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