Cyclone Sidr GCSE Case Study

Cyclone Sidr – 15 November 2007

Background

• Bangladesh- North end of the Bay of Bengal

• Much of the area affected was only 1m above sea level

• Very Densely populated

• Much of the food is supplied by fishing/farming

Impacts

• Winds – 140km/h, 5m Storm Surge. Category 4 on the coast

• Floods ruined farmlands + forest.  Sunderbans ( A World Heritage Site) was devastated

• Only 3500 died, ( which is low compared to the 153,000 in 1991)

• 7 Million Lives affected

• Water and Power supplies lost in Coastal areas

Preparation

• Riverbanks raised + Cyclone shelters were built after the last major disaster

• Warning systems were developed

Responses

Pre-Event

• Warnings were received from satellites. 

• Alerts were sent by mobile. 

• Where there was no TV/ Radio police cars went our to warn people. 

• 10s of thousands fled inland. 

• Rail Services stopped.

Short Term

• Relief Crews tried to reach damaged communities.

• Aid got in emergency services but this took days

• The people were angry.

Long Term

• Paddy fields were unusable.

• Water and Power supplies were slow to return

• Getting relief was slow- blocked roads + the fact supplies had to be brought in slowed the effort.

What are the consequences of ethnic segregation (4) GCSE Geography

The consequences of this ethnic segregation are the formation of ghettos. Ghettos are an area where an ethnic minority is concentrated and is the dominant population group. In these ghettos the immigrant women often never learn to speak English, which means they and their families cannot integrate with the majority population and cannot move to different areas with better facilities, they are trapped.

Also when people are excluded from an area because they do not speak the language which the area has adopted. This leads to anxiety and suspicion in other racial groups and in the majority population. This causes a build up in racial tension and fuels political movements such as the national front. 

People have different attitudes to different ethnic groups. For example people think that when the area becomes China Town, people enjoy visiting them and celebrate them. However there is a strong underground network of triad gangs and criminal behaviour. The criminal activity which occurs indie these communities does not affect the majority population.

However the Muslims and the Indian sub-continent are viewed differently to the Chinese. They are viewed with more suspicion, partly because of the terrorist attacks. The way that the Muslims group together and do not integrate with the majority population has made the situation worse and increases suspicion. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of different types of Questionnaires GCSE Geography

Advantages and Disadvantages of different types of Questionnaires

Face to Face

Advantages

• The People are more likely to answer the questions
• As the interviewer is on hand they can explain complex questions

Disadvantages

• It takes a long time
• As it is not anonymous the interviewee is more likely to refuse to answer more personal questions

On the Phone

Advantages

• People will answer more personal questions as they cannot see the interviewer and the interviewer cannot see them

Disadvantages

• Expensive
• Annoying if you call people at random
• Difficult to get phone numbers

Post and Collect

Advantages

• People may take more time to answer the questions
• It is more anonymous, so less chance if false answers

Disadvantages

• People may not bother to return the questionnaires
• There is no interviewer to explain complex questions

Website

Advantages

• Saves Time
• Anonymous answers

Disadvantages

• You have no contact with the people you’re questioning.

Managing the Impacts of Earthquakes GCSE Geography

Managing the Impacts of Earthquakes

People attempt to manage the impact of earthquakes in a multitude of different way. These methods vary from actions taken before the actual earthquake and the responses to the earthquake after it has struck.

There are many precautions people take when preparing for an earthquake. With the present day technology early warning systems for earthquakes do not give much time to react. Unlike hurricanes earthquakes are far more unpredictable and occur in a matter of minutes. However there have been prediction methods which have been developed. Laser beams can be used to detect plate movement. Seismometers can also be used to detect vibrations from the Earth’s crust. When there is an increase in vibrations then there is a higher possibility of an earthquake. Many of the prediction techniques used are not fully reliable. There are many places where the data from these laser beams and seismometers are monitored; one such location is the IRIS Data Management Center in Seattle. 

As people cannot rely on early warning systems they need to have the necessary preparations in place. The best example of a country with thorough preparations is Japan. There are many earthquake drills to train people so that they would know what to do when an earthquake strikes. The public can also be educated via the TV or radio. Individuals may also put together emergency kits and store them in their homes. These kits could include first-aid, blankets and tinned food. Many companies in Japan observe Disaster Prevention Day, 1st September, this marks the anniversary of Kwanto Plain earthquake in 1923. 

Buildings can also be designed to be aseismic (earthquake resistant). There are 3 main ways of doing this:

• By adding a counterweight. A large concrete weight on the top of the building it controlled by a computer program in a way that it will move in the opposite direction to the earthquake.

• Shock Absorbers. One can place large rubber shock absorbers in the foundations; will allow the building to move slightly.

• Cross-bracing. By adding this to the structure it will hold together better when shook.

• Retrofitting. Older buildings and structures can be retrofitted with these devices

Earthquake proofing is vital, as it has been proved. A comparison between the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake (7.1 Richter) and the 1988 event in Armenia (6.9 Richter). the earthquake proofed buildings in California caused only 63 deaths whilst the non-earthquake proofed in Armenia caused 25 000 deaths. The Loma Prieta earthquake also caused the Golden Gate bridge to be retrofitted.

There have also been means developed to prevent fires from gas pipes. The smart meters which have been installed cut off the gas if a powerful enough earthquake occurs. In Tokyo the main gas company has a network that transmits seismic data to a computer which then tells employees when to cut off the major pipelines. 

Land-use planning is also very important method. If you are able to identify the area which is the most risky and then you can regulate what buildings are built there. There are certain buildings which are not allowed to be built in these high risk areas, these buildings include schools and hospitals. Open spaces are also important as they form a safe area away from fires and building damage caused by aftershocks. However and use planning gets more difficult when it comes to cities in develop plan the use of land.ing countries, this is because there is a high rural urban migration and the country may also lack the resources to improve the situation.

The public is also encouraged to get insurance in order to cover the losses, however this very expensive. As an earthquake is unlikely to affect your property many people just do not bother. An example of this is when the Kobe earthquake struck only 7% of the people were covered by earthquake insurance.

The Emergency Services must also be fully prepared for the likelihood of a earthquake striking. They need to have heavy lifting gear available for them and there needs to be an excess of people who are first-aid trained, as it may take some time for the real medical personnel arrive. In California the emergency services have computer programs to decide which areas the emergency services should go to first.

No matter how many precautions you take a hazard is an unpreventable event. This makes it important that the right actions are taken after the hazard occurs. This makes Aid an important factor. For LEDCs aid does not only come in the form of money. Countries can also provide medical services, tents, water purification equipment and search and rescue equipment. But these only solve the short-term problems; aid for the long term is more problematic.  Plans need to be put in place for the rebuilding and reconstruction of the area and economy.

Global Shift in Manufacturing GCSE Geography

1.        The global shift: Why manufacturing has moved to MICs and LICs

Manufacturing has moved to MICs and LICs from HICs for many reasons. TNCs have played a key role in the process of globalisation; they have been the main drivers of global shift. This has been done to cut costs so they go to areas with a comparative advantage over more expensive locations. These comparative advantages can be a variety of things. These can include: nearness to raw materials; cheap labour or cheap land; Unregulated labour; absence of anti pollution regulations. In the last 50 years a new international division of labour (NIDL) has emerged. The lowering of trade barriers and the growth of trading blocs such as the EU and NAFTA. There is more global trade. The development of modern transport networks capable of moving people and commodities quickly and efficiently. We live in a shrinking world. Advances in IT and communication mean the important data and decisions can be transported in seconds, decisions can be quickly transmitted.  

2. Why the global shift is good news for LICs and MICs (e.g. China)

Foreign direct investment by TNCs can bring a number of advantages to the countries in which they operate.  Most countries encourage TNC investment. New TNC factories can create a large number of jobs, and these jobs generally have higher wages than local companies. The local population will develop a much wider range of skills and set of the multiplier effect. Most of the TNC produce will be exported which would benefit the host country’s trading position.

3. Why the global shift is bad news for LICs and MICs (e.g. China)

  One concern that LICs and MICs have is the speed at which TNCs can close factories  in one country and open in another. Such factories may employ thousands of people so closure can have a hige negative impact on the local economy. There is also a danger that countries can become too dependent on TNCs. TNCs can also become so powerful that they can influence government decisions. When TNCs come into a poorer country they bring aspects of “Western” culture, Islamic countries in particular seem concerned about this.

4. The new China: where the global shift is going next

So far there has only been one company that has moved their manufacturing operations from China to Africa, but that was 6 years ago. Africa’s manufacturing sector faces numerous challenges, including a shortage of skills; rigid labour laws; inadequate electricity supply; cumbersome and expensive transport within the continent; low levels of productivity; political instability; and corruption.

The Segregation of People in Cities GCSE Geography

The Segregation of People in Cities

People also become segregated in the urban area. People become segregated into groups based on their social class, type of occupation and ethnicity. People prefer to live close to those who are of similar status.

Wealthier people are able to buy better bigger homes whilst poorer people must settle for houses which are cramped and substandard in the worst residential areas. Many cannot afford to buy a home, so they rent. They live in high densities

Ghettos are the most obvious global signs of sorting different population groups into different spaces. A ghetto is an area where ethnic, minorities are concentrated and are the dominant population. Immigrants in the UK have settled in concentrated in parts of the inner areas of towns and cities.

Inner cities have ghettos because immigrants have are forced to live in areas of poor housing.   

The Segregation of Urban Land Uses GCSE Geography

The Segregation of Urban Land Uses

There are recurring features in the built up area of most towns and cities – a central business district (CBD), industrial areas, residential districts, small shopping centres etc.

The main cause of the segregation is the urban land market. Sites are sold to the highest bidders. Usually retail shops make the best financial use out of the land and property.

Land values vary within the urban area. Generally they decline as you move from the centre, from the peak land-value intersection. High value property is also found around main roads from the centre and ring roads. Locations with good accessibility, such as where radial and ring roads cross each other, will be high valued

. 

Similar activities or land uses come together because:

• They have the same location needs. This could include space or accessibility or markets.

• Similar businesses have similar budgets

 It is for these reasons that retail and commercial businesses will cluster around the centre, this helps define the CBD. This is the most accessible area of the CBD.  

Manufacturing and industry also needs accessible locations; however it is less capital-intensive so it has less buying power. Hence often manufacturing is found outside the CBD and is common along major roads. 

Housing is even less competitive on the land market. So it tends to be further away from the centre, land comes cheaper and more spacious on the urban fringe. 

Towns and cities grow out from a historic nucleus, they show concentric zoning. There are four main features:

• Core – Oldest. CBD

• Inner-city Ring – old housing. Non-residential land uses

• Suburban Ring – suburbs. Housing

• Urban fringe - countryside being eroded by outward spread of cities.

There are also 3 more generalizations as one moves outwards from the core:

• Age of built up area decreases

• Style of architecture and urban design change

• Density of development decreases

Renewable Energy Sources GCSE Geography

Renewable Energy Sources

HEP

Advantages

• Water is widely available in remote upland areas

• Very Clean

• Cheap Power and Easy to Run

• Reservoirs can be multipurpose –( power, tourism, water supply, irrigation)

Disadvantages

• Resevoirs flood valleys- loss of land and villages

• Areas flooded may be scenic – loss of amenity and habitats

• Problems caused by the build up of silt behind the dam

• Very Expensive to Build

Comments

• Uses fast flowing water to turn turbines which then convert it into electrical energy

Wind Power

Advantages

Very clean, no air pollution

Cheap to run and generally quiet

Disadvantages

• Some people think that turbines are visually polluting

• Wind is not constant and will drop

• Huge areas of turbines are needed to produce much power

Comments

• Widespread use in only few areas – Denmark,California

• Improving with more advanced technology

Solar Power

Advantages

• Cheap to run. Clean and efficient

• No noise or air pollution

Disadvantages

• Less useful in cloudy countries

• Costly to install-high tech

Comments

• Can be used on small scale- not yet feasible for large scale oirduction of power

Tidal Power

Advantages

• Clean and Cheap to run

• Can produce large quantities of electricity

Disadvantages

• Very few sites are suitable

• Affects wildlife habitats in estuary

• Expensive to build

Comments

• Needs high tidal range in a narrow estuary- Severn Estuary a possibility

Geothermal

Advantage

• Clean and Efficient with a contant supply of hot water

Disadvantages

• Some polluting gas produced as by-product

• Only available in geothermal active areas

Comment

• There are many sites around the world – eg. Iceland and Japan

High Tech Industries GCSE Case Study Geography

High Tech Industries Case Study

Cambridge Science Park

Over half the employees have a degree

Seventy Organisations based at the park

Reasons for Location

·         Prestige- worldwide reputation of Cambridge University for excellence in Science and Technology

·         Links with University for use of technology and the latest ideas

·         Highly skilled and quality workforce

·         Attractive and well landscaped site to create a good image, impress clients and attract a workforce

·         Transport- motorway links for supplies and for customers.

·         Agglomeration of ideas with other companies located very close to eachother.

Because High Tech industries are footloose there are also some unimportant factors

·         Access to Raw Materials and power/energy links

·         Railway Links

M4 Corridor

Advantages

1.     The motorway system, which allows easy access to all parts of the United Kingdom.

2.     Easy access, via the roads, to the Channel Tunnel and ports to allow export abroad.

3.     The close proximity of Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and Luton airports, all of which could be used to export products.

4.     The skilled workforce found in university towns of Oxford, Cambridge, Reading and Bristol.

5.     Close proximity and good access to London, where the major government functions and financial trading occurs.

6.     The concentration of other industries means that ideas and knowledge could be shared, there will be a concentration of suitable skilled labour and transport costs may be reduced between agglomerated industries.

7.     A very attractive natural environment, which would provide a very pleasant place to live for the workers. Areas such as the Cotswolds and the Mendip Hills are in easy reach of the Sunrise Strip.

Vernalis

Vernalis is a British based biotechnology company. The head office is based in Reading along the M4 Corridor but their R&D is based in Cambridge Science Park.

Factors influencing the location of bio-tech industry (globally; think: socio-economic & physical)

There are two main categories of factors affecting the location of bio-tech industry

Socio-Economic

Capital- Biotech industries require a vast amount of money to actually get started and set-up

Communications- Very important for biotechnology as most companies need to not only be connected to the rest of the country but also the world. This also includes access to the internet, fax and telephones

Government Policy- Governments can offer tax incentives, heap rent and other benefits to try and attract companies to a location.

Labour Supply- This was very important to old labour industries as they needed their workforce to be nearby. But with increased car ownership this is not still the case. The biotech industry however tends to be located near skilled workers, e.g. a University as they want to attract these intelligent graduates.

Markets- Access to Market is Vital as every company needs consumers. However the market for many companies is now global.

Physical

Accessibility- the site needs to be accessible so that imports and exports are easy. Access is needed to transport routes

Land- Flat land is essential. Room for expansion is also suite important so they do not tend to be in the city centre.

Climate - not so important but if the climate is good then it will attract workers

Raw Materials- Heavy industry required a lot of raw material but the new high tech industry is footloose and so does not need to be close to raw materials

Power- Originally industry had to locate next to a river as it was a power source. But now as we have the national grid power is not so influential.

Ethiopia, China, UK GCSE Case Study Geography

Ethiopia-A poor LIC

• Ethiopia is ranked 170 out of 177 countries in terms of its level of development
• This makes it one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world
• Located in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Its economy is based on the primary sector mostly Africa
• The primary sector accounts for 75% of all the employment in Ethiopia but only 44% of GDP
• This reflects that agriculture in Ethiopia is mainly subsistence farming
• The most import crop for export is coffee. However with drought coomn and a war with the their   neighbours Eritrea this has caused coffee poriduction to become very unpredictable
• Over 75% of Ethiopians live in rural areas.
• This explains why there is so little employment in the tertiary sector
• The small tertiary sector accounts for almost as much as the primary sector when it comes to GDP
• The country lacks mineral resources and the capital necessary for industrialisatipon
• Ethiopia has yet to make much progress up the development staircase.

China-A rapidly emerging Economy

• China is a giant country iin terms of area and population
• It is now the second largest exonomy in the world.
• It is still a lower-middle income country
• The secondary sector has been driving much of China’s development
• Its industrial success is based mainly on cheap labour and energy.
• This wealth is encouraging growth in the tertiary secotor
• The primary sector still employs a large number of workers.
• However this sectors contribution to gdp is shrinking, fast

UK- a post-industrial economy

• The UK was the world’s first industrial nation.
• It lead the industrial revolution.
• Backthen, manufacturing produced 40% of the country’s wealth and a third of its workforce
• Today, however it poriduces 24% and employs 18%
• This is as a result in the global shift In manufacturing
• The country has experienced de industrialisation
• Many of the goods once made in Uk are now made in China,India and other countries.
• Nowadays the Uk’s economy is service based.
• The tertiary sector porivides jobs for 80% of thw workers. It creates 75% of the national wealth
• Uk farming produces 60% of the country’s food supply
• The low labour percentage is due to mechanisation
• Low GDP percentage reflects the difference in price from farm products to manufactured products and services.

Preparation of Salts GCSE Chemistry

Preparation of Salts

There are 3 major methods of preparing salts; however the method chosen depends on the solubility of the salt, and of the compounds which may be used to prepare it.

There are also some general rules when it comes to solubilities

• All common sodium, potassium ad ammonium compounds are soluble.
•   All common chlorides are soluble, except for silver and lead chlorides
•  All common sulphates are soluble except for lead barium and calcium sulphates
•   All common hydroxides are insoluble , except for sodium, potassium and ammonium hydroxides
•   All common nitrates are soluble

Preparing INSOLUBLE Salts

Precipitation is used to prepare insoluble salts. Two solutions are mixed each containing one of the two ions required to form the salt. When these two solutions are mix the ions combine and form the insoluble salt- simple! The precipitate is then filtered off, washed with a little distilled water and then left to air dry.

Example: The preparation of Barium Sulphate.

First we need two solutions, one with the barium ions and the other with the sulphate ions. AS we can see from the solubility table all nitrates and sodium compounds are soluble so we will use barium nitrate and sodium sulphate. When the two solutions are mixed the barium sulphate precipitates out.

Equation

Ba(NO₃)_{2 (aq)} + Na₂SO_{4 (aq)} à BaSO₄ (s) +2NaNO_3(aq)

Ionic Equation

Ba²⁺ _(aq) + SO₄^2- _(aq) à BaSO₄ (s)

As the other ions present remain unchanged in solution and do not react they are called “spectator ions”. Spectator ions are not included in ionic equations.

Preparing SOLUBLE Salts from an ACID and a SOLUBLE base

Titration is used to prepare soluble salts from an acid and a soluble base (i.e. an alkali). Often to prepare sodium, potassium and ammonium salts titration is used.

A known volume of the acid (commonly 25 cm³) is measured into a conical flask using a pipette. An indicator, such as phenolphthalein, is then added. The alkali is placed in a burette, and then slowly added to the conical flask containing acid drop by drop. When the indicator changes colour this shows that the acid has been neutralised, the volume of alkali that has neutralised the alkali is then recorded. The process is the repeated to obtain an accurate, average value. Once the exact volume of alkali required is known the process is repeated without the indicator to get a neutral pure salt solution.

N.B. It doesn’t matter whether the acid placed in the conical flask and the alkali is added from the burette, or vice-versa.

To obtain the salt from the solution you warm the solution gently until half the water is boiled off to concentrate the solution, then the remainder is allowed to cool, and to evaporate slowly forming large crystals.

Example: Making Sodium Chloride

Sodium Chloride is a chloride soluble salt as all sodium compounds are soluble and must be made by titration. To make a chloride salt hydrochloric acid must be used. Let’s use Sodium Hydroxide as the alkali containing sodium.

Preparing SOLUBLE Salts from an INSOLUBLE Base

The Reaction of an acid with an insoluble base (or a suitably reactive metal) is used to prepare soluble salts from an insoluble base (a metal oxide or carbonate). The appropriate acid is warmed with a Bunsen burner and a small portion of the appropriate metal oxide or carbonate (which must be insoluble) is added to the warm acid and stirred. The oxide or carbonated reacts with the acid, forming a soluble salt and appears to dissolve in the acid. Note- If a carbonate is used then effervescence will also occur as CO₂ is produced. More of the base is then added, a little at a time, with stirring. When the acid has all been neutralised, the base has nothing to react with and will sink to the bottom of the beaker unreacted, this can then be filtered off. You are then left with the pure salt solution.

The same process can also be used with a moderately reactive metal, e.g. using zinc and nitric acid to make zinc nitrate. Again, fizzing will be observed as hydrogen gas is produced.

To obtain the salt from this solution it is warmed gently until half the water is boiled off to concentrate the solution, then the remainder is allowed to cool, and to evaporate slowly forming large crystals.

Example: Making copper (II) sulphate

As it is a sulphate salt sulphuric acid must be used. Copper (II) Sulphate is soluble, so precipitation won’t work. Copper (II) Hydroxide is insoluble, so titration won’t work.

Excess copper (II) oxide is added to warm sulphuric acid, forming blue copper (II) sulphate solution. The excess copper (II) oxide is filtered off. The copper (II) Sulphate is then evaporated to form blue crystals. Copper (II) Carbonate could also have been used, as it is also insoluble.

What is an Isotope? GCSE Isotopes Revision Video

The following video introduces us to what is an Isotope

Alexander Sources GCSE Ancient History

Ancient History GCSE : Sources – Details

Source Content

General Content	Source
Alexander`s Youth	Plutarch 2-9
Gaugamela	Plutarch 31-33
Death of Cleitus	Plutarch 50-51
Build-up to and death of Alexander	Plutarch 73-77
Philip and assassination	Diodorus Siculus 16.91 -16.94
A`s arrival in Persia (Troy)	Arrian 11-12
Granicus	Arrian 13-16
Gordian Knot	Arrian 2.3
Siege of Tyre	Arrian 2.18-24
Gaugamela	Arrian 3.9-15
Death of Cletus	Arrian 4.8-9
Callisthenes and obeisance	Arrian 4.10-12
Mass-marriages : Susa	Arrian 7.4
Death of Hephaestion	Arrian 7.14
Build-up to and death of Alexander	Arrian 7.24-26
Alexander Summary	Arrian 7.28-30
Battle Issus	House of Faun Mosaic / Alexander Sarcophagus
Alexander Images	Herm of Alexander  /  Alex on horseback sculpture (Granicus?)
Post-death Deification / use of image	Lysimachus coin   / Ptolemy coin

List the sources which recount the same / similar episodes:

Episode	Source (1)	Source (2)
Gaugamela
Death of Cleitus
Death of Alexander