A Level Geography AQA

This subject is broken down into 110 topics in 12 modules:

  1. Water and Carbon Cycles 8 topics
  2. Hot Desert Systems and Landscapes 7 topics
  3. Coastal Systems and Landscapes 7 topics
  4. Glacial Systems and Landscapes 9 topics
  5. Hazards 11 topics
  6. Ecosystems under Stress 11 topics
  7. Global Systems and Global Governance 10 topics
  8. Changing Places 6 topics
  9. Contemporary Urban Environments 12 topics
  10. Population and the Environment 13 topics
  11. Resource Security 15 topics
  12. Fieldwork Investigation 1 topics
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  • 12
    modules
  • 110
    topics
  • 39,565
    words of revision content
  • 5+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Geography

Water and Carbon Cycles

Natural Systems

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Natural Systems

  • Natural systems are self-regulating entities that include both biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (non-living elements) components. Examples are water and carbon cycles.

  • Natural systems, in the context of Geography, most often refer to bio-geochemical cycles. These cycles represent the circulation and conservation of chemical elements and compounds within the biosphere.

  • The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is a natural system. It refers to the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

  • Key processes in the water cycle include evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, and sub-surface return flows.

  • The carbon cycle is another example of a natural system. This refers to the flow of carbon (in various forms, such as carbon dioxide) through the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere and lithosphere.

  • Key processes in the carbon cycle include photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, natural weathering of rocks, volcanic activity, and human activities like burning fossil fuels.

  • Natural systems, such as the water and carbon cycles, are dynamic and interactive with fluctuations and changes in one system often affecting the other.

  • Natural systems are crucial for maintaining life on Earth, providing resources, regulating climate, and supporting diverse ecosystems.

  • It is essential to understand the mechanisms of these cycles and the impacts of human activities on them to sustainably manage natural resources and mitigate environmental issues such as climate change.

  • Both the carbon and water cycle are heavily impacted by human-induced climate change and are fundamental to climate change science. For instance, increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels influences the water cycle by changing precipitation patterns and temperatures.

  • Feedback mechanisms in natural systems can either magnify (positive feedback) or reduce (negative feedback) changes to the system. Examples include the ice-albedo feed-back loop in the arctic and the carbon sequestration by forests.

  • In the context of geography, understanding natural systems is vital because these systems influence climate, weather patterns, soil fertility, and lifeforms.

Course material for Geography, module Water and Carbon Cycles, topic Natural Systems

Geography

Global Systems and Global Governance

Global Systems

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Global Systems

Global Systems:

  • Understand the concept of a global system as a linkage of varied aspects on a global scale.
  • Familiarize with different types of global systems - natural (like global water cycles) and human-made (political and economic systems).
  • Recognize how global systems connect different regions and countries. For instance, how an economic policy in the USA could potentially impact countries across the globe.
  • Understand the interactions within a global system. This includes how changes in one aspect of the system affect the others and bring about a systemic shift.
  • Get to grips with the concept of feedback within global systems, both positive (amplifying change) and negative (reducing change).
  • Comprehend the interdependence within the global system – how events or developments in one part can have a significant impact on others.
  • Be aware of how global systems can be affected by varied scales of operation – from individual actions to international agreements.
  • Understand the impacts of globalisation on global systems; how technology, transportation, communication have interconnected systems more closely.
  • Study the historical context of global systems, how they have evolved over time and the factors that have incited these changes.
  • Learn about the challenges to global systems, for instance, geopolitical conflicts, economic disparities, climatic changes, and how they affect the overall functioning of the system.
  • Understand the future of global systems; how emerging trends like digitalization, climate change, geopolitics are expected to shape systems in the coming years.

Course material for Geography, module Global Systems and Global Governance, topic Global Systems

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