THE GEOGRAPHER ONLINE

IB Core

  • Home
    • How to make a website: Tools and experiences
    • Maps and Regions
    • Travel Photographs and Videos
    • Live: Global Hazards and Disasters
    • Geography in the news
    • The Big Geography Challenge
  • New IB Geography 2017 onwards
    • IB Geography Introduction
    • Part 1: Geographical Themes >
      • Option B: Oceans and coastal margins >
        • 1. Ocean–atmosphere interactions
        • 2. Interactions between oceans and coastal places
        • 3. Managing coastal margins
        • 4. Ocean management futures
      • Option D: Geophysical Hazards >
        • 1. Geophysical systems
        • 2. Geophysical hazard risks
        • 3. Hazard risk and vulnerability
        • 4. Future resilience and adaptation
    • Part 2: Core Units (SL&HL) >
      • Unit 1: Changing Population >
        • 1. Population and economic development patterns
        • 2. Changing Populations and Places
        • 3. Challenges and opportunities
      • Unit 2: Global climate—vulnerability and resilience >
        • 1. Causes of global climate change
        • 2. Consequences of global climate change
        • 3. Responding to global climate change
      • Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security >
        • 1: Global trends in consumption
        • 2: Impacts of changing trends in resource consumption
        • 3: Resource stewardship
    • Part 3: HL Core Extensions >
      • Unit 4: Power, places and networks >
        • 1. Global interactions and global power
      • Unit 5: Human development and diversity
      • Unit 6: Global risks and resilience
    • Internal Assessment
    • Why should I study IB Geography?
  • IB Geography (Old Syllabus)
    • IB Core >
      • 1. Populations in Transition
      • 2. Disparities in Wealth and Development
      • 3. Patterns in Environmental Quality and Sustainability
      • 4. Patterns in Resource Consumption
    • Part 1: Geographical Themes >
      • Oceans and their Coastal Margins
      • Hazards and disasters - risk assessment and response
      • Freshwater - issues and conflicts
      • Urban Environments
    • Global Interactions - HL >
      • Measuring Global Interactions
      • Changing Space - The Shrinking world
      • Economic Interactions and Flows
      • Environmental Change
      • Sociocultural Exchanges
      • Political Outcomes
      • Global Interactions at the Local Level
    • IB Guidance >
      • Syllabus Guidance
      • IB Examination Guidance
    • Extended Essay
  • IGCSE Geography
    • Theme 1: Population and settlement >
      • Population Dynamics
      • Migration
      • Settlements
      • Urban Settlements
      • Urbanisation
    • Theme 2: The natural environment >
      • Plate Tectonics
      • Coasts
      • Rivers
      • Weather and Climate
      • Climate and Ecosystems
    • Theme 3: Economic development >
      • Development
      • Food Production
      • Industry
      • Energy
      • Tourism
      • Water
      • Environmental Risks of Economic development
    • GCSE Key Terms
    • GCSE Coursework
    • Alternative to Coursework
    • IGCSE Geography Examination Advice
    • IGCSE Revision Games
  • Key Stage 3
    • Year 6 >
      • My Place
      • Rivers
      • Brazil
    • Year 7 >
      • Maps and the world
      • Rocky Landscapes
      • Settlement
      • Weather & Climate
    • Year 8 >
      • Maps Introduction
      • Plate Tectonics
      • Economic Activity
      • Biomes
    • Year 9 >
      • Map Skills - review
      • Development
      • Coasts
      • Tourism
      • Paradise lost - Tourism in Thailand
  • AS Level Geography
    • World at Risk
    • Crowded Coasts
  • Geography Skills
  • Donations & Contact
  • YouTube Channel
  • Essential computer programs
Please help keep the Geographer Online a FREE resource

Patterns in ENVIRONMENTAL quality and sustainability 

Index
1. Atmosphere and Change
2. Soil and Change
3. Water and Change
4. Biodiversity and Change
5. Sustainability and the Environment
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Atmosphere and Change

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What is our atmosphere and how is it important to us? Watch the Introductory YouTube.

The Planet's Albedo


Answer the following questions from watching the YouTube on the right:
  • What is Albedo?
  • Why is it important?
  • What is insolation?

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Complete the worksheet on Atmospheric Energy Budgets. Use the links and information below. 

Atmospheric Energy Budget Worksheet
File Size: 186 kb
File Type: docx
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The Atmospheric Energy Budget

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External Forcing explanation

Using page pg. 53 of the IB book 'Course Companion' explain the Atmospheric Energy Budget. This Slide Share might also help
Global Energy Balance from Steven Heath

    IB Style Question: With reference to the map below, describe and explain the variations in Albedo [5]  
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Global Albedo

    IB Style Question: Describe and explain the trends in the following graph. 
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Sunspot Activity and Global Temperatures

Climate Change - Global Warming

Global Warming from Steven Heath
climate_classroom.ppt
File Size: 6031 kb
File Type: ppt
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Case Study: Explain the causes and environmental consequences of global climate change firstly in general and then for a specific region in the world.

  • Global Warming Pod Cast
  • Extended reading website

global_warming_-_mediterranean.pdf
File Size: 376 kb
File Type: pdf
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54_greenhouse.pdf
File Size: 94 kb
File Type: pdf
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global_warming_fact_fiction_and_myth.pdf
File Size: 58 kb
File Type: pdf
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Discuss the following images
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Soil and Change

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Let's Talk About Soil - English from IASS Vimeo Channel on Vimeo.

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Watch the introductory video on Soil and answer the following questions:
  1. Outline the main importance of soil.
  2. How is soil formed?
  3. How does human activity affect soil erosion?
  4. How many tonnes were lost in 2011 and what is the per capita value to the global economy?
  5. How is fertile land being taken from vulnerable populations 
  6. Why is the issue of soil degradation not current news?



What is desertification? Define and explain the term.

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Soil degradation in the world
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IB Style Question:
  • Describe the distribution of the areas of concern from degradation and how might this affect population densities [6] 


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Project: 
  • Create a PowerPoint on  the causes and effects of soil degradation and erosion  from the table, PDFs and from pages 57 to 59 in the Course Companion. 


The PowerPoint should:
  1. Define the key terms
  2. The causes/types of soil erosion/degradation
  3. Predicting soil erosion and the soil loss equation
  4. The results of this process on the environment.
  5. Case studies of desertification
soil_erosion_causes_and_effects.pdf
File Size: 66 kb
File Type: pdf
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191_soil_degradation.pdf
File Size: 4667 kb
File Type: pdf
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Case Studies:
Create a list of mini case studies giving examples of desertification in the world and how people are trying to combat it.
  • Where?
  • When?
  • What?
  • Effects?
  • Solutions?
The Sahel (Africa)
Desertification
File Size: 142 kb
File Type: pdf
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Sahel
File Size: 446 kb
File Type: pdf
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Dust Bowl (USA)
Dust Bowl
File Size: 640 kb
File Type: pdf
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Small scale local example
Urban gardens
File Size: 1510 kb
File Type: pdf
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Nepal
Nepal soil erosion
File Size: 633 kb
File Type: pdf
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China
Senegal

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Main causes of Soil degradation by region
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IB Style Question:
'Rapid population growth is the most important cause of soil erosion and degradation' Discuss [15]
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Student Example of
 Soil DegradationProject


Water and Change

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Water in the Anthropocene from WelcomeAnthropocene on Vimeo.


IB Style Question:
Describe the global pattern of access to fresh drinking water
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Percentage of population with access to safe drinking water

Class project: Report [40 marks]

You will need to create a report on water and that factors that affect its distribution and scarcity:
Mark allocation [5 presentation, 5 completeness, 10 content, 10 explanation, 10 examples/case studies]
  1. Describe and include a map locating water scarcity
  2. Define physical water scarcity and economic water scarcity
  3. Physical causes of scarcity
  4. Human causes of scarcity (one of which is economic water scarcity - be careful)
  5. Generally what methods are available to deal with these problems
  6. Case study (either make lots of little case studies or 2 larger case studies one Physical and one Human scarcity)
Your objective is to make a set of notes in the form of a report. It should be clear and concise (bullet points, spider diagrams etc) and it should be completed on the computer. If you would prefer to hand draw or write certain parts of it you will need to scan and submit these digitally. The final submission should be made through Turnitin. Any plagiarism above the 20% will result in a mark of 0 being awarded for this report.  

The following sources will help you with the project:
  • Overview website on Safe Drinking Water 
  • United nations website on water resources
  • WWF on water scarcity 
  • BBC article on scarcity with maps


  • Case study on Las Vegas and water conflict Case study
  • UN Report on Water conflicts (complete guide) Click here Do not be scared by its length and use the index.
  • WaterRisk - climate change.pdf
  •  http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_pritchard_invents_a_water_filter.html

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Water supply conflict
File Size: 268 kb
File Type: pdf
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UN reports on global water issues
File Size: 17059 kb
File Type: pdf
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Water Risk - Climate change
File Size: 4825 kb
File Type: pdf
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Student Examples of Water Reports

IB Exam Style Question:
"Examine the factors affecting access to safe drinking water in two or more locations around the world" [15]

Biodiversity and Change

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What are Rain-forests and where are they located?
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Revision PowerPoint of Tropical Rainforests
Rainforests from Steven Heath
rainforests.ppt
File Size: 1084 kb
File Type: ppt
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Biodiversity
Define the term: What is Biodiversity? UNEP

Overview of Causes and consequences of reduced biodiversity in tropical rain forests.(source Greenfiledgeography)
Why are Rainforests Important?
Biodiversity: 
Although rainforests cover only 7% of the world's land mass, it is estimated that they could contain up to 50% of the world's biodiversity. This is potentially up to 15 million species.

Photosynthesis: 
Tropical rainforests are often referred to as the 'lungs of the earth' and convert large amounts of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide back into oxygen. It is estimated that the Amazon rainforest alone produces about 20% of the earth's oxygen.
Flood control: 
Rainforests are an excellent natural measure to reducing flooding. There is leaf cover in rainforests all year so interception continually happens, extending rivers lag time. All vegetation uptakes water and transpires it.

Control of soil erosion:
 The root systems of trees and shrubs hold the very thin soil of rainforest in place. If trees are removed then both erosion of topsoil and landslides are more likely

Source of nutrients to humus layer in soil:
 The topsoil in rainforests is very thin and relies on the nutrients provided by rotting plants and animals. Because of the rainforests climate, there is a constant supply of leaf litter.

Medical remedies: 
Rainforests have been the source of many of today's drugs, including the basic ingredients for the hormone contraceptive pill, quinine (an anti-malaria drug) and curare (a paralysing drug).

Cash crops and agricultural products:
Yam, coffee, rubber, mango, banana, sugarcane, cocoa and avocado were all first discovered in rainforests.

Ecotourism: 
With people becoming ever more environmentally conscious and looking for increasing adventures, ecotourism to rainforests is increasing. This not only helps protect rainforests, but creates income for locals. Ecotourism is an important income to countries like Costa Rica and Belize.


Home to indigenous groups: 
Although the number of indigenous groups and people have declined rapidly since colonisation in South America, it is estimated that there are still over 200,000 people that consider the Amazon their home - some groups are still uncontacted (see Alternatives).
Why are Rainforest Being Destroyed?
Cattle Ranching: 
As the world's population gets bigger and richer, the demand for meat is increasing. To rear the cattle increasing tracts of the rainforest are being cleared to make pastures for grazing.

Subsistence Farming: 
Because of the large amounts of poor people that still live in tropical areas, subsistence farming is still widespread. Because rainforest soil loses its fertility quickly after deforestation, the most common form of subsistence farming is slash and burn. With growing populations this method of farming can cause widespread deforestation.

HEP: 
Many of the world's great rivers flow through rainforests e.g. the Amazon. These great rivers often have the most HEP potential. Unfortunately when a dam and reservoir are built it causes damage during construction, but also floods large areas.

Mining: 
With an ever increasing demand for the world's natural resources, countries and companies are looking at increasingly isolated locations, places like rainforests and Antarctica. The rainforests are believed to have many resources including metals and fossil fuels beneath their soils. Gold mining can be particular damaging as mercury is used in its extraction and often runs off into rivers.

Road building: 
Building new roads like Trans Amazon highway from Brazil to Bolivia not only causes deforestation itself, but its also opens up new ares to urbanisation, mining and farming causing further deforestation.

Urban growth: 
With the world population increasing as well as rates of urbanisation increasing many cities like Manaus in Brazil are growing rapidly causing deforestation.

Population growth:
 As populations grow, particularly in countries like Brazil, Peru, India and Vietnam that contain rainforests the demand for land increases, both to grow food and to live.

Plantations: 
Primary products are often seen as an income source for LEDCs, many of who have large areas of rainforest. At the same time with fossil fuels running out, alternative fuels sources are been searched for including biofuels e.g. Palm oil. This has lead to widespread deforestation in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia to plant cops like palm oil.

Timber (hardwoods): 
Hardwoods like mahogany and teak that take hundreds of years to grow are still in high demand to make things like furniture. The extraction of these trees can kills trees around them. Also many countries like China are also demanding large amounts of normal timber that are not always taken from sustainable sources.

Hunting:
 Hunting takes two forms, one form is for bushmeat to feed families and enough the sale of animals either alive e.g. parrots or dead for their skins e.g jaguars.
What are the effects?
Flooding: 
Flash floods become more common after deforestation because there is less interception and less root uptake and transpiration. As such rainwater reaches the ground quick, saturating it and causing surface run-off and potential flooding.

Landslides: 
By removing trees and vegetation, you are making the soil less stable. Combine this with saturated ground and the likelihood of floods increases.

Biodiversity loss: 
Because all the species that live in the rainforest are not known it is hard to calculate species loss. However, scientists believe that 1 mammal or bird extinction can be extrapolated to approximately 23,000 extinctions.

Reduced photosynthesis: 
As more and more trees are removed the rate of photosynthesis reduces, releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Silting of rivers: 
With increased flooding and surface run-off moil soils and silt is washed into rivers, this can not only change local ecosystems (water temperature and clarity) but can also reduce the depth of rivers making navigation harder.

Silting of seas and oceans: 
With the increased frequency of flooding and landslides more silt gets washed into the oceans. The increased amount of silts reduces the transparency of the sea reducing the light reefs receive and the temperature of the water. Increased silt can also block important shipping lanes.

Breaking of nutrient cycle: 
The top soil of rainforests is very thin an receives the majority of its nutrients from rotting flora and fauna. By removing trees you also remove animals and therefore the source of the soils nutrients. With increased erosion the top soil (humus) layer is quickly washed away.

Sandification/desertification: 
Because rainforest soil loses its fertility very quickly after deforestation it quickly becomes hard to grow any vegetation on it, leading to sandification and possibly desertification.

Loss of indigenous homes: 
By clearing rainforests you are obviously destroying the homes of indigenous groups. But also moving close to indigenous groups can spread disease and alter local culture and traditions.

Reduced rainfall: 
Deforestation can lead to reduction in local rainfall because less water is intercepted and transpired from vegetation into the atmosphere reducing the formation of clouds and rainfall.

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Case Study
Create a case study on one of the following tropical rain forests (locate them, outline the specific pressures on these ecosystems, what have been the consequences and what management strategies have been employed; were they successful?):
    • Case study on deforestation and the Amazon Click here
    • Case study on deforestation and the Congo Click here
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Example of Student PowerPoints
amazon_rainforest_case_study.pptx
File Size: 5600 kb
File Type: pptx
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leo_hannah_max_and_linda_project_.pptx
File Size: 1112 kb
File Type: pptx
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geo_presentation-_congo.pptx
File Size: 2213 kb
File Type: pptx
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IB Exam Style Question:
Essay question: Outline the causes and consequences of a reduction in biodiversity in the tropical rainforests and management strategies that have been implemented [15]

Sustainability and the Environment

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Extended reading Fisheries and Oceans Canada
environmental_sustainability__case_study_-_canada_fishing.docx
File Size: 308 kb
File Type: docx
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Full Case Study
File Size: 720 kb
File Type: pdf
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www.thegeographeronline.net
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The Geographer Online is an educational website aimed at providing geography teaching resources for all levels. 
Created and Developed by: Steven Heath

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  • Home
    • How to make a website: Tools and experiences
    • Maps and Regions
    • Travel Photographs and Videos
    • Live: Global Hazards and Disasters
    • Geography in the news
    • The Big Geography Challenge
  • New IB Geography 2017 onwards
    • IB Geography Introduction
    • Part 1: Geographical Themes >
      • Option B: Oceans and coastal margins >
        • 1. Ocean–atmosphere interactions
        • 2. Interactions between oceans and coastal places
        • 3. Managing coastal margins
        • 4. Ocean management futures
      • Option D: Geophysical Hazards >
        • 1. Geophysical systems
        • 2. Geophysical hazard risks
        • 3. Hazard risk and vulnerability
        • 4. Future resilience and adaptation
    • Part 2: Core Units (SL&HL) >
      • Unit 1: Changing Population >
        • 1. Population and economic development patterns
        • 2. Changing Populations and Places
        • 3. Challenges and opportunities
      • Unit 2: Global climate—vulnerability and resilience >
        • 1. Causes of global climate change
        • 2. Consequences of global climate change
        • 3. Responding to global climate change
      • Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security >
        • 1: Global trends in consumption
        • 2: Impacts of changing trends in resource consumption
        • 3: Resource stewardship
    • Part 3: HL Core Extensions >
      • Unit 4: Power, places and networks >
        • 1. Global interactions and global power
      • Unit 5: Human development and diversity
      • Unit 6: Global risks and resilience
    • Internal Assessment
    • Why should I study IB Geography?
  • IB Geography (Old Syllabus)
    • IB Core >
      • 1. Populations in Transition
      • 2. Disparities in Wealth and Development
      • 3. Patterns in Environmental Quality and Sustainability
      • 4. Patterns in Resource Consumption
    • Part 1: Geographical Themes >
      • Oceans and their Coastal Margins
      • Hazards and disasters - risk assessment and response
      • Freshwater - issues and conflicts
      • Urban Environments
    • Global Interactions - HL >
      • Measuring Global Interactions
      • Changing Space - The Shrinking world
      • Economic Interactions and Flows
      • Environmental Change
      • Sociocultural Exchanges
      • Political Outcomes
      • Global Interactions at the Local Level
    • IB Guidance >
      • Syllabus Guidance
      • IB Examination Guidance
    • Extended Essay
  • IGCSE Geography
    • Theme 1: Population and settlement >
      • Population Dynamics
      • Migration
      • Settlements
      • Urban Settlements
      • Urbanisation
    • Theme 2: The natural environment >
      • Plate Tectonics
      • Coasts
      • Rivers
      • Weather and Climate
      • Climate and Ecosystems
    • Theme 3: Economic development >
      • Development
      • Food Production
      • Industry
      • Energy
      • Tourism
      • Water
      • Environmental Risks of Economic development
    • GCSE Key Terms
    • GCSE Coursework
    • Alternative to Coursework
    • IGCSE Geography Examination Advice
    • IGCSE Revision Games
  • Key Stage 3
    • Year 6 >
      • My Place
      • Rivers
      • Brazil
    • Year 7 >
      • Maps and the world
      • Rocky Landscapes
      • Settlement
      • Weather & Climate
    • Year 8 >
      • Maps Introduction
      • Plate Tectonics
      • Economic Activity
      • Biomes
    • Year 9 >
      • Map Skills - review
      • Development
      • Coasts
      • Tourism
      • Paradise lost - Tourism in Thailand
  • AS Level Geography
    • World at Risk
    • Crowded Coasts
  • Geography Skills
  • Donations & Contact
  • YouTube Channel
  • Essential computer programs