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Geographic Knowledge and Understanding
Geographic Knowledge and Understanding
Global-scale distribution of cold and high altitude environments (polar, glacial areas, periglacial areas, high mountains in non-polar places) and hot arid environments (hot deserts and semi-arid deserts).
Global-scale distribution of cold and high altitude environments (polar, glacial areas, periglacial areas, high mountains in non-polar places) and hot arid environments (hot deserts and semi-arid deserts).
Key Concepts
Key Concepts
The difficult for humans to survive and thrive in a place makes it extreme. Physical processes (such as uplift, erosion and atmospheric systems) contribute to the extreme nature of the place. The power of human ingenuity can make human habitation possible in extreme places. The power of the financial gains made possible from the exploitation of a resource is the usual driving force behind humans living in extreme places.
Aims
Aims
To be able to describe the distribution of cold and high altitude environments (polar, glacial areas, periglacial areas, high mountains in non-polar places).
To be able to describe the distribution of hot arid environments (hot deserts and semi-arid areas).
To be able to explain why it is cold in high latitude regions.
To be able to explain why it is cold in high altitude locations.
To be able to explain why it is hot and dry in desert and semi-arid areas (tricellular model).
To be able to describe how inaccessibility and remoteness present challenges for human habitation and resource development.
Key Terminology
Key Terminology
Cold environments
High altitude environments/ high mountains
Polar
Glacier
Periglacial
Arid desert
Semi arid desert
Learning the definitions of key terms is essential for you to be able to access what the geographic knowledge and understanding is within this unit. Define the key terms above by using the 'Useful Links' below:
Useful Links
Useful Links
Activity One - Discussion
Activity One - Discussion
The geographic inquiry is asking us to focus on what classifies an area as extreme. As the discipline of Geography expects its students to be able to discuss key global issues we are going to look at how we can develop our ideas by using mind mapping skills.
Collect a piece of A4 paper and in the middle write the word extreme. Put a bubble around it.
Using a different coloured pen write a definition of what the word extreme means to you.
In a different colour write down all the characteristics that make an area 'extreme'.
Discuss your ideas with your neighbour and add any other characteristics to your paper that you may have missed.
Activity Two - Where?
Activity Two - Where?
Before we look at why hot and cold areas are formed in certain areas of the world we actually need to look at a map. Learning how to read a map is an important geographic skill. Look at the maps and answer the questions below.
Using figure one below, describe the location of the tundra or glacial areas are in the world?
Using figure one below, describe the location of the arid and semi-arid areas?
Useful Resources
Useful Resources
Figure One - Biomes of the World
Activity Three
Activity Three
Geographers need to be able to explain why things happen. For us to explain why the hot and cold areas are found in distinct areas of the world we need to fall back on our understanding of the climate and basic physics.
With the aid of diagrams explain why glacial and arid areas are they located where they are? Hint you need to consider the following points:
Atmospheric pressure and wind systems
Relief and the rain shadow effect
Cold ocean currents
Continentality
Offshore winds
Changes over time
Useful Resources
Useful Resources
Pages 10 - 16 in 'Arid Environments' by Cole (on the shelf in Room 500)
Reasons for the Seasons
Reasons for the Seasons
Ted Ed
Why does altitude affect temperature?
Why does altitude affect temperature?
BBC Earth Lab
Why does Earth have deserts?
Why does Earth have deserts?
Minute Earth
Activity Four - Review
Activity Four - Review
Using the small A4 white boards I will be asking you to draw diagrams to explain what makes areas hot, cold, dry or wet. Make sure your review activity three to be able to do this. You may need to go back and make sure that your diagrams are well annotated.
Exam Style Question
Exam Style Question
For one named location explain how the location's remoteness and inaccessibility present challenges. [1+2+2]
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