Mass Movements: Inducing a rockfall

This footage from Norway shows a helicopter inducing a rockfall. It shows how devastating a rockfall could be on humans (look at the net at the end). Thanks to Todd Hale in Y13

Natural Hazards continue to cause havoc in Asia

There has been continued flooding in Pakistan and more than 700 people have now been confirmed dead as a result from the massive landslide in China.

The Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari returned home to anger as 1500 people have been confirmed dead and 13.8 million people badly affected.

Meanwhile, in China a further 1000 people are still missing along with 700 confirmed dead as a landslide destroyed buildings and buried people. Rescuers are searching by hand in very remote areas. BBC Report and Video.

China landslide kills dozens

A huge landslide in China has killed at least 127 people in the Gansu province. (BBC Report)

Coastal Erosion

Coastal erosion is similar to river erosion as there are 4 ways that the waves erode the coast: Hydraulic Action, Abrasion, Attrition and Solution (see above).

The rate of Coastal erosion depends upon a number of factors relating to the rock. Some rocks are more resistant and are not eroded as quickly, such as granite in Cornwall, whereas softer rocks such as boulder clay on the Holderness coast can be eroded rapidly. Also, the structure of the rock is important as rocks which have natural weaknesses along faults, joints or bedding planes will be eroded quicker than rocks which are just massive blocks.

UK 2007 floods cost the economy £3.2 Billion

The (BBC Reports) that the Environment Agency states that the 2007 UK floods cost the economy an astonishing £3.2 billion.

It also calculates that investment in flood defences will need to almost double, to £1bn a year, to protect properties in the future.

48, 000 homes were affected, each costing between £20,000 and £30,000 to repair. The cost for flooded businesses varied between £75,000 and £112,000. Farmers lost an average of £1,150 per hectare of land flooded, whilst the damage to infrastructure such as roads and power supplies was put at £660 million.

The high costs of flooding underline the importance for continued investment in reducing flood risk Robert Runcie, Environment Agency

Year 12 Geography MKT

Firstly, do not panic. There is plenty of work that you can be getting on with at home. We will complete cold environments and the ways of managing cold environments next week.

Over the next few days I would suggest that you obviously continue to revise the 'coasts' unit but with specific reference to your case study examples.

The disc from the text book contains extended information from particular websites about; St Lucia, Southampton, The Mediterranean and Brazil-Rio de Janeiro. My advice is to work through the case studies e.g. learn facts/figures, understand who manages the area e.g. The SMMA in St Lucia and most importantly you need to say how it has been managed and has it been a success.

Human activities/conflicts= Brazil and Southampton (multi-use coastal areas). Extend notes from disc.
Management and impacts= St Lucia (has been a success- why?), The Mediterranean (management plans have been set up e.g. MAP but the area is under severe pressure due to the size of the area) and you could also use Pevensey for management e.g. the shoreline management plan and DEFRA.

I hope this helps, the activities on the disc are from 2.8 to 2.11. (Use them they will help!)

Best of luck, don't hesitate in emailing me if you have any problems/questions or use the forum on the VLE.

Year 12 F761 PAN work

Topic: Cold Environments (how appropriate)

The only mini-topics that we have not covered are 'Periglacial features' (patterned ground, Pingos and Ice Wedges) on pages 108/9 and 'Relict Features' (Dry Valleys, Misfit streams, Scree slopes and Loess) on pages 109/110.

We will cover these topics in one of the 3 lessons next week, but must should read up and make notes on them all.

In terms of revision concentrate on the sections that were covered in the 'Rivers' revision sessions. The topics are:

• Mass Movements
• Types of Erosion and Weathering
• Erosional features (Upper Course mainly)
• Transportation and factors influencing erosion and deposition
• Depositional Features (Middle and Lower Course)
• Human Activities in River Basins
• Managing River Basins

If you scroll down the blog you will find information such as mind maps from the revision sessions and examples of features and floods. Use the search function as well.

USE THE VLE FORUM OR E-MAIL FOR ANY PROBLEMS

OCR AS Specification

The AS specification can be found on the list of websites (The good guys) on the right hand side. There are all the past papers and mark schemes. As school is closed again on Thursday we will use this blog to keep you all updated on what you should be doing. We have completed about 95% of the course content, so do not panic and get revising!!

Year 12 River Basin Management

Here is the mind-map from the revision session on Tuesday night. Click on the image to enlarge it.

The question on management will probably ask you to evaluate the management techniques, and to consider how the socio-economic needs can be managed in harmony with the environmental needs.

F761 Human Attractions: Rivers Revision Mind map

A photograph of the mind-map produced in the AS revision session on Wednesday. This shows the human uses and developments of two river basins: The Thames and The Mekong.

Remember, the emphasis for this type of question will be on 'COMPARISON' or 'CONFLICT'

Click on the image to enlarge.

Another Atkinson Presentation...

Glaciation: Features in the French Alps

Mr Atkinson fills his boots in a geographers playground

Bangladesh Flooding

Year 12: Try these links for helping to add detail to your Bangladesh Report:

-Environment Statistics

-Bangladesh Disaster Statistics

Atkinson Productions presents....

A short video to illustrate the features of the River Dane. Year 13 pupils visited the river on Tuesday 13th October as part of their A-Level course. They have to now produce a geographical enquiry including aims, a risk-assessment, hypotheses and methods.

The Bradshaw Model

The model is used to show how channel variables change downstream. Pupils in Year 13 may carry out a geographical investigation on rivers using the model. On Tuesday we will be going go the River Dane to plan a geographical fieldtrip.

The Upper Course of a River

A quality set of AS presentations on the Upper Course of a river. Jessica and Mhairi explain lots of processes as well as features, and talk about channel shape in detail (with a few giggles). Grace and Rachel cover the features with a well structured presentation including description, explanation and examples of each feature. Quality ladies....

Hjulstrom Curve...give it some respect...

Mind Map Basilicata LandSlide

by Jess Slinger (Y12 Geography Legend). Click on it to enlarge. The mind map shows the causes and effects of the landslide and can be printed once enlarged.

Year 13 Mass Movement Websites for research

Sorry not hyperlinked, you will have to type in or copy and paste:

http://landslides.usgs.gov/ (excellent site, use the links and sections at the top)

www.geolsoc.org (The geological society- use the search function)

www.scotland.gov.uk (looks at landslides and impacts on the roads)

www.news.bbc.co.uk (for landslides in the news)

http://geology.about.com/od/naturalhazardsclimate/ig/Landslides (Peter and Tom's powerpoint site)

French Alps

What is better than holiday snaps? Simple...holiday snaps featuring glacial features. The Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) Glacier in the French Alps and the view across the French and Italian Alps from Mt Blanc.