Geog Paper 1 Case Studies
What year was the earthquake in Nepal?
2015
Name 4 primary effects of the earthquake in Nepal
- Almost 9,000 deaths
- 3 million made homeless
- 352 aftershocks
- Destruction to 50% of schools
How much did it cost in total for the damage caused by the earthquake in Nepal?
$5.15 Billion
Name 3 secondary effects of the earthquake in Nepal
- Triggered an avalanche on Mt. Everest killing 19 people
- Employment, tourism and income decline
- Food shortages
Name 3 immediate responses of Nepal after the earthquake
- Nepal requested international help and raised $126 million
- Temporary shelters and tents were set up
- Medical aid
Name 2 of Nepal's long term responses following the earthquake
- Nepal's government carried out a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment to begin rebuilding the country
- To expand crop production, individuals were trained how to maintain and repair irrigation channels damaged by landslides in the earthquake
What year was the Chile earthquake?
2010
Give 3 primary effects of the earthquake in Chile
- 500,000 people died
- 800,000 people were affected
- Many buildings destroyed including the Santiago Airport
How much was the total cost for damaged caused by the earthquake in Chile?
$30 Billion
Give 3 secondary effects of the earthquake in Chile
- Landslides damaged 1500km of roads
- A tsunami was triggered
- Fires broke out in buildings due to burst pipes
Give 3 immediate responses to the earthquake in Chile
- Emergency services were deployed quickly
- Within 24 hours, temporary repairs were made to the Route 5 highway allowing response teams to travel to more remote communities
- Power and water was restored to 90% of homes within 10 days
Give 2 long term responses to the earthquake in Chile
- Chile set up a national housing reconstruction plan, spending $2.5 billion in housing subsidies
- The country could afford recontruction and recovery
Which is an LIC and which is a HIC: Chile & Nepal
HIC- Chile
LIC- Nepal
Explain how population density makes effects and responses differ in LICs and HICs
The more people, the more risk of injury & fatality
Explain how contruction standards makes effects and responses differ in LICs and HICs
Buildings in HICs with strict building regulations are less likely to collapse
Explain how monitoring & prediction makes effects and responses differ in LICs and HICs
More resources available to monitot and predict earthquakes in HICs should reduce the risks
When and where did typhoon Haiyan take place?
In the Philippines in 2013
Give 4 primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan
- 6300 died (more missing)
- 600,000 people displaced
- Storm surges destroyed coastal areas
- 90% of the city of Tacloban was destroyed
Give 3 secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan
- Major shortages of food, water and aid supplies
- Flooding & rain caused landslides
- Morality rate was so high that morgues became overwhelmed and mass burials for thousands of unidentified people took place to reduce the spread of disease
Give 3 immediate responses to Typhoon Haiyan
- International aid organisations brought food, water and temporary shelters
- The Red Cross supplied over 1.1 million people with clean water to limit disease
- Over 1,200 evacuation centres were set up to help the homeless
Give 2 long term responses to Typhoon Haiyan
- Financial aid, medical support and supplies were donated by countries like the UK
- UNICEF and The World Health Organisation vaccinated thousands of children
When and where did the Somerset Levels Floods occur?
South-west UK (in Somerset) beginning in December 2013 and ending in February 2014
How did rain contribute to the Somerset Levels Floods?
- Rain: A series of depressions off the Atlantic Ocean hit the south-west UK bringing weeks of wet weather. This caused river overflows and burst their banks onto the floodplains
How did high tides contibute to the Somerset Levels Floods?
High tides: Seawater levels were higher due to high tides and storm surges brought by the Atlantic depressions. The high tides prevented freshwater from being able to drain into the sea which made sea levels rise faster
How did dredging contribute to the Somerset Levels Floods?
Dredging: Rivers were full of sediment as they had not been dredged in over 20 years. This meant less water could be held in the river channel and they overflowed quicker
Give 3 social effects of the Somerset Level Floods
- Over 600 homes flooded
- 16 farms had to be evacuated
- Power supplies were cut off in areas
Give 3 economic effects of the Somerset Levels Floods
- Cost of damage estimated to be over £10 million
- 14,000 hectares of agricultural land was underwater for 3-4 weeks
- Many people couldn't go to work as jobs weres disrupted and roads were cut off
Give 3 environmental effects of the Somerset Levels Floods
- Sewage, chemicals like pesticides and oil contaminated the floodwater
- Flooding destroyed ecosystems and limited food supply for animals
- Debris had to be cleared after floodwater diposited it around the area
How does drain enhancements as a management strategy can reduce risk?
Developing better drainage so that experience pumping mechanisms do not need to relied upon during future flooding events
How does the Bridgewater tidal barrier as a management strategy help to reduce risk?
The contruction of huge trial barrier at Bridgewater would stop high tides contributing to floods.
How does Urban Water Management as a management strategy help to reduce risk?
It allows for better management of urban run-off and implementation of sustainable drainage systems
How has the Amazon Rainforest been affected byy deforestation? Give 3 ways
- Loss of Biodiversity: deforestation leads to habitat loss and extinction including endangered species like jaguars and giant otters
- Soil Degradation: The removal of vegetation leaves soil vulnerable to erosion making it unable to support plant life
- Increased Wildfire Risk: As the rainforest becomes drier and more exposed to the sun, it becomes more vulnerable to fires, further damaging the ecosystems and biodiversity
Give the reasons for management in Holderness Coast
- Fastest eroding coastline in Europe
- Made of soft boulder clay, which is easily eroded by waves and slumps after rainfall.
- Threats to homes, roads, farmland, and local economy.
Give the management strategies used in Holderness Coast
1. Rock Groynes: Built to trap sediment moving south by longshore drift and helped build up a wider, higher beach, which absorbs wave energy.
2. Rock Armour: Large boulders placed at the base of the cliff to absorb wave energy and prevent undercutting.
Give the positive effects of the coastal management scheme in Holderness Coast
- Erosion rates have reduced significantly.
- Wider beach protects the base of cliffs.
- Roads and homes are now safe from immediate threat.
Give the negative effects of the coastal management scheme in Holderness Coast
- Increased erosion further south due to sediment starvation caused by the groynes.
- Local farmers and landowners to the south have lost land and feel the scheme has been unfair.
- Some believe a more sustainable, managed retreat approach should have been used instead of hard engineering.
Name a UK river valley and examples of its landforms
River Tees:
- Erosion: High Force Waterfall, Gorge, Interlocking Spurs
- Erosion & Deposition: Meanders (Yarm) Ox-bow Lakes (Sockburn)
- Deposition: Levées and Floodplains (Darlington), Estuary (Middlesbrough)
How does percipitation affect flood risk?
High rainfall or sudden, intense precipitation can lead to increased surface runoff, overwhelming drainage systems and increasing the likelihood of flooding.
How does geology affect flood risk?
Impermeable rock types prevent water from infiltrating, leading to higher surface runoff and greater flood risk. Permeable rocks allow infiltration, reducing flood risk
How does relief affect flood risk?
Steep slopes lead to faster water flow, increasing the risk of flooding. Flat areas allow water to spread out and potentially form large floodplains, which may flood more easily during heavy rainfall.
How does land use affect flood risk?
Urbanization increases runoff and flood risk. Deforestation and changes in land use can also reduce the land’s ability to absorb water, raising the risk of flooding.
What are the benefits and negatives of dams and reservoirs as flood management strategies?
Dams and reservoirs store excess water during heavy rainfall, reducing downstream flood risk by controlling flow. However, they can be costly to build and maintain.
How does straightening rivers help manage flood risk?
Straightening rivers speeds up water flow, reducing the likelihood of flooding by moving water out faster. However, it can lead to increased erosion and disrupt ecosystems.
How do embankments help reduce flood risk?
Embankments prevent rivers from overflowing by providing a physical barrier. However, they can increase the risk of flooding downstream due to reduced natural floodplain storage.
What are the benefits of flood relief channels?
Flood relief channels divert excess water away from urban areas or vulnerable locations, reducing flood risk. However, they can be expensive and may disrupt local ecosystems.
How do flood warnings and preparation help reduce flood risk?
Early warnings and preparation allow communities to evacuate, prepare defences, and minimize damage. However, they depend on effective communication and timely action.
What is floodplain zoning and how does it reduce flood risk?
Floodplain zoning limits development in flood-prone areas, reducing the economic impact and vulnerability of communities to flooding. It is a low-cost, long-term solution.
What is an example of a UK flood management scheme?
The Thames Barrier is a flood management scheme on the River Thames in London.
What management strategy does the Thames Barrier use?
The Thames Barrier is a hard engineering strategy. It is a series of gates that can be raised to block incoming tides and prevent flooding during storm surges.
What are the social and economic impacts of the Thames Barrier?
- Social: Protects millions of people in London, preventing damage to homes and infrastructure.
- Economic: Saves billions in potential flood damage and protects key businesses and industries in the city.