Human impact on water supply

Humans have potentially serious impacts on water supply.

Water crisis in India
China water pollution
China water pollution II

Water poverty index data

Coastal management - Holderness coast

The Holderness coast is eroding at a frightening speed. We will use this for our case study of coastal erosion. You have been given a GeoActive sheet which provides details of the situation. Use this and the online resources included in this section to create a case study sheet using Word or PowerPoint about the coastal erosion problem at Holderness. Include the following sections:


Introduction

• Include a map of the area showing the location of the major settlements
• Information on the background to the coastal problems at Holderness
• Cliffs
• Coastal processes
• Sea-level rise
• Describe the impact of the geology on the area
• What is Spurn Point and how is it formed?
• Include a couple of images showing how the coastline has eroded in the last 150 years (e.g. old photos, old maps, etc.)

Impacts

• Describe the impacts at Mappleton and Eastington on both the local people and the environment 

Solutions

• Describe the management techniques used at Mappleton and Eastington. Use satellite images to illustrate the techniques used
• What are the possible knock-on effects of the management techniques used here? Is coastal management the correct option?

Hull University site
Internet Geography mini-site
An excellent presentation
A good overview
Good YouTube lesson
A video overview
Some excellent photos.

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

Water issues in China

China is suffering from many environmental problems - including water stress. Use this map to complete the sheet detailing some of these issues.

 

Check your text book p39-40

The China Water Risk website is very good. This info-graphic is superb.

Check this article for some excellent information.

Complete the 15 mark question on the map sheet.

Product water footprint link

Country water footprint link

How can businesses help reduce 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

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.

Demographic Transition Model - population change and globalisation

Population change linked to globalisation

World population growth

UK population growth

Demographic transition model

DTM II

DTM UK

Using 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

Climate change policy timeline

Use this website to complete the climate change timeline.

Millenium Development Goals

HDI statistics from UNDP
MDG monitor

Use these links for the MDG task - country specific profile

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.

Japanese tsunami 2011

BBC latest
Guardian map
Guardian video clips
Wikipedia entry

What would a 4oC 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.

Video of map launch

Use the map to complete the sheets you have been given.

IPCC AR5 - overview

Use these links to the BBC analysis of the latest IPCC report (AR5) to answer the following questions.

• Who are the IPCC (scroll down on link)?
• Write an overview / summary of the latest report.

Migration from Africa into the EU

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.

2013 events video

Migrants and asylum in the EU
Use the Q&A section on this link to write notes on the following questions:

How big is the migration challenge affecting Europe now?

How does the Mediterranean compare with other entry points?

Where do most of the migrants come from?

How is the EU reacting to the current migrant problem?

How do migrants get asylum status in the EU?

How many asylum applications are successful?


Using the 'Mapping migrant routes' tab, complete a similar map showing the main migration routes from Africs into EU.

Panorama films

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.

Tar sands

To the last drop - video
To the last drop - part II - video
Guardian video
Guardian 'dirty oil' article
How to get oil from oil sands - photos
Guardian graphic

National Geographic video
The Alberta oil sands
Greenpeace Canada

New oil shale plant in Jordan
Shale gas in UK
TED video on impact of tar sands

Use the links above and P18 and P19 in your text book to write a report on Tar sands using the following headings
What are Tar sands?
Where are they located?
How is the oil extracted?
Why is it being done?
What are the environmental costs of the industry?

Natural causes of climate change

Is climate change natural?

BBC sunspot article

Using these articles and your own research, investigate the impact of volcanoes and sun spots on climate change

Guardian article on impact of volcanoes
Impact of volcanoes on climate - research

Include an example of a volcano which has impacted the climate

Fracking

BBC - What is fracking?
BBC Horizon
Newsnight - is fracking safe?
Great shale gas rush - National Geographic
National Geographic interactive
Science of shale gas
China shale gas
US shale gas

Create a report on fracking and the shale gas and oil industry
Include the following:

• What is fracking - how is the oil / gas extracted?
• Where are the largest fracking sites?
• Why is it controversial? Give examples of specific issues - environmental and social
• Does fracking and shale oil / gas represent a viable alternative for the future?

Deep water drilling - unconventional oil sources

Deep-water Horizon oil spill documentary

 BBC overview - excellent

Wikipedia entry
IEA report

Create a case study on deep-water drilling and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in particular.
Include the following information:

• What is deep-water drilling? Give examples of the technological challenges involved
• Give examples of where it is happening at the moment
• Describe the events of the Deepwater Horizon spill
• Desribe the impacts of the spill. Environmental, economic, social etc.

Oil and gas players

Oil and gas players investigation

 

 

Investigate the following players and their influence on the oil and gas energy security situation. These all have a major influence on the future of oil. Problems arise when key players conflict with each other.

 

• OPEC
• Governments in an oil producing non-OPEC country e.g. Nigeria
• TNCs - Shell
• TNCs - Gazprom
• NGOs - WWF (World Wildlife Fund)
• NGOs - Greenpeace 

Create a one-page case study sheet on your allocated player. Information may include:

 

• Background to the player – fact file
• Key recent incidents involving the player – agreements and conflict
• Positive influence on energy security
• Negative influence on energy security
• Environmental controversies
• Any other relevant information

Some links to help:
OPEC
OPEC - BBC
OPEC - Wikipedia
Nigeria - oil
Nigeria - BBC
Shell - guardian article
Shell - BBC article
Shell - Wikipedia
Gazprom - Wikipedia
Gazprom
WWF - oil and gas
Greenpeace - oil

 

See also moodle for some scans 

China - One Child Policy

Journeyman documentary

Pakistan earthquake September 2013

BBC video 1
BBC video 2

Players in the energy industry

25 biggest oil companies - Forbes
Forbes article
OPEC - BBC
OPEC - Wikipedia
GDP (PPP) country list for comparision

Keystone XL pipeline - pathway

A controversial pipeline is proposed from Canada to Texas. Using these articles, write some notes to use it as an example of the issues associated with energy pathways.

BBC 1
BBC 2
BBC 3

A documentary from Al Jazzera

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
Go here for excellent maps for ALL countries and the hazards which affect them

Earthquakes

Use the links below to help answer the questions on the sheet:

Latest earthquake map

Europe earthquake map

Earthquakes with 50 000 or more deaths

Largest earthquakes by magnitude

UK earthquakes

Magnitude

Measuring earthquakes

Energy 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

Russia-Ukraine gas dispute report 1 and 2

Kerela population policies

Clip showing the strategies used to reduce population growth in Kerala, India. Another good clip.

Geophysical hazards - hazard distribution

A few links to help with this piece of work.

Start with your text book and then try these links for more information:

On the BBC site:

An animated guide to earthquakes

An animated guide to volcanoes

On the USGS site:

Earthquake Centre

Volcano Centre

From Wikipedia:

Earthquake

Volcano

Hurricances

Use this BBC In Depth article to complete the worksheet on hurricances. This animated guide is also good.
A National Geographic video overview. An excellent Horizon documentary.

Population pyramids

Use this link from the US Census Bureau to complete the exercise on population pyramids.

Pakistan floods 2010

Use the following links to help complete the worksheet on the Pakistan floods 2010

Guardian interactive

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

UK energy security

Use the following links to help with your report:

BBC Panorama programme

Government energy security research paper (just read the Summary)

Guardian article - there are many more similar

Latest update of the ESI from June 2011

Statutory Security of Supply Report - DECC

IPPR report - Energy Security in the UK

UK energy security strategy paper Nov 2012

Global population growth

Two excellent TED talks on population growth.

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 renewable energy

Wikipedia entry for fossil fuels

Wind power in the 'How Stuff Works' website. Other energy sources also on the site

An interesting article  - follow links to others on the BBC site

BBC Energy in the UK mini-site - links to lots of relevant stories (some slightly dated)

A good BBC site on future energy sources

Pre-release June 2013 - Economic development in East Asia II

KOF Index of Globalisation
KOF Index of Globalisation maps
China's top brands - video clips
Japan's top brands
Korea's top brands

HEEACT university ranking 2010

WIPO

Tension in the region - 31 May

WTO
UN Security Council
G20
ICCPR

Pre-release June 2013 - Economic development in East Asia

Watch the TED lecture by Hans Rosling
Use Gapminder to research how the development indicators of the countries in questions have evolved since 1940

Pre-release June 2013 - Military issue in East Asia

Use these links to help with the question sheet:

US military situation
USS Freedom arrives in Singapore as part of US 'pivot'
China warns US on Asia military strategy
Military balance: The US and other key countries
N Korea 'removes' missiles from east coast launch site
US accuses China government and military of cyber-spying
Strength and power in seas off Japan

China military situation
Japan defence review warns of China's military might
China military modernisation gathers pace
China extending military reach
China navy to carry out Pacific exercises
How China is advancing its military reach

Unit 3 pre-release June 2013 - Geopolitical tensions in East Asia

There is a huge amount of material online on this isssue. Here are a selection of links to help with the first worksheet:

BBC country profiles:
North Korea
China
South Korea
Japan

Use these links to create the timelines as well.

North Korea recent history - Guardian
An excellent Guardian graphic on events in China over the last decade

There is also a lot of excellent information on the recent Korea crisis. A selecion of links are below. There should be no need to spend hours searching for additional information.

All BBC
Korea crisis
China / North Korea relationship
North Korea / US relationship
Impact of recent history on current crisis

Disputed territories
Kuril Islands
Sea of Japan
Liancourt rocks
N / S Korea border
Socotra rock
Taiwan
Senkaku Islands

Senkaku dispute - Guardian
Senkaku dispute II - Guardian

Water on the land revision

Click this link for the new prezi on the Water on the Land unit

Tsunami protection

How do you protect against tsunami?
NOAA tsunami forecasting
DART buoys
Pacific tsunami warning centre - FAQ
Lessons learnt from Japanese tsunami - Homeland Security
Japan's earthquake protection
Can you tsunami proof a country?
Sea walls offer little protection

Climate change policies

Listen / watch this animation of the history of climate change
Use this website to complete the climate change timeline.
Coppenhagen - where countries stand
2012 conference in Doha
BBC Doha outcome
Doha review

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

Christchurch earthquake

Video explaining how seisometers work to locate an earthquake
Video about predicting earthquakes and aftershocks

GNS monitoring of earthquakes

Describe and explain the research and consultancy offered by GNS

GNS monitoring of earthquakes II
GNS monitoring of earthquakes III

Describe in detail the work being done to monitor the deformation of NZ. Include an explanation of ‘continuous GPS’

Rapid response seismic team

Describe how the rapid response seismic team responded to the Christchurch earthquake

Earthquake insurance cover
Who are EQC?
Describe how their insurance policy works

GetThru.gov
Briefly describe the safety information offered by the NZ government in an earthquake

Mass tourism in Jamaica

Tourist board video

Blackpool

BBC article

Haiti aid

10 lessons from Haiti
Has aid helped? - DEC
NY Times

Event profiles of tectonic 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

Richter Scale

Mercalli Scale

Magnitude calculator

Volcanic explosivity index

VEI

Frequency and magnitude

Frequency

Last hour / day / week

Dubai tourism

Dubai tourism video
Piers Morgan on Dubai
Human planet - Dubai
Supersized earth - Dubai