Topic 1: WORLD AT RISK
New Edexcel AS Level Geography
This page last updated July 2008 and now ARCHIVED.
Includes an introduction to a range of global natural hazards which threaten some areas of the world more than others and then focuses on climate change and global warming, seen by many as our greatest environmental challenge
This topic has 7 ENQUIRY QUESTIONS, split into 2 sections.
A: THE RISK FROM HAZARDS
Need to cover whether, and why some hazards are increasing.
Need to cover the trends in hazards: the relationships between the hazards and the damage that is caused and the lives that may be lost
Risk VULNERABILITY is an important idea (and this is a different emphasis to the earlier specification) - refers to the hazard risk equation (which is also a new addition)
Global distribution of hazards (mapping) in relation to plate boundaries, climate zones etc.
1. Global Hazards: What are the main types of physical risks facing the world and how big a threat are they ?
Sea level change is going to be one focus.
Useful resource: "Geography Review" (March 2004, Vol. 17 No. 4) article by Tim Burt: "Risky Business"
I went to a lecture by Bill McGuire at the GA Conference in 2007, and was introduced to the TORINO SCALE
This diagram of the TORINO SCALE is taken from NASA.
Big version - click...
Image from: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/images/torino_scale.jpg with thanks...
2. Global Hazard trends: How and why are natural hazards now becoming to be seen as an increasing global threat ?
Trends of hazards. Will need to source STATISTICS on hazards.
The TSUNAMI of 2004 is likely to feature in a lot of Schemes of Work too.
We will be using lots of materials that we already produced in 2004 and 5, notably the presentation of Val Vannet who produced an amazing instant response which I used in the first week back after the Christmas break, in January 2005. Have a copy somewhere...
There are also still some useful links from the home page of the SLN GEOGRAPHY site.
Useful resource: "Geography Review" (May 2005, Vol.18 No. 5) article by Tim Burt: "Tsunami"
3. Global hazard patterns: Why are some places more hazardous and disaster-prone than others ?
Risks in urban areas compared to rural ?
Local risks ? - newspaper analysis - some good posters were produced by my colleague Mr. Bilbie
Continuum of hazards ?
Interesting story from February 2008
This was an interesting story in the Guardian on the 12th of February, which connected the economic crisis in the US housing market and a growing health risk.
There are large numbers of abandoned properties in California, which were left by people unable to keep up with their mortgages. There has apparently been a 40% increase in the incidence of WEST NILE disease in the area, spread by mosquito bites.
Within a week of being abandoned, pools turn green then black with algael blooms, and stagnates. Mosquitoes then breed in the bloom. It takes 4 days in the California heat to go from egg to adult.
B: RISK AND CLIMATE CHANGE
This section is more related to PROCESS than case study material.
Check out the GLOBAL WARMING page for plenty more on this.
4. Climate Change and its causes: Is global warming a recent short-term phenomenon or should it be seen as part of longer-term climate.
Short, Medium and Long term climate change
How does the Greenhouse effect work ?
5. The impacts of Global Warming: What are the impacts of climate change and why should we be concerned ?
IPCC work is needed here.
Will need to source documents which are of an appropriate level
Sea ice retreat animation, with thanks to Rob Burn
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/10/01/science/20071002_ARCTIC_GRAPHIC.html#
Thanks to Garry Simmons for his resources relating to a mystery:
WHY DID THE RUSSIANS PLANT A FLAG ON THE SEA BED AT THE NORTH POLE
6. Coping with climate change: What are the strategies for dealing with climate change ?
Reduction in carbon footprints
Mitigation
Global treaties ?
Dealing with climate change ?
7. The challenge of global hazards for the future: How should we tackle the global challenges of increasing risk and vulnerability in a more hazardous world ?
Which are the most vulnerable places to climate change ?
Where would be the safest place to live in the future ? (Reminded of Bill McGuire lecture at GA conference)
Energy efficiency schemes ?
Deforestation ?
Fairtrade ?
Plenty of ideas to develop here...
Useful books:
Garret Nagle: "Hazards"
Victoria Bishop: "Hazards and Responses" (2nd Edition)
More sources of information to be added between now and September.
Will need to adapt some of the material here....
Further resources:
In March 2008, Gordon Brown released some details of threats facing the UK in a new CIVIL DEFENCE PLAN: The National Security Strategy of the UK
Daily Mail article gives some details:
As part of a new National Security Strategy, Prime Minister Gordon Brown also revealed that the Government will publish for the first time a list of the risks faced by Britain, including possible numbers of fatalities in a range of disasters.
The strategy paper said the "risk register" would be issued in the summer, and would "enable communities to prepare better".
For example, it said the highest threat currently faced is an influenza-type pandemic which the Government believes could kill up to 750,000 people in the UK.
The second-highest risk is coastal flooding on the scale of the 1953 East Coast floods which claimed 300 lives, and which could result in the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people.
The latest document set out moves by ministers to deal with a wide range of threats, including terrorism, nuclear attack, natural disasters such as extreme weather and flooding, international crime and cyber attacks.
People would volunteer to join their local civil protection network, run by town halls.
They would help evacuate elderly people in the event of a flood, for example, and could even play a role in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, the spokesman said.
The new risk register will be updated annually and may be available online.
More to come as this story develops....
You can download the report FROM THIS LINK.
The SECURITY CHALLENGES
Terrorism
Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction
Trans-national organised crime
Global instability and conflict and failed and fragile states
Civil emergencies
Climate Change
Competition for energy
