Geography Case Studies

Global Hazards
1. Nepal Earthquake
  1. 25th April 2015
  2. 11:41AM local time
  3. 7.8-7.9 Richter scale
  4. Population of Nepal at the time of the earthquake was 700,000, but has since decreased due to the mass destruction of the earthquake
  5. The focus was 2 KM down from the epicenter
    1. It was a very shallow earthquake
    2. The epicenter was near the Chinese border in the Himalayan mountains, between Kathmandu and Mount Everest
      1. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal
  6. Causes of the Nepal earthquake
    1. The Indo-Australian plate moves a lot more rapidly that most other tectonic plates, including the Eurasian. The Indo-Australian plate collided with the Eurasian, and because of the quick acceleration of the Indo-Australian plate, there was mass destruction.
    2. The type of plate boundary at the fault line was a collision plate boundary. Both the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plate are continental, meaning they are unsinkable. However, due to the fast movement of the Indo-Australian plate, it steeped slightly underneath the Eurasian plate, thus creating a larger quake.
  7. Effects
    1. Landslides blocked most of the roads, so emergency services were prevented from reaching disaster zones such as small villages near the epicenter.
    2. Water supplies and sanitation were all destroyed in the after-math of the earthquake. This lead to the spread of diseases such as cholera.
    3. Internet and mobile phone services and communications were all cut off and disrupted by the earthquake.
    4. Over 180 buildings in Kathmandu alone were reduced to rubble
  8. Management
    1. The Nepalese Government struggled to send out and distribute emergency supplies to places that were made inaccessible by secondary effects such as landslides and avalanches
    2. Schools and health facilities were closed after the earthquake
  9. Responses
    1. India
      1. 1o tonnes of blankets
      2. 50 tonnes of water
      3. 22 tonnes of food
      4. Doctors
      5. 2 tonnes of medical supplies
      6. Emergency task force to help survival victims
    2. UK
      1. 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid
      2. 8 tonnes of equipment
2. Hurricane Katrina
  1. Causes
    1. Louisiana and Mississippi are in the Gulf of Mexico. Sea temperatures are usually 27 degrees +, so tropical storms can form
    2. A storm formed 200 miles south-east from the Bahamas. It moved north-west over the southern point of Florida and traveled to the Gulf of Mexico
    3. As it traveled over the warm ocean water of the Mexican Gulf, it became even stronger, turning from a tropical storm into a volcano
    4. On the 29th august 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck land, bring winds of up to 200km/h and 200-250mm of rainfall into Louisiana and a storm surge of up to 8.5m in Mississippi
  2. Consequences
    1. More than 1800 people were killed
    2. 300,000 houses were destroyed and hundreds of thousands were left homeless
    3. Large areas were flooded. 80% of New Orleans was flooded
    4. 3 million people were without electricity
    5. Roads were damaged and bridges collapsed
    6. Coastal inhabitants were damaged
    7. 230,000 jobs were lost due to damaged businesses
    8. Water supplies were polluted with sewage and chemicals
    9. Total cost of damage was estimated at $150 billion
    10. Rescue and recovery effects were hampered by a disagreement between national, state and local officials
  3. Responses
    1. 70%-80% of New Orleans residents were evacuated before the hurricane reached land. Still, the death count was catastrophic
    2. Mississippi and Louisiana declared states of emergency. They set up control centers, emergency shelters and they stock-piled on supplies
    3. Over 50,000 people were rescued by the coastguard, police, fire services and army
    4. Charities gave donations, provided aid and gave millions of hot meals
    5. US government gave over 16 billion dollars for rebuilding homes and funded repair of other essensial infrastructures
    6. In low lying areas, the government recommended building on stilts, or not rebuilding at all
    7. To repair and improve flood defenses in New Orleans, it cost $14.5 billion. Development finishes in 2013
3. European Heat Wave
  1. Facts
    1. Heat wave; a long period during which the temperatures are much higher than normal
    2. Heat wave conditions are different in different places.A heat wave in the UK would be much cooler than a heat wave in Spain, where higher temperatures are usually expected
    3. Heat waves are cause when anticyclones (areas of high pressure) stay in the same place for a long duration of time
  2. Causes of the 2003 Heat Wave
    1. An anticyclone was situated over western Europe for much of August
    2. Air moves clockwise around an anticyclone so hot and dry air from the center of Europe was bought to western Europe. This meant temperatures in the UK was higher than normal and the rainfall in the UK was lower than usual. This caused crop failure in some badly affected areas
    3. The anticyclone blocked low pressure systems that would usually bring cooler, rainier conditions from the Pacific Ocean
  3. Consequences of the 2003 Heat Wave
    1. People suffered from; heatstroke, dehydration, sunburn and breathing problems due to air pollution. Some people died from drowning whilst trying to cool off in lakes, rivers and pools
    2. 2000 people died in the UK linked to heatwaves
    3. 20 people were injured from lightning strikes during thunderstorms caused by the heat wave
    4. Water levels fell in reservoirs, which threatened water supplies to houses and businesses
    5. Livestock died due to the heat and crop yields were lower due to the lack of water
    6. Trains were disrupted by rails buckling in the heat and some roads melted, which caused long delays
  4. UK Response to the 2003 Heat Wave
    1. NHS and Media gave guidance to the public on how to survive the heatwave. They said drink lots of water, have cools baths and showers and to keep rooms cool
    2. Water limitations were put in place. Some areas had hosepipe bans
    3. The speed limit was imposed on trains due to the rails buckling. Some rails were painted white to reflect the heat and keep them cool
    4. The UK created a 'heat wave plan' to minimise the consequences of future heat waves
Changing Climate
Distinctive Landscapes
1. Dorset Coast
  1. South coast of England
  2. Called the Jurassic coast as it has a lot of fossils from the Jurassic period. Many come to look for fossils
  3. Popular tourist destination
  4. Durdle Door
    1. An arch
    2. Formed on a hard limestone headland
    3. Erosion from waves open up a crack in the headland which becomes a cave, which then develops to an arch.
    4. Gradually being broken down by mechanical, chemical and biological weathering
  5. The Foreland, Old Harry and His Wife
    1. The Foreland is a headland and is made from a band of chalk.
    2. The arch at the end of the headland collapsed, forming a stack. The stack is called Old Harry
    3. The stump is called Old Harry's Wife
    4. They were formed by salt and carbonation weathering along with erosion. The vegetation growing on top of the stack and stump breaks the rock up through biological weathering.
  6. Chesil Beach
    1. A tombolo
    2. It joins the Isle of Portland to the mainland
    3. Formed by longshore drift
    4. Behind Chesil beach is a shallow lagoon called The Fleet Lagoon
  7. Lulworth Cove
    1. A small bay formed after a gap was eroded in a band of limestone.
    2. Behind the limestone band is a clay band.
      1. Clay is soft so it is eroded and transported away
    3. The limestone cliffs forming at the back wall of the bay are vulnerable to mass movement, and sometimes experience small slides and slumps
  8. Swanage Bay
    1. The cliffs backing Swanage Bay is clay.
      1. Clay is soft
        It erodes quickly
    2. Towards the Northern end of the bay, the cliffs are covered in vegetation, stabilising them and protecting them from frontward weathering.
      1. Elsewhere the cliffs are not protected by vegetation so weak weather weakens them and can cause slumps.
    3. Longshore drift carries material (usually gravel) from the south to the north of the bay. Erosion is the main process in the formation of the bay.
2. Dorset Coast Climate and Weather
  1. Temperature
    1. Warm, dry summers (21 degrees in July)
    2. Mild, wet winters (3 degrees in January)
    3. Salt weathering is the main form of mechanical weathering, particularly in the summer. The warm temperatures causes the sea water to evaporate from rocks quickly, leaving a build-up of salt crystals in tiny cracks in the rock
    4. Mild winters mean that freeze-thaw weathering is uncommon as it is not cold enough for ice to form
  2. Wind
    1. The location of the coast leaves it exposed to prevailing wings from the south-west.
      1. These winds can bring storms to the UK from the Atlantic Ocean.
        Storms bring high energy, destructive waves which increase erosion upon the cliff face
    2. Hydraulic action and abrasion increase in stormy weather and erode at the base of the cliffs. This makes them unstable and prone to mass movement
  3. Rainfall
    1. Low amounts of annual rainfall, but may experience wet winters.
    2. Rainfall is heaviest during storm periods
    3. Soils and rocks are heavier when saturated. This makes them prone to mass movement during rainfall seasons
    4. In January 2016, rainfall combined with high-energy waves during Storm Frank caused the cliffs to colllapse between Burton Bradstock and West Bay
Sustaining Ecosystems
1. Amazon
Urban Futures
1. Lagos
  1. MIgration
    1. Rapid population growth due to large amounts of rural-urban migration
    2. There is an urban sprawl of migrants moving to Lagos looking for employment and a better quality of life.
      1. This creates many slums as there is not enough housing, and if there is it is expensive so many cannot afford it.
    3. Lagos incomes are approx. 4X higher than in village settlements in Nigeria
    4. Chad and Niger migrants add to the increasing population of Lagos.
    5. Lagos used to be a small fishing settlement inhabited by the Yoruba People. It now has a very diverse ethnic proportion.
    6. Lagos has become overcrowded, polluted and congested. Lagos is located on the coast so there isn't much room for expansion. This means the population density is very high
  2. Facts
    1. Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria. It's built around the western shore of a large lagoon
    2. Nigeria is an LIDC. It has the biggest economy in Africa, despite it's status.
    3. Population: 21 Million
      1. One of the fastest growing urban areas in the world. It grows by over 500,000 people per year
    4. Was under British rule during the colonial times and it was the center of many trades.
    5. It was the National Capital until 1991, but it still remains the main financial center for the whole of Western-Africa
    6. Has an International Port and Airport
      1. Important center for regional and global trade.
        City has 80% of Nigeria's industry and a lot of global companies are located in Lagos
  3. Ways of Life
    1. Lagos has a big film industry and produces popular 'Nollywood' films. They are thriving in the music industry and introduced many music styles such as Afrobeat and Afro hip-hop
    2. Western-style fashion is becoming increasingly common among rich inhabitants of Lagos, but many people still retain their traditional dress sense and ways of life, for example; fishing in the lagoon or making crafts to sell
    3. There are around 250 different ethnic groups in Lagos. However, this creates minor ethnic tension
    4. 2/3 of the population live in slums. Many of the remaining 1/3 live in high rise flats in the CBD
    5. Street parties, pool parties and nightclubbing are popular leisure activities in Lagos, and there are many festivals throughout the year (Lagos International Jazz Festival, Badagry Festival, Eyo Festival). These celebrate music, food and local culture
    6. Shopping is popular in Lagos. There are lots of street vendors, specialist markets, and small rows of shops. The CBD on Lagos Island is modernised with Western-style shops and supermarkets which sell large selections of international foods
    7. Product consumption is rising in Lagos. As people get wealthier, they can afford more consumer goods and use more resources. Consumption of energy is rapidly increasing in Nigeria and Lagos is responsible for half of this increase
  4. Housing, Health, Waste and Jobs
    1. Squatter Settlements
      1. Over 60% of Lagos live in slums, such as Makoko.
      2. Houses in Makoko are made out of flimsy, wooden huts built on stilts over lagoons. These are illegally built and people are evicted. Slums are destroyed to clean up Lagos. This leaves many homeless.
      3. In Makoko there is only 1 primary school. Many families cannot afford child schooling
      4. Communal toilets are shared by 15 households and most of the waste goes straight into the lagoon. This is always full of rubbish and raw sewage. This aids to the spread of disease such as cholera
      5. Water can be purchased in Makoko from a communal water point, but for some households this is 3KM away. The only electricity comes from illegal connections which is often cut out
      6. There are high levels of crime in Makoko. The slum is patrolled by gangs called the 'area boys'. They commit crimes and act as the informal 'police' of the slum
    2. Health
      1. Most of the city doesn't have access to proper sewers or clean water. This leads to the spread of cholera
      2. The stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes . This leads to large and wide spread malaria infections
      3. There's limited health care facilities and many cannot afford proper treatment
      4. Many rural migrants distrust western medicine and prefer to seek help from traditional healers
    3. Informal Sector Jobs
      1. Not enough formal jobs for migrants. Many search the Olusosun dump for items to sell. This is dangerous as the dump contains toxic waste
      2. 60% of the working population work in the informal sector as street sellers, barbers and carpenters to name a few
      3. No protection financially. Long hours=Little pay
      4. Street sellers stalls are bulldozed to make way for new developments and road widenings
      5. Many live off as little as $1.25 a day
    4. Waste Disposal
      1. 9000 tonnes of waste is produced in Lagos per day
      2. only 40% of rubbish is formally collected, the rest are left in large rubbish dumps. EG: Olusosun, which contains toxic waste
      3. Waste disposal and emissions from factories are not controlled, leading to air and water pollution
Dynamic Development
1. Democratic Republic of Congo
  1. Facts
    1. GNI per capita; $410
    2. Life expectancy; 59 years of age
    3. 61% literacy rate
    4. HDI; 0.43
    5. DRC is in Central Africa. It is nearly landlocked, apart from a small stretch of coastline to the west.
    6. One of the poorest countries in the world
    7. Population of around 79 MIL. High birth rates cause the population to grow very rapidly. This leads to an increase need for food, water, education and sanitation
    8. DRC has very rich natural resources. EG: copper, gold, oil and diamond. The fertile soil makes growing crops such as coffee, sugar and cotton a very popular trading factor.
    9. DRC has rich deposits of mineral ores such as coltan and wolframite. These are used in laptops, computers, mobile phones, TVs and cameras.
    10. despite having great natural resources, DRC has low development and is a very poor country
  2. Political and Social factors
    1. DRC was a Belgian colony from 1885-1960. By 1060, DRC had a booming industry, and education and health care were improving
    2. In the 60's, most of DRC's wealth created from mining and farming was given to other countries . Native people were not allowed to vote, and were only allowed a very basic education
    3. DRC gained independence from Belgium in 1960. There was conflict on who would then rule. In 1965, Mobutu Sese Seko seized power.
    4. Mobutu Sese Seko
      1. Sese Seko was corrupt. He allowed armed forces to loot the country, taking goods and money. This lead to huge inequalities in weath throughout the country. A small number of people were very rich, and a large number of people were extremely oiir
      2. Large companies payed bribes to gain access to mineral resources. Much of the resulting wealth left the country, so the locals did not benefit
      3. Mobutu forced many foreign owned businesses to leave the country, leading to a loss of jobs and wealth. Mobutu refused to pay back debt to Belgium. This lead to the span of cancellations of development projects throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo
      4. For much of his rule, there was conflict. This caused damage to crops, property and infrastructure. People had to flee, and healthcare services were spar.
    5. Mobutu was overthrown in 1997. This lead to a civil war which lasted until 2003.
    6. Joseph Kabila became president in 2001. He promised to direct his focus on improving infrastructure, health, education, housing and jobs. He also said that access to resources such as water and electrical power would improve within time
    7. Since 2012, there have been signs of economic growth, but they have been relatively low
  3. Development 'Holdbacks'
    1. Growing global demand for electronic products has increased the demand for raw minerals in DRC. In parts of DRC, armed groups force people to work in dangerous and illegal conditions to mine these particular ores (coltan and wolframite)
    2. Fighting over mine ownership causes millions of deaths. This leads the ores to be called 'conflict minerals'
    3. Many companies are now buying minerals from other countries, where forced labor and wars are not a problem. The disinterest of sales in DCR leads to a hindering economic development
  4. DRC Millennium Development Goals
    1. Reduce poverty and hunger
      1. In 2005, 71% of people lived in poverty. In 2012, it was 63%. This is an 8% decrease.
      2. Malnutrition has increased from 51% (2000), to 66% (2015)
    2. Education for all
      1. In 1999, 35% completed primary education. In 2013, 72% had a primary education available
    3. Promote gender equality
      1. The percentage of girls finishing primary has doubled from 32% in 1999 to 65% in 2013. However, the percentage for boys education has also increased in this time period, showing that inequality has increased slightly.
      2. There are fewer women than men in paid work, and on average they earn less whilst performing the same jobs as men
    4. Reduce child death rates
      1. The death rate of children under 5 decreased from about 176 per 1000 in 2000 to about 120 per 1000 in 2013.
      2. More than 70% of children are now vaccinated against measles, compared to the 20% in 1999
    5. Reduce maternal death rates
      1. The number of women dying in childbirth decreased from around 870 per 100,000 in 2000 to around 690 per 100,000 in2015
      2. The availability of health care for mothers during childbirth has increased since 1990
    6. Stop the spread of diseases
      1. The percentage of people with HIV/AIDS has decreased from about 5% to about 1% since 2000. This is partially due to better education and more widely available contraception
      2. The proportion of people with malaria halved between 2000 and 2015. This is because of the wider availability of mosquito nets
    7. Make development sustainable
      1. About 50% of the population have access to clean water. This is a small increase since 2000
      2. There are efforts to preserve the rainforerst. For example; the government has created protected areas and put bans on new logging operations
    8. Promote international links
      1. In 2008, China gave the DRC $6 billion to spend on infrastructure, in return for access to some of its mineral resources
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