Case Studies AQA
Case Studies AQA
Paper 1 Paper 2
Name _______________________________________
1
How will you be assessed in Geography?
% of Number of
Exam Section What topics?
GCSE Marks
30%
Case studies are broader in context and require greater breadth and depth of knowledge and
understanding.
Examples are more focused on a specific event or situation, are smaller in scale and do not cover the
same degree of content.
2
Command words in Geography
In Geography you will have to answer a variety of questions to assess your understanding on a variety
of topics. In order to answer these questions well you need to make sure you know what the question
is asking you to do. To do this you need to know what all the following command words mean:
3
Skills in Geography
You need to use cartographic skills (map skills), graphical skills, numerical skills and statistical skills.
All the skills you need to know are below:
Construct these
Calculate percentage
Scattergraphs increase/decrease
Population pyramids Make predictions
choropleth Sketch trend lines on
Complete these
Tick when
Cartographical Skills
confident
Sketch maps and label them
4 and 6 figure grid references
Construct these
4
Section A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards
Tectonic Hazards
Use named examples to show how the effects and responses to a tectonic hazard vary between two
areas of contrasting levels of wealth.
Use a named example of a tropical storm to show its effects and responses
Typhoon Haiyan
In November, 2013 Typhoon Haiyan battered the coast of the Philippines with wind speeds of up to
314km per hour. Strong winds caused a storm surge to create a lot of coastal flooding.
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Extreme Weather in the UK
Causes
Social, economic and environmental impacts
How management strategies can reduce risk
Causes
400mm of rainfall fell in 3 days (the average Cumbria would get in a month!)
The ground was saturated and so no more water could soak in, it flowed straight down the
steep slopes of the Lake District for 36 hours.
The rivers were finding it difficult to cope. The River Derwent was 10m wider than normal
and flowing 25 times faster than normal.
Impacts
Environmental Water erosion by the River Derwent triggered landslides along the banks. The
river tore loose many trees and destroyed local ecosystems and habitats of
animals.
Social Police Officer Bill Barker was killed when a bridge collapsed due to high water.
1,500 homes were destroyed, many people were injured. River water was
contaminated with sewage which brought health risks.
Economic Many businesses were closed and could not open for a long time afterwards. 6
important local bridges were damaged.
New flood defences have been built costing £4.5 million and paid for by central
government and local community.
The Environment Agency (EA) has started sending flood risk messages directly to people’s
smart phones.
To encourage tourism back and kick-start the economy the ‘West Cumbria Development
Agency’ paid for advertisement saying “Cumbria: open for usual”.
People are ‘future proofing’ their houses by having stone floors instead of carpets so it
doesn’t cost as much if flooding happens again.
Hundreds of trees are being planted in the river basin to increase interception and reduce
the amount of water reaching the river.
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Test yourself
The challenge of natural Hazards possible questions- could you answer them?
Remember to PEEL for 6/9 markers. Point, evidence, explanation, link back to the question.
Suggest reasons why people continue to live in areas at risk from a tectonic hazard. [4 Marks]
Evaluate how monitoring, prediction, protection and planning can reduce the effects of tropical storms. [9
Marks]
Using a named case study of a tropical storm assess the primary and secondary effects of the storm. [6 Marks]
Using a named case study of a tropical storm assess the immediate and long term responses to the storm. [9
Marks]
Discuss the evidence for climate change from the beginning of the last age to the present day. [6 Marks]
Discuss the effects of climate change on people and the environment. [6 Marks]
Outline the evidence which suggests that weather is becoming more extreme in the UK. [4 Marks]
Using an example of a recent extreme weather event in the UK discuss the social, economic and environmental
impacts it had on the UK. [6 marks]
In reference to a recent extreme weather event in the UK outline how management strategies can reduce risk.
[4 marks]
To what extent can mitigation and adaptation can manage the effects of climate change [6 Marks]
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Section B: The Living world
Local ecosystem
In the specification: “An example of a small scale UK ecosystem to illustrate the concept of
interrelationships within a natural system, an understanding of producers, consumers, decomposers,
food chain, food web and nutrient cycling”.
There is a food web consisting of thousands of species that rely on each other.
Most trees are deciduous so they drop their leaves in winter – an adaption to the climate-
so they do not get frost damage and conserve their energy when they cannot
photosynthesis.
The decomposers turn the leaves to humus thereby returning the leaves nutrients to the
soil in spring ready for the trees to soak up these nutrients through their roots and grow
new leaves in Spring. This is nutrient cycling.
Animals and birds eat berries which is helpful to the plants as it transports their seeds
around through droppings.
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The Tropical Rainforest
Many of the world’s rainforests are in LICs of NEEs. They want to develop and often owe money
to HICs to get richer and pay back their debts. The easiest way to do this is to exploit their
resources – their rainforests.
Causes of deforestation
Resource exploiting activities
Logging Timber companies come into to log trees like mahogany and teak to sell them to
make money. They clear all the other trees out of the way to get to these trees.
Mineral There are 50,000 hectares of land being used for gold mining. All the trees are
extraction cleared in this area and the mines release chemicals which get onto the Amazon
River. Carajas iron ore mine in Brazil is the world’s biggest.
Energy 150 dams have been built in the river to provide Hydro Electric Power (HEP) such
Development as the Belo Monte scheme, which flood vast areas of rainforest. Brazil get 85% of
their energy from these dams.
Illegal trade Hunting, poaching and trafficking in wildlife is big business. The Golden headed lion
in wildlife tamarind and the jaguar are killed for their fur. Baby sloths are sold as pets.
What activities are causing the forest to be cleared?
Commercial Much of the rainforest has been cleared for livestock rearing – cattle for beef.
farming - This accounts for 80% of clearing the rainforest. However the land cannot be used
cattle for long as the soil quality rapidly declines and with it the grass and so more forest
has to be cleared.
The forest is cleared to grow plantations of bananas and palm oil. In the Amazon
they are growing sugar cane as a biofuel to fuel the growing number of cars in
Brazil.
Subsistence Local native people have been using the rainforest for 1000’s of years. They have
farming been clearing small patches of land to grow crops. This is sustainable as these
people are part of the ecosystem here. Forests also get chance to regrow.
Road The Trans-Amazonian highway was built to start connecting cities and make travel
building easier in Brazil – this opened up huge areas of the rainforest which were previously
remote and safe from loggers.
Settlement As Brazil’s population boomed everyone needed a place to live and a job. The
and government gave many people an area of rainforest that they could farm to
population release pressure on the cities. This caused a lot deforestation through ‘slash and
growth burn’ farming. Population in Manaus is now over 2 million.
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The Amazon Rainforest - Impacts of deforestation
Impacts of deforestation
Global warming The canopy of trees absorbs huge amounts of Carbon Dioxide (making it a
Carbon sink) from the atmosphere. The more trees that are felled, the more
Carbon Dioxide there is in the atmosphere. Also fire is often used to clear the
rainforest which releases more CO2. This makes it one of the major
contributors to global warming and climate change.
Loss of The number of species will be reduced and endemic species will become extinct.
biodiversity In the Amazon 38 species are now extinct due to shrinking habitats.
Disruption to When trees are felled evapotranspiration is reduced which reduces the amount
the water cycle of moisture in the atmosphere and therefore reduces rainfall. The lack of
rainfall makes the climate warmer and drier which changes the climate.
Soil erosion and The canopy acts as protection for the soil from the heavy rain. As soon as it is
fertility removed the heavy rain soon washes away the thin layer of fertile topsoil. Once
this happens nothing will be able to grow - the eroded soil also silts up rivers.
River pollution Mercury is used in mining gold. This is washed into rivers and poisons the fish.
Decline of There are only 240 tribes in the Amazon left. Many have been forced out of
indigenous their homes to make way for large dam, mining or road projects. Most displaced
tribes people end up in cities. These people have lost their culture and heritage and
addiction to alcohol or drugs is common. Their knowledge is also lost. Luckily
they have recently been given more rights and there are still 1 million people
living in the Amazon.
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Hot deserts
With temperatures of 50 Degrees Celsius in July and very little rainfall the Western Desert
has a very low carrying capacity. However with huge cities like Las Vegas people have to find
strategies to adapt to this harsh climate and make a living.
Development Opportunities
Farming - In the rural areas of the Western Desert people make their money from agriculture.
The warm temperatures and sunlight are good for growing but water is an issue. Therefore
irrigation is important. Agriculture makes up 10% of the economy.
Aquifers Large stores of water are found beneath the desert. Wells are dug and water
brought up from aquifers to irrigate crops. Farming in California’s Coachella
Valley grow lush crops such as lemons, peppers and grapes (which get made into
wine – California is famous for it’s wine).
Canals Canals take water from the reservoir behind the Glen Canyon dam on the
Colorado River to provide irrigation for large scale agriculture. Farmers are
allocated 80% of the water from the Colorado River.
Mineral The Western Desert is rich in minerals like copper, uranium, lead, zinc and coal.
extraction Not all of these minerals have been exploited because they think it will cause
conflict with local farmers. Copper mining has taken place in the Sonoran
Desert near Ajo, Arizona. Open cast mining takes place on a large scale here.
Energy - solar The Sonoran Solar Project in Arizona is a new solar power plant project that
will produce energy for 100,000 homes. Jobs will also be created in
construction on this project.
Energy - HEP made from water from Lake Mead behind the Hoover Dam. Jobs are also
Hydroelectric created in Dam maintenance.
Tourism The National Parks offer tourists the chance to see the Grand
Canyon and the Joshua Tree National Park.
Las Vegas attracts 37 million tourists per year.
People enjoy boating on Lake Mead.
The heritage of Native Americans are celebrated at the Colorado
Museum in Parker, Arizona. 12
Challenges of developing hot desert environments
Extreme Native Cocopah people lived in earth houses that naturally kept cool. When migrants
Temperatures first arrived they build houses with flat roofs to collect rainwater, small windows to
stop sunlight to getting in and whitewashed walls. People nowadays still whitewash
walls but everyone has air conditioning.
Water Supply The Colorado River has been dammed and Lake Mead created to hold water. It is
then transported via aqueducts and pipes such as the Central Arizona Project to
where it is needed. With a growing population in the Western desert and thirsty golf
courses there is a water security problem and Lake Mead is at record low levels.
Inaccessibility Roads are rough and the extreme temperatures make it dangerous if your car breaks
down. There are little road signs and off-roading can be perilous – an elderly couple
died of dehydration from doing so in 2015. There are some railways which connect
cities like Las Vegas with other major cities but most people fly – Las Vegas airport
receives 40 million people each year – much safer than driving.
Lack of People wanted green lawns but the watering was draining the limited water supplies in
rainfall the desert. People have switched to fake grass lawns and having desert planting like
cactuses that don’t require much water.
1. Give two species of tree which is logged for timber in the Amazon Rainforest.
2. How many hectares of rainforest are being used for gold mining?
3. What type of energy development is the Amazon Rainforest being used for?
4. Brazil is deforesting the Amazon to make way for biofuels – what is the biofuel?
5. Why can deforestation add to global warming?
6. Gold mining is causing river pollution in the Amazon. Why?
7. How many tribes are in the Amazon?
8. How can deforestation lead to soil erosion in the Amazon?
9. What animal is farmed creating huge amounts of deforestation?
10. What is the name of the large road which was built through the Amazon rainforest to connect
major cities in Brazil?
11. In the Western Desert, USA what % does agriculture make up in the economy?
12. What are the large stores of water called beneath the desert?
13. Farmers are allocated 80% of the water from the Colorado River which is stored in a dam on
the Colorado River. What is the dam called?
14. Name three minerals or metals that are extracted and sold to make money.
15. What is the solar project called in Arizona?
16. How many visitors does Las Vegas have every year?
17. What is the Central Arizona project?
18. How is hydroelectric power (HEP) created in the Western desert?
19. Give two types of crops which are grown in the Western desert.
20. Give the location of open cast mining in the Western Desert.
Remember to PEEL for 6/9 markers. Point, evidence, explanation, link back to the question.
The value of tropical rainforests to people and the environment is enormous. To what extent do you
agree? [6 marks]
Assess the opportunities and challenges for development in the hot desert environment you have
studied. [9 marks]
Describe and explain the strategies used to reduce the risk of desertification. [6 marks]
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Section C: Physical Landscapes in the UK
Coastal Landscapes: An example of a section of coastline in the UK to identify its major landforms of
erosion and deposition.
Discordant
coastline
West Bay
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Coastal realignment in Medmerry
The Environment Agency (EA) considered the area to be at risk from flooding. The only thing
protecting it was a shingle ridge and every year expensive (£200,000) beach reprofiling was having to
take place. This became unsustainable. If this area was breached 348 properties in Selsey would be
in danger along with a water treatment plant and a busy main road– it was last breached in 2008
costing £5 million.
A new embankment was created from clay from the area two km in land.
Behind the embankment they built a channel to drain excess water.
Rock armour was built against the embankment to offer more support – 60,000 tonnes of it
was imported from Norway.
Once the embankment was in place they made a 110m breach in the shingle bank to allow
the sea to flood the area, creating a salt marsh.
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The River Severn and its estuary
An example of a river valley in the UK to identify its major landforms of erosion and deposition.
Landforms of erosion
Meanders
Oxbow lakes
Landforms of deposition
The River Severn Estuary is made from deposition from the river and the sea.
It has a very high tidal range – 15m.
It has large mudflats which are visible at low tide with small creeks running through them.
The Estuary is very wide- 3.2km at its widest point
There are bores that funnel up the river at certain times of the year. This is a tidal wave.
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Jubilee River flood-relief channel
The Jubilee River is a relief channel for the River Thames, it runs through Berkshire just South of
Eton and North of Windsor. The building of the River Channel was funded by the Environment Agency
(EA).
It is part of the Thames flood plain and is very low lying and therefore prone to flooding.
Windsor (home of the Queen) is a popular tourist destination and Eton has a famous public
school therefore it is important both economically and socially to protect these two areas.
There are many built up areas and therefore lots of impermeable areas. This has resulted
in flash flooding in the past which damaged many expensive properties.
Paddle boarders were promised Insurance costs in Old Windsor In 2014 there was flooding in
a navigable river but instead are now very high due to the Old Windsor downstream of the
there are sections which are too increased risk of flooding. Jubilee River re-joined the
dangerous to cross. Thames. This flooded the built
environment and natural
habitats.
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Test yourself
Remember to PEEL for 6/9 markers. Point, evidence, explanation, link back to the question.
Assess the different management strategies that can be used to protect coastlines from the effects
of physical processes. [6 marks]
Use a named case study to assess the different management strategies that have been used to
protect coastlines. [6 marks]
Evaluate the different management strategies that can be used to protect river landscapes from the
effects of flooding. [6 marks]
Use a named case study to evaluate the different management strategies that have been used to
protect river landscapes from the effects of flooding. [6 marks]
Using an example from a section of coastline in the UK, explain how erosion and deposition can shape
a coastline. [6 marks]
Discuss the importance of geology and rock types in shaping the coastline. [6 marks]
“Hard engineering is a more effective coastal management strategy than soft engineering.” To what
extent do you agree? [6 marks]
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A case study of a major city in an LIC
1. The location and importance of the city, regionally, nationally and internationally
Lagos is located in Nigeria, West Africa
Lagos has a rapid natural increase. This is because Nigeria has a high birth rate and a
decreasing death rate. It is also due to push and pull factors which are pushing people away
from rural areas and pulling people to the urban centre of Lagos. This is migration.
Push factors (from rural areas) Pull factors (to urban Lagos)
Farming pays low wages and is hard work The ‘bright lights’ effect draws people in.
Few job opportunities exist in rural areas Young people want to seek their fortune in
other than farming – this makes young the Lagos.
people in particular vulnerable.
Education and health services are poor Education and health care services are
better in the city.
Climate change is making floods and
droughts more common – this makes crop
yields unpredictable.
Land is degraded by the oil industry making
farming more difficult
The north of Nigeria is politically unstable
and there has been lots of terrorist activity
by Boko Haram.
3. How urban growth has created social opportunities: access to services – health and
education; access to resources – water supply, energy.
Access to services
Health Healthcare is closer and more available in Lagos – even if it is not free.
Education There are more schools and universities giving people more chances in life.
Access to resources
Water supply The wealthiest homes have piped water – everyone else has access via taps or
buy their water from street vendors.
Energy Electricity is more widespread however is stretched due to the sheer number
of people. Two new power stations are currently being built to give enough
energy for the city. Businesses rely on generators in case main power fails.
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4. How urban growth has created economic opportunities: how urban industrial areas can be a
stimulus for economic development
Lagos has been exporting oil. This has brought wealth and industrialisation on the coast of
Lagos. Once factories start being built this creates more wealth and jobs which in turn
brings more factories, wealth and jobs.
Lagos is now using this wealth and investment from other countries to build a new city on
the coast called Eko – it is set to be the new financial hub of West Africa.
5. How urban growth has created challenges such as managing urban growth – slums, squatter
settlements.
Rapid urbanisation has led to large slums or squatter settlements being built on the coast
of Lagos. These are often built on marshy, poorly drained land where no one else wants
build. An example is the slum of Makoko.
6. How urban growth has created challenges in providing clean water, sanitation systems and
energy.
Clean Only 10% of people in Lagos have piped water. People end up digging their own bore holes
water and wells to get water. Sewage can seep into the ground water and this can be very
dangerous. In 2012, Lagos formed the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission to give
licences to boreholes to make sure they are not polluted.
Sanitation Lagos is prone to flooding and has poor drainage and sanitation systems (toilets and
systems sewage systems). Lagos State Waste Water Management office are currently planning to
build the largest waste water plant in Nigeria, although this is years from completion.
Energy Egbin Power Plant (which provides Lagos with energy) has not been able to provide enough
electricity to Lagos. Many people rely on wood to burn to cook on. Lagos needs to invest
more in electricity.
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7. How urban growth has created challenges providing access to services like health and
education.
Due to huge rural – urban migration it is difficult for Lagos’s government to provide enough schools
and hospitals. Healthcare is not free either.
Unemployment in Lagos is lower than the rest of Nigeria. Most people are employed but in
low skilled, low paid jobs. People work in the informal economy often working washing cars,
street selling of waste recycling on landfill sites, sorting waste and finding items that they
can sell. Jobs are being created in new factories and in the tertiary industry which is
growing.
Lagos has high crime levels especially in drug trafficking and gangs. Lagos’s government is
trying to reduce crime but lack of resources and policing make it difficult.
9. Managing environmental issues – waste disposal, air and water pollution, traffic congestion
Lagos wants to create an integrated transport system as they know all good cities need good
transport. They are planning to do the following:
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An example of how urban planning is improving the quality of life for the urban poor.
Success?
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Major city in the UK: London
1. The location and importance of the city in the UK and the wider world.
2. Impacts of national and international migration on the growth and character of the city
Migration has had a huge impact on the character of the city. It is the most ethnically
diverse place in the UK.
Each group of new migrants brought with them their own culture, traditions, religions,
music and food. This goes back as far as the Saxons – each group of people leaving their
mark on London.
3. How urban change has created social and economic opportunities: cultural mix, recreation
and entertainment, employment, integrated transport systems.
Cultural mix Places like Brick Lane have an amazing variety of food, art and music from different
places. It is a melting pot for culture making it very culturally rich.
Recreation and There are many theatres like the National Theatre, art galleries like the Tate
entertainment Modern, music festivals and venues such as Love Box and The Proms.
Employment There is a huge variety of employment from jobs in the financial centre which are
very high paid to low paid service jobs like bar staff and cleaners. There is a huge
quantity of people needed to work to make London a World City.
Integrated London has buses, 240 tube stations, the Docklands light railway, Boris Bikes, bus
transport lanes, ferries, London city Airport and Heathrow airport which are all designed to
system keep London running.
Urban greening is about increasing the amount of green space that cities have. London is already a
green city as it has many parks so it is about maintaining what they have and continue to improve it.
Increasing green infrastructure like roof top gardens, and green walls and roofs.
Creating a ‘green grid’ – basically connecting green spaces together with rows of trees or
green infrastructure to make it easier for wildlife to migrate. This is done though
maintaining trees, hedgerows and parks.
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5. How urban change has created social and economic challenges: urban deprivation,
inequalities in housing, education, health and employment.
Urban Some areas of London are very deprived. For example in Newham over 50% of people
deprivation are receiving benefits. Life expectancy is an indicator of deprivation. In London if you
travel from West Ham to Knightsbridge on the Jubilee line life expectancy increases
from 78 years to 90 years – that’s 12 years difference just depending where you live!
Inequalities There is not enough housing in London and many people who have grown up in London
in housing will struggle to ever get a house. Many rented houses are overpriced and are in poor
condition. This has been made worse in recent years.
Education The quality of schools vary largely depending on where they are. It is always a big
struggle to provide enough good schools and it is very competitive amongst parents.
Health People can have very different levels of health depending on where they live. This is
due to poverty and deprivation.
Employment Unemployment increases in areas which are more deprived. Often people do not have
the skills or education to have employment and if they do it is poorly paid. Many people
in Tower Hamlets (a poor area) cannot get jobs in Canary Warf despite the close
distance.
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6. How urban change has created environmental challenges: dereliction, building on brownfield
and greenfield sites, waste disposal.
Dereliction Many factories shut down as countries like China started manufacturing. This meant
lots of factory buildings became derelict and houses nearby became vacant. This led to
increased crime and the buildings became run down and covered in graffiti. This
reduces the environmental quality of the area and makes it unpopular with people and
business. Many of these areas have now been regenerated.
Waste London produces a huge amount of waste. 25% still goes to landfill and this is
disposal unsustainable. 61% is recycled. The target is that 0% of London’s waste should go to
Landfill by 2030. This will be achieved by less packaging and incinerating waste to
make electricity for example in London EcoPark, Enfield (an incinerator).
Should we build on greenfield or brown field sites to make enough houses for London’s population?
7. What is the impact of urban sprawl on the rural–urban fringe, and the growth of
commuter settlements?
As London is too expensive for many people to live, people move to commuter settlements like Reading
which is just outside the greenbelt.
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Urban Regeneration: The London Olympics
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) which was set up by the government bought the
land.
People who lived there were forced to sell their homes and move – this caused protests.
Land had to be decontaminated and large electricity pylons had to be buried under the
ground.
Bridges were built over the river and the river was cleaned, habitats being created on the
banks.
New houses were built along with new schools, nurseries and community facilities.
The aim was that the redevelopment of the Olympic site would leave a lasting legacy for
London.
Once the Olympics was over, much of the green space has been sold to build new housing
and pay back the debt created from the Olympic games.
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Test Yourself
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Urban Issues and Challenges possible questions- could you answer them?
Remember to PEEL for 6/9 markers. Point, evidence, explanation, link back to the
question.
Using a named case study in a LIC assess/discuss how urban planning is improving the quality of life
for the urban poor.
Using a named case study in the UK discuss the reasons why the area was regenerated and give the
main features of the urban regeneration project.
Assess/evaluate urban transport strategies that are used to reduce traffic congestion.
Using a case study of a major city in an LIC or NEE explain the importance of this city the regionally,
nationally and internationally. [6 Marks]
Explain the causes of urban growth in an LIC you have studied. [4 Marks]
Discuss how rapid urban growth in LICs created both social opportunities and challenges. [9 Marks]
Describe how increasing industrial areas in the poor world can be a stimulus for economic
development. [4 Marks]
Assess the challenges that urban growth in the poor world has created such as providing housing,
clean water and sanitation. [6 Marks]
“The challenges faced to urban areas in LICs are similar to those challenges faced in HICs”. Using
examples, discuss to what extent you agree with this statement. [9 Marks]
In cities in LICs social challenges are far greater than either economic or environmental ones. To
what extent do you agree? [9 Marks]
Using an example, assess how well urban planning in an LIC is improving the quality of life for the
urban poor. [6 Marks]
Describe the impact of urban sprawl and growth of commuter settlements on the rural-urban fringe.
[4 Marks]
Explain the opportunities and challenges of building on brownfield and greenfield sites. [6 Marks]
Assess the social and economic challenges for cities in the richer world. [9 Marks]
Using an example of a city in the UK, evaluate the impacts of national and international migration on
the growth and character of the city. [9 Marks]
Assess the usefulness of the integrated transport system in a city of your choice.
Using a case study of a major city in the UK, discuss the opportunities created by urban change [9
marks]
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The Changing Economic World
An example of how the growth of tourism in an LIC or NEE helps to reduce the development gap.
Climate Tunisia has very warm temperatures (up to 40 degrees C in summer). This is perfect
for sun seeking British people who want to escape the dreary winter.
Location It is in North Africa and so is close to Europe – only taking a 3 hour flight to get
there. They also speak French which attracts tourists from France.
Cheap package The Tunisian government made deals with companies like Thomas Cook to make lots
holidays of cheap package deals therefore providing lots of jobs.
History and Tunisia has a rich culture and has some UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
culture
Landscape They have many beaches, mountains and the Saharan Desert. Many films were also
made here.
More people have higher paid jobs – this has meant people can buy better food and
healthcare and therefore have higher life expectancies.
Literacy rates have improved - now 79% of people can read and write.
Equality for men and women is now much better and it is a legal requirement for all girls to
go to school.
However, becoming too reliant on tourism may not be a good idea. Since the terrorist attacks there
has been a decline in tourism. Between 2015-2016 there were 90% less tourists visiting.
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Nigeria
Nigeria is considered as the ‘Giant of Africa’. It has a huge population and in 2015 took
over from South Africa as the country with the largest economy.
It is one of the MINT economies – important globally for exporting goods.
It is in the top 20 economies in the world.
2. The wider political, social, cultural and environmental context within which the country is
placed.
Social context Nigeria was originally made of many tribal communities until the British took over.
Cultural context There are 500 ethnic groups each with its own language but three major
ethnicities. The North of Nigeria is mainly Muslim, the South is mainly Christian.
Environmental It is just north of the Equator. The south of Nigeria is humid and has tropical
context rainforest and in the north is hot and dry savannah.
Political context Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Although it had a civil war it now has a
working democracy. However there is still conflict with Boko Haram, at least
17,000 people have been killed in this conflict since 2002.
3. The changing industrial structure. The balance between different sectors of the
economy. How manufacturing industry can stimulate economic development
Nigeria’s economy is made up of: services 52%, oil and gas 14%, manufacturing 7% and
agriculture 22%.
The majority of people (30%) in Nigeria work in agriculture. 25% work in retail and
maintenance.
Finding and exploiting oil kick-started the Nigerian economy. This gave money which funded
factories to be built and started turning Nigeria from an LIC into a HIC. New industry like
this creates jobs, creates wealth through taxes and improves the wealth of the country.
TNCs like Shell and Exxon-mobil have the money and expertise to drill for oil. The TNCs
made deals with the Nigerian government who didn’t have this money or expertise to
export this oil.
Advantages Disadvantages
Increases the wealth of the country. Oil creates environmental damage. Oil spills kill
wildlife and damage ecosystems
TNCs often improve infrastructure of the TNCs are footloose meaning they can leave lots of
country people suddenly without a job.
New skills and expertise are brought in Profits are taken aboard – economic leakage
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5. The changing political and trading relationships with the wider world.
Nigeria got into debt by borrowing money from the UK and America. We made them pay it
back with interest. Nigeria are now wealthy and have their own space programme but the
60% of the population still only own $1.25 per day. People often criticise this.
Oil pollution has polluted the sea and delta of Nigeria near Lagos.
Deforestation has occurred in the rainforest
Lagos has got high air pollution and breathing conditions are poor
Industry along the river has caused chemicals to leak into the water.
There are large inequalities in Nigeria. Even though the country is booming economically
not all of this money is going where it needs to.
Better jobs = better pay = more taxes and better living standards
Many Nigerians are not happy by their low wages and end up travelling to North Africa to
travel across the Mediterranean Sea to try and get to Europe so people can seek a better
life.
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The UK car industry
More than 1.5 million cars are manufactured every year in the UK from companies like
BMW, Honda and Nissan.
The car industry did have a bad name as emissions from cars release Carbon Dioxide which
leads to global warming, however they have been trying to improve their image by becoming
more sustainable.
They have reduced the energy and water needed per car, reduced the waste to landfill per
car.
Cars have been made more efficient so that they release less CO2 however they could still
do more to reduce their footprint.
Test yourself
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11. How did finding oil help Nigeria develop?
12. Give two advantages of TNCs in Nigeria.
13. Give two disadvantages of TNCs in Nigeria.
14. What is official developmental assistance?
15. What is the difference between multilateral and bilateral aid?
16. How can NGOs help Nigeria?
17. Give two environmental impacts of economic development.
18. Give two impacts on the quality of life of economic development.
19. How many cars are manufactured in the UK? Give an example of one of the companies.
20. Give two ways the car industry has been made more environmentally sustainable.
The Changing economic world possible questions- could you answer them?
Remember to PEEL for 6/9 markers. Point, evidence, explanation, link back to the
question.
Assess the limitations of using economic and social measures of development. [6 marks]
Describe and explain the strategies used to reduce the development gap. [6 marks]
Using a named case study evaluate how tourism in a LIC or NEE helps to reduce the development gap.
[9 marks]
Using a case study of a named LIC / NEE which has experienced rapid economic development discuss
the social changes this has brought. [6 marks]
Assess the environmental change caused by the rapid economic development discuss the
environmental change in an LIC/NEE you have studied. [9 marks]
Describe and explain the cultural changes that have happened as a result of rapid economic
development in a poorer part of the world that you have studied. [9 marks]
Using a named case study assess the impacts of industry on the physical environment. [6 marks]
Assess the success of the strategies used to resolve the regional differences in the north-south
divide in the UK. [6 marks]
Suggest how the demographic transition model links to different level of development [4 marks]
Using a case study of a poorer part of the world, describe how the balance between different
sectors of the economy is changing. [6 marks]
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The challenge of Resource Management
An example to show how the extraction of a fossil fuel has both advantages and disadvantages.
Natural Gas
Advantages Disadvantages
Environmental Less carbon emissions than oil or gas. Leakages can cause explosions.
Does not produce waste such as coal Burning gas still releases CO2 into the
ash. atmosphere.
It cannot create oil spills. Earthquakes can be caused when fracking
It can be used alongside renewables. for gas.
Practical Can be used for many different It is odourless and therefore leaks cannot
purposes. be detected unless and odour is added to
Very useful for cooking and heating. the gas.
Economic Cheaper than electricity. The infrastructure to extract gas is
expensive.
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An example of a local renewable energy scheme in an LIC or NEE to provide sustainable supplies of
energy.
Nepal are an LIC and are land-locked and mountainous so importing fossil fuels is difficult.
Forests were being cut down to make fires to cook on. This was causing lung problems and
harming the ecosystem.
The country often has power blackouts.
Micro-hydro plants
They divert water from rivers which is stored in a forebay tank. This water then flows
through a pipe called a penstock and turns a turbine which drives a generator.
These are low cost and can be built and maintained locally.
This electricity powers new industries (like dairy farms and a noodle factory) which
provides more income and jobs to local people.
So far 1000 micro hydro plants have been built in Nepal and they give the people the
chance to develop economically without causing pollution or destruction to habitats.
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Test yourself
The Challenge of resource management possible questions- could you answer them?
Remember to PEEL for 6/9 markers. Point, evidence, explanation, link back to the question.
Discuss the economic and environmental issues associated with exploitation of energy sources. [6
Marks]
Describe and explain why the demand for food has changed in the UK [4 Marks]
Using an example, explain how extracting fossil fuels has both advantages and disadvantages. [6
Marks]
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