20 case study key facts (Paper 1: Physical)

1. Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest, covering 40% of South America.

2. Average rainfall of 2300mm per year; half of it never reaching the ground due to dense canopy & interception.

3. Due to the rainall being evapotranspired, 48% falls again as rain and only 30% reaches the sea.

4. Deforestation (WC): no canopy + no interception + more surface runoff + more flooding + less evapotranspiration.

5. Deforestation (CC): roots removed + nutrient-rich topsoil washed away + carbon transferred to hydrosphere.

6. Deforestation (CC): less leaf litter formed + less support for vegetation growth.

7.Less precipitation leads to more droughts; droughts in 2005 & 2010; dead trees released stored carbon.

8. Scientists believe that a 4°C temp. increase could kill 85% of the rainforest.

9. Selective logging & replanting (Peru plans to restore 3.2 million hectares of the forest by 2020).

10. Environmental laws in Brazil have reduced deforestation by 70% = biggest reduction in carbon.

11. Paris Agreement aims to limit temp. increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

1. Loacted in Devon in south-east England and flows for 50 miles from the mouth in Exmoor.

2. In 1979, RIver Haddeo was damned to create the Wimbleball Reservoir with an area of 150 hectares.

3. The resevoir regulates water flow, prevents peaks and troughs of discharge to reduce drought and flooding risk.

4. Peatland restoration in Exmoor has increased water flow to the Exe but reduced water quality (more silt).

5. The peat dug up leaves scars in landscape; Exmoor Mires Project works to restore peat bogs= block drainage ditches.

6. Increases water content + saturated coditions + retain carbon store + peat's rewetted + retains CO_2.

7. Improves water quality because thorughflow is reduced so less sediment is transferred.

1. Located in SW Bangladesh & East India; with flat, low-lying land intersected by channels and very biodiverse.

2. Dynamic equlibrium: river deposits material - mangrove forest growth - coastal erosion - sediment store maintained.

3. Mangroves are a natural flood defence; protects coast from erosion (roots bind soil together).

4. The flat & fertile land provides ideal conditions for crop growth.

5. More demand for fuel/ agricultural land = more mangroves cut down = more flooding risk.

6. The low-lying land is at risk to more frequent floods = sea level rise due to global warming.

1. A subcell in Sedimnet Cell 2 in eastern England; it's comprised of Flamborough Head, Bridlington Bay & Spurn Head

2. Winds blow from a NE direction that drives powerful waves towards the coast;  LSD operatre from north to south.

3. Sea wall, rock armour & groynes protect areas but deprive others from storm surges of serveral metres high.

4. Flamborough Head is a chalk headland with readily exploited joints & faults, depositied bay & steep cliffs.

5. Bridlington Bay has erosion rates of 1-10m that's carried south by LSD.

6. Spurn Head is a temporary store of a spit; it's frequently breached by storm surges. It was formed 8000 years ago, during then the spit formed a curved tip.

1. The US Geological Survey (USGS) conducts regional studies of coastal erosion = impartial scientific info to protect.

2. Includes the NE coast of South Carolina to determine the geologic & oceanogrpahic processes that control sediment movement = prove coastal projections.

3. Reseracher uses dredging, beach profiling & secondary data to determine there's major erosion on the inner shelf.

4. However, small amounts of sediment are gained through deposition = positive feedback.

1. Black sand/ pebbles = volcanic basalt from millions of years of tectonic activity; transported by glaciers, rivers & wind.

2. Coastline impacted by sea levels change; relative levls have dropped = creates large coastal plains/ isolated remnants of coastal landform (isolated stack).

3. Vegetation has developed on exposed srfaces & wildlife has reowned the area, establishing relationships between coastal systems & ecosystems.

1. Occured on the 26th of December 2004 with a magnitude of 9.0 & 9.3.

2. 15km displacment of 1600km of sea bed for 2-3 mins when Indian plate subducted under Burma plate.

3. 300,00 people died across two continents.

4. Primary impacts: vegetation & topsoil removed 800m inland; agricultural infrastructure ruined from tsunami.

5. Secondary impacts: widespread homelessness; 500,000 people were put in refugee camps in Aceh Province.

6. Immediate responses: international relief efforts; 160 aid organisations & UN agencies.

7. Long-term reponses: UN set up tsunami warning system for Indian Ocean; individual governments reponsible for sending out own alerts - different alerts sent out can decrease it's effectiveness.

1. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Port Au Prince on January 12, 2010.

2. Epicentre was 24km SW of Port Au Prince (2 million live in capital); shallow focus of 13km.

3. Majority of capital was flattened in less than 1 min; +230,000 died.

4. Primary effects: liquefaction of sediment = building foundations collasped = damaged infrastructure = unstable/ cracked roads.

5. Secondary effects: strong aftershocks; 6.1 magnitude earthquake on January 20.

6. Immediate responses: UK Disaster Emergency Comittee provided water bottles/ purification tablets to +250,000.

7. Long-term responses: Haiti Relief Fund has a US$ 11.5 billion reconstruction package; controlled to prevent corruption.

1. A 9.0 earthquake that occured on March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm.

2. Pacific plate subducts under 400-500km of the North American plate; plate slipped up 5-10km.

3. Moved island of Honshu 2.4m closer to North America.

4. Primary effects: Tokyo skyscaper 'started shaking like trees'; earthquake-proof design limited damage.

5. PE: 18,000 dead from tsnumai and its impacts.

6. Secondary effects: 2 weeks after the earthquake, 700 aftershocks ocurred.

7. SE: Fukushima power plant exploded & experienced radiation leaks after the earthquake.

8. Immediate responses: Fukushima explosions promoted a government-ordered shutdown of power plants.

9. After Fukshima disaster, there was an increase in juvenile thyroid cancer, like after Chernobyl.

1. Superstorm Sandy occured on 29 October 2012, which was the largest Atlantic storm on record.

2. Travelled northwwards along the east coast with wind speeds of 140km/h, affecting 24 states and killed 233 people.

3. Primary impacts: extensive flooding & strong winds destroyed 15,000 homes & 11 people died in Cuba.

4. PI: 70% of Jamaica's residents were left without electricity due to strong winds.

5. PE: storm merged with another weather system = 'extra-trpoical cyclone'.

6. Responses: in 2013, community rebuilding occured; Dec 2013, >50% of people who requested help didn't recieve it.

7. Responses: estimated 30,000 residents in NY & NJ remained displaced.

1. Ocurred in Febuary 2016 when Fiji was trcuk by the southern hemisphere's strongest cyclone.

2. Wind speeds of over 230km/h, moved eastwards but did a U-turn towards Fiji.

3. Impacts: 350,000 people were affected (40% of Fiji's pop.) & 40,000 homes were destroyed; 44 people died.

4. Short-term responses: 250,000 people were left homeless; 250,000 people in need of water/ sanitation.

5. Long-term responses: in February 2016, the Fijian governmnent supplied US$9 million to +40,000 families for reconstruction; 'Help for Homes' programme.

1. The Fire ignited in Feburuary 2009 in Victoria; the worst bushfire in Austrailia, killing 173 and injuring 400 people.

2. Over 150,000 homes were burned and 3,500 structures were destroyed.

3. Winds gusted over 125km/h and the fires raged for two days.

4. Austrialian government conributed +A$465 million to reconstruction.

5. Austrailian & Victoria governement developed plan Rebuiliding Together: granted A$193 million to replace major community facilities & support rebuiliding homes.

1. In May 2016, Alberta, Canada had a wildfire tha burned 600,000ha of land that detroyed 2,400 buildings.

2. First ignitied in remote forest SW of Fort McMurray on 1 May 2016; changed wind direction towards Fort McMurray.

3. Lack of snowfall due to earlier snowmelt = warmer than average temps dried out ground.

4. Temps exceeded 30°C + winds increased + own weather patterns created = postive feedback loop.

5. 90,000 residents in Fort McMurray were evacuated.

6. Meterologicl info. was forecasted to track fire's direction & use of satellite data of inital activity.

1. Wildfire that spread across 6km in Saddleworth Moor, Greater Manchester.

2. 34 homes were evacuated & power to 250 properties were cut off overnight

3. 10 fire engines & 50 firefighters worked overnight to contain the blaze, which was declared a major incident.

4. Health officals issued people in Tamesideto stay inside & keep dorrs/ windows closed.

5. Public Health England advised motorist to keep windows closed, turn air con.off & close air vents.

6. Stalybridge Tesco supplied water bottles to emergency services.