Uses

The waters of the Niagara River are used by 100,000+ Canadians and US citizens for a range of purposes such as: drinking, boating, fishing, swimming, bird watching, Industrial cooling, and hydroelectricity.

The Energy Plant generates 4.4 GW of energy and is contracted to keep the falls flowing and clean.

Tourism

28 million tourists visit the area each year to see the falls and experience the Maid of the Mist boat trip, the “journey behind the falls” tour, the speed boat up the gorge as well as take in the tourist sites that have been built next to the falls themselves.

Tourism has lead to the falls being heavily developed with a lot of hotels, traffic congestion and litter.

FormationNiagara Falls is on the 58km long Niagara River which links Lakes Eerie and Ontario.

At Niagara Fall the river flows over a hard Lockport Dolomite which lies on top of soft sands and shale.

As it flows it erodes the shale (mainly through abrasion and hydraulic action) leaving an overhang of dolomite. This is unsupported and as the erosion continues the overhang eventually collapses. At Niagara this is a drop of 50m.

Over time the falls retreat up the river creating a gorge. The Niagara Gorge is 11km long.

2 million litres of water go over the horseshoe falls every second. The falls are

retreating at a rate of 2m per

year

Reasons for the flooding

PHYSICAL -A very wet August (2 times

average rain) SO the ground was already saturated

-Impermeable rocks & thin soils -Steep slopes – rapid runoff

-Confluence of Rivers Valency & Jordan is just above the village

-A very high tide – made it difficult for water to flow out to sea

HUMAN -Bridges were low so acted a a

dam - debris such as tree trunks caught on them water piled up until it burst through in a great

wave -Many buildings & roads were positioned close to the river so

more property damage

Primary Impacts - 50+ cars, and caravans

were swept out to sea- a wall of water swept

through the village destroying everything in its

path- 6 buildings were swept

away - Many other houses, shops etc were flooded, with mud +

sewage as well as water; possessions also ruined

- Roads under 2.75m of water

- No deaths, few serious injuries

Secondary Impacts - 90% of economy dependent on tourism > lost money >20 accommodation providers & tourist

attractions/shops forced to shut - Insurance companies pay out £20 million

New Management & defence -£4.6m scheme includes: raise car park to safer

level; move & raise bridge; widen & lower the river bed to increase the amount of water it can hold

-Removing of dead vegetation to stop blocking of the river

-‘At risk’ properties – encouraged to use more flood resistant material, raise height of electrical

wiring etc-Environment Agency – flood warning system +

information -Council runs special advice days, encouraging

people to have an emergency evacuation pack & to take out insurance. Council has an

emergency action plan.

Since 2004 – flooding again, still damage but not as damaging as this event

Characteristics of Bangladesh

-Lays mainly on floodplains, so flat landMost of the land lies 6metres below sea-3 main rivers- The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. -Monsoon season evey year – high concentrated rainfall in a few months (June to September).-1,800mm and 2,600mm rain a year. -Poverty is a huge issue in Bangladesh-low literacy rate-Flooding occurs naturally in Bangladesh -Snow from the Himalayas melts each year and increase river discharge -Sediment blocks up the river and causes flooding -Deforestation in the forest increases run off and reduces lag time-Cyclones occur in the Bay of Benegal and causes coastal flooding-Densely populated areas meaning increase in deaths

Social impacts -36 million people were

made homeless -People died as a result of disease because they had no access to clean water.-Impacted on rural farmers and urban slum dwellers

the most.-Over 800 died with many

more from disease

Economic impacts -serious damage to infrastructure – roads,

bridges, embankments, railway lines, irrigation systems

-All domestic and internal flights had to be suspended during July

-Value of damage was assessed as being in region of $2.2 billion of 4% of total GDP

for 2004

Environmental impacts During July and August

approximately 38% of the total land area was flooded

including 800,000 ha of agricultural land and DhakaFloods caused river bank

erosion especially on embankment areas close to

the main channels, soil erosion, water-logging, water

contamination

Response and management -Reliance on Ngo support – financial and

emergency supplies –UN disaster management support

-Self help schemes promoted -local community early warning system

implemented, plus shelters -Increasing use of levees to protect field

and villages -Increasing monitoring to reduce the

impact as happens every year. -encourage farmers to build homes on

stilts.

Nature conservation -Studland and

Brownsea island all have rare species and

plant life.See Studland case study for examples.

Brownsea, like Studland is owned by

the national trust. Particularly important for bird life and red

squirrels. -Green Island is a Site

of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and

Special Protection Area (SPA)

-Studland and Brownsea Island are all

protected by various organisations due to their environmental

significance.

Transport -Poole harbour is the

second largest natural harbour in the World. -There are commercial

trips within the harbour as well as an international

ferry terminal to Cherbourg, Brittany and

the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey)

-Run by Condor and Brittany ferries

Residential

-Sandbanks and Hamworthy (12,000) are the most built

up areas of Poole Bay.-With a small population in Studland and Brownsea

Island -Sandbanks is famous for

having the 4th most expensive land value in the

World.

Industry

-Sunseeker is the largest company in Poole Harbour, with the production of the

large luxury boats. There are 7 shipyards, employs over

2,500 locals. - Other boat repairs, dredging and cargo

industries operate in the area.

Energy

-Furzey Island is home to the well hidden oil well and

gathering station for Wytch Farm - Britain's largest

onshore oil development. Oil and gas are exported, was

previously BP now Perenco.-There is a proposal to build an off-shore wind farm just outside of Poole Bay, yet this has been

meet with much hostility.

Recreational

-A wide range of sporting activities due to the calm

bay within the Harbour and the actual coast.

-Windsurfing is the most popular watersport., alongside sailing.

-The RNLI offer lifeguarding service on the main

beaches.

Human Use

-wide, sandy beach attracts millions of tourists, can be

25,000 each day -Car parks, café, shops

-Sailing jetty-Beach huts

-Education centre-Horse riding and water

sports. -Naturist area

-Locals – small village with few amenities

-Ferry from Sandbanks

Issues -Litter

-Pollutions from cars, water and noise

-Fire hazards from BBQs and cigarette butts

-Major fire in 2009 that left utter devastation to the

ecosystem-Conflict between users

those that want to use for more activities and

environmentalists. In addition locals become inundated during the

Summer months.

-The nature reserve is an area of sand dunes. These are dynamic, but often unstable and vulnerable environments. home to rare species of plants and birds

- Identified as a National Nature Reserve (NNR) and Site of special scientific interest (SSSI)

-Owned by The National Trust -In 2001 Studland had a population of 480, the lowest in 50 years.

-Sheltered from wind so sand is deposited and trapped to create dunes , 5km of beach-Forested area, Studland heath, marsh and sand dunes.

-Little sea is the lake located within the heath and forested area.

Management -Litter

-Planting of marram grass to stabilise the dunes , plus fencing

-Boardwalks have been created to reduce trampling

-Limited car parks to reduce the damage to the beach

-Fire beaters placed throughout the area to reduce damage from fire -Litter and recycling bins

-Several info boards to educate -Also gabions and rock armour to protect from

wave erosion

Rare species Bee wolf

Purbeck Mason waspDragonflty

Smooth snakeAdders

Sand lizards Dartford Warblers

Seahorse

Why was Chinas population controlled?

China had to control its population as the country was increasing and increasing. In the 1950s, China wanted to improve its wealth; the President thought the country had too many people to increase its wealth.-There were more people in China than the combined population of Europe, the Americas and Japan.-The population was creeping quickly to 1 Billion people.

Reasons why China thought it wouldn’t become rich with a big population-Need more food which means they couldn’t sell a lot to other countries-The government would have to spend a lot of money on health care and education.- Wouldn’t be enough jobs for everyone so the government would have to pay benefits

The One child Policy

In 1979 the Chinese government introduced the One Child Policy. This meant each couple could only have one child.

If couples had more than one child they would have to pay fines or they would force the mother to have an abortion. You had to be married and over 25years to have children.

If couples had one child they would get free healthcare, education and money.

Married couples in the countryside were allowed 2 children as the government saw that children were needed to help with farming.

As families were only allowed one child, most wanted a boy to keep on the family name, so if women found out they were having a girl they would adopt or abort the baby. This now has created a large population of males and not enough females. In 2000, it was reported that 90% of foetuses aborted in China were female. Today it is thought that men outnumber women by more than 60 million.

Has it worked?

The birth rate in China has fallen since 1979, and the rate of population growth is now 0.7%.

China's one-child policy has been somewhat relaxed in recent years. Couples can now apply to have a second child if their first child is a girl, or if both parents are themselves only-children.

While China's population is now rising more slowly, it still has a very large total population (1.3 billion in 2008).

Caatinga is one of the two poorest regions of Brazil. It is an agricultural area but due to

increasing desertification this is becoming more and more

difficult.

Pull factors

–Bright lights, the idea that there are better opportunities-Better employment-better education, -business opportunities -higher standard of living

Negatives for Sao PauloIncreasing population in Sao Paulo can’t fit into the available housing and so favelas (shanty towns) spring up.20% of people in Sao Paulo live in favelas like Paraisopolis.

There is limited fresh water and electricity; high crime; low health and education. The favelas are unsafe and susceptible to flood, landslide and fire

1980 to 2011 Brazils urban

population increased from

65% to 85%

Push factors. Few jobs outside of farmingPoor education (the lowest levels in Brazil)Low life expectancyLow life expectancy and education are due to a shortage of services such as schools and health facilities

Positives for Sao PauloMore workers so the economy growsAn increased demand for services and goods so more work and trade for urban industry.

Effects on CaatingaRural areas are left without the young and healthy.This means the manual work on the farm has to be done by elderly or very young.When the young are forced to work this takes them out of education making the situation worse for the future.The young and elderly are not as fit and so can’t produce as many crops which leads to a decline in wealth and food. This results in poorer health and increased migration to Sao Paulo.

Young men and women are leaving rural Caatinga for a better quality of life in Sao Paulo.Their plan is to send money back to their families in rural areas. This sometimes fails as they struggle to earn enough money in Sao Paulo and find that they are forced to live in favelas.

People move for a better QUALITY OF LIFE

The perceived attractions include:-a slower pace of life -the scenery -the community -away from busy larger cities -lower crime rates-the peaceful Peak District

Popular areas for retirement migrants have problems as a result of this:-pressure on health care -demand for social services -an increase in house prices -a lack of suitable housing

There are also advantages:• There is an increased demand for local services - so

The local shop and pubs have more custom • jobs in social care and health care are available • A growth of age related services, such as

chiropodists, social groups and bingo for elderly.• Increased public transport particularly at rush hour

Local councils have to spend a

large proportion of their budget on

elderly care whether social

services or hospital care

The migration to Hathersage causes housing problems. There are rules about new building projects so barns and outbuildings are converted for residential use.Increased demand for housing pushes up prices which means local people (who often work in farming or tourism in the area), can’t afford to live there.

People choose Hathersage because 1. It has bus and train services into

Sheffield and Manchester2. It is just 12 miles from the centre of

Sheffield on the A6253. It is a centre for outdoor activities like

walking, climbing and cycling4. It has a number of cafes and pubs for

socialising.5. It has a very popular swimming pool

Migrants moving from Poland to the UK are classed as economic

migrants.

Between 2004 and 2007 half a million poles

arrived

Push factors from Poland include -high unemployment of

19%. -Low wages of £8000

- housing shortages with only 300 houses available for every

1000 people - Lack of higher education- Low standard of living

The UK has pull factors such as

- higher wages of £20,000 - low unemployment of 4%.

- Higher standard of living- Higher education opportunities- Already a multicultural society- Part of the EU so can enter

easily and gain a working visa

If a country is part of the EU, you can

move freely between every country

Impacts to Poland (origin country)

- (+) Money is sent back to Poland, this is called remittances, this

strengthens their economy (£1bil)- (-) Skilled workers leaving Poland,

this is called the Brain drain- (-) Underpopulation, an ageing

population in Poland. (82% aged 18-34 migrant from Poland)

- (+) Most migrants are temporarily leave Poland, so come back with

better skills and money

Impacts to the UK (host country)

- (+) Polish migrants contributed £1.9 billion in taxes .

- (+) provide skilled workers like plumbers, will do unpleasant

jobs like cleaning.- (+) Creates multicultural society- (-) Puts pressure on public

services (health, education)- (-) creates tension in the

community (e.g they take our jobs)

- (-) overcrowding

The UK government attempts to manage immigration. Polish workers have

to register under the worker registration scheme. For new EU countries like Bulgaria

the government tightened their control and now migrants have to get permission from the

home office to work here and it is only granted for certain jobs – where there is a shortage. Other counties manage migration through a

point based system based on education, age, language ability etc e.g. Australia. The UK is

looking at this. We also have limits and targets set and we control illegal immigration though deportation – here illegal migrants are

arrested, jailed and forced to return home.

In 1981 the London's Docklands Development Corporation

(LDDC) was set up to improve the economic, social and

environmental problems that had developed in the area that was once one of the world's busiest ports.. The area became on the first Enterprise Zones in 1981.

The land was made rate free for ten years.

Why did the London Docks go into decline?

1. An increase in ship size meant they found it difficult to come down the river

as far as the Isle of Dogs where the river wasn't as deep. (the position of

the docks moved further downstream to Tilbury);

2. Containerisation meant few dockers were needed with large cranes used to

lift containers from ships;3. The decline of portside industries

and manufacturingEnvironmental Regeneration

- network of pedestrian and cycle routes - creation of pedestrian bridges

- creation of new open spaces (150ha)- Water based Ecology Park and London's first bird

sanctuary at East India Dock Basin - one of 17 conservation areas set up

- planting of 200,000 trees;- the area has now received many awards for architecture,

conservation and landscaping

- Unemployment had fallen & business increased- transport revolution - opening of the Docklands Light Railway in 1987 - now carrying 35,000 passengers a

week;- £7.7 billion in private sector investment

-Building of the City Airport - - attraction of financial and high-tech firms,

- TV studios and newspapers such as The Guardian now have offices in the prestigious Canary Wharf

business complex.

- £10 million spent homes- a total of 22,000 new homes built

- of old warehouses to new homes- New shopping centre built

- refurbishment of shopping parades - - many restaurants, pubs and cafes built

- Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre- £100 million spent on health, education,

job training etc

Success- Increase in trade- Large TNCs came- Better transport

- Sustainable building (Brownfield sites)

- Conservation

Criticisms- Didn’t benefit the original

residents, couldn’t afford new houses

- No community -High skilled jobs not for old

dockers

Since the 1980s, much of the retail development in the UK has been in the form of

out-of-town developments as land is cheaper, more land is available in the countryside,

workers are nearby and good transport links.

Bluewater, known as Europe's largest retail and leisure

complex, opened in 1999, it was built on a brownfield site. It used to be a chalk

quarry.

It has excellent access to the market (consumers) and for supply, being just

outside the M25 in the

area of Dartford.

It has a good catchment area, with over 11

million people within an hours drive.

Economic impacts-Provides jobs in the local

-Gives local income to strengthens the economy

through consumers and local council

BUT CBD is struggling as most people go to OOT centre rather than town centre, so urban decay.

Trade in the local CBDs have decreased by over 50%

The cyclone happened on 2nd May 2008 at the

Irrawaddy delta in Burma

The cost of the damage was $10

billion.

The primary impacts included -140,000 were killed

-450,000 homes - 1700 schools were destroyed.

- 200,000 farm animals were killed - 40% of food stores were destroyed. - Rice fields were flooded on the

Irrawaddy Delta

The secondary impacts were that - up to 3 million were made homeless

- millions lost their livelihoods. -Over 70% of households didn’t have access to clean water and this caused

diseases. - There was a shortage of food.

- 1000’s of temples were destroyed

The Government failed to warn its people. People were not evacuated in

time

As Burma is a poor country it could not afford to plan, predict

and prepare like the USA. The emergency services were ill prepared, had little training or

equipment and lacked numbers. The government refused to

accept foreign aid at first as they said they could cope. Its

government is a military dictator and they do not like outsiders! Aid workers were eventually

allowed in, though this was three weeks after the cyclone.

The impacts were also greater in Burma than the USA because many

in Burma depend on farming (crops and

livestock) and much of this was totally

destroyed

Additionally, they do not have flood defences and

their houses are poor quality and easily

destroyed.

• Strong winds up to 135mph • • Storm surge of 7.6m

• Heavy rainfall

http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/A-level/AQA/Year%2013/Weather%20and%20climate/Hurricanes/Cyclone_Nargis.htm

The country is located on a conservative plate boundary between the Caribbean Plate and the North American Plate.

3 Million people live in Port au Prince with the majority living in

slum conditions after rapid urbanisation.

The poorest country in the western hemisphere. GDP

is 143/227. 66% of the population of Haiti earn

less than £1 a day with 56% of the population classed

as “extremely poor”

In early January 2010 the EU

released €3 m in emergency funding.

The European Council and its member

nations later announced more than

€429 million in aid.

The governments of the United States, Israel ,the Dominican Republic, Canada, Brazil, Italy and

Cuba3 sent over 1,000 military and disaster relief personnel each, with the United States being by

far the largest single contributor to the relief efforts.

- 12th January 2010 an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale

struck Haiti.-The focus was 13km underground-The epicentre was 25km from the

capital Port-au-Prince-Haiti suffered a huge number of

serious aftershocks.

- The number of people in relief camps of tents since the quake was

1.6 million - In July 2010, CNN returned to Port-au-Prince and reported, "It looks like

the quake just happened yesterday“.

- A January 2012 Oxfam report said that a half a million Haitians remained

homeless - Only about 20% of aid has been

spent by the Haiti government as they have no resources.

The January 1994 Northridge Earthquake struck hard: the first

major earthquake to occurdirectly beneath a highly urbanized

area in California.

Near the epicenter in the San Fernando Valley, well-engineered buildings withstood violent shaking without structural damage

Northridge was fairly prepared for earthquakes

through education, rescue efforts and strong

buildings.The earthquake happened on a deep

fault in the San Fernado Valley

Primary effects- 57 people killed- 9000 injured

- Thousands of buildings damaged- Transport links damaged (roads)

Yet due to the earthquake happening early in the morning it

reduced the deaths

Secondary effects-Landslides

-Powerlines and waterlines damaged from the debris

-Extensive fires

15,000 aftershocks occurred, these can

trigger the collapse of weak buildings

Wooden buildings were

the buildings that generally collapsed

Landslides were triggered in mountainous

areas, these block roads

and damaged homes Fires broke out

from the leaking gas pipes,

areas were completely

destroyed by the fires

Liquefaction occurred in some areas

It was declared a federal disaster, so

100s of workers from FEMA helped the

community recoverMillions were given to

the 600,000 people that applied for financial

assistance.

The USGS monitor the movement yet can not predict , so preparation is key!