Pure Geography (Syllabus 2235) Preliminary Revision Part I: Physical Geography

What you need to know: Contents: Those in Grey came out in 2009 O Level Geography Paper. 1. Plate Tectonics and the Resulting Landforms 2. Weather and Climate 3. Natural Vegetation 4. Rivers and Coasts

Chapter 1: Plate Tectonics and the Resulting Landforms

1. 2. Structure of the Earth (Crust, Mantle, Core) Plate Tectonics Theory a. Plates are pieces of land floating on the mantle. b. How do plates move? c. Distribution of tectonic plates (7 major plates, where mountains located) d. Movement of plates [6] i. Continental Continental / Oceanic Oceanic / Continental Oceanic plate divergence ii. Continental Continental / Oceanic Oceanic plate convergence iii. Transform plate movements iv. Learn process, resulting landforms and examples of those landforms. Tectonic Landforms [3] a. Fold Mountains i. Caused by folding when 2 plates collide and bend/fold ii. Found along convergent plate boundaries (e.g. Himalayas) b. Rift Valley / Block Mountains i. Formed by faulting when 2 plates are subjected to tensional/compressional force ii. Depending on the force and shape of fault, a rift valley/block mountain will be formed. iii. Examples c. Volcanoes i. Formed by vulcancity, upward movement of magma to form volcanoes. ii. Classification based on time scale/shape iii. Advantages [4] and Disadvantages [5] Tectonic Phenomena: Earthquakes a. Earthquake: Sudden vibration of Earths crust; caused by transform plate movements. b. Factors affecting impact of Earthquake [5] c. Consequences of Earthquakes: Economic [3], Social [3], Environmental [3] [Learn Examples!] d. Measures of Earthquakes [5] [Learn Examples]

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Chapter 2: Weather and Climate

1. Weather: Conditions of the atmosphere at a particular place at a particular point of time. Climate: Conditions of the atmosphere at a particular place over a long period of time (>30 years). Factors constituting weather and determining climate patterns [4] a. Temperature: Can be affected by 4 factors [4] b. Relative Humidity: Note: Only the capacity of the air changes increases when temp. increases.

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Actual amt. of water vapour Max amt. of water vapour

c. d. Rainfall: Convectional Rain and Relief Rain. Air Pressure: Force exerted on a unit area of the Earths surface by the weight of a column of air above it. i. Affected by temperature, altitude/density. ii. Leads to winds (air in motion) e. Types of Winds (Note: Winds blow from high pressure to low pressure) i. Land/Sea breezes (local scale)
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Pure Geography (Syllabus 2235) Preliminary Revision Part I: Physical Geography

ii. Monsoon Winds (regional scale) 3. Climatic Conditions (add more info from teachers notes) a. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect caused by human activities Global Warming b. Impacts of Global Warming [2] c. Attempts to slow down global warming [3] Climate types [3]: Tropical Equatorial, Tropical Monsoon, Cool Temperate a. Location, temperature, temperature range, total annual rainfall. b. Note: Know how to describe a climograph!!! Severe Weather Phenomena: Floods and Droughts Causes Natural Physical 3 4 1 2 Consequences Social Environmental 4 2 3 3 Measures 4 6

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Floods Droughts

Economic 2 2

Chapter 3: Natural Vegetation

1. Comparison of Forests a. Type of Forests [4]: Tropical Rainforest, Mangrove, Tropical Monsoon, Tropical Coniferous b. Things to compare [8]: Density, Diversity, Structure, Roots, Leaves, Barks/Branches, Fruits, Location/E.g. Uses of Forests [10] a. Maintaining water supply b. Replenishing oxygen/removing carbon dioxide c. Maintaining nutrients in the soil d. Natural treatment of waste water e. Preventing floods f. Protecting coasts g. Habitat for Flora and Fauna h. A source for useful materials i. Recreation j. Research and Education Deforestation (get info from teachers notes) a. Causes [6] b. Consequences [6] c. Measures [5]

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Chapter 4: Rivers and Coasts

1. 2. The River System: 3 Courses, watershed, drainage basin, tributaries, distributaries, confluence, river mouth, river delta. Factors affecting Energy of River a. Speed [3]: Gradient, Roughness of Channel, Wetted Perimeter b. Volume [5]: Permeability of Rocks, Vegetation Cover, Climate, Drainage Basin, Type of Soil River Processes a. Erosion [4]: Corrasion/Abrasion, Attrition, Solution/Corrosion, Hydraulic Action b. Transportation [4]: Traction, Saltation, Suspension, Solution. c. Deposition d. Learn dominant process at different parts of river course! River Landforms [5] a. Erosional: Valleys/Gorges, Waterfalls b. Depositional: Floodplains, Leeves, Deltas/Distributaries c. Both: Meanders, Oxbow Lakes River Management Strategies Coasts: Coasts, Waves, Tides, Currents.

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5. 6.

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Pure Geography (Syllabus 2235) Preliminary Revision Part I: Physical Geography

7. a. Factors affecting Wave energy [3] b. Constructive and Destructive Waves Costal Processes a. Erosion: Factors affecting Erosion [4], Processes [4] b. Transportation: Longshore drift. c. Deposition: Factors affecting deposition [3] d. Coastal Landforms and Features i. Erosional: Headlands and Bays, Cliff ii. Depositional: Beaches, Spit/Tombolos. e. Coastal Management i. Hard Engineering [4] ii. Soft Engineering [4]

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Pure Geography (Syllabus 2235) Preliminary Revision Part II: Human Geography
What you need to know: Contents: 5. 6. 7. 8. Development The Industrial World Tourism Geography of Food

Chapter 5: Development
1. Definitions: Development is regarded as the process aimed at achieving economic growth, creating an environment for individuals to enjoy a good standard of living and quality of life. Indicators of Development: Economic [2] GDP/Capita Employment Structure HDI [3] Demographic [3] Social [2] Life Expectancy Adult Literacy Rate Infant Mortality Rate Access to water/sanitation Urban Population Advantages: Can be used as a guide to determine how developed a country is. Limitations: Fails to take into account the measurement of rights and freedom (QOL), time lag, more accurate in DCs compared to LDCs due to lack of data.

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Core Periphery Model Reasons for uneven development: Historical Physical Economic Social Political Colonialism Climate Presence of raw materials Cumulative Causation Education Population Growth Rate Political Conflict Leadership

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Strategies to Alleviate Uneven Development National Level Improving water supply and sanitation facilities Improving education standards Population Control Job Creation and Financial Assistance International Level International Organisations (World Bank, Asian Development Bank) International Agreements (United Nations Millennium Development Goals, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)

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Pure Geography (Syllabus 2235) Preliminary Revision Part II: Human Geography

Chapter 6: The Industrial World

1. 2. Types of Industries (Primary Quaternary) Factors affecting Industrial Location [9] a. Physical: Land, Raw Materials, Energy b. Human: Government, Labour, Transport, Capital, Technology, Market Changing Industrial Trends (Industrial Transference, Deindustrialization) Reasons for Trends of Transference: a. Competitive Advantage b. Outsourcing c. Space-shrinking Technology Newly-Industralizing Economies a. Characteristics: Considerable level of Industralization, Shift in Employment Pattern, Exporter of manufactured products, Wealthier Population, Increase proportion of population in urban areas. b. Case Study: The electronics industry of Malaysia i. Factors influencing location: Historical, Availability of Infrastructure, Government Policies, Skilled Labour Pool, Political Stability ii. Challenges: High Level of Competitiveness, Competition from other countries iii. Strategies: Economically Viable industrial development, Environmentally Compatible Industrial Development, Socially Compatible Industrial Development

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Chapter 7: Tourism
1. 2. Definitions: Tourism refers to the activities of tourists and the industry that cater to their needs. Reasons for the Growth of Tourism: [12] a. Demand Factors: Disposable Income, Leisure Time, Changing Lifestyle b. Supply Factors: Amenities, Accessibility, Affordability, Ancillary/Subsidary Services, Quality Service. c. Prevalence of Media (Attractive Advertising, Availability of Information) d. Ease of making Travel Bookings e. Meetings/Conventions f. Reduction in Political Barriers Impact on the Growth of Tourism Positive 1. Contribution to Revenue 2. Development of Infrastructure 3. Creation of Jobs 4. Contribution to local economies 5. Diversification of local economies 6. Increase in Foreign Investments 13. Exchange of Values 14. Preservation of Heritage Negative 7. Loss of income/ employment opportunities 8. Enclave Tourism 9. High Infrastructure Cost 10. Unequal Development of Industries 11. Increase in Prices 12. Vulnerability to Seasons/Unforeseen Events 15. Loss of local identity/values 16. Conflict for resource use 17. Economic Inequality 18. Clash of Values 19. Crime Generation 21. Environmental Degradation

3.

Economic

Social

Environmental

20. Conservation of Natural Areas

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Pure Geography (Syllabus 2235) Preliminary Revision Part II: Human Geography
4. Managing the Impacts of Tourism a. Principles of Sustainable Tourism b. People involved: Planning Authorities, Businesses, Tourists, Non-Governmental Organisations

Chapter 8: Geography of Food

1. Trends in Food Production and Distribution a. DC: Increase in Consumption of healthy/organic food. b. DC: Increase in Consumption of larger variety of food c. LDC: Decrease in Consumption of carbohydrates due to larger variety of non staple food Variations in Food Consumption between DCs and LDCs a. Affordability/Economic Power b. Stability of Food Supply/Food Security c. Natural Factors/Events d. Accessibility of Food e. Socio Political Events f. Technology g. Provision of Future Needs Impact of Variations in Food Consumption a. LDC: Starvation b. LDC / DC: Malnutrition c. DC: Obesity Factors affecting intensity of Food Production a. Physical: Relief, Fertility of Soil, Climate b. Social: Land Fragmentation / Land tenure c. Economic: Demand, Capital d. Political: Government Policies i. Financing/Building Infrastructure ii. Subsiding Food Production iii. Controlling Trade iv. Providing Low-cost loans/grants/tax advantages v. Setting up agricultural training colleges e. Technological: Green Revolution / Blue Revolution i. High-Yielding Varieties ii. Modern Irrigation Methods iii. Use of Chemicals: Pesticides/Insecticides/Herbicides iv. Advantages/Disadvantages of Blue/Green Revolution Developments in Food Production a. Effects of increased use of irrigation: Salinisation, Waterlogging. b. Effects of increased use of chemicals: IMBA in soil nutrients, eutrophication in water bodies, water pollution c. Development of GM Crops: i. Benefits: Increase food supply, improve nutritional value of food, reduce environmental pollution (can reduce reliance on chemicals) ii. Threats: Potential health risks, (allergies), loss of biodiversity, loss of natural species.

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