Urban Environments

Question 1

Define urbanisation

Answer 1

Growth in proportion of a country’s population living in urban areas compared to rural areas

Question 2

Name causes for urbanisation

Answer 2

Natural increase

Rural- urban migration

Question 3

Define sub-urbanisation

Answer 3

Population movement form central areas to suburbs

Question 4

Define counter urbanisation

Answer 4

Population of cities as people move out and beyond the rural- urban fringe into truly rural areas

Question 5

Define decentralisation

Answer 5

Movement of population and industry from urban centre into outlying areas

Question 6

What is the cycle of urbanisation

Answer 6

Urbanisation
Suburbanisation
Counter urbanisation
Re- urbanisation/ resurgence

Question 7

Name 5 ways a city can develop

Answer 7

Technology- technological advancements
Economic- more jobs
Social- higher living standards
Political- inequalities between rich and poor
Demographic- attracts migrants, incr diversity

Question 8

What are the 3 urban models

Answer 8

Burgess (1923)- dart board
Hoyt (1939)- sector theory
Harris & Ullman (1945)- multi-nodal

Question 9

Define edge cities

Answer 9

A large urban areas that are situated on the outskirts of a city, typically beside a major road

Question 10

What is the Brown Agenda?

Answer 10

Attempt to solve some environmental problems faced by poor cities

Question 11

What is an urban policy?

Answer 11

Strategies developed by government to manage or develop urban areas

Question 12

Define deindustrialisation

Answer 12

Loss of jobs in manufacturing sector. Occurred in the UK in the second half of the 20th century

Question 13

Define sustainable city

Answer 13

A city designed to meet the needs of people today without compromising the needs of future generations

Question 14

Define albedo

Answer 14

Reflectivity of a surface

Question 15

Define particulate air pollution

Answer 15

Release of particles and noxious gases caused by combustion of fossil fuels

Question 16

Define photochemical pollution

Answer 16

Form of air pollution where fumes (nitrogen oxides) react with sunlight and radiation creating a brown haze above cities

Question 17

Define urban heat island

Answer 17

Zone around and above an urban area which has higher temperatures than the surrounding area

Question 18

How does the Burj Khalifa cope with wind?

Answer 18

Aerodynamic improvement
Softened edges
Can move back and forth 2 metres

Question 19

How is the Madsar institute adapted?

Answer 19

Wind provides cool air
Uses a Venturi tunnel
Cools public spaces without energy costs

Question 20

Define condensation nuclei

Answer 20

Particles in the air condense making clouds and fog

Question 21

Define anthropogenic heat

Answer 21

Heat caused by humans

Question 22

Name hard engineering strategies to reduce flooding. And example

Answer 22

River straightening 
Natural levees
Diversion spillways
River channelisation
Dams 
Flood walls

Los Angeles river

Question 23

Name soft engineering strategies to reduce flooding

Answer 23

Afforestation
Riverbank conservation
Floodplain zoning
River restoration

Question 24

SUDS (Sustainable urban drainage system) strategies

Answer 24

Swales - sloping U shaped channels
Permeable roads- porous paving
Infiltration trenches- gravel filled drains
Bioretention basins- store dirty water
Detention basins- excavated basins acting as ponds
Rain gardens- planted with shrubs
Green roofs- minimal runoff

Question 25

Benefits of SUDS

Answer 25

``` Slowing down surface runoff Reduce risk of flooding Prevent water pollution Prevent drought Provide habitats Creates green spaces ```

Question 26

Name 2 schemes to avoid river flooding

Answer 26

Adding meanders | Floodplain Wetland Mosaic- restore habitats

Question 27

In what ways are cities sustainable ?

Answer 27

Economically Environmentally Socially

Question 28

Define gentrification

Answer 28

Process of housing improvements done by local people caused by changing composition of residents

Question 29

7 ways to manage waste

Answer 29

``` Unregulated- illegally dumped Recycling Incineration Recovery Burial/Landfill Submergence -dumped in oceans Trade- poor countries paid to have waste ```

Question 30

Factors influencing a city’s ecological footprint

Answer 30

Wealth Size of city Quality of public transport

Question 31

Strategies to manage urban issues

Answer 31

Improving transport systems Affordable housing Upgrading programmes- road building, sanitation, drainage Social Political participation Laws against discrimination

Question 32

Describe how thunderstorms are formed in urban environments

Answer 32

UHI means more warm air, which holds more water Rises, cools, condenses Forms convectional rainfall Condensation nuclei from pollution help clouds form So more intense rain and thunderstorms

Question 33

Describe urban resurgence

Answer 33

Movement of people back into the city Popular in post industrial countries eg USA, UK New businesses may open in the centre creating jobs May move due to lack of jobs in suburbs