Case Study Bank
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Holderness Coast β Erosion & Hard Engineering
Fastest eroding coastline in Europe β average 1.7β2m per yearTap to reveal
Boulder clay cliffs: unconsolidated, weak, prone to slumpingTap to reveal
Mappleton (1991): rock armour + groynes cost ~Β£2 million β protected village and B1242 roadTap to reveal
Terminal groyne syndrome: erosion south of Mappleton accelerated to 4m/year at CowdenTap to reveal
Spurn Head spit: 5km long, formed by longshore drift; breached in 2013 stormsTap to reveal
Great Cowden: ~30 farms lost since Roman timesTap to reveal
Flamborough Head: chalk headland β resistant rock, slower erosion, caves/arches/stacksTap to reveal
Longshore drift direction: north to south along HoldernessTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
terminal groyne syndromelongshore driftboulder clayrock armourmanaged retreat
β‘ Exam tip: Always contrast Mappleton (protected) with Cowden (accelerated erosion) β this is the classic terminal groyne syndrome example.
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Medmerry β Managed Retreat
Sussex coast β largest managed realignment scheme in Europe (2013)Tap to reveal
7km of new sea wall built inland; old shingle bank breached deliberatelyTap to reveal
Created 183 hectares of new intertidal habitat (mudflats, saltmarsh)Tap to reveal
Cost ~Β£28 million β cheaper long-term than maintaining old defencesTap to reveal
Protects 300 homes and 90,000 hectares of agricultural landTap to reveal
RSPB now manages the site β biodiversity gain alongside flood protectionTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
managed realignmentintertidal habitatsaltmarshcost-benefit analysissoft engineering
β‘ Exam tip: Use Medmerry to contrast with Mappleton β shows how managed retreat can be more sustainable at larger scales.
Snowdonia β Glacial Erosion Landforms
Cwm Idwal: classic cirque β armchair-shaped hollow, steep back wall, rock lipTap to reveal
Llyn Idwal: ribbon lake in glacially over-deepened hollowTap to reveal
Snowdon (1085m): pyramidal peak formed by three cirques eroding back-to-backTap to reveal
Llanberis Pass: U-shaped valley β steep sides, flat floor, truncated spursTap to reveal
Roches moutonnΓ©es visible on valley floors β asymmetric rock outcropsTap to reveal
Cwm Idwal designated SSSI β geological importance for understanding glaciationTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
cirque/corriepyramidal peakarΓͺteU-shaped valleyribbon lakeroche moutonnΓ©e
β‘ Exam tip: Snowdonia gives you named examples for almost every glacial erosion landform β learn the Welsh names (Cwm = cirque, Llyn = lake).
Athabasca Glacier, Canada β Glacial Retreat
Part of Columbia Icefield, Canadian RockiesTap to reveal
Retreated 1.5km since 1844 β markers show historical extentTap to reveal
Lost 60% of its volume in the 20th centuryTap to reveal
Retreat accelerating: ~15m per year currentlyTap to reveal
Negative mass balance: ablation exceeds accumulationTap to reveal
Feeds three major river systems (Pacific, Arctic, Atlantic drainage)Tap to reveal
Key vocabulary
mass balanceablationaccumulationnegative mass balanceglacial retreatmeltwater
β‘ Exam tip: Athabasca is perfect for climate change + glacial retreat questions β use the specific retreat figures (1.5km since 1844).
Haiti Earthquake 2010 β LIC Response
Magnitude 7.0 β struck 25km from Port-au-Prince, 12 January 2010Tap to reveal
Death toll: ~230,000 killed; 1.5 million made homelessTap to reveal
Conservative plate boundary: Caribbean and North American platesTap to reveal
90% of buildings in Port-au-Prince not earthquake-resistantTap to reveal
International aid: $13.5 billion pledged β slow distribution, corruption issuesTap to reveal
Cholera outbreak killed 8,000+ after earthquake β linked to UN peacekeepersTap to reveal
10 years later: 30,000 still in temporary sheltersTap to reveal
GDP per capita: ~$700 (2010) β extreme poverty increased vulnerabilityTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
conservative plate boundaryliquefactionvulnerabilityresilienceaid dependency
β‘ Exam tip: Haiti vs Japan (2011) is the classic LIC vs HIC comparison β always contrast governance, building quality, and recovery speed.
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Japan Earthquake & Tsunami 2011 (TΕhoku)
Magnitude 9.0 β most powerful earthquake ever recorded in JapanTap to reveal
Destructive plate boundary: Pacific plate subducting under Eurasian plateTap to reveal
Tsunami waves up to 40m high β travelled 10km inland in some areasTap to reveal
Death toll: ~15,900 killed; 340,000 displacedTap to reveal
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster β three reactor meltdownsTap to reveal
Economic cost: ~$235 billion β most expensive natural disaster in historyTap to reveal
Japan's preparation: early warning system gave 1 minute warning; seawall defencesTap to reveal
Recovery: most infrastructure rebuilt within 5 years β strong governanceTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
subduction zonemegathrust earthquaketsunamiliquefactionnuclear contaminationseawall
β‘ Exam tip: Japan shows that even the best-prepared HIC cannot fully prevent tsunami damage β use Fukushima for the limits of preparation.
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Mount Nyiragongo, DRC β Volcanic Hazard
Active stratovolcano in eastern DRC β erupted 2002, 2021Tap to reveal
2021 eruption: lava reached outskirts of Goma city (1 million people)Tap to reveal
Lava flows unusually fast (up to 100km/h) due to low silica contentTap to reveal
2002: 147 killed, 120,000 displaced; lava destroyed 15% of GomaTap to reveal
DRC: one of world's poorest countries β very limited monitoring/evacuation capacityTap to reveal
Conflict zone: armed groups hamper aidTap to reveal
Lake Kivu: risk of limnic eruption releasing COβ β could kill millionsTap to reveal
Only 2 seismometers in 2021 β inadequate for a city of 1 millionTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
stratovolcanolava viscositylimnic eruptionevacuationmonitoringgovernance
β‘ Exam tip: Nyiragongo illustrates how conflict and poverty compound volcanic risk β strong for governance and vulnerability questions.
Canary Wharf, London β Urban Regeneration
Former West India Docks β closed 1980 due to containerisationTap to reveal
LDDC (London Docklands Development Corporation) set up 1981 to regenerateTap to reveal
Canary Wharf: now 120,000 workers; HSBC, Barclays, Citigroup HQsTap to reveal
Jubilee Line extension (1999) connected area to central LondonTap to reveal
House prices: average Β£600,000+ in Isle of Dogs (2020)Tap to reveal
Gentrification: original working-class communities displacedTap to reveal
Tower Hamlets: still one of most deprived boroughs in UK despite regenerationTap to reveal
Crossrail (Elizabeth Line) opened 2022 β further connectivity boostTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
regenerationgentrificationLDDCdeindustrialisationplace identitydisplacement
β‘ Exam tip: Canary Wharf is the classic urban regeneration example β always include the tension between economic success and social inequality.
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Loch Morlich β Rural Regeneration (2024 paper)
Cairngorms National Park, ScotlandTap to reveal
Watersports centre and outdoor education facilityTap to reveal
Positive: employment for local people, income for local economyTap to reveal
Positive: improved infrastructure (car parks, visitor facilities)Tap to reveal
Negative: traffic congestion on single-track roads in summerTap to reveal
Negative: pressure on fragile ecosystems (capercaillie habitat)Tap to reveal
Cairngorms: largest national park in UK β 25,000 residents, 1.5 million visitors/yearTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
rural regenerationecotourismnational parkcarrying capacitystakeholder conflict
β‘ Exam tip: Loch Morlich appeared in the 2024 AS Unit 2 paper β use it for rural regeneration through recreation.
Amazon Rainforest β Carbon & Water Cycles
World's largest tropical rainforest: 5.5 million kmΒ² across 9 countriesTap to reveal
Stores ~150β200 billion tonnes of carbon β 'lungs of the Earth'Tap to reveal
Deforestation: 17% of Amazon lost since 1970; ~10,000 kmΒ²/year currentlyTap to reveal
2021: parts of Amazon became net carbon emitter for first timeTap to reveal
Transpiration: Amazon recycles 50β75% of its own rainfall through evapotranspirationTap to reveal
Flying rivers: moisture transported by wind from Amazon to SE Brazil β feeds SΓ£o PauloTap to reveal
Tipping point: scientists warn 20β25% deforestation could trigger savannificationTap to reveal
Indigenous land rights: protected areas have lower deforestation ratesTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
carbon sinkevapotranspirationdeforestationtipping pointsavannificationflying rivers
β‘ Exam tip: The Amazon is the go-to case study for water-carbon cycle interactions β the 'flying rivers' concept is particularly impressive in exams.
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Bangladesh β Water Insecurity & Flooding
98% of Bangladesh is a floodplain β three major rivers: Ganges, Brahmaputra, MeghnaTap to reveal
1998 floods: 75% of country underwater for 65 days; 30 million affectedTap to reveal
Annual monsoon flooding: affects 20β30% of country in normal yearsTap to reveal
Climate change: sea level rise of 45cm by 2100 could flood 11% of landTap to reveal
Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR): capturing monsoon water in underground aquifersTap to reveal
Arsenic contamination: 20 million people drink arsenic-contaminated groundwaterTap to reveal
Cyclone shelters: 3,500 built since 1970 β reduced deaths from 300,000 (1970) to 3,000 (2007)Tap to reveal
Key vocabulary
floodplainmonsoonmanaged aquifer rechargesea level risewater insecurityarsenic contamination
β‘ Exam tip: Bangladesh is essential for water insecurity, flooding, and climate change adaptation β MAR appeared in the 2024 Unit 3 paper.
Syrian Refugee Crisis β Global Migration
Syrian civil war began 2011 β 6.8 million refugees by 2023 (largest displacement globally)Tap to reveal
Main host countries: Turkey (3.6m), Lebanon (1.5m), Jordan (660,000)Tap to reveal
2015 European migration crisis: 1 million+ crossed Mediterranean to EuropeTap to reveal
Germany: accepted 890,000 asylum seekers in 2015Tap to reveal
UK: accepted ~20,000 Syrian refugees under Vulnerable Persons Resettlement SchemeTap to reveal
Push factors: conflict, persecution, economic collapse, drought (2006β10 drought preceded war)Tap to reveal
UNHCR: 100 million forcibly displaced globally in 2022 β record highTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
refugeeasylum seekerpush/pull factorsUNHCRRefugee Conventioneconomic migrant
β‘ Exam tip: Syria is the dominant migration case study β always distinguish between refugees (forced) and economic migrants (choice) in your answer.
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Arctic Ocean β Ocean Governance
Arctic Ocean: 14 million kmΒ² β governed by Arctic Council (8 member states)Tap to reveal
UNCLOS: UN Convention on the Law of the Sea β 200-mile Exclusive Economic ZonesTap to reveal
Melting sea ice: Northwest Passage opened as commercial shipping route (2007+)Tap to reveal
Resource competition: estimated 13% of world's undiscovered oil, 30% of gas under ArcticTap to reveal
Russia: planted flag on Arctic seabed (2007) β territorial claimTap to reveal
Environmental threats: oil spills, shipping pollution, disruption to indigenous communitiesTap to reveal
Inuit Circumpolar Council β indigenous governance voiceTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
UNCLOSEEZArctic Councilgeopoliticssupranational governancesovereignty
β‘ Exam tip: The Arctic is the key ocean governance case study β the tension between national sovereignty and international cooperation is central.
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Amazon Rainforest β Biodiversity & Threats
Contains 10% of all species on Earth; 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird speciesTap to reveal
Deforestation: 17% lost since 1970; main causes: cattle ranching (80%), soy farmingTap to reveal
Brazil's Forest Code: requires landowners to maintain 80% forest cover in AmazonTap to reveal
REDD+ scheme: pays countries to reduce deforestation β $1 billion from Norway to BrazilTap to reveal
Illegal logging: 80% of logging in Amazon is illegalTap to reveal
Tipping point: 20β25% deforestation could trigger irreversible savannificationTap to reveal
Indigenous reserves: lower deforestation rates β 13% of Amazon, 80% of biodiversityTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
biodiversity hotspotdeforestationREDD+tipping pointecosystem serviceskeystone species
β‘ Exam tip: For biodiversity questions, always include the tipping point concept and contrast protection strategies (REDD+, indigenous reserves) with threats.
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Arctic Tundra β Climate Change Impacts
Arctic warming 4x faster than global average (Arctic amplification)Tap to reveal
Permafrost thaw: releases methane (CHβ) β 80x more potent than COβ over 20 yearsTap to reveal
Siberian permafrost: contains 1.5 trillion tonnes of carbon β twice current atmospheric COβTap to reveal
Thermokarst lakes: forming as permafrost melts β positive feedback loopTap to reveal
Shrubification: shrubs replacing tundra grasses as temperatures riseTap to reveal
Polar bears: sea ice loss reducing hunting season β population decliningTap to reveal
Inuit communities: traditional hunting/fishing disrupted; infrastructure damage from permafrost thawTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
Arctic amplificationpermafrostmethanepositive feedbackthermokarstshrubification
β‘ Exam tip: The Arctic tundra appeared in the 2024 Unit 4 paper β the permafrost-methane positive feedback loop is the key evaluative concept.
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China β One-Child Policy & Demographics
Population: 1.41 billion (2023) β declining for first time since 1960sTap to reveal
One-Child Policy (1980β2015): reduced TFR from 5.8 to 1.5Tap to reveal
Ageing population: 14% over 65 (2022) β projected 30% by 2050Tap to reveal
Sex ratio: 105 males per 100 females β son preference under One-Child PolicyTap to reveal
Three-Child Policy introduced 2021 β response to demographic crisisTap to reveal
Hukou system: internal migration controls β 290 million rural migrants in citiesTap to reveal
Urbanisation: 64% urban (2023) β up from 20% in 1980Tap to reveal
Key vocabulary
One-Child Policyageing populationsex ratio imbalancehukoudemographic transitionTFR
β‘ Exam tip: The One-Child Policy is the defining cultural/demographic factor for China β always evaluate its long-term demographic consequences.
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China β Three Gorges Dam & Water Sustainability
GDP: $17.7 trillion (2023) β world's 2nd largest economyTap to reveal
Three Gorges Dam: world's largest hydroelectric dam β 22,500MW capacityTap to reveal
Displaced 1.4 million people; flooded 1,300 archaeological sitesTap to reveal
South-North Water Transfer Project: 1,400km canal β diverts 45 billion mΒ³/yearTap to reveal
Air pollution: Beijing PM2.5 levels 10x WHO safe limits (2013) β 'airpocalypse'Tap to reveal
China: world's largest solar and wind capacity (2023)Tap to reveal
Carbon neutrality target: 2060 β peak emissions by 2030Tap to reveal
Key vocabulary
Three Gorges DamSouth-North Water TransferBelt and RoadPM2.5carbon neutralityrenewable energy
β‘ Exam tip: Three Gorges Dam is the classic China sustainability example β evaluate economic benefits vs social/environmental costs.
Germany β Energiewende (Energy Transition)
Energiewende: policy to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2045Tap to reveal
Renewables: 46% of electricity in 2023 (wind 36%, solar 10%)Tap to reveal
Nuclear phase-out: last three plants closed April 2023Tap to reveal
Wind power: 30,000+ onshore turbines; offshore expansion in North SeaTap to reveal
Russia-Ukraine war: Germany lost 55% of gas supply β energy crisis 2022Tap to reveal
LNG terminals: rapidly built in 2022β23 to replace Russian gasTap to reveal
Energy poverty: 20% of households spend >10% of income on energyTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
Energiewendeenergy transitiongrid stabilityenergy povertyLNGEU ETS
β‘ Exam tip: Germany's Energiewende is the key HIC renewable transition example β the Russia-Ukraine war disruption shows energy security vulnerability.
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Typhoon Haiyan 2013 β Tropical Cyclone
Philippines β struck 8 November 2013; Category 5 super typhoonTap to reveal
Wind speeds: 315 km/h β one of strongest ever recorded at landfallTap to reveal
Storm surge: 7.5m high β destroyed Tacloban city; 90% of buildings damagedTap to reveal
Death toll: 6,300 killed; 4 million displaced; 1.1 million homes destroyedTap to reveal
Economic damage: $13 billionTap to reveal
International aid: $1.5 billion pledged; UK sent HMS IllustriousTap to reveal
Climate link: warmer sea surface temperatures intensifying typhoonsTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
tropical cyclonestorm surgewind shearCoriolis effectvulnerabilityresilience
β‘ Exam tip: Haiyan is the definitive tropical cyclone case study β the storm surge (not wind) caused most deaths, which is a key analytical point.
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Urban Heat Islands β London & Phoenix
London UHI: city centre 5β9Β°C warmer than rural surroundings at nightTap to reveal
Causes: dark surfaces absorb heat, lack of vegetation, waste heat from buildings/transportTap to reveal
Phoenix, Arizona: temperatures 10Β°C above rural surroundingsTap to reveal
Phoenix: 110+ days above 38Β°C per year; heat-related deaths increasingTap to reveal
Green roofs: London has 1.5 million mΒ² of green roofs β reduces UHI and stormwater runoffTap to reveal
Urban trees: shade reduces surface temperatures by 10β15Β°CTap to reveal
Paris 2003 heatwave: killed 14,800 β now has urban greening strategyTap to reveal
Key vocabulary
urban heat islandalbedogreen infrastructuremitigationadaptationthermal mass
β‘ Exam tip: UHI questions often ask about both causes and management β the Paris 2003 heatwave is a strong example of the consequences of poor adaptation.
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