Geography 10 Christmas

Globalisation is the process by which the world is becoming increasing interconnected due to increased trade and cultural exchange. This results in people, cultures, money, information and goods to be transferred between locations quicker. The exchange has been increased because of TV, internet, mobile phones, transportation and currency. Positives of Globalisation: Easier access to cultures and goods, better transport and communication. Negatives of Globalisation: TNCs create sweatshops, people in LEDCs can be exploited easier. A TNC is a Trans National Corporation, which is a company that operates globally. Their HQ and management are usually in an MEDC parent country, with factories in LEDCs all over the world.

The case study is Nike. In 1964, Blue Ribbon Sports distributed trainers made in Japan, before changing their name to Nike in 1972. They have factories in 40 locations and employ over 500,00 people, mostly on low pay. Many factories are sweatshops in SE Asia countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and China. They are paid very little to maxamise profit. They are paid $1.60 a day, which pays for 2 meals and shelter. The conditions of these sweatshops are poor, with hundreds of machines and people in a cramped, unpleasant and hot conditions. The living conditions are also terrible, with a dozen people shoved into a small room. Positives of TNCs: More work available, the LEDC develops links with other countries, jobs still may pay more than current jobs. Negatives: Most profits go overseas, factories may close without warning, bad conditions.

Earth is made up of 4 main layers. The Inner Core is made of iron and nickel, and is 1260km thick. It is as hot as the surface of the sun. The Outer Core is liquid iron and nickel, and is 2220km thick. The mantle is made of magma, makes up half the Earth. The crust is where we live, and is between 10-70km thick.

The Earth is made of 7 major plates (part of crust that floats on mantle) If they are mainly land they are called continential plates but if they are mainly water they are called aquatic plates. Continential plates are less dense and are made of older rock. Aquatic plates are made of younger rock and are more dense, subducting under continential plates. This is why the seafloor is deeper than land masses. 

The four plate boundaries are constructive, destructive, collision and conservative.A destructive plate boundary is when an oceanic plate subducts under the continential plate. The plate starts to melt due to the friction. This forms a volcano, ocean trench, and earthquakes. Eg:Nazca Plate meets South American Plate. A constructive plate boundary is when 2 plates move apart and magma rises to fill the gap, forming a volcano and mid ocean ridge, eg Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Eg: North American plate moves away from Eurasian plate. A conservative plate boundary is when 2 plates slide past each other along a fault, eg San Andreas Fault. The plates stick, causing pressure to build and when released forms an earthquake. Eg. North American plate slides away from Pacific Plate. A collison plate boundary is when 2 plates meet.Material buckles and rises, creating fold mountains. Earthquakes due to friction. Eg: Indo Australian plate colliding into the Eurasian plate.

A volcano is an opening or vent in the Earth's surface through which molten material erupts and soldifies as lava.

The main vent is the pipe up the middle, the magma chamber is the source at the bottom, the crater is the depression at the top, the parasitic/side cone is a secondary cone and volcanic bombs, gases and ash are material released by the volcano. Composite volcanoes, at destructive boundaries, the lava is viscous (thick) and cannnot flow far, making the volcano steep sided. The Shield Volcano at constructive boundaries has runny lava that flows far from the volcano and makes the sides gentle. Active volcanoes have erupted recently and are likely to erupt again. E.g. Mt Etna. Dormant (Sleeping) Volcanoes haven't erupted recently but could erupt again. E.g. Indian Heaven (Mt Pinbuto erupted after 500 dormant years) Extinct (Dead) Volcanoes erupted thousands of years ago but will never erupt again. E.g. Slieve Gullion.

Hazards: Pyroclastic Flows - Mixtures of hot gas, ash, lava and volcanic rocks/bombs. Flatten everything in their path. 70-200mph. E.g. Mt Helen's pyroclastic flow flattened trees.                    Volcanic Ash - Very small and sharp volcanic rock that can cause houses to collapse and animals/humans to suffocate, as well as clogging airplane engines. E.g. Icelandic eruption 2010. Lahars - Mudflows formed by lava and snow. Flattens everything. E.g Mt Helen trees destroyed.    Volcanic Gases- Gases can be inside magma. E.g. Carbon Dioxide that can kill in minutes.      Lava Flows- Burn/Bury everything in its path. Speed and power varies on type of lava. Lava flows can possibly be diverted to a different path. E.g. Mt Etna villages evacuated.

Benefits: Weathered Lava- Ideal for farming, containing nutrient rich soil to produce healthy crops and farmers have more crops for profit. E.g. Nutrients include sulphur, nitrogen and potassium.  Geothermal Energy- This energy created by using the magma's steam is the main source of power in some countries and is both cheap and eco friendly. E.g. Iceland's power source.                Minerals- When the lava has cooled minerals can be found and mined. This has led to mining towns settling around volcanoes. E.g.  Diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, copper.                          Tourism- Volcanic Locations are often tourist attractions and can generate income and jobs for nearby towns, Geothermal spas are near to volcanoes and tourists from all over the world visit to bathe in the warm, nutrient rich, waters.