GCSE Geography OCR

This subject is broken down into 490 topics in 39 modules:

  1. Case Study: Flash flooding, Morpeth, UK, 2008 13 topics
  2. Geography A (Geographical Themes) 33 topics
  3. Case Study: Flash Flooding, Texas, 2015 14 topics
  4. Global Hazards 13 topics
  5. Case Study: Hurricane Sandy, USA, 2012 14 topics
  6. Changing Climate 4 topics
  7. Case Study: Tropical Storm Chedza, Madagascar, 2015 13 topics
  8. Distinctive Landscapes 7 topics
  9. Case Study: Heatwave, UK, 2015 13 topics
  10. Sustaining Ecosystems 6 topics
  11. Case Study: Heatwave, Pakistan, 2015 15 topics
  12. Urban Futures 5 topics
  13. Case Study: Drought, UK, 2004-06 15 topics
  14. Dynamic Development 7 topics
  15. Case Study: Drought, Brazil, 2015 10 topics
  16. UK in the 21st Century 8 topics
  17. Case Study: Eyjafjallajökull Eruption, Iceland, 2010 14 topics
  18. Resource Reliance 7 topics
  19. Case Study: Mount Merapi Eruption, Java, 2010 11 topics
  20. Geographical Skills 6 topics
  21. Case Study: Tohoku Earthquake, Japan, 2011 15 topics
  22. Case Study: Nepal Earthquake, 2015 15 topics
  23. Case Study: The Jurassic Coast 15 topics
  24. Case Study: The Seven Sisters 12 topics
  25. Case Study: The River Thames 13 topics
  26. Case Study: The River Spey 14 topics
  27. Case Study: The Sumatran Rainforest 12 topics
  28. Case Study: Arctic Small-scale Sustainable Management: Whaling 15 topics
  29. Case Study: Arctic Global-scale Management: The Arctic Council 13 topics
  30. Case Study: Antarctic Small-scale Sustainable Management: Tourism 14 topics
  31. Case Study: Antarctic Global-scale Management: The Antarctic Treaty System 15 topics
  32. Case Study: Bristol, UK (AC) 14 topics
  33. Case Study: Sao Paulo, Brazil (EDC) 13 topics
  34. Case Study: Nairobi, Kenya (LIDC) 12 topics
  35. Case Study: Kenya: Development in an LIDC 15 topics
  36. Case Study: Bristol, UK: A Changing economic Hub 15 topics
  37. Case Study: The Iraq War: The UK’s Political Role in a Global Conflict 10 topics
  38. Case Study: Curry: The Contribution of Ethnic Groups to Cultural Life in the UK 15 topics
  39. Case Study: Food security in Brazil 15 topics
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  • 39
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  • 490
    topics
  • 145,447
    words of revision content
  • 18+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 9 January 2025.

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Geography

Geography A (Geographical Themes)

Distinctive Characteristics of Physical Landscapes of the UK

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Distinctive Characteristics of Physical Landscapes of the UK

  • Physical landscapes are parts of the natural topography that have significant distinctive features. The UK is renowned for its variety of physical landscapes including the rugged highlands and lochs of Scotland, gentle rolling hills in England, and distinctive coastlines around Wales.

  • Upland areas: Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, North of England (Pennines), and South West of England (Dartmoor, Exmoor, Bodmin Moor) are characterised by steep, rugged terrain, rocky outcrops, and extensive moorland. Climate tends to be colder with higher rainfall.

  • Lowland areas: These occupy the Midlands, East Anglia, South East and East of England. They are recognised by softer, rolling landscapes, fertile soils, and a milder, drier climate. They are a prime location for agricultural activities.

  • Coastal Landscapes: The UK is surrounded by a rich variety of coastal landscapes. The South West is characterised by high cliffs and sandy beaches while, the East coast has flatter marshlands.

  • River landscapes: The UK has several major rivers like the Thames, Severn, Tay, and the Tweed with unique characteristics. These include features as meanders, oxbow lakes, floodplains, and deltas.

  • The chalk hills or 'downs' of Southern England: The North and South Downs are formed of chalk, a soft, white limestone. The rolling hills and deep valleys (or 'dips') are a characteristic feature of these areas.

  • Scotland's Glaciated Landscapes: The Scottish Highlands are a region heavily influenced by past glaciation, with spectacular features such as corries, pyramidal peaks, U-shaped valleys, and lochs.

  • Wales’ mountainous landscape: Areas such as the Snowdonia National Park are distinguished by rugged mountains and deep valleys, shaped by the forces of glaciation.

These various physical landscapes contribute to the overall diversity of the UK's terrain, each with an inherent beauty while also influencing the human activity in the region.

Course material for Geography, module Geography A (Geographical Themes), topic Distinctive Characteristics of Physical Landscapes of the UK

Geography

Case Study: Nepal Earthquake, 2015

Causes and Mechanisms of the Earthquake

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Causes and Mechanisms of the Earthquake

Causes

  • The Nepal Earthquake on 25th April 2015 had a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale.
  • It occurred due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
  • These plates are part of a convergent plate boundary, where they are moving towards each other.
  • The Indian plate is moving northwards at a rate of approximately 4.5 cm per year.
  • The stress built up over hundreds of years was released during the earthquake.
  • The epicentre was located near the city of Pokhara, about 80 km northwest of the capital, Kathmandu.
  • The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of about 15 km, increasing its severity.

Mechanisms

  • When two tectonic plates collide, one can be forced under the other in a process called subduction.
  • In the case of the Nepal earthquake, the crust was subjected to strong compressional forces which eventually led to a thrust fault.
  • This type of faulting results in one block of crust being pushed up and over another, releasing a significant amount of energy.
  • The released energy radiates outward in the form of seismic waves, causing the ground shaking experienced during an earthquake.
  • The Himalayas are a direct result of this ongoing collision and compressional tectonics over millions of years.
  • The constant position shifting of the plates positions Nepal in a zone of high seismic activity.

By understanding these causes and mechanisms, it becomes clear how complex tectonic processes can lead to such devastating natural events.

Course material for Geography, module Case Study: Nepal Earthquake, 2015, topic Causes and Mechanisms of the Earthquake

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