Case Studies.

Question 1

Holderness Coast.

Answer 1

Significance of location:

• Soft boulder clay is easily eroded, is susceptible to slumping after heavy rainfall.
• Exposed to strong waves from the North Sea

Physical processes at work:

• Coastal erosion: a combination of strong waves and rock type ensure the coast is eroded rapidly.
• Mass Movement: Clay frequently slumps from the cliffs after rainfall.
• Transport: Strong waves move the eroded material away from the coastline: deposition happens further south.

Human processes at work:

• Hard engineering on parts of coast have protected areas from erosion and cliff collapse.
• Hard engineering in some places has prevented transport making erosion worse in other places.

Changes caused:

• Some parts are undergoing coastal retreat.
• Farmland, property and settlements have been lost to the sea.

Question 2

River Dee

Answer 2

How it was formed:

• The source is Ddualit.
• Annual precipitation is very high.
• The Dee flows south-easterly.
• Near Chester, the river meanders across a wide floodplain eroding sedimentary rocks and depositing sediment.

Human factors causing change:

• Channelisation between 1732 and 1736 increased discharge and velocity.
• Earth embankments were built along the middle course to protect agricultural land and properties.
• A series of reservoirs were built.

Physical factors causing change:

• Floodplain landscape between Holt and Worthenbury with meanders, alluvium and river terrace deposits formed by erosion and deposition, causing the river to change its course over time.
• If sea levels rise by 1m by 2100, coastal landscapes will replace salt.
• A rise in sea level will destroy the estuary landscape.

Question 3

Hurricane Sandy

Answer 3

Key facts:

• The hurricane travelled across the Caribbean sea affecting Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti before moving north to reach USA.
• It reached New Jersey on 29th October 2012.
• By the time the hurricane reached land, wind speeds of 129km/h were recorded.
• The storm surges caused most of the damage.

Impacts: 
Social: 
- 150 people dead. 
- Many areas left without electricity. 
- Homes damaged. 
- Schools closed for days. 

Economic:

• 65 billion dollars worth of estimated property damage.
• Government had to pay for petrol.
• Tourism affected by cancellation of New York marathon.

Environmental:

• Storm surges caused significant damage to coastal nature reserves.
• Raw sewage leaked into the waters around New York and New Jersey, damaging habitats.

Responses:

• The concert for Sandy Relief with artists such as Bon Jovi.
• The American Red Cross helped by providing relief to victims.
• Billions of dollars were voted through legislation to help with rebuilding and supporting victims.

Question 4

Typhoon Haiyan.

Answer 4

Key facts:

• It formed on 2nd November 2013.
• Wind speeds of over 300km/h were recoded.
• Most of the damage was on the islands of Samar and Leyte.
• Flooding and landslides were reported.

Impact:

• Social:
• An estimated 6,000 people killed.
• Significant loss of power.
• An estimated 600,000 people displaced from their homes.
• Many homes left destroyed.

Economic:

• 2 billion dollars worth of damage.
• Damage to infrastructure blocked transport.

Environmental:

• Mangroves damaged.
• Trees uprooted.
• Oil spills caused sea pollution.

Responses:

• People gave money.
• The WHO coordinated the international response.
• Aid was given by the UK.

Question 5

California.

Answer 5

Key facts:
- In January 2014, California was experiencing its third year of drought and a state of emergency was declared.

Main hazards:

• Subsidence.
• Contamination.
• Wildfires.

Impacts: 
Social: 
- Less state money. 
- Infrastructure damaged. 
- Loss of food and income. 
- Risk to people's lives. 

Responses:

• The Government ran public education campaigns.
• State laws were introduced.
• Research projects were implemented.
• Drip irrigation was used.
• Homeowners were encouraged to check for leaks.
• Protesters campaigned.

Question 6

Ethiopia.

Answer 6

Key facts:
- Ethiopia has suffered multiple droughts since the 1980s, when the short rainy season began to get shorter.

Main hazards:

• Reduction in crop yields.
• Longer journeys to find water.
• Migration.

Impacts:

• Social:
• A food crisis.
• People eating less.
• Girls can’t go to school.
• Homes are unprotected.

Ecosystems:

• Loss of habitats.
• Increase in disease.
• Migration of wildlife.
• Extinction of some species.
• Wind erosion of soil.

Responses:

• Overseas governments have given aid.
• Aid agencies are helping people.
• Helping people get jobs.
• Live aid.

Question 7

The New Forest.

Answer 7

Introduction:

• The New Forest is a National Park which requires sustainable management.
• It is a popular tourist attraction with over 15 million visitors each year.
• The movement of visitors through the forest is increasing litter, causing erosion of paths.
• Softwood and hardwood timber is being extracted for commercial use.

Sustainable management:

• New trees planted.
• Tree felling controlled.
• Work restricted.
• Pesticide use limited.

Question 8

Birmingham.

Answer 8

Context and structure:
Site: Located on Birmingham plateau.
Situation: Located centrally in England.

Processes that change a city:
Urbanisation:
- Influenced by manufacturing.
- Small housing built for workers.
Suburbanisation:
- Rising population in the 1920s meant building new housing on outskirts of city.
Counter-urbanisation:
- New comprehensive development areas built in inner city.
- People forced out of urban areas to Redditch.

Re-urbanisation:

• More people want to live in centre again.
• Modernisation of flats.

National migration:

• People moving out to destinations in the south.
• People moving in due to increased opportunities.

International migration:

• People moving in from Syria.
• People moving in the past in response to employee shortages.

Impacts of migration:

• Younger population.
• Multiculturalism.
• Ethnic communities.
• Housing.
• Services.

Population characteristics:

• Deindustrialisation:
• Decentralisation.
• Developments in transport.
• Globalisation.

City inequalities:

• Economic structure:
• Recent deindustrialisation and population increases have changed Birmingham’s economic structure.