Physical
Option 1: Plate Tectonics and Associated Hazards
Plate movement
- Earth structure, plate tectonics theory: convection currents and sea-floor spreading. Evidence: continental drift and palaeomagnetism. Destructive, constructive and conservative plate margins. Processes: seismicity and vulcanicity. Associated landforms: young fold mountains, rift valleys, ocean ridges, deep sea trenches and island arcs.
- Hot spots associated with plumes of magma and their relationship to plate movement.
Vulcanicity
- Variations in the type and frequency of volcanic activity in relation to types of plate margin and types of lava.
Forms of intrusive activity – dykes, sills, batholiths.
The above paragraph has been added.
- Minor forms of extrusive activity – geysers, hot springs and boiling mud.
- Major forms of extrusive activity – types of volcanoes.
- Two case studies of recent (ideally within the last 30 years) volcanic events should be undertaken from contrasting areas of the world. In each case, the following should be examined:
• the nature of the volcanic hazard
• the impact of the event
• management of the hazard and responses to the
event.
Seismicity
- The causes and main characteristics of earthquakes: focus and epicentre; seismic waves and earthquake measurement.
- Tsunamis – characteristics and causes.
- Two case studies of recent (ideally within the last 30 years) seismic events should be undertaken from contrasting areas of the world. In each case, the following should be examined:
• the nature of the seismic hazard;
• the impact of the event;
• management of the hazard and responses to the
event.
Human
Development and Globalisation
Development – economic, demographic, social, political and cultural changes associated with
development; the development continuum.
Globalisation – factors and dimensions: flows of capital, labour, products and services; global
marketing; patterns of production, distribution and consumption.
Patterns and processes
- Newly Industrialised countries (NICs): their initial growth, with particular reference to the “Asian Tiger” economies.
- Further growth of NICs, with particular reference to China.
- Globalisation of services, with particular reference to India.
- Growth in the 21st century – the impact of new markets and new technologies (for example in Brazil, Russia and oil-producing countries).
Countries at very low levels of economic development
- Characteristics and issues – quality of life, debt, social problems.
Global social and economic groupings
- The concept of the North/South divide, and its relationship to the development continuum.
- Reasons for the social and economic groupings of nations, with particular reference to the European Union.
- The consequences of the groupings of nations.
Aspects of globalisation
- Transnational corporations (TNCs): characteristics and spatial organisation.
- Reasons for the growth and the spatial organisation of transnational corporations (TNCs).
- Case study of one TNC should be undertaken.
- Social, economic and environmental impacts of TNCs on their host countries, and their countries of origin.
Development issues within the world (each to be studied with reference to contrasting areas of
the world)
- “Trade versus aid”.
- “Economic sustainability versus environmental sustainability”.
- “Sustainable tourism, myth or reality”.
Option 1: Plate Tectonics and Associated Hazards
Plate movement
- Earth structure, plate tectonics theory: convection currents and sea-floor spreading. Evidence: continental drift and palaeomagnetism. Destructive, constructive and conservative plate margins. Processes: seismicity and vulcanicity. Associated landforms: young fold mountains, rift valleys, ocean ridges, deep sea trenches and island arcs.
- Hot spots associated with plumes of magma and their relationship to plate movement.
Vulcanicity
- Variations in the type and frequency of volcanic activity in relation to types of plate margin and types of lava.
Forms of intrusive activity – dykes, sills, batholiths.
The above paragraph has been added.
- Minor forms of extrusive activity – geysers, hot springs and boiling mud.
- Major forms of extrusive activity – types of volcanoes.
- Two case studies of recent (ideally within the last 30 years) volcanic events should be undertaken from contrasting areas of the world. In each case, the following should be examined:
• the nature of the volcanic hazard
• the impact of the event
• management of the hazard and responses to the
event.
Seismicity
- The causes and main characteristics of earthquakes: focus and epicentre; seismic waves and earthquake measurement.
- Tsunamis – characteristics and causes.
- Two case studies of recent (ideally within the last 30 years) seismic events should be undertaken from contrasting areas of the world. In each case, the following should be examined:
• the nature of the seismic hazard;
• the impact of the event;
• management of the hazard and responses to the
event.
Human
Development and Globalisation
Development – economic, demographic, social, political and cultural changes associated with
development; the development continuum.
Globalisation – factors and dimensions: flows of capital, labour, products and services; global
marketing; patterns of production, distribution and consumption.
Patterns and processes
- Newly Industrialised countries (NICs): their initial growth, with particular reference to the “Asian Tiger” economies.
- Further growth of NICs, with particular reference to China.
- Globalisation of services, with particular reference to India.
- Growth in the 21st century – the impact of new markets and new technologies (for example in Brazil, Russia and oil-producing countries).
Countries at very low levels of economic development
- Characteristics and issues – quality of life, debt, social problems.
Global social and economic groupings
- The concept of the North/South divide, and its relationship to the development continuum.
- Reasons for the social and economic groupings of nations, with particular reference to the European Union.
- The consequences of the groupings of nations.
Aspects of globalisation
- Transnational corporations (TNCs): characteristics and spatial organisation.
- Reasons for the growth and the spatial organisation of transnational corporations (TNCs).
- Case study of one TNC should be undertaken.
- Social, economic and environmental impacts of TNCs on their host countries, and their countries of origin.
Development issues within the world (each to be studied with reference to contrasting areas of
the world)
- “Trade versus aid”.
- “Economic sustainability versus environmental sustainability”.
- “Sustainable tourism, myth or reality”.