Use this link to complete the worksheet on glaciation
Thursday 8 December 2011
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Globalised population change
Population change linked to globalisationUsing the Wikipedia page and the other links, complete a study of the Demographic Transition Model. Include a copy of the model and the corresponding population pyramids for each stage. For each stage detail the following information:
- How BR / NR / total population changes during that stage
- Why this is occuring
- Examples of countries currently at this stage
- UK specific examples and timeline
- Issues / limitations with the model
Wednesday 23 November 2011
UK Climate Change programme
Friday 18 November 2011
Key players in climate change
Use these links to complete the sheet on what businesses are doing to help address climate change:
ASDA cutting it's carbon footprint
Tesco aiming for a greener business
ASDA cutting it's carbon footprint
Tesco aiming for a greener business
Explore the Edinburgh Council environment pages to note some of the initiatives that are happening in our local area to address some of the climate change isses we have studied.
Thursday 17 November 2011
Edinburgh traffic
Use the following links to complete the sheet on traffic issues in Edinburgh
Go to p15 of the Edinburgh 2030 Transport Vision for an overview
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Primary energy sources
Use the following to help you with your research task:A good summary of all the Primary Energy Sources
Wikipedia entry for fossil fuels
Data on amounts of renewable sources used to generate electricity.
Good section of BP website on alternative energy
Data on amounts of renewable sources used to generate electricity.
Good section of BP website on alternative energy
Good section on Shell website about energy diversity
Greenpeace site on renewable energy
Wind power in the 'How Stuff Works' website. Other energy sources also on the site
BBC Energy in the UK mini-site - links to lots of relevant stories
Energy on BBC Bitesize
Sunday 13 November 2011
Gas pathways
Gas pathways into the EU are vital for energy security. Problems in Russia and the former Soviet states threaten this supply.
Nabucco pipeline
South Stream pipeline
Nord Stream pipeline
Russia - Ukraine gas disputes
Russia Today report - Nabucco
Videographic from The Economist
What is your carbon footprint?
- Calculate your carbon footprint using the ‘Act on CO2’ web site
- Draw a divided bar chart to show your footprint
- Draw a divided bar chart for the national average footprint
- Create a ‘plan’ to begin to reduce your carbon footprint
- Sort the actions by ‘Easiest to do’. Complete the table to show three actions you could take in each of the categories – Home, Appliances and Travel
The business case studies are here.
Wednesday 9 November 2011
UK energy security
Use the following links to help with your report:BBC Panorama programme
The Energy Security report by Malcolm Wicks MP (just read the Executive Summary)
The Governement response
This entry on the 'Oil Drum' blog
Government energy security research paper (just read the Summary)
Guardian article - there are many more similar
Latest update of the ESI from June 2011
Monday 7 November 2011
Coping with climate change
Use these two sites to add examples onto your mitigation / adaption table:
Adaption to climate change
Mitigation against climate change
Friday 4 November 2011
Thursday 3 November 2011
Volcano on Montserrat
Go to the Montserrat volcano monitoring web site.
Copy the latest photo of the volcano from the web cams and label it with features of the volcano
What is the current hazard level? what does this mean?
Read the latest volcano report. What was happening last week?
Go to 'Education', 'Junior Scientists', 'For kids' and use the Glossary to look up the following terms:
Ash
Dome
Igneous rock
Lava
Pyroclastic flow
Vent
Wednesday 2 November 2011
Stern Review
Investigate the Stern Review using the following guidelines
What was the Stern review?
- Summarise its findings
- Include a table similar to that on p62 of the text book detailing the possible effects of temperature rises on life on earth
The whole report is available here, but as it is hundreds of pages long, I suggest looking at the Executive Summary.
The BBC Business pages summarised the findings. Wikipedia also has it's review.
The Guardian newspaper (among others) reported on the release of the review extensively.
What would a 4C warmer world look like?
In the build up to the Copenhagen Conference in December 2010, the UK Governement released a new map showing the predicted impacts of a 4oC global temperature increase worldwide. View the map here. The Guardian followed the launch of the map closely.
Use the map to complete the sheets you have been given.
Seven billion - so what?
An interesting take on the population 'issue'. 'Seven billion people is nothing to be scared of' - The Times
Tuesday 1 November 2011
Africa to EU migration
Thousands of Africans try to make the journey to Europe each year. The BBC News website gives information about the routes they travel, the cause of this movement and some of its impacts as well as personal stories.
Thursday 27 October 2011
Putin's Cold Rush
An article from The Times about the Russian land grab - focus on energy resources. Ask if you need the School Times login.
Wednesday 26 October 2011
Impact of climate change in Africa and the Arctic
AS Geography requires two compulsary case studies of the impacts of climate change - Arctic and Africa.Create case study sheets for each using the following headings:
Introduction to the region
Evidence for climate change in the region
Why is the region vulnerable?
Physical impacts
Human impacts
Your text book offers a starting point (p53-56), but you will need to supplement this with your own research. Some links below to help you:
Arctic
There is a large amount of information on the internet which can help you with this compulsary case study. The Natural Resources Defence Council answers some key questions, as does the Pew Centre on Global Climate Change. More information is given by the Centre for International Environment Law. A search in some of the newspaper sites can be productive. For example, the Guardian which has articles such as this and this. Finally, the BBC is always a good source of information. There are a number of good articles - for example: here and here.
Africa
The BBC has articles which would be a good starting point. The WWF has written two very good papers on the impacts in East Africa. The Stern Report into climate change also had a chapter referencing the impacts of climate change on Africa. It is very long - but try just reading the Executive Summary.
Monday 24 October 2011
Friday 7 October 2011
Fold mountains
Use these links to help you research into the importance of fold mountains and the Andes case study.
Detail about ocean trenches
Thursday 6 October 2011
Russia - superpower?
Unreported World - Channel 4 - Russia: Railway of bones The truth behind Putin's Russia.
Some articles to help with the essay:
An Economist article on the Russian economy
An article on the population problem in Russia
Wikipedia - Demographics of Russia
Should Russia be a BRIC? BBC
Will Russia ever reduce its reliance on oil? BBC
Rare earth minerals
The control of resources is vital to maintaining superpower status. As well as energy resources, rare earth minerals are becoming more and more important for renewable technologies and hi-tech devices. China control 95% of the world supply of these rare earth metals. The following resources introduce this interesting topic.
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Scotland's hazards
Investigate recent hazard events and risk of Scotland. Use the links below to help you:
Flooding July 2011
Landslide risk
Hurricanes hit Scotland
Friday 30 September 2011
Bam earthquake 2003
Almost 30000 people died in the Bam earthquake in December 2003. Below are an number of links to help you with your newsletter piece of work.
Wednesday 28 September 2011
Hazard hotspots
You need to know about both the Philippines and California as examples of multiple hazard hotspots. Use the template provided to create case study sheets for these two areas.
There is a lot of information on the web to help you. A sample to start with is here:
Detail from the recent typhoon in the Philippines
Disaster information from the Philippines
An excellent map of the Philippines
Specifics on the natural hazards faced by California
A good summary of the issues facing California
More from USGS on California
Search here for the region you have chosen and you will get a list of hazards
Go here for excellent maps for ALL countries and the hazards which affect them
An excellent map of the Philippines
Specifics on the natural hazards faced by California
A good summary of the issues facing California
More from USGS on California
Search here for the region you have chosen and you will get a list of hazards
Go here for excellent maps for ALL countries and the hazards which affect them
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Have fun with population pyramids!
Yes... population pyramids can be fun! You just have to animate them, to appreciate what they show a little better.
Try looking at several different pyramids. Select the first letter of the country you are interested in, and then select the country from the list that appears. Try comparing the UK, Sweden, Italy with some from the Middle East (Saudi Arabia and Quatar?), with some from Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, Mali?). Can you explain why they look so different?
Thursday 22 September 2011
Pakistan floods 2010
Use the following links to help complete the worksheet on the Pakistan floods 2010
Friday 16 September 2011
Cultural imperialism
Thursday 15 September 2011
Thursday 8 September 2011
Big boost for Bangladesh's economy
Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest countries, has seen a steady rise in the importance of one of its formerly most important export, earning the country much needed cash! Jute - a natural fibre that can be used to make sacks and other useful items - was superseded all over the world as plastic bags became the norm for packaging and carrying items, but now there has been a noticeable shift back to the organic and natural material, that bio-degrades rather than pollutes. Read about it here.
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Wednesday 1 June 2011
Three Gorges Project
Use the following websites to help you with the research project on the impacts of the Three Gorges Project.
Saturday 28 May 2011
Iceland: devastating changes at Jokulsarlon
During the recent Geography trip to Iceland in April, Merchiston boys visited the much-heralded beauty spot at Jokulsarlon, where icebergs calve off the edge of the Breidermerkajokull outlet glacier, and float lazily across the proglacial lake. However, we may have been very fortunate to see this site in the sunshine, as the recent eruption of the volcano Grimsvotn has changed the area dramatically! Click on this link to see a real-time webcam of the area, now covered in volcanic ash, and the icebergs all but wasted away. Will it ever be the same again?
Friday 6 May 2011
FARM Africa
Using the 'What we do' section of the FARM Africa website, complete the table showing examples of projects in East Africa.
Monday 28 March 2011
Studland Beach sand dune management notes
Problems and solutions at Studland Beach Problems:
- Dune erosion caused by walkers - threatens plants and animals
- Traffic congestion in the car parks leads to parking on the dunes and damage Visitors leave over 12 tonnes of litter per week. Unless it is put in the bins provided, it is dangerous to small birds and animals
- At least once a year, heath fires destroy plants and animals. The most common cause is a discarded cigarette end. Lizards and snakes can escape by burrowing, but may not escape predators once the vegetation cover has gone
The National Trust has:
- Enlarged the four main car parks to increase capacity by 800
- Built a visitor centre with shop, café and information point
- Closed some paths and fenced off parts of the sand dunes
- Planted marram grass
- Placed litter bins on paths and at the back of the beach
- Placed fire beaters and water hydrants on the heather and gorse heath, and made fire breaks
- Erected information boards and provided leaflets to educate people about the area
Wednesday 23 March 2011
Surviving the Japanese tsunami
Dramatic amateur footage (about 6 mins), catching the very start of the tsunami as it flowed into and through the city of Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture, north-east Japan. It starts as a trickle, then slowly builds up, forcing the intrepid cameraman to retreat higher and higher...
Tuesday 22 March 2011
Environmental impacts of globalisation
Use these links to complete your notes on some of the solutions to the environmental impacts of globalisation –Carbon offsetting
–Biofuels
–Green taxes
–Cutting food miles
–Recycling / reusing / refusing
–Organic food
Monday 21 March 2011
Friday 18 March 2011
Wednesday 16 March 2011
London Plan
Use this introduction to the London Plan to complete the sheet detailing the six objectives of the plan.
The full London Plan website is here.
Monday 14 March 2011
Event profile of hazards
Tectonic hazards can be described in terms of their frequency, magnitude, duration and areal extent. Use the following links to complete the worksheet:
Earthquake scales
Volcanic explosivity index
Frequency and magnitude
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