Thursday 31 October 2013

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.

Wednesday 30 October 2013

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.

Monday 28 October 2013

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.

Wednesday 23 October 2013

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?

Tuesday 22 October 2013

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?

Friday 4 October 2013

Deep water drilling - unconventional oil sources

Deep-water Horizon oil spill documentary
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.