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Paper 1 tests your knowledge of the three global topics: Hazardous Earth, Development Dynamics, and Challenges of an Urbanising World. It is worth 37.5% of your total GCSE grade (94 marks in 1 hour 30 minutes). This lesson provides a focused revision guide covering the key content, case studies and exam priorities for each topic.
| Concept | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Global atmospheric circulation | The three-cell model (Hadley, Ferrel, Polar); pressure belts; surface winds; Coriolis effect |
| Natural climate change | Milankovitch cycles; volcanic eruptions; solar output changes; evidence (ice cores, tree rings, sea-floor sediments) |
| Human-caused climate change | Enhanced greenhouse effect; CO₂ and methane sources; evidence of recent warming; consequences |
| Tropical cyclones | Formation conditions (27°C+ sea temperature); structure (eye, eyewall, spiral rainbands); distribution; impacts |
| Tectonic hazards | Plate tectonics theory; plate boundaries (destructive, constructive, conservative); earthquakes and volcanoes; distribution |
| Hazard management | Prediction, protection, planning; comparing responses in HICs and LICs; vulnerability factors |
| Topic | HIC Example | LIC/NEE Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical cyclone | Hurricane Katrina, USA (2005) or similar | Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar (2008) or Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines (2013) |
| Tectonic hazard | Japan Tohoku earthquake (2011) or similar | Haiti earthquake (2010) or Nepal earthquake (2015) |
For each case study, you need:
flowchart TD
A["HAZARDOUS EARTH<br/>Key Revision Areas"] --> B["Atmospheric Circulation<br/>Three-cell model, pressure belts"]
A --> C["Climate Change<br/>Natural + human causes, evidence"]
A --> D["Tropical Cyclones<br/>Formation, impacts, management"]
A --> E["Tectonic Hazards<br/>Plate boundaries, earthquakes, volcanoes"]
A --> F["Case Studies<br/>HIC + LIC for each hazard type"]
Exam Tip: The extended writing question for Hazardous Earth often asks you to compare impacts or responses between HICs and LICs. Prepare a table of key differences before the exam: building standards, early warning systems, emergency services, economic resources, governance quality.
| Concept | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Defining development | Economic and social indicators (GDP, GNI, HDI, life expectancy, literacy rate); limitations of single indicators |
| Global development patterns | The development gap; North-South divide; emerging economies (BRICS) |
| Causes of uneven development | Physical factors (climate, resources, location); historical factors (colonialism, trade); economic factors (debt, trade barriers); political factors (corruption, conflict) |
| Development theories | Rostow's modernisation model; Frank's dependency theory; top-down vs bottom-up approaches |
| Strategies for development | Trade, aid, debt relief, FDI, microfinance, intermediate technology; advantages and disadvantages of each |
| Case study: emerging country | Detailed study of one country (e.g. India, Nigeria, or similar) showing causes and consequences of development |
You need detailed knowledge of one emerging country. Be prepared to discuss:
| Factor | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Location and context | Where, population, historical background |
| Economic development | GDP growth, key industries, trade patterns |
| Social development | Life expectancy, literacy, healthcare, education changes |
| Political factors | Government stability, democracy, corruption levels |
| International links | Trade partners, FDI, TNCs operating there, aid received |
| Inequality | Urban vs rural divide; gender inequality; regional disparities |
| Environmental concerns | Pollution, deforestation, resource depletion linked to development |
| Concept | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Urbanisation trends | Global urbanisation rates; differences between HICs and LICs; megacities; urban growth patterns |
| Causes of urbanisation | Push factors (rural poverty, lack of services, natural disasters); pull factors (jobs, education, healthcare, entertainment) |
| Urban challenges in LICs | Informal settlements, inadequate sanitation, water supply, waste management, traffic congestion, unemployment |
| Urban challenges in HICs | Deindustrialisation, inner-city deprivation, housing affordability, suburban sprawl, social inequality |
| Urban management | Top-down approaches (government-led schemes); bottom-up approaches (community-based); sustainable urban living |
| Case studies | One city in a LIC/NEE + one city in a HIC showing challenges and management strategies |
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