using green spaces, e.g. vegetation
Due to reducing the heat island effect, improving rainwater managment/purification, biodiversity etc

Question 19

What is the issues with street canions however as a method of adding green space

Answer 19

The trees can stop air from dispersing, leading to high concentraton at street level