US Oil Slick threat to the Environment

An explosion on an Oil rig of the coast of the South East USA has caused a 'state of emergency' due to the potential threat to the environment from the resulting oil slick. This is an example of how the socio-economic gains from the exploitation of fossil fuels can have a potentially devastating effect on the wildlife and environment. It is estimated that 5,000 barrels per day of oil are leaking from the rig, and even though efforts have been made to try and mitigate the effects, US politicians and environmentalists fear the worst.

Parts of the slick have been set on fire, and British Petroleum (BP) who owns the rig have used boats and inflatable booms to try and collect the 3 mile long slick.

Icelandic Volcanoes

Rural Population Change

Use the 2001 census information to study rural change around Oxford.

Census website

Change can be growth (especially in the Urban Fringe) or decline when transport links are lacking.

Look for: Population change

Age-sex structure changes

Employment rates

You will need to compare this information, using a table with the 1991 and 1981 figures.

Volcano chaos continues...

Volcano continues to disrupt Europe air travel

Volcanic eruption halts all UK flights

A Volcano has erupted in Iceland, and has led to all flights in and out of the UK being cancelled until 18.00 GMT. The eruption has led to an enormous amount of ash entering into the atmosphere that can be potentially hazardous to aircrafts. Experts have warned that tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in Volcanic ash can be hazardous to aircrafts.

BBC report

Climatic Hazards: UK Snow 2010

BBC Report on the snow for the winter of 2009/10.

Year 8 Bangladesh Flood Report

The task is to produce a detailed newspaper report on 'flooding' in the South Asian country of Bangladesh.

In your report you MUST include the following sections:

1. The Location of Bangladesh: Where is Bangladesh? What rivers flow through Bangladesh?
2. The Causes of the Flood: What are the Human causes? What are the physical causes?
3. The Impacts of the Flood: How many people died? What was damaged? How did the flood affect the people?
4. The Response to the Flood: What did the people do? What did the government do? How did other countries help?

Also, you must include at least one diagram or picture in your report.

Use the textbook, pages 76-81 and why not try searching this blog. There are a number of pupil videos explaining the flooding and even some A-Level information!

F762 Energy: UK Nuclear Power

Here is the BBC link for the article that you were given on the UK's move to increase its use of Nuclear Energy. This can be used on two types of questions:
1. On a question asking how demand for energy is being met
2. On a question about sustainability between demand and the environment

Mapping Data

Year 13, I stumbled upon this website which provides a database full of statistics and data that can be mapped. The link is here. The site is called 'Map mechanics' and has data on all parts of the world, not just the UK. It is designed to help businesses choose locations for there stores as it provides basic information on the socio-economic make-up of areas. It also includes census data.